Pro-Family Groups Trying to Sway Utah AG’s Schwarzenegger Stance

August 25, 2010

As Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff considers submitting an amicus brief that would support the videogame industry side in the Schwarzenegger v. EMA Supreme Court case, "pro-family" groups and other legislators from his state held a press conference to try and get him to change his mind.

Utah Eagle Forum President Gayle Ruzicka, Laura Bunker (pictured), Chairwoman of United Families Utah and State Representatives Jim Dunnigan (R) and Julie Fisher (R) all gathered at the Capitol on Tuesday, according to a story in the Deseret News.

Bunker stated, “As the most family-oriented state in the nation, Utah should support this law that promotes the protection of children.”

Dunnigan offered, “We're not in favor of these games being sold the minors.” While Fisher added, “If we took a poll here in Utah, most people would be outraged that our children have access to those games.”

In a strange passage, Ruzicka indicated that, through her talks with the public, she came away feeling that people already think that the state “... prohibits children from buying video games in which participants have sex with prostitutes and then kill them; shoot innocent shoppers walking in a mall and decapitate people with shovels and have dogs fetch the severed heads.”

Shurtleff’s spokesman Paul Murphy indicated that the Attorney General is consulting with AG’s from other states as he considers his course of action and that a decision should be forthcoming soon.

A bit of a non sequitur perhaps, but as noted in a comment on the story, Utah was recently found to be the top state in America when it comes to subscriptions to online pornography sites.


Picture from the Deseret News


Comments

Re: Pro-Family Groups Trying to Sway Utah AG’s ...

Parenting is not the job of game companies, game stores, or the government. It is the job of, ironically enough, parents. Trying to force those entities to waste time and resources on doing the job of parents is foolishness.

The games are plainly rated. Take an interest in what your kids are doing. If you are "too busy," with work or anything else, maybe you need to re-evaluate your priorities.

Re: Pro-Family Groups Trying to Sway Utah AG’s ...

What game does the dog fetch a severed head? Certainly not Fable II or Fallout 3. Dogmeat barely finds items lying around as it is.

I think it is interesting that they cite their deepest fantasies instead of real gameplay in these examples.

Re: Pro-Family Groups Trying to Sway Utah AG’s ...

But having his likeness in a game based on a movie that has no legal restrictions on who can see it, and then saying regulating one but not the other is.

I know about the Terminator games (and those were marketed to kids, along with the action figures, etc., whereas The Expendables does not have that mass toy/game marketing to my knowledge), but those are already pretty old, from the 16-bit era, and would probably not fall under this law.

Re: Pro-Family Groups Trying to Sway Utah AG’s ...

You missed the reply button.

"But having his likeness in a game based on a movie that has no legal restrictions on who can see it, and then saying regulating one but not the other is."

No, it's not.  "Having his likeness used in a video game that would be subject to the same law he signed does not make him a hypocrite.  In fact, you could argue quite the opposite and say doing so makes him a martyr."  Further, the law does not regulate who can play what game, only who can buy it.

EDIT: Also, I see nothing hypocritical about supporting a law that focuses on video games to the exclusion of other media (namely, movies).  Even if he had signed a game law while refusing to sign a similar movie law, it still wouldn't be hypocritical because the law's author and its supporters maintain that games are different from movies.

 

Andrew Eisen

Re: Pro-Family Groups Trying to Sway Utah AG’s ...

Not directly related to this topic, but does anyone know if there will be an Expendables video game? Major hypocrisy points on Arnold if there is.

Re: Pro-Family Groups Trying to Sway Utah AG’s ...

Haven't heard of one (other than the Facebook game used to promote the movie) but how would the existance of an Expendables video game in any way make Schwarzenegger a hypocrite?

 

Andrew Eisen

Re: Pro-Family Groups Trying to Sway Utah AG’s ...

For being in a violent video gave after signing a law nearly effectively banning violent video games.

There have been games based on Terminator and True Lies both of which his likeness was used, so, it's already there.

Re: Pro-Family Groups Trying to Sway Utah AG’s ...

Having his likeness used in a video game that would be subject to the same law he signed does not make him a hypocrite.  In fact, you could argue quite the opposite and say doing so makes him a martyr.

 

Andrew Eisen

Re: Pro-Family Groups Trying to Sway Utah AG’s ...

I propose that any new articles involving the Eagle Forum have as their picture, the morally upright Muppet censor, Sam the...AMERICAN Eagle.

Re: Pro-Family Groups Trying to Sway Utah AG’s ...

Seconded.

Makes me wish I had multiple personalities to pad the votes.

Nightwng2000

NW2K Software

http://www.facebook.com/nightwing2000

Nightwng2000 is now admin to the group "Parents For Education, Not Legislation" on MySpace as http://groups.myspace.com/pfenl

Nightwng2000 NW2K Software http://www.facebook.com/nightwing2000 Nightwng2000 is now admin to the group "Parents For Education, Not Legislation" on MySpace as http://groups.myspace.com/pfenl

Re: Pro-Family Groups Trying to Sway Utah AG’s ...

These people are either stupid or liars.  Hard to tell which sometimes.

 

Andrew Eisen

Re: Pro-Family Groups Trying to Sway Utah AG’s ...

Is it possible for them to be both? Stupid in that they don't know what they're talking about, liars inthat they pretend to know everything about what they're talking about and present it all as absolute fact

Re: Pro-Family Groups Trying to Sway Utah AG’s ...

Sure but my question is: Do these people know that the law doesn't do what they say it does (making them liars*) or do they know exactly how full of fail it is and lie about it?

 

Andrew Eisen

*or to be charitable, simply misinformed.

Re: Pro-Family Groups Trying to Sway Utah AG’s ...

According to these people, what would be the prerequisites to be called the "least family-oriented" state?  Gay marriage?  Minorities?  A lack of Christian values?  Pollution? Jews?  Grizzily Bears?

The term "most family oriented state" seems to be unfalsifiable. 

Re: Pro-Family Groups Trying to Sway Utah AG’s ...

That's the point, to be vague and make it infallible.

Re: Pro-Family Groups Trying to Sway Utah AG’s ...

"the most family-oriented state in the nation, Utah"

...

...too easy.

Re: Pro-Family Groups Trying to Sway Utah AG’s ...

Dunnigan offered, “We're not in favor of these games being sold the minors.” While Fisher added, “If we took a poll here in Utah, most people would be outraged that our children have access to those games.”

I am in total agreement with you. Don't buy them for your children then.

btw, don't you mean '-sold to the minors.' or did he say it like that?

 - W

Re: Pro-Family Groups Trying to Sway Utah AG’s ...

Doesn't matter how it was said, these people are just hiding that they have a problem with these games existing, period.

Re: Pro-Family Groups Trying to Sway Utah AG’s ...

Yeah, the audio from the Eagle Forum's interview they said that they wish the games were banned from everyone of all ages because 'Why would anyone with good taste play them?' or said something very similar.

 - W

Re: Pro-Family Groups Trying to Sway Utah AG’s ...

I am considering starting a Pro Family Group. My group will fight any effort by the government to over reach their bounds in regards to how I rasie my family. I say to the government, "Stay out of my home!"

E. Zachary Knight
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
http://www.theeca.com/chapters_oklahoma

Re: Pro-Family Groups Trying to Sway Utah AG’s ...

"Pro-Family" is such a nonsensical weasel term that it almost self-delivers a grain of salt to take when listening to them. 

Other such weasel terms include: "pro-life", "911 truth", "for the children", "all-natural", "defense of marriage", "tax cuts for the rich", "no child left behind", and "affirmative action".

These people, along with using flat-out lies and misrepresentations, love to paint anyone opposed to their goals of censorship as being opposed to "families".

Actually, I can't think of a single group or idealogy (aside from segments of radical feminism) that actually has anything close to an agenda of destroying the family unit. 

Re: Pro-Family Groups Trying to Sway Utah AG’s ...

This is why I describe my political leanings as 'pro-kitten'.

That way I can say that anyone who disagrees with me is a kitten hating monster.

Re: Pro-Family Groups Trying to Sway Utah AG’s ...

My god.  You're a genius!  :D

Re: Pro-Family Groups Trying to Sway Utah AG’s ...

Absolutely.

“As the most family-oriented state in the nation" - and the least humble, it seems...

(How do you even measure being the most family-oriented? Simply the number of families?)

Re: Pro-Family Groups Trying to Sway Utah AG’s ...

Ah, the Eagle Forum.... "freedom for some, as long as they are like us"

Re: Pro-Family Groups Trying to Sway Utah AG’s ...

WOuld "Shut up and enjoy freedom" be another good one?

Re: Pro-Family Groups Trying to Sway Utah AG’s ...

They're just paroting all the same lies and uninformed nonsense we hear all the time, which only proves they don't know dick about what they're against, or they do know and are trying to get peopel to respond with pure emotion.

 

"
In a strange passage, Ruzicka indicated that, through her talks with the public, she came away feeling that people already think that the state “... prohibits children from buying video games in which participants have sex with prostitutes and then kill them; shoot innocent shoppers walking in a mall and decapitate people with shovels and have dogs fetch the severed heads.”"

Translation: I will keep people un informed and make them think this is in ALL vidjya games, and speak for them without speaking to them once.

The Eagle Forum involvement alone should invalidate this. They're all the type of peopel to see Postal and GTA and think all video games are liek that. They had their way the only thing available would be kindergames, then those would be bannedi n short order for some made up reason.

Hell, none of these group are pro family, which they prove, they're just pro "we know better than you and will go to any means necessary ro force you into that.

Re: Pro-Family Groups Trying to Sway Utah AG’s ...

 Can someone please tell me in what game does the player "decapitate people with shovels and have dogs fetch the severed heads." Does such a game exist or are they making shit up again?

Re: Pro-Family Groups Trying to Sway Utah AG’s ...

This. Honestly, anyone posting here is likely preaching to the choir already and we can all see the obvious fallacies. Everything I've read from Ruzicka here is ridiculous and mostly taken completely out of context: there ARE game ratings for a reason and the vast majority of retail outlets appear to follow them - no one is actively TRYING to sell games to minors!

It annoys me to see someone act so blindly and in nothing less than a "Won't someone think of the children?!" manner.

Re: Pro-Family Groups Trying to Sway Utah AG’s ...

THe only group actively trying to do somethign negative are these people, by actively tryign to get peopel to react with anger and fear.

Re: Pro-Family Groups Trying to Sway Utah AG’s ...

The paper's name is "Deseret" (Des-er-et) Not "Desert"

E. Zachary Knight
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
http://www.theeca.com/chapters_oklahoma

 
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Cecil475@PHX Corp - The dude's a moron who wouldn't know crap if it came up and kicked him.05/19/2013 - 6:36am
PHX Corphttp://kotaku.com/ea-sports-developer-calls-wii-u-crap-and-nintendo-wa-508481261 EA Sports Canada Moron calls Wii U 'Crap' and Nintendo 'Walking Dead'05/18/2013 - 11:42am
E. Zachary KnightIf the videos are of sufficient quality that people subscribe and watch regularly, then those let's players are providing a service that people want. That is the heart of capitalism. That is not something that should be shamed.05/17/2013 - 8:06am
E. Zachary KnightI have no idea who either of those people are. However, I still don't see why making a business out of creating let's play videos is somehow evil or wrong.05/17/2013 - 8:04am
MaskedPixelanteIt sure is if you're just doing it for the money. See Tobuscus and/or Pewdiepie for what happens when people get into it just for the money.05/17/2013 - 7:30am
E. Zachary KnightWhy is it wrong to make money doing LPs? Why should that be something that should be shamed?05/17/2013 - 6:20am
MaskedPixelantehttps://twitter.com/PsychedelicSA/status/335183893214924801 Now here's an interesting, glass half full thought about the Nintendo LP thing. It outs the people who are just doing LPs to make money.05/17/2013 - 5:56am
E. Zachary KnightI responded in writing to all this "let's play" stuff Nintendo Started. No need for my permission, I won't give it. It's not mine to give. http://divineknightgaming.com/?p=29205/16/2013 - 2:21pm
E. Zachary KnightLars Doucet of Levelup Labs has a Reddit going on game companies that allow monetization of Let's Play videos. http://www.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/1egayn/lets_build_a_list_of_game_studios_that_allow/05/16/2013 - 1:04pm
Sleaker@Imautobot - yah I wouldn't use an emulator as a good first run test of how stable the console is, haha.05/16/2013 - 11:47am
E. Zachary KnightThe 50th person to jump off a bridge is just as dumb if not dumber than the 1st.05/16/2013 - 10:03am
MaskedPixelanteYeah, let's all jump on Nintendo for doing this, even though they're hardly the first company to do this...05/16/2013 - 9:47am
E. Zachary KnightWow Nintendo, this is wrong. http://kotaku.com/nintendo-forcing-ads-on-some-youtube-lets-play-video-50709238305/16/2013 - 8:44am
Imautobot@Sleaker, further gameplay has revealed that the controller button do stick under the faceplate. Also, The NES emulator (Emuya)keeps crashing on me, though I think a bad ROM is causing it.05/16/2013 - 7:10am
Papa MidnightAE: I wonder if any other publishers will follow suit.05/15/2013 - 8:12pm
Andrew EisenEA is ditching Online Pass. http://venturebeat.com/2013/05/15/ea-kills-its-controversial-online-pass-program/05/15/2013 - 7:20pm
Avalongod@Zach and quicnkold...I've read the bill and the intent of it is to fear-monger. It's not a balanced message. I don't recall the ESRB being mentioned at all. It's more "keeps your kids away from these movies/games or they'll become violent"05/15/2013 - 4:35pm
E. Zachary Knightquiknkold, The big problem with that legislation is the amount of misinformation out there. Who is going to ensure that the information in the pamphlet is accurate?05/15/2013 - 3:25pm
quiknkoldREBeardogg : I'm on the fence about this. on one side, I want parents to be aware of the ESRB, and even Movie Ratings. On the other hand, I feel this will be used for nothing but Propaganda. The ESRB does a good job.05/15/2013 - 3:07pm
IanCFrostbite is coming out on iOS devices. Yet the Wii U cant handle it? *coughbullshitcough*05/15/2013 - 2:31pm
 

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