(Ex-) US Senator Joe Lieberman passed away on Wednesday, March 27. Condolences to his family, and the usual. But why mention it here?
Because Lieberman was a staunch advocate of the theory that video games caused youth violence and crime, and pushed for stronger governmental controls of censorship of the hobby. He - fortunately - largely failed at that task. He was never the loudest proponent of the idea, but his position as US Senator gave the theory more creedence than it might otherwise have earned were it just nutjobs like Jack Thompson yammering away about The Deadly Threat To Our Children That Is Video Games.
Apparently he softened in his later years, and pointed to the various rating boards (PEGI in Europe, ESRB in the US), which were a direct result of various Senate hearings threatening stronger government intervention if Something Was Not Done. And, arguably, the ratings were an overall good thing for the video-game industry. Still, I can't help but still feel a bit sore about his rhetoric at the time. Although it's become a lot more toned down over the years, it still flares up now and again (usually following the release of a "Grand Theft Auto" game ;-); rhetoric that might have been taken a lot less seriously if it wasn't endorsed by a US Senator.
So, farewell Senator Lieberman. I'm not happy to see you dead, but neither will I mourn you too deeply.
Goodbye Senator Lierbman