The government just can't keep their noses out can they.
Pathetic.

For god sake. It really is pathetic that politicians, let a lone that up-his-own-ass Tory Toff who has probably never picked up a video game in his life, David Cameron, continue to use the media as a scapegoat.

Granted he did acknowledge the MAIN cause of anti-social behaviour [incompetent parenting], he totally wiped out any credibility he had gained by blaming the media – once again without justification or evidence.

For one, the violent video games he was implying were a contributing factor to anti-social behaviour more often than not are aimed at 18 year olds and above – people who are more than old enough to be held accountable for their own actions.

And as for those children playing them because a retailer sold them it underage… with the restrictions imposed on retailers by the BBFC and Trading Standards and the risks that are involved with breaking those restrictions, it's unlikely that the retailer would have sold them it, especially with Challenge 21 now being a high-profile scheme. And even if they did then the fault lies with the retailer – not the game.

The irony here is that David Cameron is complaining about video games, blaming them in part for societies ills. I think if he actually stepped away from the bandwagon for just one second, he might realise that those children and teenagers who play video games ¬– even the violent ones more often than not are inside most of the time playing the games.

They aren't the idiots out on the street, drinking and causing trouble because they aren't into video games and so have **** all else to do. Yes they might play video games occasionally, but its only a small part of their life.

And on one final note… in the 1970's and 1980's crime dropped drastically in the US. No, it wasn't because of video games but because that was in the wake of abortion being legalised. The many children who would have been born into poverty and turned to crime were never born. That's not a solution, it just hints at the real causes behind the problem. Poor parenting and poverty.

Kids get hold of these games because the parents let them, or they're allowed into their older brothers collection. Imposing age restrictions won't restrict, only be a guide. it's up to the parent to pay attention to that guide.

I remember queing for the midnight launch of Grand Theft Auto San Andreas on PS2 at Game, and was shocked and appalled at how many children were there, with their parents, waiting anxiously like it was Christmas, for the latest crime-em-up. I also noticed it all the time when I worked at Game: Parent comes into the shops with their child, parent buys whatever game the child wants regardless of the big red age restriction sticker on it.

It was actually a surprise to hear a parent ask if a game was suitable for their child. It was too rare for my liking. Most parents gave in to their little cherubs wishes all too easily.

It doesn't matter what regulations are put in place when parents will blindly buy these games for their kids just to shut them up.

The more laws and regulations we have the more irresponsibility lazy parents can get away with. Parenting a child should remain a parents job, not a nanny state that likes to remove it's "controversial" and free media because it has failled in its ability to remove poverty and delegate responsibility to those that are forging the future.

Once again, politicians prey on the weak where they know they'll get no push back. With enough pressure from the politicians, gamers will stand up and vote these guys out of office. I agree with Hillary Clinton who commented upon politics in general: those that don't get involved in politics must accept our decisions.

You have to be a total idiot to think there is a link between video games, TV, media, tom and bloody jerry, and crime. Looks like I WON'T be voting for this one!

how about banning adult movies 2 while we are on the subject, those are easier for kids to get nowadays with internet than it probably is to get adult rated games.

tackle the problem at the source, not with the law but with the parents!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why don't we place a ban on becoming a politician, since they are all corrupt and evil, which would save the country.

This is the same view as Mr. Cameron, except a different target.

I'll agree to back a blanket ban on violent games, when they agree to back a total ban on violence in film, television, books, newspapers.

I really fear for society with guys like the conservatives and the labour party running for power.

It's amazing how little these people actually understand the world.

Why not make people apply for parent licenses before they are allowed to become parents, that way only the (seemingly) good parents will be allowed to raise children, and there will be less crime (yay!).

Or how about fining parents who let their children play these games underage. And if it is suspected that the kids are playing them, then remove them from their families, the same way you would if they were under abuse from their parents. If games are as bad as they say, then why don't they enforce the law in this way?

Cameron should stick to the subject he knows best...nothing!

I have been playing violent games since I was a little boy (I was even playing Doom at the age of 12). Am I a mass murderer? Do I go around beating people up and ropping houses?
No.

How come they can make drinking allowed 24/7 now (which is a stupid law, as all it does is make people bring drink for longer), but feel that an ADULT videogame is damaging to society.

Teach social manners, honour, and self control in school. That could lower some of the youth crime.

I'm not the only one who finds that the party that decrys the "nanny state" is the one to try to control gambling, drinking, games, porno and just about anything that people actually enjoy?

He should stay away from forming actual policies as every time he actually comes out with any he appears more and more incompetant.

When will the realise that the tw*ts who cause trouble aren't at home playing violent games. they are this way due to the tw*t parents

It's illegal for a person over 18 to buy alcohol for a minor. I've never yet heard of the same approach for games fims or even music.
I hate censorship. I think it is inherently wrong. At the same time, a colleague of mine lets her 7 and 10 year old watch Catherine Tate and Borat.
It's a double edged sword that needs sharpening on one side and blunting on the other.

Once again, people who knows shit about games, trying to tell what is good for us or not... like stated before, pathetic...

y'know I find it rather insulting that people like cameron think that teenagers can't distinguish between what's on their telly and whats actually happening to them.
Take me for example, I'm a sixteen year old kid who enjoys playing violent video games and watching violent films and not once has it occured to me to go out and start killing people, because its JUST FICTION!
I may already hate cameron for being a posh tory bastard but this whole war against video games is just his way of trying to get the concerned mother's vote. Y'know, the concerned mothers who can't seem to understand that the numbers 1 and 8 on the front of a game box means that it is recommended that no one under 18 play this game. It basically just comes down to ignorance. They say they want it to be more clear about warning parents of the violence in games, what do you want? The whole cover just to be the words "DON'T LET YOUR KIDS PLAY THIS THICKOS!!!!"
Seriously Cameron, fuck you

I really hope this is not Cameron's attempt to boost his image. Other politicians concern themselves with issues such as house prices, global warming, socio-economics (or at least pretend to), and here we have a 'gallant' attack on an art form just so that he can gain popularity from people who are actually stupid enough to believe him.

The fact that violent youngsters have existed long before computer games were around would really shock him. It's a real pity that none of his subordinates would point this out to him for fear of a reduction in their salery, or some similar punishment (else they are as stupid as he is).

Naturally, all Cameron needs for his 'evidence' is to point a wobbly finger at 'Grand Theft Auto' (if indeed he knows the names of ANY computer games) in order to tap into the bad press this game has been given, although I'm sure it's the anti-western ideology presented in the game's radio stations that scares the shit out of politicians more than anything else.

Mr. Cameron. It is all about socio-economics. You cannot alienate young people by taking away their rights, increasing their living an education costs and constantly publish bad press about them, and then blame their (possibly violent) reaction on one of the last remaining activities that keeps them indoors and off the streets (of which to be fair you can only be blamed for that final point).

I used to have some respect for you. I used to like your so-called alcoholic dendancies. It seemed to make you more human. You were even against the war and student university fees. I now know you were only tapping into us left-wing young people to try to get our vote. You don't care about our lifestyle, you don't care about the next generation.

I don't think you are actually stupid enough to believe that computer games cause violence (although violent people may play computer games). By that logic, anyone who ever played pong would be a ping-pong champion, Sims players would be soap-opera and sitcom writers, and flight-simulator players would become airline pilots. You are just trying to get conflictory support from different groups over contradictory attitudes and policies.

Or I might be wrong. You might be an idiot. Perhaps if I blamed your opinion on your excessive drinking you'd get all defensive, but at least then you'd know what it would feel like to have one of your favourite pasttimes demonised over something completely unrelated.

You've lost my vote.

The current Labour government is one of the worst ever and we need to be rid of it as soon as possible. The problem is that there is no obvious alternative. The Libdems are sandal wearing lentil weavers and now Cameron has proven himself to be a populist idiot.
Time to give executive power back to the monarchy?

baning violent games not the right thing to do their was violent people before games came out .