In line with our continuing coverage of politicians’ desperate attempts to deflect blame from bad parents to the video game industry, Derbyshire.co.uk reports this week that Glenis Wilmott, elected Labour Party leader to the European Parliament, has recently been pushing the legislative body to mandate the installation of a new feature to all video game consoles sold in the region. This new feature would consist of a red button which would allow parents to disable the machines when they display objectionable content that might forever warp their children’s fragile minds, potentially forcing them to engage in antisocial behavior or commit any number of heinous atrocities.

Apparently, Mrs. Wilmott is not aware that virtually all modern electronics already have this feature: the power button.

Wilmott’s cesspool of stupid website further expands on her position:

A red button fitted to consoles, computers and other gaming devices would offer parents the chance to control access or even disable games with inappropriate content.

The recommendations in a report for the European Parliament also says that parental control options on video games should be backed up with more information on game content and an age rating system which is the same across Europe.

Studies show that violence in video games does not automatically lead to violent behaviour. But prolonged exposure to scenes of violence can have an adverse effect on the player and even potentially lead to violent behaviour.

Source

Ideological differences aside, I find it very difficult to wrap my head around the logic of arguments in support of this feature. Turning off the television or game system, already both possible with virtually no effort, has the same outcome. And for the “red button” to be of any use parents would need to already be focused on the games that their children are playing, in which case resorting to good old fashioned parenting seems like the obvious solution. Obvious to everyone but Glenis Wilmott. The redundant red button is simply a stab at the video game industry, meant to incur some extra and completely unnecessary costs in a spiteful attempt to punish console makers for successfully defending themselves from the political assaults of people like Wilmott, Jack Thompson, and Keith Vaz.

I find myself torn between my feelings towards this news. As a human being, it saddens me that the British people have appointed someone with such limited intellect to an esteemed position. As an American, I find it comforting to know that we’re not the only nation who gets duped into electing morons to lead us.

What can be done to put a stop to curb this wasteful stupidity? Perhaps it’s time Wilmott be informed on the power button issue. I urge all of you to email the office of Glenis Wilmott and politely let her know that the “red button” is already present on consoles. Or, better yet, send her one of the “That Was Easy” buttons pictured on the left with the universal on/off power symbol taped to it, which has the added bonus of resembling a raised middle finger.

Maybe she’ll get the point.

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