commonsensemedia.org: handy tool for idiot parents or another step in the demonization of technology
51 replies, posted
[url=http://www.commonsensemedia.org/]The Site.[/url]
[b][highlight]Their mission:[/highlight][/b]
[quote][b]Our Mission[/b]
Common Sense Media is dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in a world of media and technology.
We exist because our nation's children spend more time with media and digital activities than they do with their families or in school, which profoundly impacts their social, emotional, and physical development . As a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization, we provide trustworthy information and tools, as well as an independent forum, so that families can have a choice and a voice about the media they consume.[/quote]
[b][highlight]Their 10 beliefs:[/highlight][/b]
[quote][b]Our 10 Beliefs[/b]
We believe in media sanity, not censorship.
We believe that media has truly become "the other parent" in our kids' lives, powerfully affecting their mental, physical, and social development.
We believe in teaching our kids to be savvy, respectful and responsible media interpreters, creators, and communicators. We can’t cover their eyes but we can teach them to see.
We believe parents should have a choice and a voice about the media our kids consume and create. Every family is different but all need information.
We believe that the price for free and open media is a bit of extra homework for families. Parents need to know about the media their kids use and need to teach responsible, ethical behavior as well as manage overall media use.
We believe that through informed decision making, we can improve the media landscape one decision at a time.
We believe appropriate regulations about right time, right place, and right manner exist. They need to be upheld by our elected and appointed leaders.
We believe in age-appropriate media and that the media industry needs to act responsibly as it creates and markets content for each audience.
We believe ratings systems should be independent and transparent for all media.
We believe in diversity of programming and media ownership.[/quote]
At least they don't want censorship :D
[b][highlight]Policy & Advocacy:[/highlight][/b]
[quote]Common Sense Media provides age-based media reviews and information so that parents can make informed choices about the media in their kid’s lives. We also work to give families a voice – and opportunities to encourage policymakers, media companies, and others to improve the media environment for all kids.[/quote]
So they pretty much want censorship?
[b][highlight]Media they rate & criteria for rating media:[/highlight][/b]
They arbitrarily(?) rate Movies, Music, Games, Apps, Websites, TV Shows, and, of course, Books.
[i]All based on these criteria:[/i]
Positive Messages
Violence
Sex
Language
[b]Consumerism[/b] (every fucking thing they review better have 100% in this category. You have to buy the shit -__-)
Drugs/Drinking/Smoking
[b][highlight]A few reviews:[/highlight][/b]
[url=http://www.commonsensemedia.org/game-reviews/kinect-star-wars]Kinect Star Wars (videogame)[/url]
[url=http://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/immortals]Immortals (film)[/url]
[url=http://www.commonsensemedia.org/mobile-app-reviews/gun-builder]Gun Builder (app)[/url]
[url=http://www.commonsensemedia.org/music-reviews/mezmerize]System of a Down: Mezmerize (music)[/url]
(one of their reasons for the 17+ rating? "Absurdist." I shit you not.)
[b][highlight]The Point of This Thread[/highlight][/b]
Discussion of these idiots, of course, but also what impact this could have on society, the government, and censorship (especially in light of the SOPA/ACTA/PIPA/CISPA strain of legislation).
[b][highlight]TL;DR[/highlight][/b]
Dumbasses start a site to tell other dumbasses and the government how bad media can be for your kids, wants censorship, talk about it.
Because sheltering the youth, rather than letting them think for themselves is so much better. :v:
One time I played halo and now I have brain damage.
[QUOTE=_jesterk;35589382]One time I played halo and now I have brain damage.[/QUOTE]
one time I played grand theft auto and now I steal cars and murder 500 people near daily
One time I played leisure suit larry and now I fuck all the bitches.
I get annoyed when people so technologically illiterate collaborate and make these kind of things.
One time I played Garry's Mod and I went on Facepunch
Now I have no bitches
I don't know what you guys are talking about, some of this stuff makes sense.
I stress [I]some[/I], though. Some is also batshit insane.
Their listed beliefs actually sound reasonable and good.
But beyond that they went back to being like every other group like this.
By kids I assume they mean 13 and under, cause up to there is a reasonable age to control these things.
It's weird how a lot of this is measured and completely reasonable and then it becomes so absurdly polarized, becoming crazy ridiculous.
[QUOTE=Rhenae;35589831]Their listed beliefs actually sound reasonable and good.
But beyond that they went back to being like every other group like this.
By kids I assume they mean 13 and under, cause up to there is a reasonable age to control these things.[/QUOTE]
They rate things and slot them with each numbered age from 2 to 17...
That "Mesmerize" review is funny to read as a long time fan of System of a Down.
[QUOTE=Baazul;35589862]That "Mesmerize" review is funny to read as a long time fan of System of a Down.[/QUOTE]
I thought it was hilarious that the "parents say" age was 11, the "kids say" age was 13, and these idiots slotted it in at 17 fucking years old.
[quote=Bjork]Electro music queen sings safe, beautiful poetry.[/quote]
oh man safe poetry.
that's just an insult.
[QUOTE=sdwise;35589882]I thought it was hilarious that the "parents say" age was 11, the "kids say" age was 13, and these idiots slotted it in at 17 fucking years old.[/QUOTE]
It's because of the 'questionable' song titles I'm almost certain.
Violent Pornography is a wonderful song though.
What's so wrong with this? It's promoting discussion within families more than anything. Isn't that the argument of every anti-censorship person?
If anything I'd like these kind of reviews to be offered to parents when they're buying something, rather than simple ratings and exclusions. This is way more informative than "high impact violence" or "sexual references" because it contextualises it. If a film has sexual references that are pretty much about 15 year olds valuing long term relationships and trust when deciding to have sex, it's completely different to one that is about guys finding the most promiscuous girl and taking advantage of that.
I don't really see the harm in having a parent oriented review site like this, other than that it may allow overly conservative parents to have their views broadcast more widely than normal.
[editline]16th April 2012[/editline]
[QUOTE=sdwise;35588953]
[b][highlight]TL;DR[/highlight][/b]
Dumbasses start a site to tell other dumbasses and the government how bad media can be for your kids, wants censorship, talk about it.[/QUOTE]
Yeah fuck how dare they try and inform parents of the products that their children are engaging with. What fucking Nazis.
hahaha, this is just perfect
I've actually been there before to submit a couple of honest reviews so that the site has some damn truth to it, among the other reviews that were either 8 year olds rating M games as "EVERY ONE CAN PLAY THIS" or reviews by moms that say "rated E games are some sort of demonic influence".
I think its funny that they complained that kinect star wars had bad controls.
[URL="http://www.commonsensemedia.org/game-reviews/warcraft-iiiwarcraft-iii-frozen-throne"]Warcraft 3 is filled with secks[/URL]
[editline]16th April 2012[/editline]
Why isn't it marked for drugs too, it's like skill enhancing potions in there
[QUOTE=Limed00d;35590242][URL="http://www.commonsensemedia.org/game-reviews/warcraft-iiiwarcraft-iii-frozen-throne"]Warcraft 3 is filled with secks[/URL]
[editline]16th April 2012[/editline]
Why isn't it marked for drugs too, it's like skill enhancing potions in there[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]For example, players can make a character say not-so-innocent comments[/QUOTE]
Wow, I didn't know you could do that.
[QUOTE]or blow up creatures in an explosion of guts and blood by [b]clicking on them repeatedly.[/b][/QUOTE]
hahaha no
Seems like they are just overprotective as usual. Under the Violence section for Portal 2:
[quote]Players shoot a portal "gun" to create interdimensional gateways from one place to another[/quote]
Obviously a violent thing.
[quote=Mezmerize review]
Parents need to know that this CD contains four-letter words
[/quote]
:O
[QUOTE=sdwise;35589858]They rate things and slot them with each numbered age from 2 to 17...[/QUOTE]
That's just the opinion of one reviewer. You can look at all the parts they've put together and see whether you think it suits your child. I mean it's not as if they've made anything up. They talk about aspects of games and movies and music that are there. They don't say "hey don't let your kids listen to this devil music", they say "this music has some themes that some parents may object to letting their children be exposed to, access at your discretion".
I personally find it incredible that they think they can protect kids from all of this shit, and just live in a happy little bubble all their life without anything bad/mean/disgusting/perverted ever happening.
They need to wake the fuck up.
[quote]We believe that media has truly become "the other parent" in our kids' lives, powerfully affecting their mental, physical, and social development.[/quote]
Yeh because the most logical way to fix that is to censor (excuse me, I ment [I]raaateee[/I]) the media istead of, you know, getting parents to do some, you know, fucking parenting.
Eh, I find most of this agreeable, really. I mean, you should as a parent know what the fuck you let your kids do beforehand, but if say, my kids want something and I'm kinda uncertain about giving it for their birthday, I might check it up on there. Taking it with a grain of salt, of course, but like, it seems fairly useful.
[QUOTE=Riller;35592213]Eh, I find most of this agreeable, really. I mean, you should as a parent know what the fuck you let your kids do beforehand, but if say, my kids want something and I'm kinda uncertain about giving it for their birthday, I might check it up on there. Taking it with a grain of salt, of course, but like, it seems fairly useful.[/QUOTE]
You make a point.
After surfing the site from page to page, it isn't really that overprotective and ignorant as I first got the impression of. It seems to come with the pros and cons needed to deem a game playable for a younger audience. But, as you said, everything should be taken with a grain of salt, of course.
And I like how they point out role models and morally positive actions, for example Gordon Freeman, and the liberation of mankind.
[QUOTE=Limed00d;35592586]You make a point.
After surfing the site from page to page, it isn't really that overprotective and ignorant as I first got the impression of. It seems to come with the pros and cons needed to deem a game playable for a younger audience. But, as you said, everything should be taken with a grain of salt, of course.
And I like how they point out role models and morally positive actions, for example Gordon Freeman, and the liberation of mankind.[/QUOTE]
Yeah. I wouldn't keep my kid on a tight leash by this stuff, if they earn their own money by delivering papers or whatever it is kids do, then yeah, they can buy Rapelay and play the shit out of that. Their loss, it's a shitty game anyway. I ain't givin' it to them for their birthday, that's all I'm saying.
I'd say it's at least better than the current rating system by MPAA..
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