Grand theft scapegoat: the ridiculous jihad against video games

Reason, Oct, 2005 by Daniel Koffler

The sheer scope of media choices renders futile any effort to rein in content through regulations. Occasional pixelated displays of violence and sex can be found in some games that are sometimes sold to children.

(Sixteen percent of games are rated "Mature," and 16 percent of game buyers are under 18, according to the Entertainment Software Association.) These comprise a tiny part of the total array of media content freely available to anyone.

Legislators nevertheless are drafting self-righteous bills that practically beg to be overturned in court. With any luck, that will keep the prohibitionists occupied until they discover the next dire threat to our children.

Daniel Koffler (dkofller@reason.com) was reason's 2005 Burton C. Gray Memorial Intern.