Blamed for... children playing rough
Of all the ludicrous hogwash ever aimed at gaming, this one is filed under "M" for "Most moronic." Concerned that children were copying the on-screen antics of their TV, film and videogame heroes, a primary school in the UK decided to ban any playground pastimes deemed too rough.
"The children are watching television, they're watching films and they're playing computer games," reasoned the school's headteacher, Susan Tuck. "Very often it's the violent element of that they are seeing and hearing... That's what they're going to come on to our playground to play, we want to change that picture."
Above: Can Harvest Moon really incite small boys to punch each other? No
Verdict: Videogames - guilty or not guilty?
Not guilty. Case thrown out on the basis of it being futile, cotton wool-wrapped, idealistic nonsense. The day that 5 to 8 year-old kids stop roughing each other up at playtime is the day thatmaids are given the self-governing power to distribute high grade opiates to the squawking, hyper-active and generally obnoxious youth of tomorrow. Bottom line? Kids play rough. Always have, always will. Deal with it.
