Rant anyone?

So, I finally got caught up on some much needed sleep. I'm feeling pretty good about myself right about now, so I think I'll rant a bit. Today's subject, violent video games.

I've read lots of things in the news about people's outrage to various violent video games. While I myself am not what you would call and avid gamer, I do enjoy playing games from time to time. Yes one of them is the ever popular grand theft auto series.
I'll be the first to admit that these games are not for children. Does this mean they should tone it down? Hell no. You see right now we have, what I like to call, the Nintendo generation playing games. These are people in their 20's and early 30's that grew up with the original Nintendo system playing games, that have moved on to the bigger and better systems etc. Typically, these people are mature enough to know the difference between reality, and fantasy. These games are intended to appeal to this audience.
Should little 8 year old Johnny be allowed to play this type of game? No. There is a rating system on the game for a reason. Now, I will admit, when I was 12 I'm pretty sure my parents would have allowed me to play the game. Based on the fact that I knew even then, the difference between what I saw on the TV or video game, isn't real. I knew the consequences of my actions.

Kids today, that have little to no interaction with their parents and more importantly the parents aren't involved in their kids lives. They sit little Johnny down infront of the TV, Computer, Game system, and expect it to babysit the child. So when the kids play these violent games, they want to mimic what they see. Their parents haven't instilled in them that there are consequences to their actions.

Granted there are some that do, and those parents, I applaud you louder than anyone. Then there are the come-to-jesus people that think that everything is wrong unless its taken literally from the bible. Well, there's a good amount of violence in the bible too.

Okay, I'm going in different directions here. I know. Point is, if your child is mature enough to handle a violent game, great let them have at it. Its the parents role to know if they are or aren't. I think its the parents that should suffer the consequences as well, for their children if they aren't ready for it, and whip out the baseball bat, and start beating people. Too often are people quick to blame other things for what their children do, instead of the way they raised their child.

There are people out there that do enjoy these games, and know that rape, murder, car jacking etc. ARE crimes. They know that these are bad things. Doesn't mean we can't enjoy doing them in a game though.

Anyhow, I'm done ranting now. If you have endured this long dribble, good for you. I hope you can understand my view and appreciate where I'm coming from.