Gamertell

Slowly, but surely, our elected officials are becoming aware that video games are not evil and, if managed responsibly, can prove to be an excellent means of entertainment for individuals of all ages.

Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum used to be similar to nearly every other politician, believing that video games would train young children to be mass murderers. He took particular issue with the Wii version of Manhunt 2 due to the fact that he thought the Wii’s motion controls would enable kids to act out their “violent tendencies.”

According to GamePolitics, the person who planted that seed in his head was, of course, a certain Jack Thompson.

However, now that the holiday season is upon us, McCollum is taking a stance that other politicians are beginning to take - cautioning parents to exercise restraint when it comes to deciding what games are acceptable for their children. It’s an admirable viewpoint, one that he probably should have stuck with from the start.

In fact, in a press release on his website, McCollum references the wise words of Entertainment Software Rating Board President Patricia Vance and Entertainment Software Association President Michael Gallagher in his plea to parents. Interestingly, Vance mentions in McCollum’s release that video games are among “the easiest type of content to control” when it comes to deciding what is acceptable for her children.

Gallagher cited how more parents than usual planned to buy video games and consoles for their children. He warned them to “use the ESRB rating system” when it comes to making their decisions.

Jack Thompson is not mentioned in this release and, considering what has been happening to him, I’m not surprised.

Read [GamePolitics] Via [Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum]