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No more violent video game ads, RTD

Wednesday, March 7 at 12:01 AM

By George Robison

Every parent has done it. Diverted their child’s attention while passing that new toy or hoping they don’t look up and see the ad for something they might want but that you’re unwilling to buy for them. Advertising is powerful, especially when viewed by the most impressionable members of our society, our youth. As parents we do not want to have that argument with the child who often will not understand why we won’t buy them the toy we cannot afford, the movie with mature themes, or a game that can be harmful to their development. It is hard enough to raise a child without marketing campaigns that entice children toward destructive activities.

Our public servants in Denver can help parents and protect our children. By not accepting ads and money from those who would influence children by advertising adult video games in the public square, we will move to the front of the pack in protecting our children. The Parents Television Council and the Campaign for Commercial Free Childhood recently called on the Denver Regional Transportation District to amend its advertising policy to not allow ads for adult video games.

Joining us in asking the RTD to set a policy that it will not accept these types of ads in the future were other prominent Colorado voices, including former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton and former Colorado U.S. Attorney Mike Norton. More than 50 researchers, clergy and child advocacy groups also attached their names to this effort.

Advocates for children from across the political spectrum are united in their belief that children should not be targets for advertising that glorifies violence.

RTD has profited from promoting violent content in the past. The notoriously violent “Mature”-rated Grand Theft Auto (Rockstar Games) has been featured on RTD trains. In 2002, the latest version of the game had been the top-selling video game for teens and preteens and allowed players to kill a prostitute after having sex with her. Grand Theft Auto players can also commit armed robbery and kill innocent bystanders, law enforcement officers and rival gang members.

Our public transportation network serves more than half the residents of Colorado and is doing them a disservice with its tacit approval for the dangerous content in the “Mature”-rated video games that are advertised throughout the system.

Our public servants have a responsibility to act in the best interests of our youth. Violent video games have proven to have long-term harmful effects on children.

Countless research studies have demonstrated the effect of media violence on a child’s brain and cognitive development. Researchers at the Indiana University School of Medicine have used functional magnetic resonance imaging technology to observe which areas of the brain are stimulated when a subject plays violent video games.

Researchers concluded that violent video games cause changes in teenagers’ brain function. Adolescents showed increased activation of the amygdala and decreased activation of the frontal lobe after playing violent video games.

Dr. Vincent F. Matthews, professor of radiology at Indiana University School of Medicine, has said, “The conclusion here is that after playing a violent video game, normal adolescents demonstrate an increase in arousal of the area of the brain involved in emotional response and a decrease in activation of areas of the brain involved in self-control, inhibition and attention span.”

It is irresponsible for the RTD to have accepted advertising dollars to promote violent video games to the many children who use their services.

Our community should not promote violence and lawlessness. Our children should be able to ride public trains and buses without being subjected to ads for graphic video games. We will take a step in that direction if RTD officials serve the public interest and amend their policy to say that, in the future, RTD will not accept advertising for violent video games. At the very least, parents deserve that kind of help from our public officials on the RTD board of directors.

George Robison is the director of the Denver chapter of the Parents Television Council (parentstv.org). He is a resident of Lakewood.

READER COMMENTS

"As parents we do not want to have that argument with the child who often will not understand why we won’t buy them the toy we cannot afford, the movie with mature themes, or a game that can be harmful to their development."...... Please that has to be absolute lamest load of shit I have ever heard. I agree that a 6 year old should not be playing a game such as manhunt or watching Saw movies, but that is where parenting comes in.... "Mommy can i have that" "no", "please", "no", child throws fit mother disciplines child.... My parents did this countless times and you know what I turned out fine, make a nice living, and haven't committed any felony offenses. I have taken what I have learned from them and applied it to my own kids, and you know what they seem to be doing quite fine as well. In any case advertising should not be against the law, regardless if you find the material objectionable or not. You are trying to take away your (our) own freedoms, if someone wants to dress up as Barney in order to promote Barney toys in the toy section they should be able to do so (even tho I absolutely hate Barney) . Likewise if I want to put a poster of GTA in my store window I should be able to do so. If a train company wants to make extra cash by advertising a game they should be able to do so. These are basic freedoms and should remain freedoms... If you start pushing to eliminate advertisement in public places you are eliminating your own rights as a citizen. When your child comes home and asks you if they can see that game they saw on the train, it really isn't that hard to stand up and be a responsible parent. If you cant do that there should be a law saying you can no longer have kids.

Posted by William on November 2, 2007 05:54 PM

No what we need is less parents wanting the goverment to do thier work

Posted by Alex Hartnett on September 14, 2007 05:52 AM