Overheard on CNN.com: Let parents monitor video gamesleahgoldbergcnn
Exchange of the day:
"I grew up playing violent video games and now I make them. And I make a decent amount of money doing it. I laugh at my mom for saying that it was a waste of my time." – catallergy
"Yes, but your double life as a serial strangler is the problem." – MattQu
California ban on sale of 'violent' video games to children rejected
Supreme Court sees video games as art
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a California state law intended to strengthen the current video game industry rating system, banning the sale or rental of "violent" games to those under 18. "Violent" interactive games were defined as "those in which the player is given the choice of "killing, maiming, dismembering or sexually assaulting an image of a human being" in "offensive ways."
Like the high court, CNN.com readers did not split along party lines, and more agreed with the high court that parents, not the state, should be in charge of children's gaming. xkeithnjx said, "The government is a terrible parent. Let's leave it up to the mother and father."
Bobby62 asked, "You mean there are parents who don't pop their head into the kids' room from time to time to see what they are up to? I do. Sorry parents; we wanted kids, now we need to raise them."
flonzy said, "We regulate all that far more than Europe yet we have the higher violence rate; just goes to show that government regulations don't solve societal issues."
But BlueDogMS said, "Even the most outstanding parents have children that do things behind their backs. This just makes it easier for kids to do just that."
Cruddy11 said, "Violent video games do acclimate or desensitize children to violence. At worst it incites them. You don't need a study to tell you that. It's common sense."
bfa1r said, "As a parent of two boys, I'm extremely saddened by this verdict. Yes, you have to do your best to raise them right, but society's constant exposure to sex and violence certainly doesn't make it easy."
How does a baby get to be obese?
A story about children who are obese before they enter kindergarten had CNN.com readers talking about what they see families eating now and how that compares with their own upbringing. dunski said, "I'm in my 30s and when I look back at all the corporate 'kids' food' I ate in the 80s/90s – like the Lunchables, Dunkaroos, and fruit roll-ups that my mom unwittingly brought home – I want to vomit. I had a problem with obesity as a child but I've been able to turn it around in my adulthood through rigorous exercise and proper eating habits. People really thought then that it was OK for kids to consume whatever amount of sugar/fat they wanted."
geekgirl42 said, "I practically lived on Chef-Boy-Ardee ravioli, Little Debbies and Kool-Aid growing up in the 70's and I was a normal weight, and I remember only a few of my classmates being significantly overweight. I honestly think there might be some link between the switch from sugar to high-fructose corn syrup during the 80's that is causing this trend. Granted, older kids are much more sedentary than when I grew up, but are toddlers really getting that much less activity?"
texasgirl318 said, "I have worked as a pediatric nurse for 2 years. We saw a small percent of overweight babies and young children. When the doctor tried to tell them to cut down the juice/junk, most often the parents would get so offended! The parents were thinking that a 'healthy' baby was a chunky baby."
rdiemand said, "The bigger problem is just a lack of common sense. In an ER waiting room last year I saw someone pour a can of Mountain Dew into her young toddler's bottle. When can that possibly seem like a good idea?"
aubrie said, "I taught school in south Texas, and half the children in my class had acanthosis nigricans. It was so prevalent that they all thought it was normal and didn't know what it was."
Katey12 said, "Kids need to play outside. My memories of summer as a kid were playing games outside with all the neighbor kids."
The California Dream is fizzling out
Heaven or hell? A story and photos about how California has changed over the years had CNN.com readers arguing about whether they'd want to live there.
OjaiGuy said, "I'm happy to say that I'm from L.A. Born and raised there. Many of the places where I lived in or nearby are now barrios, the streets lined with hand-painted store fronts, all in foreign language. The streets are dirty, the parks filled with homeless, druggies and gangs. From the east end of Ventura County to Dana Point, it is nothing but wall-to-wall people. Travel is not measured in miles, but hours, and it usually takes at least one to get anywhere. I have lived north of L.A now for about 20 years. What happened to my hometown is now happening here."
capibara said, "I've grown up in the San Francisco Bay area my whole life. I love living here but I have been thinking about leaving lately due to the high cost of housing. The rental market is insane. I'm paying $1554 for a 1 bed /1 bath apartment. That same $1554 could rent me a 2500 sq ft house in Arizona or Nevada."
susansocal2 said, "I was born and raised in California. The only reason to stay is the great weather. Housing is unaffordable, our politicians are corrupt, and our economy is hurling out of control. We sure pay for this great weather."
But others said California was still wonderful. AllieRambles said, "I am a Southern CA native, and now I live in Northern CA near the Delta region. I love my state. I love that I can visit Yosemite anytime. I can visit the desert, the forest, the beach and a large city all in one day. My state is beautiful. Sure, we have our downside, but who doesn't?"
matsamharv said, "I always laugh when I here people talk like this. I moved to Berkeley as a student six years ago and I can tell you that the California dream is alive and well, but it may not be the same dream. Rent is high, but so are wages and people deal with this by getting roommates. I may never own my home, but I would rather rent and live in the most beautiful place on earth, eat the best local food, drink the best beer, smoke the best weed legally, and date the most beautiful women I've ever seen, than own anywhere else."
DeeAmbro said, "Thank you for helping to keep more people from moving to our glorious state. Having lived in Arizona (hell on earth) for twenty five years and New Yawk (forgetaboutit!) for twenty, I can honestly say that California is the best state in this crumbling nation."
ih8tlazyppl said, "It's terrible out here in California. Don't move here …"
Do you feel your views align with these commenters' thoughts? Post a comment below or sound off on video.
Compiled by the CNN.com moderation staff. Some comments edited for length or clarity.
Via: This Just In
