Electronics Consumers Association Gamer's Rights Petition

So, I joined this organization a few years ago while at the e4-All (That year the e3 Died) mainly because being a member offered various discounts at hotels and some stores. I haven't really done much of anything to support them as I should have and have even let my membership expire. But I feel that this is something I can do for them, and I believe in what they are trying to do here.

Over the past years, various politicians have been bashing the gaming industry. Trying to put laws into place that would restrict sales of games much like the current rating of AO means that no retailer will sell the item. They have fought for a while now, and very soon they will be taking this to the supreme court, and along with them, they are bringing a signed petition.

If any of you are interested or can sign the petition, please do so here: http://action.theeca.com/p/dia/action/pu...n_KEY=1781 (Let me know if the link doesn't work so I can just link the main page).


If you decide to participate, this is a serious matter and it will require your true information, which I'm sure many of you don't want to enter. But for those that do, put some real consideration to it.


If this has already been posted, or would be better suited for another section of the forums, by all means attend to it as such.

I would sign it if they ever tried to ban WoW and starcraft.

I would sign it if they ever tried to ban WoW and starcraft.

Why set such an arbitrary starting point? By the time that happens it'll be too late to take action. If you believe in the cause at all you need to step up immediately. Fact of the matter is, this is a shackle that limits a game creator's ability to utilize the medium. It prevents them from being able to include adult themes (the likes of which are common in Film and Television) and pretty much locks video games into that "Games are for Children" stereotype. We all like video games, and i'd hope we all respect their potential as an artistic medium (in the same way that Film is viewed today compared to how it was viewed 60+ years ago.) While I may not personally like Grand Theft Auto, it has a right to exist and that's what it sounds like this is about.

I signed ^^

This petition reminded me of another issue where "The Man" and their Lawyers try to blame children behaving badly, on the Video Games they play.

Why set such an arbitrary starting point? By the time that happens it'll be too late to take action. If you believe in the cause at all you need to step up immediately. Fact of the matter is, this is a shackle that limits a game creator's ability to utilize the medium. It prevents them from being able to include adult themes (the likes of which are common in Film and Television) and pretty much locks video games into that "Games are for Children" stereotype. We all like video games, and i'd hope we all respect their potential as an artistic medium (in the same way that Film is viewed today compared to how it was viewed 60+ years ago.) While I may not personally like Grand Theft Auto, it has a right to exist and that's what it sounds like this is about.

This is exactly the sentiment I hold. I personally only have about 5-10% of my game library rated M, but I still believe in the rights for those games to exist. If they lose this battle of simply confirming video game's first amendment rights, then who knows where they could take it from there. Too many politicians "think of the children" and find their whipping boy in the gaming industry and it even helps their image in certain circles. I mean, the industry does what it can to inform and self-regulate the content (while I was a tester we even had a specific bug type to report for areas we were skeptical of meeting the goal rating), but it isn't being taken in by a few people who ultimately over-react. Now it's been a year or two since I've researched the subject, so I'd likely have my argument torn apart if I tried to ad anything but generalizations here, but basically I'm on the parents need to do their jobs as parents. Plenty of tools available even if they can't be there keeping an eye on them all the time.

I signed ^^

This petition reminded me of another issue where "The Man" and their Lawyers try to blame children behaving badly, on the Video Games they play.

That looks to be a modification of the shirt they gave away when you joined. Mouse added and all of them are pictures rather than silhouettes. Also of course that last line.

And thanks for signing those who have.

Why set such an arbitrary starting point? By the time that happens it'll be too late to take action. If you believe in the cause at all you need to step up immediately. Fact of the matter is, this is a shackle that limits a game creator's ability to utilize the medium. It prevents them from being able to include adult themes (the likes of which are common in Film and Television) and pretty much locks video games into that "Games are for Children" stereotype. We all like video games, and i'd hope we all respect their potential as an artistic medium (in the same way that Film is viewed today compared to how it was viewed 60+ years ago.) While I may not personally like Grand Theft Auto, it has a right to exist and that's what it sounds like this is about.

Well hopefully they can use the mindset of comparing adult movies to adult video games.

Signed.

I can't stand the whole "video games are for children" stereotype. My mom used to think that way but I'd convinced her otherwise a few years ago so now she doesn't comment on it anymore. It's not easy to convince most hardheaded individuals, though. >_>

Signed.

I can't stand the whole "video games are for children" stereotype. My mom used to think that way but I'd convinced her otherwise a few years ago so now she doesn't comment on it anymore. It's not easy to convince most hardheaded individuals, though. >_>

I'm still at that struggle. I've been trying to change my mother's mindset for 10 years already... to no avail.