Earlier this week, I brought you news that U.S. Rep. Joe Baca had introduced a proposal that would require disc-based and digital games to carry warning labels. I scoffed at the measure and called it “completely unnecessary.” Well, it seems that a state senator from South Carolina is attempting to trump the California congressman. The man is Robert Ford (D); his aim is to abolish public use of profane language. Yea, you read that correctly.
According to Bill 56 submitted to the South Carolina General Assembly:
It is unlawful for a person in a public forum or place of public accommodation wilfully and knowingly to publish orally or in writing, exhibit, or otherwise make available material containing words, language, or actions of a profane, vulgar, lewd, lascivious, or indecent nature.
A person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
The above passage was written with the knowledge that the bill could eventually become law. It still has to be approved.
This bill obviously pertains to interactive entertainment, as many games contain language considered unsuitable for younger audiences. Epic and Cliffy B might want to start interviewing some new scribes for the next “Gears of War” game. I suggest individuals who can actually write thought-provoking dialogue, instead of people who design coloring books for the U.S. prison system. GamePolitics points out that the measure, if approved, would also apply to other forms of entertainment, which would include movies, books, web sites and music.
Honestly, this bill seems even more ridiculous than Baca’s proposal. I would be shocked if this measure becomes law, as it seems to completely ignore the existence of the First Amendment. This seems like yet another example of a politician wasting valuable time with unnecessary legislation. The elimination of certain words won’t make the world, the U.S. or the state of South Carolina a better place to live. Try focusing your energy on more important issues. Like resurrecting salsa-flavored Doritos.
Source: S. 56 via GamePolitics
Popularity: 1% [?]
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Yeah,. who really cares about those amendments in the Constitution, especially that stupid first one which grants us rights to free SPEECH. I don’t even think JT would attempt to pass this legislature if he was in public office.
The bill will never pass, but lately video games have taken to swearing like they just learned the words or something it’s &#$&*@# stupid.
This won’t get approved, even the person pushing the bill knows it.
One thing I didn’t get in the article is the first sentence in the third paragraph, “This bill obviously pertains to interactive entertainment”. Why is it so obviously targeted at video games? It seems a like a bit more general waste of time to me.
1st amendment anyone? Anyway Congress showed they don’t care if they have the power to make the laws they make with the Enumerated Powers Act. It has 1 or 2 supporters in the House and none in the Senate. It just says that when Congress passes a law, they say which part of the Constitution gives thems the power to make that law.
I WANT SALSA DORITOS.
And swearing is valuable.
ex. Why the f@!k are these captions so hard to read, this is my fifth time trying to post this!?
Wow. I thought Baca was ridiculous but all he’s proposing is a (redundant) warning label. At least he’s not stopping anything.
I have to be honest, if this is passed I will be very mad. I don’t even swear. The part about no profanity in games isnt what bothers me the most.
This bill is unconstitutional and violates first amendment rights. Sorry just wanted to say that. Right wings just make my day.
LOL, I’d like to see this get passed just to watch the riots and protests in South Carolina.
what really did happen to the salsa flavoured doritos?
First Amendment. End of conversation.
Randomperson: Joe Baca and Robert Ford are both Democrats. I think you’ll find people of the left wing are more likely to try to enact anti-First Amendment/freedom of speech legislation; viz, “Fairness” Doctrine, any public university speech code, etc.
While I do think there is too much random foul language, in games and in “real” life, I would definitely be against any anti-First Amendment bill such as this one.
How is this bill “obviously about interactive entertainment”? I read the quote and I didn’t see anything about interactive entertainment.
This law is being passed to stop people from swearing in public and imposing a fine if they do so.
You should’nt have to feel threatened when walking through a public place that you or your children could hear profanities and there is nothing protecting us from that. It’s one thing to have that stuff in the media or music, you can avoid that stuff if you need to but in a public environment you are subject to hear anything that the person next to you wants to say.
I totally agree with this bill, and the whole interactive thing doesn’t even come up in this article.
“Who the f@&k are you to decide which words are profane!!!”
I just think that would be a really funny public response, it just would.
Lets take an objective look at this debate. First off its not a “vast right wing conspericy” like some would sugjest becasue the proposed bill was delivered by Robert Ford a Democrat from SC. It appears to me that people on both sides of the political spectrim are seeing a need for mannors in the public areana and not just 5th grade humor. There is nothing more unatractive to me as seeing a lady act like a fellow and dropping f bombs without even looking around to make sure no one can hear her. The simle definitions behind the words that are being used is reason enough not to say them. No one is saying you can’t speek your mind on any topic its just the way you say it. You can act out or be upset about something in public without acting like a child and thats all this argument really is about anyway. Its about wanting to do whatever you want no matter who it offends and crying when someone tells you to act your age. The next topic is the use of language in video games. I for one will not spend my money on a game (be it gears, halo, gta, cod4 or what have you) that thinks its cool to have random swearing in it to increaswe the enjoyment factor of the game. I have never left a game thinking man that F bomb was so right on it made the game tight. What it does is make the video game industry look like its being run by a bunch of children who can’t carry out a conversation with anyone else but a bunch of middle school children. I mean how stupid and pointless was that song at the end ofthe first gears game? It was there to swear and nothing else. As a graphics designer Cliffy B is 2nd to none but as for script writing my 2 year old niece could teach him a thing or two about how adults should converse in society. I will not support movements, games, movies, etc that think moral decay is “free speech” and that anything goes is the way life should be. God Bless the people who are willing to take a stand for something rather than fall for anything.
I’m hungery for Doritos w/ salsa .
and WTF-ever. let them do wtf they want. The big biz corps. Dont Give a fk. moneys money.
brb-goin2store.