Girl Scout Creates Film Project to Chronicle Video Game Violence Controversy

June 4, 2008 -

When last we heard from the Girl Scouts in relation to video game issues, they were standing behind California's Leland Yee following passage of the state's 2005 video game law.

But, as reported by the Woodbury Bulletin, a Minnesota Girl Scout has a much different view on video game regulation. Colleen Stone, who created a 10-minute video on game content issues, told the newspaper:

I guess it all started when Hillary Clinton started getting public about video games and video game violence. It was just a blatant disregard for first amendment rights…That was a slippery slope that would easily have transferred to books and movies and newspapers, and that really disturbed me.

In response, Colleen developed a seminar to educate parents on game content and ratings. She invited the manager of a local GameStop as well as a rep from the Minnesota-based National Institute on Media & Family. The seminar was filmed and makes up a good chunk of her video. 250 copies have been distributed to various organizations.

Colleen, who will attend Johns Hopkins University in the fall and is considering a career in video game design, added:

I was worried this was just a pet peeve of mine, but deep down, it’s a constitutional issue. Some games can be so beautiful — some of the games I put on, my mom will just stop and stare… That’s why I think I did this. Video games are not evil.

 


Comments

Re: Girl Scout Creates Film Project to Chronicle Video Game

You must also note that the "Hillary Clinton Basis" for these video games tendsto vary on state. I am from New York and I know that in New York violent video games ARE HUGE.

Re: Girl Scout Creates Film Project to Chronicle Video Game

One could argue that video games are beautiful, and in SOME instances they are. Restrictions on these games are needed, greatly. One could argue that this is a highway towards the corruption of the First Ammendment, but that is only and assumption. Note that we entered Iraq because we assumed that there were WMD's in there hands. We are always assuming in America. It should never get as far as video games though. Quite frankly video games are not the world to me. We must all come to the realization that when you civilians getting killed in "Grand Theft Auto", or blood spilling on the floor in some kind of alien war game, there is evil behind that. Not all beauty is nuturing.

Re: Girl Scout Creates Film Project to Chronicle Video Game

I'm all for freedom of ttnet vitamin speech and allowing rent a car game makers to put whatever they want in games, but there's one thing about this app that has me scratching my head.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but from araç kiralama the previous article araba kiralama on this I gathered that players can use Google maps in-game to find the other (real-life?) dealers in their area.  If this is the case, has travesti anyone considered what's stopping someone from using this app to actually move drugs between hands for reals?

But majority araba kiralama of their outrage araç kiralama stems from what it could DO TO children, not the content itself.  Talk to one of these people and you'll find they don't think any books kiralık araba should be banned from children.  Mention American Psycho and they talk about kiralık araç the redeeming value of using imagination to construct a story.  Reading, no matter what the content, is largely viewed as a consequenceless activity for people of any age.  The reason why I mention American Psycho is because of the content itself.  Gaming never has and likely never will have any scenes where someone has sex with a severed head.  Not gonna happen.  Yet despite this, they'll fight tooth and nail to protect their children from two boys kissing in Bully but whatever they read is harmless... yeah.

The entire arguement is kiralık oto based upon a social normality inflicted by luddites who can't figure out the controls for Halo so it's frightening and terrifying and obviously the cause of youth violence on the rise even though, in reality, it's in decline (which is actually a HUGE suprise given minibüs kiralama the economies status).  In  a perfect world, we would have parents that actually parent.  The idea of sales restrictions on media on oto kiralama any form to accomidate parental unwillingness to get involved with their child's life is the real problem to me.  Here I am, 32 years old, and being held up at a self-scan rent a car needing to show ID before I can buy a $10 M rated game all because Soccer Momthra can't be bothered to look at the crap Billy Genericallystupidson does in his free time.  It's too hard for her, so I have to suffer?

Re: Girl Scout Creates Film Project to Chronicle Video Game

 Thank you all for your comments and input. 

I did not know that my video file was corrupted- I put it on youtube (my username is GS1420) and the video is on the website and has been fixed. 

Thank you so much for your interest

Colleen Stone

Re: Girl Scout Creates Film Project to Chronicle Video Game

If you can put the Video on YouTube, then more people will be able to access it more easily.

 

Also well done for the girl scouts.

 

Each of us has a voice in this world and the internet is the only way to make our voice loud and clear,

 

I also think that the Parent power website is great for parents who may not understand many things about Videogames....

 

Way more better than the news or politicians who have been pushing so much negative and sensationalist information onto them.

 

I do feel that the best way to let parents become a bit more better aware of Videogames is by just talking to someone who knows and has played many Videogames.

 

 

Re: Girl Scout Creates Film Project to Chronicle Video Game

why didn't she put this on youtube?

Re: Girl Scout Creates Film Project to Chronicle Video Game

I managed to download the video directly (page source for the win!), and it seems like the video itself is corrupted after that point, rather than a transmission problem.

 

---- There is a limit for both politicians against video games, and video games against politicians. http://www.goteamretard.com

Re: Girl Scout Creates Film Project to Chronicle Video Game

Always good to have another intelligent voice in our court.  Johns Hopkins -- not too shabby.

Re: Girl Scout Creates Film Project to Chronicle Video Game

Papa what games were released rating pending???

Re: Girl Scout Creates Film Project to Chronicle Video Game

Good video, though two mistakes I'd like to point out:

1) It's been documented that movie raters can determine a movie's rating within 15 minutes to a half hour and then just keep tapping on extra notes for the remaining duration of the movie (See: This Film Is Not Yet Rated)

2) Video Games can be released under Rating Pending and have been. They will be sold by stores. The labels are then replaced at later date by the publisher / manufacturer and shipped accordingly. I have had plenty of games over the years which feature an RP on the box as opposed to a specific rating.

Aside from that, a decent fair explanation, though the video failed to play past the 6 minute mark for me...
----
Papa Midnight
http://www.otakutimes.com
http://www.thesupersoldiers.com

 

----
Papa Midnight

Re: Girl Scout Creates Film Project to Chronicle Video Game

If anything, I think the important lesson of all of this is that  parental responsibility is what is required, not legislation and witch hunts. Most intelligent people realize that crap that Jack and Hillary have been spouting is out-right wrong, but others see a talking head on TV, and blindly accept what they say; just like the telescreens in 1984. Time to not be sheep people.

"The Good, the Bad, and the Videogame" Reviews on the best, worst, and controversial issues of Videogames. gryphonosiris.blogspot.com/

Re: Girl Scout Creates Film Project to Chronicle Video Game

@Doctor Proctor:

I would do the same thing if I didn't have any allergies to just about everything but eggs, oy. I would do just as Strong Bad would do: Buy the scout a cold one.

Re: Girl Scout Creates Film Project to Chronicle Video Game

Great video, now if only more people could see it.

Re: Girl Scout Creates Film Project to Chronicle Video Game

Just for that, I'm buying at least three boxes of Thin Mint cookies this year.  Gotta support the Girl Scouts if they're turning out smart young women like this one. 

--- "Life's short and hard, like a body building elf." -- The Bloodhound Gang

--- "Life's short and hard, like a body building elf." -- The Bloodhound Gang

Re: Girl Scout Creates Film Project to Chronicle Video Game

"The ESRB is not perfect, and so ratings are more a guideline than rules."

Yeah, the video cut out for me too, right as the NIMF guy was explaining why you can't expect someone to play a game all the way through to know it's content, comparing it to how you can make it through a movie in 2 1/2 hours...

EDIT: Er, actually I don't know if he's saying that. It sounds like he's about to say "but games can take dozens to hundreds of hours to complete", but maybe I'm wishful thinking here... The tone of his speaking makes it sound like he's about to question the logic of asking the raters to play every second of an entire game. Then again, he may be just using that for parents instead, and expect the ESRB to play all the content so parents don't have to...

I'll try downloading the video, play it locally instead...

EDIT: Nope, doesn't help. It still cuts out around the 6:10 mark...

-- If your wiimote goes snicker-snack, check your wrist-strap...

-- If your wiimote goes snicker-snack, check your wrist-strap...

Re: Girl Scout Creates Film Project to Chronicle Video Game

"It may be appropriate to approach M games on a game by game basis"

Smart advice.

-- If your wiimote goes snicker-snack, check your wrist-strap...

-- If your wiimote goes snicker-snack, check your wrist-strap...

Re: Girl Scout Creates Film Project to Chronicle Video Game

We really need to let the ESA, ESRB and Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo know that if unrated movies can come out then some should unrated games. She tells how the big retail companies will not sell unrated games. But those companies have NO problem with unrated movies. >:(

Re: Girl Scout Creates Film Project to Chronicle Video Game

Yeah, the video wont play all the way through for me either. 

Re: Girl Scout Creates Film Project to Chronicle Video Game

I actually found that video excellent on content... editing was awful... but, that's not important...

The content and messages were very clear and it's absolutely wonderful to hear an old man say throwing out the tv doesn't work and the best idea is to engage with youth and check out what they're viewing for yourself.

However, it cut out after 6 minutes... I'm just assuming the girl doesn't do a u-turn and have a go at games at the end :p.

 
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TechnogeekIf the developer were male there wouldn't have been a "conversation" in the first place.10/19/2014 - 2:27am
Montetrolls are just at their absolute worst when it comes to women and feminist. You could bet good money that if the developer were male the trolls would be silent and the conversation would actually focus on the journalism.10/18/2014 - 9:18pm
MontePapa: Not the first time we've had a journalism scandals before, but the harassment never got close to this level; the difference with this scandal is that feminists are involved. Without the feminist angle, their would be A LOT less harrassment10/18/2014 - 9:15pm
Papa MidnightMonte: That's honestly rather short-sighted. As has been proven with other persons who have been targeted, if it wasn't Quinn, it would be someone else.10/18/2014 - 6:26pm
AvalongodI think that's part of what gives an esoteric news story like this real life...it taps into a larger narrative about misogyny in society outside of games.10/18/2014 - 3:29pm
Avalongod@Monte, well the trolls made death threats that came to police (and media attention). I think this is tapping into a larger issue outside of games about how women are treated in society (like all the "real rape" stuff during the last election)10/18/2014 - 3:28pm
WonderkarpZippy : Havent tried the PS4 controller. might later.10/18/2014 - 2:37pm
MonteSeirously, If Quinn was not involved and GG was instead about something like the Mordor Marketing contracts, the trolling would have never grown so vile and disgusting. There have been plenty of movements in the past that never sufferred from behavior..10/18/2014 - 1:57pm
MonteWe have seen scandel's before but the trolling has never been as vile as what we see with GG. Trolls usually have such a tiny voice you can barely notice them, but its like moths to a flame whenever femistist are involved.10/18/2014 - 1:53pm
ZippyDSMleeWonderkarp: You might be able to if you had a PS4 controller.10/18/2014 - 1:00pm
MaskedPixelantehttp://store.steampowered.com/app/327940/ Night Dive starts charging for freeware.10/18/2014 - 12:21pm
Matthew Wilsonthe sad thing is there are trolls on both sides of this. people need to stop acting like their side is so pure.10/18/2014 - 12:19pm
MechaTama31So, only speak out on a scandal that hasn't attracted trolls? I wouldn't hold my breath...10/18/2014 - 10:49am
MonteI feel like GG just needs to die. The movement is FAR to tainted by hatred and BS for it to be useful for any conversation. Let GG die, and then rally behind the NEXT gaming journalism scandal, and start the conversation fresh.10/18/2014 - 10:33am
quiknkoldand we dont have a Dovakin to call a cease fire10/17/2014 - 7:37pm
quiknkoldThe whole thing is Futile. Both sides are so buried deep in their trenchs that there isnt a conversation. Its just Finger Pointing, Name Calling, Doxxing, Threats. there needs to be a serious conversation, and GG isnt it.10/17/2014 - 7:37pm
quiknkoldI thought it was a good article. Jeff is right. I feel like GamerGate did destroy its message. I am for Ethics in game journalism, but man. so much hate. and its on both sides. I've seen some awful stuff spewed on twitter. Its a big reason why I exited..10/17/2014 - 7:34pm
Matthew Wilsonwhile he focused on gg, he did call out both sides crap.10/17/2014 - 7:18pm
Papa MidnightThat was a damn good read offered by Jeff Gertsmann.10/17/2014 - 7:17pm
Matthew Wilsonhttp://www.giantbomb.com/articles/letter-from-the-editor-10-17-2014/1100-5049/ deferentially a nice write up.10/17/2014 - 6:44pm
 

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