German Minister Seeks Jail Time For FPS Players 383
GamePolitics has the somewhat unbelievable news that German Minister of the Interior Gunther Beckstein is seeking jail time for violent game developers, publishers, and players. MSNBC has further coverage of the issue, which has pro gamers in Germany quite worried. From the article: "The draft law, a reaction to a school shooting that shook German public opinion last month, will come before the upper house of parliament next year. But it is already sending shockwaves through the 2m-strong German online gaming community. 'We have among the most drastic censorship rules for games,' said Frank Sliwka, head of the Deutsche E-Sport Bund, an umbrella federation for German online gaming teams. 'Now we are being labelled as a breeding ground for unstable, dysfunctional and violent youngsters.'"
WOW, more of the same (Score:5, Insightful)
First, Didn't the neo-nazi youths have this title all wrapped up before there were violent games?
Kidding aside, this is just another stupid knee jerk reaction to social problems that nobody wants to take the blame for.
When I was a kid, we played with toy guns, king of the hill, kill-the-guy-with-the-ball, and other VIOLENT games...
It wasn't until they banned 'red rover' that this sort of bad finger pointing started to happen...
FerChrisSakes - lets blame everyone and everything but the parents and families of violent kids...
Sheesh
Reason? (Score:4, Insightful)
"Logic" (Score:4, Insightful)
1) Pretty females can have a stimulating effect on sex offenders (known and unknown), so will you ban women from walking in public?
2) Good tasting food can have a stimulating effect on people with eating disorders, so will you ban good tasting food?
How about doing something constructive and helping people recognize problems in their kids, providing free help to families with issues, and promiting good family relationships, instead?
Re:Reason? (Score:1, Insightful)
This would probably be political suicide even in America, a country that seems more inclined to take away people's rights.
Says the summary:
'We have among the most drastic censorship rules for games,' said Frank Sliwka, head of the Deutsche E-Sport Bund, an umbrella federation for German online gaming teams.
While it's true that Americans raise the greatest fuss when folks try to take away our rights, are you sure your allegations are correct? Are we really more inclined to take away people's rights? Gay marriage aside, America is actually pretty good about censorship compared to some places. Especially Europe.
The first reaction by government... (Score:2, Insightful)
Surprised? Nope.
Sounds silly but ... (Score:2, Insightful)
What the State Really Wants (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:WOW, more of the same (Score:3, Insightful)
true, and beckstein is an idiot. he's got real paranoia and nobody is taking him really seriously here. er. i hope.
Re:It's all the games' fault! (Score:5, Insightful)
They got involved pretty damn quickly, though.
The crickets sure are loud in here... (Score:1, Insightful)
It sure is quiet here.
Flamebait me if you will, but: Where are the cries? Where are the cries of fascism!?
Here is real fascism, all you Bush haters, and you've all but gone silent. You need to stand up for what you believe where it really matters instead of merely in your self-righteous murmurings of posts past.
Re:"Logic" (Score:3, Insightful)
You know what causes the most school shootings... (Score:5, Insightful)
I'm pretty sure Islamic extremist groups didn't become violent from video games, but because they felt a need to lash out. The behavior is, plain and simple, unchecked immaturity combined with a little knowledge.
Re:you got it all wrong (Score:4, Insightful)
More aptly, this guy is elected by people who bother to vote
Re:It's all the games' fault! (Score:5, Insightful)
~~=====> - Godwin's Law
0 - You
_|_
|
/ \
It's not a rule that can be invoked like "Whoever finishes the TP must install the new roll.", it's a law in the sense of "E=MC^2".
Let me introduce you to Kano's Law [angelfire.com].
LK
Re:"Logic" (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:It's all the games' fault! (Score:4, Insightful)
Not to mention that he didn't even say anything about the world wars; for all we know he could have been referring to Germanic barbarians fighting with the Roman legions 2000 years ago!
I'm surprised we don't see one every single day (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:"Logic" (Score:3, Insightful)
1) Pretty females can have a stimulating effect on sex offenders (known and unknown), so will you ban women from walking in public?
2) Good tasting food can have a stimulating effect on people with eating disorders, so will you ban good tasting food?
How about doing something constructive and helping people recognize problems in their kids, providing free help to families with issues, and promiting good family relationships, instead?
Some clarification (Score:5, Insightful)
He is doing it to make sure people don't notice all the scandals his administration is involved in, for example they just completely botched a police IT spending bill, wasted millions on new software which does not work. And his law and order state had issues with soccer hooligans.
In short: the guy is a joke. Don't take him seriously.
Re:Not "German Minister of the Interior" (Score:3, Insightful)
To you Americans: Think Texas. That's about how Bavaria is compared to Germany.
Re:Why the First Amendment is Important (Score:3, Insightful)
We have Nazis in the USA too. They have even, on occasion, paraded in the streets (through Black or Jewish neighborhoods, in fact), protected by police from hecklers.
For the most part, they are laughed at. It doesn't take a legal ban to render them harmless - letting them spout their doctrine on TV seems to make them objects of ridicule in and of itself.