Doctor Langstrom
I want to be FEARED!
HB 157 would charge a 1 percent excise tax on games rated T, M, or AO in Missouri; revenue derived would go toward mental health programs.
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HB 157 would charge a 1 percent excise tax on games rated T, M, or AO in Missouri; revenue derived would go toward mental health programs.
What does it signify? That the govt is taxing a product to create a funding for a program? Look at alcohol tax, and tobacco tax, those fund programs that have nothing to do with either substances.
I don't believe playing violent video games has much if any of a factor with people who decide to go hurt others. At least in south dakota the tobacco tax helps support single mother who are fleeing from violent homes. Part of the alcohol tax also goes to repairing roads. I'm not 100% sure that there isn't a risk involved with violent video games, Specially at a young age in development that helps make violence seem like a common place in society (like its only natural to beat someone with a baseball bat). This is coming from first hand experience dealing with my nephews who are showing violent tendencies because of free flash games on the internet where the sole objective is to kill everything that moves as violently as possible. I'm not saying its not my brothers and sisters fault for not jumping on the behavior correctly and teaching them to separate the fantasy worlds from the real world but there is also some blame on game "makers" for rewarding more aggressive ways to harm others with higher points or bloodier content. I don't think there is some insidious plan behind them but they certainly don't try and go for creative ways to build things or go through a mission without harming a single target. I'd like to see more game companies reward users for being creative and finding ways to finish missions without any violence.
It seems every company who markets for ages 14-22 are looking to push the envelope of what is allowed in a teen game and finding ways to get around rating their games Mature. But that's just my observation.
Can I ask if you are a parent? I used to think exactly as you do but guess what when you work 2 jobs so you are home rarely they get on the computer, or when they are at a friends house. Or at school.
Violence in film is very tame compared to the gaming industry. I'm not saying its exempt but its less influential.
As far as parenting goes. No I'm not making excuses, I'm just saying its not as easy as watching your kids. If they want something they are going to try their damndest to get it.
so funding to mental health programs is a bad thing?
Revenue derived from this initiative would be deposited into the state's general revenue fund and be used only for the treatment of mental health conditions associated with "exposure" to violent video games.
So, them having linked it to the video games and using the purchase of those video games to fund treatments for those afflicted by violent video game mental health problems is a bad thing?
so funding to mental health programs is a bad thing?
Why does the funding have to come from a tax on M rated games? They might as well tax everything that is 'violent' and use the money for the funding. They'd have a bit more I'd imagine.
Oh wait...it's a certain kind of mental problems they are addressing:
Revenue derived from this initiative would be deposited into the state's general revenue fund and be used only for the treatment of mental health conditions associated with "exposure" to violent video games.
The money is only going to mental issues that are the result of playing violent video games. So, if your mental problem is the result of something else, guess it isn't getting funded.
What would be considered a violent video game? Sure there are the obvious like Call of Duty, Halo, and Assassin's Creed, but what about ones like Minecraft, would this be "violent" in their eyes? To be honest I don't see this becoming a law anytime soon, but stranger things have happened before.