Prisoners playing Video games

[Chark]

Kantor said:

Khuutra said:

Kantor said:
I think they should have the freedom to purchase them with their own money, but no, taxpayers should not be paying for convicted criminals to have an unnecessary (though enjoyable) luxury like that, which many people can't even afford themselves.

Where do you draw the line between recreational entertainment (which is generally held to be necessary for humane conditions in every prison in the first world) and luxury? What separates Super Mario from Harry Potter?

Harry Potter can be screened in one hall for the enjoyment of hundreds of people for the price of a projector (likely already there) and maybe $5 extra.

A video game entertains, at most, four people at a time, and requires an expensive console and a game that can cost as much as $60.

Actually you are looking at around $1000 for the license to show a viewing of a movie. I've held and worked for events at a college and that is the typical pice but it does vary. A game console is cheaper than a projector, even the bulb of a projector can run $200. On top of that you need a wall or a screen that can view it, as well as a location that fits and serves a large number of people. Those things might exist pretty outright but sometimes facilities are built with this kind of thing in mind.

It gets even crazier when looking at bringing in a musician or comedian. A stage needs to be rented and assembled on top of the contract costs for the performer and the vendor the prison needs to hire or assign the responsibilities to host events.