Should Games be banned

cavedave

Originally Posted by flogen
So you're OK with a video game that shows simulated child abuse? What about a rape or child rape sim?

I think it is worth pointing out that according to this article
http://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/commentary/sexdrive/2007/06/sexdrive_0622
this sort of illegal stuff does exist in a popular online game. Second life is backed and used by all sort of big companies. These companies, like IBM, are not involved in the illegal bits.
This sort of activity is illegal in Europe. This law is not being enforced.

Just to say this line of reasoning is not purely hypothetical.

flogen

cavedave wrote:

I think it is worth pointing out that according to this article
http://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/commentary/sexdrive/2007/06/sexdrive_0622
this sort of illegal stuff does exist in a popular online game. Second life is backed and used by all sort of big companies. These companies, like IBM, are not involved in the illegal bits.
This sort of activity is illegal in Europe. This law is not being enforced.

Just to say this line of reasoning is not purely hypothetical.

Well in fairness the internet is like a black market - you can find whatever you want if you know where to look (or pay the right price). I the same breath games like Second Life are used and abused by a minority to create a majority problem.

Whether it exists or not is another thing - I'm asking if people condone, support or approve of its existence.

Sonnenblumen

cavedave wrote:

Manhunter 2 is first game ever to be banned in ireland
http://www.rte.ie/arts/2007/0620/manhunt2.html



My opinion is that I doubt film censors have the neccesary critical abilities to discern the true nature of a computer game and so them being able to ban them is probably a bad idea.

What is your opinion on the government moving into regulating this form of entertainment?

You do not need to try heroin to know what the consequential havoc it can and does cause. There are plenty of junkies around to demonstrate the details.

Gratuitous Films/Games should also be monitored and where necessary 'in public interest' be banned. No doubt some might be discomoded or even upset, but it ain't a free for all. Public good outweighs individual indulgence.

Laws are simple manifestations of similar logic.

Dave!

What's the public interest involved in banning games like this?

Has there been any evidence shown that proves that these games cause people to murder?

Victor

cooker3 wrote:

Yep, fine by me. Well doubt I would play it myself but certainly wouldn't ban it.

This is banned under the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998.

cooker3

Victor wrote:

This is banned under the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998.

Ok, well I disagree with the law, well that part of it anyway.

JC 2K3

What does banning a something entail?

Just that it won't be in shops?

Would it, therefore, be illegal to import it, ie. order it online?

I've never understood the point of censors tbh. I mean who here watched 18s films before they were 18? In fact, how many people watched 18s films before they were 14/15? I think I was about 10/11 when I first saw a graphic 18s film(Friday the Thirteenth, IIRC). And I wouldn't blame my parents for "allowing me to", it was rather easy to obtain and watch without them knowing.

I don't think any 18s film I watched while underage had any damaging effect on me whatsover, though.

flogen

JC 2K3 wrote:

What does banning a something entail?

Just that it won't be in shops?

Would it, therefore, be illegal to import it, ie. order it online?

As far as I know it's not illegal to actually own an item that has a prohibition order on it, but it is illegal to sell, rent or import it, so ownership implies that a crime has been committed anyway.

I've never understood the point of censors tbh. I mean who here watched 18s films before they were 18? In fact, how many people watched 18s films before they were 14/15? I think I was about 10/11 when I first saw a graphic 18s film(Friday the Thirteenth, IIRC). And I wouldn't blame my parents for "allowing me to", it was rather easy to obtain and watch without them knowing.

I don't think any 18s film I watched while underage had any damaging effect on me whatsover, though.

If a parent has no problem with their child watching/playing a film/game that isn't recommended for their age, that's their own business. If the child is exposed to the content because their parents don't put any effort in, it's the parent's problem too.

That said, I think certain films can have a negative effect on people who watch them at an age when they shouldn't be exposed to certain things, and I don't think 10/11 is an age to be playing games like GTA or watching horror films. That's just me, others might think differently.

SeanW

flogen wrote:

So you're OK with a video game that shows simulated child abuse? What about a rape or child rape sim?

Fine, as long as it's just a sim. Normal people would avoid the filthy aberration like the plague. But the sickos who enjoy that kind of thing might buy the sim instead getting involved in the real thing. Well some of them might anyway. So it would potentially have a value.

JC 2K3

flogen wrote:

That said, I think certain films can have a negative effect on people who watch them at an age when they shouldn't be exposed to certain things, and I don't think 10/11 is an age to be playing games like GTA or watching horror films. That's just me, others might think differently.

Well, I agree in principle, however, I don't feel that I, nor the majority of my peers, are majorly messed up and we all saw 18s films and played games like GTA when we were young. So I don't really know to be honest.

johnnyskeleton

cavedave wrote:

My generation all played pacman for years. If video games effected kids we would all spend our time in dark rooms eating pills listening to repetitive music.

Makes sense...rave came in when people had played pacman to death.

I suppose the problem is that the censor doesn't look at the merits of anything i.e. doesn't ask a games player whether it is good fun to play or not. Therefore he can't really say if it is gratutious or not because the violence might be necessary for the plot or whatever.

But the real reason why the irish censorship board banned it was because the UK board did the same thing first and we generally follow them.

Liam Byrne

johnnyskeleton wrote:

But the real reason why the irish censorship board banned it was because the UK board did the same thing first and we generally follow them.

Not just the UK - it looks like every other country is going to follow suit; while I haven't seen the offending "game", it does seem like they can't ALL be wrong.

Ciaran500

Liam Byrne wrote:

Not just the UK - it looks like every other country is going to follow suit; while I haven't seen the offending "game", it does seem like they can't ALL be wrong.

They aren't all banning it, Ireland and England have banned it with Germany and Australia very likely to ban it.

flogen

johnnyskeleton wrote:

But the real reason why the irish censorship board banned it was because the UK board did the same thing first and we generally follow them.

IFCO banned it before the BBFC.