Some games, TV shows not appropriate for kids
As we head into the last weekend of the Christmas shopping season and prepare for the gift-giving extravaganza of the year, it would be nice for parents to exercise a little parental discretion when it comes to the toys they give their children.
While not trying to tell parents what they should and should not give, it’s always a smart idea to remember not all toys are appropriate for children of all ages. This, more than anything, applies to video games.
Gone are the days when video graphics were as simple as a rectangle paddle used to play a once-popular game called “Pong.” Now human-like figures, complete with facial expressions, carry real-life-looking weapons. These video game heroes blow up cars – and in some cases shoot innocent bystanders. This message is not the least bit wholesome.
Before parents give these games to their children, and then turn them loose for hours at a time, it makes sense to realize exactly what content the game contains. Before parents rush out and buy the hot game of the season, “Grand Theft Auto: Vice City,” because little Billy says “everybody else has it,” take a moment to review the game.
As the name suggests, “Vice City” is in fact intended only for mature (adult) users. Even the game manufacturer maintains the content is not suitable for children as the storyline revolves around a man fighting biker gangs, Cuban gangsters and corrupt politicians.
There’s no shortage of video games which are appropriate for young children and teens. The Standard highly recommends these games find their way under the tree instead of other games named “Hitman” and “Silent Scope.”
With games like that, it’s not hard to see how two men got the idea to randomly murder people in the Washington, D.C. area earlier this year.
Exercising responsibility as a parent should by no means end once the Christmas season is over. It should also extend to television programming, which is piped into our homes every day of the year.
It is an unfortunate sign our society has sunk to such depths that shows like “Fear Factor” and “Jackass” receive enough support to remain on the air. “Jackass” in particular has already provoked a number of accidents which have led to serious injury and death.
The show, which features stuntmen performing a variety of kamikaze-like maneuvers, contains the ever-popular disclaimer, “Don’t try this at home.” But after that brief message disappears, viewers are then subjected to a half hour of potentially fatal stunts.
Earlier this week, a New Mexico teen died while practicing a stunt seen in the movie “Jackass,” which is a much longer rendition of the TV show. The teen was trying to hurdle a moving car which was coming right at him.
Just last week, a 13-year-old Indiana boy died and five other teens were injured after the van they were traveling in hurtled off a railroad track at more than 70 mph. This was all while the group was imitating a “Jackass” stunt.
And several teens have suffered third-degree burns by setting themselves on fire after “Jackass” creator Johnny Knoxville wore a fireproof suit and allowed himself to be set ablaze last year.
It’s obvious the simple disclaimer “Don’t try this at home” doesn’t always work. That’s not a good thing if it encourages people to try and jump moving cars or to murder at random.
Instead of “Don’t try this at home” it would be better for parents to take a pre-emptive approach this Christmas and keep that attitude all year long. Don’t allow such filth to enter the home through video games or TV in the first place.