New bill would make ESRB ratings legally binding

[theRepublic]

curl-6 said:

gergroy said:

curl-6 said:
I see no problem with this.

I mean, do we REALLY need more obnoxious 12 year olds playing M rated games?

The problem with the law is it attacks one industry, but ignores others.  Why should the video ratings be enforced when the movie ratings aren't?  They don't even have ratings for books.  What about tv shows?  You see my point?  There are other forms of violent media, if they are going to go after enforcing a rating system, why just video games?  It's an obvious pander to riled up masses that doesn't actually adress the problem it is attempting to solve.  

Movies aren't enforced there? Here in Australia you're not allowed to buy an R-rated film if you're under 18, though many lazy store clerks don't bother to check. In the US a kid can walk into a store and buy, say, Se7en without any questions asked?

Then again, over here don't even have an R rating for games, so we're not a shinging example of freedom of expression.

Hopefully as time goes on the older generations with their paranoia about games will be replaced by a generation that grew up with games as a socially acceptable medium.

Still, if it means I don't have to hear as many miniature dudebros talking to their fellow preteens about how "f*cking epic" Black Ops 2 or God of War is, then I find it hard to be against it. XD

The ratings are more like guidelines.  Most retailers try to go by them, but there is no law that says they have to.  It is not like the way alcohol or cigarette sales are enforced.