According to gamepolitics.com, Senators Clinton and Lieberman have announced some game rating enforcement legislation.

The Good:
Retail level enforcement of ESRB ratings
Retailers have defenses regarding good faith reliance on official looking IDs and the game ratings themselves.

The Bad:
That such nanny-state government legislation is being introduced in the first place.

There was going to be some backlash from the Hot Coffee scandal but I'm surprised that they didn't over-react. This is not that bad a piece of legislation, it doesn't seek to censor what can or cannot be put into games, it just seeks enforcement of the ratings system at the retail level. In a perfect world voluntary enforcement and parental responsibility would be the platform of those in power. But in this day and age, there is NO personal responsibility. Parents don't want to parent, and definitely do not want to be blamed when there kids go apebat crazy. Unfortunately, this is not a perfect world, and we are given legislation like this so that the absent parents can sleep a little easier that night while little Johnny is running amok with his friends over the city. (Hey, at least he isn't playing an M rated video game.)

There is a strong likelihood that this bill will never become law, and if it does become law, will be challenged in court and struck down as unconstitutional. But until then, I say, don't worry. This is just something so that the rating points of a few politicians can go up and they can say "Hey, I tried something!"

We live in a great country, one in which freedom of choice is celebrated by most. Unfortunately, some want to take away our choice, and introduce a nanny-state legislating our gaming habits, our eating habits, etc.

No one gets out of life alive, so enjoy it while you can. God didn't put us on this Earth to piss and moan and fight each other. God put us here to enjoy life, to be happy, and to use our own judgment. God doesn't want us doing the right thing because someone told us to do it. God wants us to listen to our heart and choose to do the right thing. Unfortunately, some of us fall and make horrible choices. Some people would make those horrible choices no matter how much intervention they had. It's a sad world, and it's a wonderful world. Pain, suffering, joy, love. These are what make the world turn.

Wow, this is turning into a sermon. Sorry, I'll try not to proselytize in the future.

In conclusion, live your life how you want to. Don't let others tell you how to live, and don't tell others how they should live. Be happy. As far as I know, you only have one life.

looking good so far. I'm playing on Skywall server so anyone there can say hello to Pamillian (human/rogue) or Crystaljade (night elf/druid). One of those two will probably end up being my main char, but I'm not quite sure yet.

Pamillian is at level 15 and Crystaljade just turned level 10.

Weather here where I am just turned cold, and I'm trying to stay warm.

Later!

This livejournal will probably follow news in the videogame world, will follow my characters exploits in World of Warcraft when I purchase it this Friday, and will be used to post my movies created by The Movies by Lionhead Studios. First real journal entry should probably be tomorrow.