Public debate on videogames and their effects on children

Do you live in the San Francisco area? Do you care about videogames? Then I know what you should be doing tonight. In a few hours, a panel of experts will be debating the constitutionality of banning violent and “pornographic” videogames. The debate should be interesting and enlightening, regardless of what side of the argument you’re on.

Senator Leland Yee was supposed to be there, but was swapped out at the last minute for James Steyer, founder and CEO of Common Sense Media. That’s a shame, as Yee is one of the most passionate and most potentially damaging anti-gaming public figures in politics today. The good news is that Cheryl K. Olsen, of Grand Theft Childhood fame (and inspiration for this episode of Constructoid), will be in attendance. She won’t be speaking, but she will be around before and after the show for in-person discussion with other attendees. If you’re interested in the effects that videogames have on children and young adults, she’s someone you should be paying attention to.