Parent: It’s A Verb, Too!

Posted Jan 16, 2008 by TBO.com

Updated Jan 16, 2008 at 07:20 PM

I just got the most disgusting press release from a parents group (which I won’t name, because frankly I don’t want to publicize their insanely misguided efforts). It was in response to an article in yesterday’s New York Times about the video game industry establishing a political action committee. They’re, of course, outraged that the industry might gain some clout on Capitol Hill.

Why? Because, judging from their statement, they believe this monstrously powerful and hideously malevolent entity known as The Video Game Industry is forcing parents to purchase inappropriate products for their children. Apparently they believe the Industry’s evil power has rendered parents utterly incapable of determining which games come into their own homes. I guess it’s also the industry’s fault that these parents are either too lazy or too busy with their careers, friends and hobbies to actually, you know, parent.

Now I’m not here to debate the merits of PACs, but as a tax-paying American citizen who happens to enjoy video games, I really don’t have any interest in wasting my government’s time (and my money) with unnecessary regulations of what I can and can’t purchase in the way of entertainment. It’s not the game industry’s job to determine what’s appropriate for your kids, and it’s not Congress’ job, either. (Besides, they’re too busy with important matters, like ... baseball.) It’s your job. Your responsibility. Here in America, we call it “freedom.”

Or, at least, we used to.