http://news.yahoo.com/s/nf/20080812/bs_nf/61301


Parents are more concerned about their children's exposure to video games than alcohol, violence and pornography, according to recent polls.

Conducted by What They Play, a parent's guide to video games, nearly 3,000 respondents in two separate polls concluded that drinking beer and watching pornography were less objectionable activities for children than playing certain video games. Further, viewing violence was more acceptable than seeing content involving sex and sexuality within games.

"These poll results demonstrate that parents are as apprehensive about their children's media diets as they are about traditional social issues such as alcohol, drugs, violence and sex," said John Davison, president of What They Like, the San Francisco company that runs What They Play. "When it comes to video games, parents should know that What They Play is a resource that helps demystify one of the most popular -- and challenging -- forms of entertainment their kids are into."

Fearful of Unknown Dangers

The results of the initial What They Play online poll, conducted April 4-10, 2008, found that the 1,266 participants were most offended by the following in a video game: a man and woman having sex (37 percent); two men kissing (27 percent); a graphically severed head (25 percent); and multiple use of the F-word (9 percent).

The second poll, which ran August 1-6, 2008, queried parents on what they'd be most concerned about their 17-year-old child indulging in while at a sleepover. More than 1,600 respondents revealed they're more apprehensive about their child smoking marijuana (49 percent) and playing the video game Grand Theft Auto (19 percent), than watching pornography (16 percent) and drinking beer (14 percent).

Although these findings seem surprising at first, they hint at fears parents have about video games, according to Cheryl K. Olson, Sc.D., co-author of Grand Theft Childhood.

"To some parents, video games are full of unknowable dangers. While researching for Grand Theft Childhood, parents we spoke with in focus groups often bemoaned the fact that they didn't know how to use game controls -- and felt unequipped to supervise or limit video game play," Olson said. "Of course, parents don't want their children drinking alcohol, but that's a more familiar risk."

If It Bleeds, It Leads

As Yankee Group analyst Mike Goodman sees it, studies like these demonstrate the prevalence of the fearmongering and negative media reporting on video games in the last couple of years. The evening news, he said, has inappropriately painted video games as a negative influence across the board.

"The media takes advantage of the old adage that if it bleeds, it leads," Goodman said. "Watch the evening news. How many positive news stories are there, and how many stories do you see about murders, robberies and fires? It's rare when the local news reports a positive story."

If parents would view some of these video games, he added, they might be surprised. The issue is taken out of context, whether it's violence or sex. While it's true there are violent video games out there, Goodman noted, for every Grand Theft Auto there are dozens of games that are rated "E for Everyone." But those games don't make the news.

"If it's controversial, it leads. Basically there's no market for positive stories on video games," Goodman said. "Gamers know the truth, but non-gamers are influenced by what they see on the news, and they think video games are corrupting the morals of our youth."