Age ratings and some clear indication of content are good and in the current climate necessary. The problem is who and how we rate this stuff.

As an English writer I had to learn how U.S. publishers rate material. There are differing interpretations between the US and UK on many issues. There are many easy, clear cut, cases, it is the border-line issues that give the most trouble.

As Bruce Schneier points out in todays world people adopt a ‘cover yourself’ attitude to many questions to defend themselves against possible legal action. This is why people are happy to slap warnings and age restrictions on anything that might causes someone offence.

In the UK we have a government appointed board that hands out ratings to films, TV programs and soon computer games. They have a complaints procedure and arbitration procedure. It works quite well, partly as it is independent of the producers of rated media.