More Media Violence Wisdom From Matt Damon's Mom: It's the Action Figures
More Media Violence Wisdom From Matt Damon's Mom: It's the Action Figures
April 19, 2008
Matt Damon's particular brand of media violence is okay because he simply refuses to allow himself to be portrayed in a Jason Bourne action figure.Makes perfect sense, right?
Well, it does if you are Nancy Carlsson-Paige (aka Matt Damon's mom), whose theories on media violence were examined on GamePolitics a few weeks back (see: Matt Damon’s Mom Blasts Violent Video Games… Meanwhile, Bourne Conspiracy Ships in June).
This time around, Carlsson-Paige, a college professor, is interviewed by Boston TV station WBZ. Among her comments:
Matt and I have been talking about violence in the media since he was a little boy. We completely agree that violence should not be marketed to young children...
GP: But, Matt's movies are regulated by a voluntary content rating system (like that of video games). And Matt has apparently developed his own system to keep kids safe - the "no action figure" system:
Thankfully, [Matt won't allow any action figures] because if he did, there would be a whole line of Jason Bourne toys, which is a PG-13 movie that should have been R, marketed to little kids. It gives children the message that this movie is for you and it confuses parents.
Carlsson-Paige is also apparently of that group of (mostly middle-aged and older) people who don't understand that video games can truly spark one's imagination and creativity:
Children aren't getting the opportunity to cultivate their imaginations, and their creative thought process, like they need and society needs for them to develop.
GP: While his mom seems out of touch and a bit hypocritical, I should say that I really enjoy Matt Damon's work. Not a big fan of the Bourne films, mind you, but Rounders, Syriana and The Departed are all favorites. In fact, I was really hoping too see an Edward Wilson action figure from The Good Shepherd.
Oh, well...
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Posted 11/08/09 at 09:02am
DarkSaber: http://tinyurl.com/yez7jyo
DarkSaber: http://tinyurl.com/yez7jyo
Posted 11/08/09 at 09:01am
DarkSaber: Oh for gods sake, the Gearbox pres is gobbing off about Valve again
DarkSaber: Oh for gods sake, the Gearbox pres is gobbing off about Valve again
Posted 11/08/09 at 08:53am
JDKJ: But cheer up, Austin. If the unemployment rate continues to double-digit as predicted for the next few years, your half-dozen stands a better than likely chance of returning to power.
JDKJ: But cheer up, Austin. If the unemployment rate continues to double-digit as predicted for the next few years, your half-dozen stands a better than likely chance of returning to power.
Posted 11/08/09 at 08:46am
JDKJ: @DS: If he had added the line about "or hiring illegals aliens under the table to work as nannies," it would have been a completely perfect descripition. And, yes, it's about the same difference between a six and a half-dozen.
JDKJ: @DS: If he had added the line about "or hiring illegals aliens under the table to work as nannies," it would have been a completely perfect descripition. And, yes, it's about the same difference between a six and a half-dozen.
Posted 11/08/09 at 08:31am
DarkSaber: My god, that description makes them sound almost Republican. Still what did you expect, Obama is only marginally more left than republicans.
DarkSaber: My god, that description makes them sound almost Republican. Still what did you expect, Obama is only marginally more left than republicans.
Posted 11/08/09 at 01:07am
Austin_Lewis: Health insurance, brought to you by the same kind of bureacrats who couldn't, in timely fashion, investigate the comments of any of the men Obama appointed Czars. Or their past. Or their history of not paying taxes.
Austin_Lewis: Health insurance, brought to you by the same kind of bureacrats who couldn't, in timely fashion, investigate the comments of any of the men Obama appointed Czars. Or their past. Or their history of not paying taxes.
Posted 11/08/09 at 01:06am
Austin_Lewis: Yes, and what a piece of crap it was. Arresting and fining people just because they don't make a personal choice to buy healh insurance, creating over a hundred new bureacracies, and worse.
Austin_Lewis: Yes, and what a piece of crap it was. Arresting and fining people just because they don't make a personal choice to buy healh insurance, creating over a hundred new bureacracies, and worse.
Posted 11/08/09 at 12:24am
ZippyDSMlee: JDKJ:the only trouble is a bunch of witless hacks wrote it....its going to be a train wreck....
ZippyDSMlee: JDKJ:the only trouble is a bunch of witless hacks wrote it....its going to be a train wreck....
Posted 11/07/09 at 11:33pm
JDKJ: BREAKING: In a photo-finish at the wire, House passes health care reform bill. Relatedly, in a fit of pique, Austin Lewis kicks innocent dog.
JDKJ: BREAKING: In a photo-finish at the wire, House passes health care reform bill. Relatedly, in a fit of pique, Austin Lewis kicks innocent dog.
Posted 11/07/09 at 04:27pm
ZippyDSMlee: man I got alot of junk and dup files too >< god I need orginization...and no not the knee capping media mafia kind :P
ZippyDSMlee: man I got alot of junk and dup files too >< god I need orginization...and no not the knee capping media mafia kind :P
Posted 11/07/09 at 04:26pm
ZippyDSMlee: replaced :P
ZippyDSMlee: replaced :P
Posted 11/07/09 at 04:23pm
ZippyDSMlee: beemoh:hey its like 60GB porn,400GB anime 100GB games and crap I have took from all my DVDs, I hate waiting on dvds to install stuff..... oh and 40GB of my porn was in the found.000 folder...mostly corrupted.... least I got names of wut needs to be repa
ZippyDSMlee: beemoh:hey its like 60GB porn,400GB anime 100GB games and crap I have took from all my DVDs, I hate waiting on dvds to install stuff..... oh and 40GB of my porn was in the found.000 folder...mostly corrupted.... least I got names of wut needs to be repa
Posted 11/07/09 at 04:18pm
beemoh: @Zip: ...and you'd have to spend all that time re-downloading that porn?
beemoh: @Zip: ...and you'd have to spend all that time re-downloading that porn?
Posted 11/07/09 at 03:34pm
ZippyDSMlee: ggrrrrr......vista lost one of my hard drives and I had a heart attack thinking I lost 1TB of data....
ZippyDSMlee: ggrrrrr......vista lost one of my hard drives and I had a heart attack thinking I lost 1TB of data....
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:58am
JDKJ: Which could be explained by both (a) and (b).
JDKJ: Which could be explained by both (a) and (b).
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:56am
Austin_Lewis: JDKJ: You forgot C) the fact that, for some reason, every time he did something that would suggest he shouldn't be in the military, let alone an officer, higher ups ignored it or let it slide.
Austin_Lewis: JDKJ: You forgot C) the fact that, for some reason, every time he did something that would suggest he shouldn't be in the military, let alone an officer, higher ups ignored it or let it slide.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:51am
JDKJ: Part of the problem is, I believe, that (a) the Army had a lot of time and money already invested in him and which they were unwilling to simply write-off and (b) an increasing need for the type of skills and services he provided.
JDKJ: Part of the problem is, I believe, that (a) the Army had a lot of time and money already invested in him and which they were unwilling to simply write-off and (b) an increasing need for the type of skills and services he provided.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:48am
JDKJ: And that even if he was begging not to get cut loose, he was apparently a real good candidate for being cut loose, anyway.
JDKJ: And that even if he was begging not to get cut loose, he was apparently a real good candidate for being cut loose, anyway.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:11am
JDKJ: @chada: And while Kennedy once noted that there's usually more than enough blame for everyone to get a slice, the possibility that the Army was unwilling to cut loose someone who was asking to get cut loose could be a factor.
JDKJ: @chada: And while Kennedy once noted that there's usually more than enough blame for everyone to get a slice, the possibility that the Army was unwilling to cut loose someone who was asking to get cut loose could be a factor.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:07am
ZippyDSMlee: *noms on his feet*..nomnomnomnom*droooll* ...wuuutttttt uuu looking at?
ZippyDSMlee: *noms on his feet*..nomnomnomnom*droooll* ...wuuutttttt uuu looking at?
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Game Politics and Game Politics logo are trademarks of the ECA.
Game Politics and Game Politics logo are trademarks of the ECA.
Comments
Of couse it doesn't cary weight, but it is a prime example of people's warped views of gaming. That's the sucky thing about the first amendment is that while it kicks ass in court, it can't win over the people. Only WE can do that. Maybe we should call Anderson Cooper and get a news special like Planet in Peril?
Most of the people you'd be interested in educating, need to die off of old age instead of trying to educate them. The phrase "a leopard cannot change its spots" is very applicable to a lot of adults who are being made aware of video games through traditional media outlets and who will not change their generally ignorant opinion.
Some can, but I'd say a greater majority can't or won't.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PZNfOZXPJk&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T23oNcCFriE&NR=1
In case you don't get it, I am joking, but watch those clips, they are hilarious...
Politics is a game you lose by ignoring opposition and hoping they go away.
“Matt and I have been talking about violence in the media since he was a little boy.”
I highly Doubt it. It was more like her talking to Matt and Matt just pretended he was listening, just like all kids do when parents talk about boring stuff.
Now the whole "No action figures" thing makes me laugh. Playing with action figures as a child help my imagination grow and helped me develop into the person I am today. I haven't killed anyone or torn the limbs from people I don't like. All Action figures do is the same thing dolls do for little girls, the help a child develop and let their imaginations grow.
The whole reason why there are no Jason Borne action figures, is not because Mr. Damon will not allow it. The reason is that no kid in their right mind would choose a Jason Borne action figure over an Optimus Prime or GI. Joe.
they were against star wars figures too I think.
I own a lot of them.
Matt Damon and his mom are stupid hypocrites.
The action figures will just make kids want to go see the movie. The parents are the ones who can decide if they can or not.
True, it's still up to parents to decide. But at the same time, the movie and game industries have generally said that they won't market R/M rated games/movies to kids. So if they find a roundabout way of doing that, they are breaking a pledge they made.
Of course, this is a PG-13 movie anyways, just one she feels should be R, so it's a different situation anyways.
in other breaking news: the sky is blue.
I wouldn't call her ''stupid", more like "misguided", or "misinformed".
Not to mention say, Halo 3 has tools that allow the player to get creative.
While I do see her idea of the no action figure policy for rated R movies (because there are associations with action figures being the cool thing. If Timmy wants a Neo action figure, he's either a) going to play with it in his own little way, or b) want to see the movie once he realizes his favorite action figure is from a movie.
But the whole if there's an action figure for a movie that's PG13/R meaning its ok for a kid to see and confusing parents part? Wow, if you're a parent who becomes confused if your kid can or can't see a movie based on the fact there's an action figure....you've really out done yourself and displayed just how bad of a parent you are.
Well, thing is, the Matrix action figures are made more for collectors than little kids.
Hell, anything produced my McFarlane studios is meant more for collectors.
I'd like to know Matt Damon's opinion on the matter. I know its family first and what not but if I was Matt Damon I'd have to sit down and ask her kindly not to speak to reporters anymore. Or maybe try to distract her with a different cause that she can express opinions about that perhaps hold a bit more merit. Not that I'm saying thats what he should do, but thats just what I would do. The Departed was BADASS, BTW. That was my favorite film with Matt Damon in it.
WEEEEEEELLLLLLLL...... (http://youtube.com/watch?v=Zvq-GZluxSQ&feature=related)
People were trying to wussify, er, I mean, protect their little angels then.
Police Sergeant:"What did you find, detective?"
Detective:"Plenty. He confessed to having collected Star Wars toys. Also the second we got in his place, the first thing we saw was a shelf full of Masters of the Universe figures; the really cool-looking ones too from the 2003 line sculpted by the Four Horsemen."
Police Sergeant: "Damn."
Detective: "And on his to-do list: he had just started collecting Mattel's new DC Universe figures, also sculpted by the Four Horsemen."
Police Sergeant: "Sounds like we've got our man."
Detective: "And by the looks of things, just in the nick of time too, before he went out on another spending spree."
Other than ALIEN and Predator, though, I can't recall any other toy lines based on R-rated movies being sold to kids. I do remember when the toys for the first ALIEN movie came out, yet I wasn't even old enough to see it at the time, so I could only wonder "What were they thinking?"
Interesting. I don't know much about action figures, but I figured there were probably plenty of adults who collected them, especially depending on the type of figure. That's why I was trying to focus on "if those action figures are focused on and marketed to kids." Then again, that's such a vague statement.
Anyways, I really just want to make sure people at least understand what it is she's complaining about, as some seemed to be acting like it was just action figures in general that she didn't like.
Shielding children from this stuff is more likely to fuck them up then over exposer to it. I don't believe that most kids are as stupid and impressionable as people (such as politicians, activist soccer mom parents, moralist prudes, violent media researchers) make them out to be.
Probably, but it wasn't as evident as it was today. I never remembered activist groups protesting these toys with this level of vigor. Although maybe that was because we didn't have the Internet back then, so communication wasn't as widespread, I don't know.
not to mention thanks to the net you can get these items even if no longer in circulation
Hella. If we're atacked by terrorists, who's gonna be better off: The kid who was raised in candyland and thinks you can solve all your problems by "believing", or the kid who knows how to hunt for food and kick ass on crazy ass terrorists? My bet's on kid #2.
"Matt Damon"
But Matrix figures weren´t really toys and more like dioramas to put on your desk or bookshelves.
Like videogames, not every toy is marketed for kids.
She sounds like the typical out of touch, ex-70's soccer mom. I'm always curious as to what they consider that children ought to be out doing instead of videogames and playing with action figures or toy guns. Probably out playing Soccer or Baseball... or something like that.
i simply HATE when people take the whole 'imagination' approach to things like this. I shouldn't even need to get into why.
@ jatone
Is this your blog? No? Then don't click on it. If something isn't newsworthy to you, then ignore it. Not rocket science, buddy.
LOLZ VIOLENT BOOKS ARE A-OK
LOLZ VIOLENT VIDEO GAMES TEACH OUR CHILDREN HOW TO MASTURBATE AND TO KILL
LOLZ ACTION FIGURES TEACH OUR CHILDREN HOW TO MASTURBATE AND TO KILL
The argument that violent entertainment is intended for adults, not children, hinges on it not being literally marketed to children. When the MPAA slaps a PG-13 or R rating on a movie, or the ESRB slaps a T or M rating on a game, and then the developer proceeds to license tie-in products that are obviously targeting a younger audience, it hurts our case.
(Obviously I draw a distinction here between a $5 action figure marketed to 8-year-olds and a $15 action figure marketed to adult collectors.)
LOL!!! It's sad to think somebody would masturbate to an action figure!
....they did!! XD
http://www.starstore.com/acatalog/Dogma_figures_set.jpg
HAHA I love the Hypocracy
Yeah, that would make sense. Many toys are targeted at older audiences, especially comic fans(Have you seen Alex Ross's Kingdom Come action figures? THEY ARE THE SHIT!).
let me get this straight
Action Figures are the problem because they are MARKETED towards KIDS????
Seriously, have you ever played with toys before???
Also this sort of statement seems to be out of touch because when I was a kid, I loved action figures like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and also the Mighty Morphan Power Rangers when I was a kid.
but I never grew up violent and I have been able to write so many good stories on the internet.
Seriously, I bet she only listens to her own opinion and never listens to anyone who has a different opinion than her because she came from an age where she did not have any action figures and she thinks she is perfect.
I want one....
"Count the shell suck a duck!"
I used to have a Vynal statue of Jill Valantine. I bet she's worryed about what kids would do when they play action figures.
Why are people paying attention? Well... she apparently IS an early childhood College professor... As a college professor in regards to children her opinion on child development (no matter how right or wrong said opinion may be) carries a similar weight to that of Henry Jenkins opinions on Media... For alot of poeple, saying you're a college professor is the equivalent of saying "i know a lot more than you do, and i know what i'm talking about"...
granted, being an actor's mom is bound to just give her some extra media attention... especially when she mentions Matt aswell *eyeroll*
He has far more sexually themed material then any games that I have ever seen...
No, seriously, have you seen this???
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KUowJzpgxs&feature=related
Ok, seriously who cares about his hypocritical mom???
He is a great actor and until he says something about games personally, this isn't really news...
"IMAGINATION"
"IMAGINATION"
"IMAGINATION""IMAGINATION""IMAGINATION""IMAGINATION"
"IMAGINATION"
"IMAGINATION"
"IMAGINATION""IMAGINATION"
"IMAAAAAAGINATION"
"IMAGINATION""IMAGINATION""IMAGINATION""IMAGINATION""IMAGINATION""IMAGINATION""IMAGINATION"
"IMAGINATION"
"IMAGINATION""IMAGINATION"
"IMAGINATION"
WOW, WOW, WOW...
sarcasm:
just finished watching several good wholesome south park episodes and I must say, they are far more responsible towards children then those horrible vidja games.../sarcasm
Nah. When a toy (which, of course, has nothing to do with games) comes out for an R-rated movie, ya kinda get the sense that they want kids to see it.
However, the rating system is still firmly in place, and the trailers do nothing to hide the violence in the movie. Then again, parents are idiots...
Ever see Grandma's Boy?
Yep. Real slow.
Couldn't that be considered something of a good thing?
Yeah, I'm just surprised is all. No news is good news.
Or maybe everybody is waiting for a bigger attack.
Anyways, the lack of updates is killing me.
Yep. Me too.
Matt Damon's mom going after action figures sounds like the time Jack Thompson went after pornaments.
At least she isn't a homophobe like JT
And as far as I know, she doesn't send gay porn to courts.
what a tool.
Bullshit.
Really. What little boy would be turned off by violence and complain to his mom about it until he was like 30? And then make violent movies?
What the heck did this nutcase give her son to play with, Barbie, Strawberry Shortcake, and My Little Pony?
...and thank GOD he's been ignoring you the whole time so he didn't become a whack job like his mom. SHEESH!
@ Gameclucks
You know, after reading your post it comes to mind that she's completely cutting out "female oriented" action figures. She's 100% focused on violence because it's "bad" for younger children. So, what about Barbie then? It's ok to portray a girl who gets everything and works for nothing? Very hypocritical.
I'm gonna have to vote her as a non-factor at this stage. No one is listening to her that isnt' already agreeing with her.
Hmmmm.
Matt Damon's mother is an idiot. I mean, this isn't surprising, but still. Its not every day you find this kind of hypocrisy. This... this is amazingly idiotic.