[UsnDadof8]

I as a parent screen my son's game purchases and most of the time do the actual buying. I see no reason for the government to get involved whatsoever. Just for the record they play Halo (they are going to freak out when they open their Xbox 360 and Halo 3), Star Wars Battlefront, and WW2 type games (Call to Duty/Medal of Honor).

The payoff in keeping an open dialogue about games and the influence of violence is actually two-fold:

1. My sons have always held a high interest (like their dad) in history and particularly the wars America has participated in and now know more about our history than most high school and indeed college students. This interest was at the very least helped to be cultivated by the WW2 games that they play (along with watching the History Channel with dad).

2. It helps them learn to screen them for themselves. The other day I was asking my son about the game Gears of War because several people I talked to said it was very good. I was trying to gauge his interest as a possible present. He told me his friend has it and that it has way too much gore in it, so he didn't want it (insert proud dad feeling here). How are they to learn what to accept or decline if Big Brother is always making the decision for them? They will end up mindless minions of the state (which is probably the end goal anyway).

Bottom line: Government Intrusion over Parental Discretion is almost ALWAYS a losing proposition

[neodad]

I agree about Gears of War. My son came home from his mom’s with it. I vetoed it immediately. Make sure (I’m sure you will) to get the Xbox Live with the 360. They’ll love it. But I also screen that. Bottom line: Involved parents don’t need government ‘crats involved with this.

[kinoxi]

(insert proud dad feeling here)

:) It's great when they do that. Regulate themselves appropriately.