Despite the fact that the state of California can no longer institutionally control who buys video games, the sale of this product is regulated in a similar manner, only through the private sector. The ESRB is an organization that rates these games and most well-established stores adhere to the regulating body’s demands. Essentially, all of the minors who would have otherwise not been able to purchase violent video games because of the California statute still cannot buy those same video games.
You say these things are known and obvious. Where is your evidence? As a professor of psychology, you should know that statistics are flawed and that correlation does not equal causation. What indicators bring you to these conclusions? Are there other factors that might influence the outcome? And what right does the state have to regulate what consumers are allowed to buy? If your kids are going to go out and buy the game, chances are, if you’re paying any attention to them at all, you’re going to see them playing it. What’s more, they could ask an older schoolmate to buy it for them, and then your law would do nothing to prevent them getting it. Why not just talk to them about it? Find out why it appeals to them. Just pay attention to your kids. It’s a relationship that goes both ways, not a dictatorship.
Despite the fact that the state of California can no longer institutionally control who buys video games, the sale of this product is regulated in a similar manner, only through the private sector. The ESRB is an organization that rates these games and most well-established stores adhere to the regulating body’s demands. Essentially, all of the minors who would have otherwise not been able to purchase violent video games because of the California statute still cannot buy those same video games.
You say these things are known and obvious. Where is your evidence? As a professor of psychology, you should know that statistics are flawed and that correlation does not equal causation. What indicators bring you to these conclusions? Are there other factors that might influence the outcome? And what right does the state have to regulate what consumers are allowed to buy? If your kids are going to go out and buy the game, chances are, if you’re paying any attention to them at all, you’re going to see them playing it. What’s more, they could ask an older schoolmate to buy it for them, and then your law would do nothing to prevent them getting it. Why not just talk to them about it? Find out why it appeals to them. Just pay attention to your kids. It’s a relationship that goes both ways, not a dictatorship.