Censorship is a touchy subject. Some people are for some against and there seems to be no middle ground on who, what and when to censor if at all. It may come as no surprise to many of you that I am dead set against censorship in way shape or form . Let's take a look at the first amendment "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." So there it would seem that we are free to speak our mind's as we feel the need let's look further though there is an obscenity clause in the first amendment because we know that people will keep adding to them to fit their own agenda's so that is where you get the Miller Test which is a test to determine if something is obscene without any artistic , literary, political or scientific value . Now recently video game's have come under attack as being too violent or the language to profane . Most notably The Grand Theft Auto series released by Rock Star Games is one of the most scrutinized . I am a gamer (a video game player ) and have been since I owned an Atari and was running around playing Pitfall and Donkey Kong as a child . I do see artistic value in games the graphics alone are some of the most amazingly detailed pieces of art you can see on a screen . Jack Thompson an attorney from Florida has made a name for himself by trying to take the first amendment away from people since the early 80's . Read the wikipedia link to his bio and you will see what I am talking about. The Florida bar is trying to take his Rights away right now for inappropriate conduct . Jack is now launching a full scale war against against violence in video games and movies he has been involved in suits against them most notably The Heath High School Shooting in which 14 year old Michael Carneal opened fire on a group of praying students killing three and injuring 5 others . Mr. Thompson filed a 33 million dollar suit against two Internet pornography site's, several video game company's and the maker's and distributors of the movie "The Basketball Diaries" (which I highly recommend you see it is excellent and I shot no one after watching it either) the case was dismissed as it should have been because you know what the said watching someone shoot a class mate on the screen does not take away from the fact that is in an actor and not real . I have played many violent games, watched Scarface, Goodfellas and countless other violent movie's, I have listened to Slayer, N.W.A , and a million other artists with questionable lyrics , I listened to Howard Stern since I was about 15 and you know what Mr. Thompson I have never shot, raped or killed anyone as a matter of fact I lead a pretty normal life . You know why I lead a normal life because I know all of that is not real I loved Ric Flair (OK still do) when I was a kid and you know what I never thought
pile driving my cousin onto the concrete sidewalk was a good idea because he would look like Ric does on the right(not that I didn't slap the figure four on him once or twice though WOOOOO !!!!!) My point is though, my mom taught me right from wrong and I knew better so instead of blaming game maker's and movie company's and radio show jock's how about we look at the parent's that are not watching a 14 year old kid collect an arsenal enough to kill his classmates . I am a parent and I know when one toy of my son's is out of place let alone if he bought a pump handle shot gun to class . So parents watch your kid's check out what they are into and make sure they know reality from entertainment . One last not Mom thanks for raising me to know right from wrong and even if you hated me watching and listening to certain thing's knowing that I would make the right choice and not pile drive Ronnie into the pavement . Love you mom and Happy Mother's Day !
pile driving my cousin onto the concrete sidewalk was a good idea because he would look like Ric does on the right(not that I didn't slap the figure four on him once or twice though WOOOOO !!!!!) My point is though, my mom taught me right from wrong and I knew better so instead of blaming game maker's and movie company's and radio show jock's how about we look at the parent's that are not watching a 14 year old kid collect an arsenal enough to kill his classmates . I am a parent and I know when one toy of my son's is out of place let alone if he bought a pump handle shot gun to class . So parents watch your kid's check out what they are into and make sure they know reality from entertainment . One last not Mom thanks for raising me to know right from wrong and even if you hated me watching and listening to certain thing's knowing that I would make the right choice and not pile drive Ronnie into the pavement . Love you mom and Happy Mother's Day !
