Michigan kids exposed to nudity via XBL Vision Cam

by Terrence Stasse { Mar 9th 2008 at 7:30PM }

*Sigh* Here we go again, the latest overblown news story to come out of the mass media regarding video games. This time it regards a pair of kids who were playing online (its unknown what game, as all the article says is: "while playing a game on X-Box Live, a video game that allows you to play against people anywhere in the world." Now whether of not "X-Box Live" is a video game in and of itself isn't really the issue here, the fact the the article mentions receiving pictures is. Because that setting can be disabled.

While the education of parents as to the extent of their own ability to filter their children's content is a problem, some of the statements made in the news article are downright silly. Things like: "Jennifer (the mother) now fears the safety of her children" do much more harm than good. So for all readers out there who could find a moment to educate those folks who aren't quite so up speed, it would benefit us all.

Tags: live, vision-camera, xbl

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Zac LaCombe @ Mar 9th 2008 7:39PM

Had this woman cared so much for the "safety" of her children and their eyes, she'd have taken the initiative to search through the manual of the Xbox or search the web on how to better protect them instead of making the console do the work. Here's a little fun fact: The Xbox has no idea how old you are, especially if you lie.

Glitch W @ Mar 9th 2008 7:47PM

People should really use the family settings

Urza @ Mar 9th 2008 7:52PM

No kidding.

And nothing they could do about it? And here I thought nudity and such using the vision camera was prohibited and got people banned awhile back.

David W. @ Mar 9th 2008 7:53PM

This annoys me just as much as the whole Fox News thing about Mass Effect.

"Video games are meant to be a haven mostly targeted towards children"

"And while Microsoft, the maker of X-Box, does give ways to deal with offensive players online, Jennifer says the damage to her children from this incident has already been done."

The first statement is blatantly wrong, especially with the 360. The entire article is basically trying to say it's Microsoft's fault, but if you read the second quote...it's the moms fault. The 360 is NOT a babysitter, make sure you know what your kids are doing.

Tom @ Mar 9th 2008 7:57PM

Pardon my language, but holy shit.
"Video games are meant to be a haven mostly targeted towards children"
No. Just no. The average gamer's age is 30.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game_culture#_note-esa

"...on X-Box Live, a video game that allows you to play against people anywhere in the world"
Not a video game--it's a service.

"And while Microsoft, the maker of X-Box, does give ways to deal with offensive players online, Jennifer says the damage to her children from this incident has already been done."
Well now thats her fault for not using pre-installed safety features so this sort of thing wouldn't happen, isn't it?

Phil @ Mar 9th 2008 7:59PM

Why is it the people think that "Xbox" should be spelt "X-Box" or "XBox?"

AnOffday @ Mar 9th 2008 8:01PM

I'm sick of parents blaming their crappy parenting on everything except themselves. It's not just video games either. Did you guys hear about the parents who are trying to ban pen caps from schools, because their child chocked on a pen cap? I swear I'm not even joking. I wish I was.

Magic Whiskey @ Mar 9th 2008 8:09PM

I say we just cut out the rampant ignorance from parents (and their subsequent bitching afterwards) and make LIVE 18+? I mean, think about it; what children's games are multiplayer LIVE enabled? Additionally, make 18+ accounts the only ones able to matchmake.

Derka @ Mar 9th 2008 8:14PM

I'm going to bet this was on Uno, everyone make a note, don't join random games at 2 in the morning.

SadisticHam @ Mar 9th 2008 8:19PM

Woman deserves her children taken off her, if she cared that much she'd have bloody looked into it.

What next, is she going to take away their computer when she discovers they have access to porn? I bet she doesn't have any protection from that either.

B Tizo @ Mar 9th 2008 8:25PM

I think we can all agree, as mature, informed, gamers that the Parental Settings are there for a reason and are clearly outlined in the literature that comes prepackaged with the Xbox 360.

What I can't agree with is the notion of an 18+ Xbox Live. 1) It eliminates the high school student who can easily access swearing, violence, and the like from any movie, TV show, or joke at school. 2) Its too little too late. 3) You can't shelter kids until their 18, that's just ridiculous. What's the difference between 17 and 18? Nothing.

Xbox Live has its issues, to be sure, but Parental Controls is one thing they have right. Its upsetting that people can't figure this out.

EC @ Mar 9th 2008 8:26PM

That game called X-Box Live IS pretty nasty guys, you better watch out. I think it should be banned from all people who play video games.

VINCE @ Mar 9th 2008 8:26PM

I emailed the lady that wrote the news article, everyone should do the same, flood her inbox.

Cameron @ Mar 9th 2008 8:29PM

I lol'd

stealthur @ Mar 9th 2008 8:29PM

Wow, the grammar and syntax of that article looked like it was written by a sixth grader.

Tegolin @ Mar 9th 2008 8:29PM

Thay banned the kids completely?
Family settings folks.

webster1990 @ Mar 9th 2008 8:33PM

Magic Whiskey i am up for that, having just turned 18 myself, although not sure some of my younger friends would be so happy lol.

how about a different system for under 18's. e.g. if you are under 18, you get linked with other under 18's. over 18 and you get linked with other people over 18. that might do a little to save the "X-Box's" reputation. lol

Ian Murray @ Mar 9th 2008 8:34PM

It's nice to see the author took a whole 5 minutes out of his hectic schedule to research the product/service he was harping on.

Merehorseplay @ Mar 9th 2008 8:41PM

Wouldn't do any good to email the lady who wrote article because our opinion doesn't make a news worthy story like the parent's who's children whom saw someone naked on Xbox. Xbox should be for 18+ anyway and this kinda stuff might make it happen sooner than later. No little kids screaming in my ear during Call of Duty 4. "Yes" let them buy Nintindo's and leave Xbox and AO gaming for us. Then we won't have to worry about a democrat ruining gaming for us.

Yuccadude @ Mar 9th 2008 8:45PM

Wow, when I was sent a picture of a plumber's crack by a friend of mine, I decided I didn't want to see that and reported him. Then I removed him from my friend's list and blocked communications with him. That solved the problem handily as he was banned for a couple months as some of my Gears friends told me.

Deck @ Mar 9th 2008 8:49PM

Another thing getting blown out of proportion.

*SIGH* Its about all one can do in this situation.

bmsinc @ Mar 9th 2008 9:09PM

Damn, Ive been on LIVE for over a year now and still havent seen any nudity...Im starting to get a little pissed about it. So if you are a fine gamer lady and want to show me your boobies...then please, by all means, go ahead and send some mammary love to gamertag : BMSinc

LOVE IT!

(o)(o)

Jacob @ Mar 9th 2008 9:37PM

I read the article and damn, sounds like this lady needs to get laid. 1) Her kids shouldn't be on live if they're under 12.. prepubescent boys are annoying as hell. 2) If they ARE over 12... then they've seen it all. Having live means they have internet so if they just did a google search for muffin or any other shit.. BAM theres porn. 3) I bet they asked for the porn and were wackin it when she found them.

Zon @ Mar 9th 2008 9:37PM

@Magic Whiskey, thats a stupid idea, yes I am saying this because maybe I am 16 years old and I wouldn't be able to play live then but: First of all why 18? You only have to be 17 to buy M rated games. Secondly don't tell me you never played video games when you were young and you waited until you were 17 to play video games. And theres also this magical feature called the mute button in games. Use it. Yes I know you have to take time out of your busy schedule to mute someone. I'm sorry you are lazy. I've seen people suggest that before and it just pisses me off because I never even talk trash online, a whole lot of other gamers my age don't talk trash online, yeah there might be some people my age who do talk trash online. I'm not trying to be racist but there are is a small percentage of black people who commit serious crimes. But there are also millions of other black people who don't rob stores or commit any crimes. But we have to lower our crime rate so lets we should get rid of all of them right? No of course not thats genocide, but according to your logic we should just let a few bad apples represent the entire under 18 demographic and make it all 18+.

Zon @ Mar 9th 2008 9:40PM

Ok I have some mistakes in that post it should be so we should get rid of them not lets we should get rid of them

ZeroCorpse @ Mar 9th 2008 10:02PM

No worries, guys. I'm in the Lansing area, and WLNS channel 6 is known for being a hack news team that goes for sensationalism and doesn't actually do a lot of research into their stories.

Please, feel free to contact them and tell them that they're idiots. They already know it, but it might be nice if they heard it from outside the area.

Katherine Jones, the reporter who filed this story, is a decent enough person from what I've seen, and I bet she's better than this-- It's just that it seems like the management of WLNS likes the reporters to make the stories seem more "news worthy" by omitting facts and drumming up fear.

Really, this whole report boils down to "Lack of use of parental controls leads children to see nudity on the Internet." And that's such a non-news story that it's ridiculous. "Jennifer", the mother, probably called WLNS and cried, "My kids seen naked stuff on the Xbox!" and the editor in charge probably sent poor Katherine out to interview this dimwit for two minutes, as they had nothing more interesting to put on the news this week.

Sorry guys. WLNS is stupid. Please don't let them shape your idea of Michigan or Lansing... Just like you shouldn't let The Sun be any indication of what it's like in the U.K..

wa27 @ Mar 9th 2008 10:12PM

They kept showing Halo 3 in the video, I bet the kid just received a picture message.

Prophestus @ Mar 9th 2008 11:06PM

idk about the rest of you, but that UNO can get out of hand... :) ahh good times.

Mal F4cti0n @ Mar 9th 2008 11:18PM

Oh My Gawd!

And have you heard of this thing called the internet, Jennifer? Now that is a den of decadence! Why, your children can find pictures with two women and a cup! The things that you can see just by being on the internet is cra-Azy! And you have absolutely no control over what it shows you. The horror...owwww.

USE THE PARENTAL CONTROLS, YOU DIPSH*T!

jefffff @ Mar 9th 2008 11:37PM

"Jennifer now fears the safety of her children"

So she is afraid of her kids being safe.

MOM: "Dear did you put your seatbelt on"
KIDS: "Yes."
MOM: "HOLY SHIT WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!!!"

:) lol

hellvector @ Mar 10th 2008 1:00AM

I haven't seen the report but if they were showing Halo clips and we are to assume that the kids were infact playing Halo, then the woman clearly bought a mature rated game for her children that are aparently too young to witness nudity. When I was 12 I saw boobs in Highlander, and in the same movie I saw men being decapitated and the like. My mother let me watch the movie, and clearly understood what the content consisted of. If a child sees a boobie on the intertube it is no more or less real than the people they're shooting up on Live.

You know that theory that we, the gamers, will be the ones ruling the nation in the coming years? God I hope it's true because I fear for what the alternative is.

mike @ Mar 10th 2008 3:56AM

I went to EB to pre-order this xbox live game and they said they never heard of it. Where can I get a copy of xbox live the game?

Boff @ Mar 10th 2008 7:58AM

I don't know why I bother sending naked pictures of myself to little boys if they're just going to run to their mothers.

jtedesco33 @ Mar 10th 2008 9:03AM

All I want to know is where the chicks are at that want to send nude pictures? I'll gladly give them my gamertag and they can send me all the pictures they want.

I just can't imagine how these kids in all these stories can talk these chicks out of their clothes during a match of COD4.

Either way if you are a chick reading this and you have the need to show yourself, let me know!

Kev (gamertag: ksiddique) @ Mar 10th 2008 9:39AM

Mmmm good times in Uno. Those 2am games are great! :D

Ryan @ Mar 10th 2008 10:01AM

You know where else people can send any picture they want to your kid? ANYWHERE ON THE INTERNET!

I guess this lady had better make sure her kids never go near a computer.

JakubK666 @ Mar 10th 2008 12:29PM

Considering that almost every boy starts jacking off at 13, why the fuck is there such a big deal about two kids seeing seeing some naked girl or a dick over XBL? If their mother wasn't too stupid to check their computers/history she would've found countless porn websites.

But hey let's just blame Video Games.

Comics > Rap/Metal > Manson > Video Games > ?

JayDee @ Mar 10th 2008 12:35PM

I am becoming increasingly baffled at the utter lack of responsibility parents accept these days when it comes to raising a child. They would rather spend the time to contact news stations, file frivolous lawsuits, and flat out blame anybody but themselves for their child's woes. What a pathetic day and age. For @#$% sake take RESPONSIBILITY for once!

Random Hangman @ Mar 10th 2008 1:02PM

Note to self: Must remember trousers next time I play on Live...

Cal @ Mar 10th 2008 2:29PM

@ MagicWhiskey

People lie about their age all the time, and as for a

Spine @ Mar 10th 2008 2:41PM

as reported by xbox.joystiq.com

http://xbox.joystiq.com/2008/03/09/michigan-kids-exposed-to-nudity-via-xbl-vision-cam/2#comments

Read the comments posted.

I was going to quote everything that is wrong with your story. I didn't want to quote the whole thing.

"Video games are meant to be a haven mostly targeted towards children"

Average gamer age 30

"Thursday night while playing a game on X-Box Live, a video game that allows you to play against people anywhere in the world"
Xbox Live is a service. Not a game. Thats like saying Charter or Verison is the internet.

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/xbox.joystiq.com/media/2008/03/1zu45sgfgfgfgfgfgfgf.jpg

The parent of those children is a fault. NO ONE ELSE. She could have turned on the family settings on that Xbox. Which would have prevented the image from getting through.

Maybe you should let someone else take the helm on tech stuff. You have just sensationalized this non-news event. You gonna write a story about the e-mails you get about male enhancement pills next? Or the children whom saw it. I can only assume your on a Fox station. Your gonna get the whole internet after you.

mcwattersm @ Mar 10th 2008 3:32PM

Was it male or female? Was it full frontal or rear? I can has her GT plz.

mrbiggsndatx @ Mar 10th 2008 4:24PM

katherinej@wlns.com

here you go boys and girls. Enjoy your lesson in Email Car Bombing. Blow her inbox up, and make sure the next time she gets on her pulpit, she knows what the hell she is talking about. What a bad parent too! White trash (yes, there is white trash in Michigan, its called automobile plants) parenting results in white trash complaining. Bet you her kids got to see some real XXX- BOX!! they even got the PINK EDITION!!