There is a pestulance upon this land...

[xxxeagle]

My parents have let me have M games since I asked for one which was when I was like 9 or 10, and I don't have any problems. Sure they might not know all the content in some of my games like the GTA games but I never get in any trouble in or out of school so I don't see a problem. The only people violent videogames affect are people who already have mental problems.

[MilkMonster]

didnt san andreas say "strong sexual content" on the back. and I was at wal-mart today and they had gta san andreas 2nd edition on the shelves.

[Lucretius]

2nd UPDATE:
I am going to send our esteemed friend a small letter with this:

Dear Mr. Thompson,

My name is Devin Michel. I am 17 years old. I bike and play
soccer. I am teaching myself to play the guitar. I love physics and
electronics. I recently began trying to teach myself Calculus. I have
many friends and am generally considered to be "a person of good moral
character". I have Aspergers Syndrome and ADHD. I listen to classical,
rock, rap, new age, hard rock, old rock, 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's, and
more recent music. I have watched hundreds of movies. I read books,
view artwork from all periods, watch dances, and discuss what I see
and hear with friends. I hate pop culture, and think of myself as a
rather cultured human.

I play Halo: Combat Evolved.

I began playing one year ago. Up to that point I had never played
a game that wasn't rated "E" or lower by ESRB. I have a Nintendo DS. I
play Super Mario Bros 64 DS and Bomberman DS.

Sir, I have never, nor ever intend to have any problems with my
behavior. My parents made sure that as I grew I was exposed to art
culture and age appropriate material. I never owned a toy gun (not
even a squirt gun). But I was no stranger to violence. My parents
would let me watch the news. I would hear about murders, rapings and
suicides. Massacres in other nations, wars surrounding the world. They
would explain everything I asked about.

Thusly I understood violence, fear and hate for what it was. A
pestilence that was to be avoided, and beat into submission with peace
and understanding. I also understood that it was just about
everywhere. That to say it didn't (and doesn't) exist would be, not
foolish, but dangerous.

More recently, I've been exposed to school and neighborhood
violence. I witnessed 9/11 with my friends and did my best to
understand it, finding that task both easier to do and harder to keep
willing myself to do as time crawled on. What could cause humans
(whether at school, or in the whole world) to have so much hate for
other people. This I have never understood. I'm not sure I ever will.

A few weeks ago, a friend showed me some of your words. Told me of
what you do. He was indignant and angry.

I'm not.

In fact I agree with what you say, for the most part. I'm sure that
violent video games, movies and other forms of culture (books, art,
music), can have a major impact on how a child views violence in the
world.

My only qualm with your claims is that you focus too much blame on
the wrong source. Sure it's the video game companies that produce
these games. But they aren't the ones exposing violence to children,
in the end.

Remember I told you about how my parents helped me understand
violence? That's my issue. Many parents don't do what my parents did.
They don't help a child understand violence. Instead, they let the
video games and movies do the talking and teaching. And they don't
have anything good to say.

A well developed mind can play the "M" and "AO" rated games and not
be swayed to be destructive. And the mind of a child can only become
well developed if there is a parent to develop it, such as mine.

I have looked at the problem of children playing violent games, and
have come to the conclusion that in every case (with VERY few
exceptions) it is the parents fault that the child plays these games
before they should; before they can make the distinction between
reality and fantasy.

Consider this: There only two ways a child can obtain and play a
violent video game. Either the child got the game from a friend or
store clerk, or the parent actually bought the game for the child. In
either case, if the kid plays the game, it's still the parents fault
for letting him/her. (It's in the second example that you see a parent
who REALLY isn't doing their job)

Let's see if I can wrap this up. I would like to know if you could
start public addressing this issue of the parent's role in youth
violence. That if a child engages in a violent activity, we should
focus on the parent's role. I would deeply appreciate this service.

Yours Truly,
Devin C. Michel

I wonder what he'll say?

[Skipstone]

He would probably go off on one of his tyrades, claiming you are criminally harrassing him. Like he will probably do to most who have sent him letters. Too bad the bar might pull his card, I would have loved to see the look on his face when Penny Arcade sues him.

[gamer2]

Dude put your Phone number in there and see what happens, if he calls use a tape recorder to record to conversation and put it on this forum, we need a good laugh at the expense of Sr. tonto i mean Thompson

[Reaperman@home]

Dude put your Phone number in there and see what happens, if he calls use a tape recorder to record to conversation and put it on this forum, we need a good laugh at the expense of Sr. tonto i mean Thompson

now *that* would be illegal.

[Triton]

i agree with everything luc said in that letter, it aint the game companys fault its stupid and irisponsible parents, their kid beats someone to death or shoots someone or somthing and they pass the blame on to the most convienient thing, videogames.

[G-force]

Good letter luc. Very insightful. I hope he actually reads it, and possibly learns from it.

[jellywerker]

Indeed, well written to boot! The only problem I see is that he gets several thousand emails from gamers a day, mostly spam and hate mail, so I doubt yours will get a good response. If you do happen to get a real response though, post it here.

[HK-47]

Nice letter. Unfortuantly, im sure over the last bit hes reicieved thousands upon thousands of email messages telling him hes a "****ing moron" and the such. So, i wouldnt be surprised if he never got back to you, or he did a massive "reply all" ('go away or i'll sue!').
Now just after Ive writen this I realized the person above has just said that...
Anyway, nice letter, and I agree with what you're saying. It really isnt the gamer communities fault, its the parents that buy "little jimmy" the games rated M or AO or whatever.

[Sparkfist]

I'm suprised that no one has mentioned what Arnald has set in motion in California and that Thompson has make a letter asking that all states do the samething.

Essentially the Governor has passes bill that makes it illegal for a store to sell a game to anyone below the age of 17 rated M. Though its something that people have thrown a fit but this should be a happy medium.

[HK-47]

Its not really the selling the game thats a problem since the litlle kid isnt the one with the wallet, it the perents that buy the games on behalf of the kids that are the problem.

[xxxeagle]

Nice letter Luc, I hope he reads it. I doubt he'll have the time or the patience to but It was very well written. You made some good points.

[vb_master]

Dude put your Phone number in there and see what happens, if he calls use a tape recorder to record to conversation and put it on this forum, we need a good laugh at the expense of Sr. tonto i mean Thompson

now *that* would be illegal.

No, it isn't.

[xriverfalconx]

Good letter!!! Pretty much what i stated as well a few posts before yours. The problem starts at home...but your letter covers the rest.