You do realise neither video game or movie age ratings are government things in the US, right? They’re run by the ESRB and MPAA respectively, neither of which are government entities.
In fact, just 12 years ago the Supreme Court ruled 7-2 in Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Association that video games are protected speech and that a California law banning the sale of violent video games to minors was illegal.
Even as private entities they don’t prevent children from accessing the media. They only provide guidance for parents who can then use it to decide if the content is appropriate.
My wife used to work at a video store in the 90s. They would catch kids in the adult room all the time. You didn’t have to look at the back either. There was explicit porn right on the front of the box.
I…did. I never claimed the MPAA or ESRB are either of those. I said that a store or business (i.e. movie theater) will follow a policy based on the rating those entities give a game or movie. I don’t understand why you’re disagreeing with my original comment when that is in fact what happens. Just ask a 13-year-old to try and get into an R-rated movie at the theaters where that theater enforces those policies. Same thing with buying M-rated games at a major retailer. The government nor those ratings companies don’t enforce anything, the businesses do.
Not only are they non-government, it is specifically setup so that retailers decide what they carry for sale. Most retailers choose not to carry unrated or AO-rated games for sale, but they are not prevented from doing so by any government organization. Those games aren’t “banned”, retailers simply choose not to carry them. Suprement court decisions like Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Association uphold this structure, citing video games as protected speech.
You do realise neither video game or movie age ratings are government things in the US, right? They’re run by the ESRB and MPAA respectively, neither of which are government entities.
In fact, just 12 years ago the Supreme Court ruled 7-2 in Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Association that video games are protected speech and that a California law banning the sale of violent video games to minors was illegal.
Even as private entities they don’t prevent children from accessing the media. They only provide guidance for parents who can then use it to decide if the content is appropriate.
Well, technically, they do, if the store selling said items has a policy following the listed age ratings.
Pretty sure every kid in the 90s opened the black curtain at the rental shop to look at the back of the VHS.
My wife used to work at a video store in the 90s. They would catch kids in the adult room all the time. You didn’t have to look at the back either. There was explicit porn right on the front of the box.
No, they don’t. The private entities in question are the ESRB and MPAA.
…right, which is why I said, “if the store selling them has a policy not to.” I didn’t say anything about the government.
I didn’t say anything about retailers or the government. Try reading before replying.
The MPAA and ESRB are neither.
I…did. I never claimed the MPAA or ESRB are either of those. I said that a store or business (i.e. movie theater) will follow a policy based on the rating those entities give a game or movie. I don’t understand why you’re disagreeing with my original comment when that is in fact what happens. Just ask a 13-year-old to try and get into an R-rated movie at the theaters where that theater enforces those policies. Same thing with buying M-rated games at a major retailer. The government nor those ratings companies don’t enforce anything, the businesses do.
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In context your comment said the MPAA and ESRB prevent children from accessing media. They do not.
Once again try reading before replying.
Not only are they non-government, it is specifically setup so that retailers decide what they carry for sale. Most retailers choose not to carry unrated or AO-rated games for sale, but they are not prevented from doing so by any government organization. Those games aren’t “banned”, retailers simply choose not to carry them. Suprement court decisions like Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Association uphold this structure, citing video games as protected speech.