Australian Government Says "Silent Majority" Must Be Heard in Ratings Debate

[smithy_2045]

All this government wants to do is to control everything we do. The internet censor (that won't work), the lack of an R18+ rating (which allows easier access to inappropriate games to minors since they're shoehorned into an MA15+ rating instead), the fat tax (if I want to eat a Big Mac, it's my choice dammit), etc.

Could we please get a group of politicians governing this country who aren't control freaks? Preferably before I'm forced to leave because I can't bear this shit any more.

 

[Kingjackl]

This just sounds like the government are going "no, no, no...this isn't the result we wanted!"

I heard somewhere that most of the Attorneys General are in favour of the R rating. What's stopping them from just putting it forward at the next standing committee?

 

[RelexCryo]

They don't vote, they don't care. They don't care, they have no opinions to give you. This is just stalling to whip up fear mongering or some lame justification.

 

[matt87_50]

the silent majority are silent because they DON'T CARE!

oh, and another thing. there is this assumption BY EVERYONE that introducing an R18+ rating amounts to relaxing censorship laws. if anything, its the opposite! its not necessarily all about letting previously banned games in! I bet you anything that the result of an R18+ rating will see more games that would have previously been rated MA15+, rated R, than games that would have previously been banned, be allowed in with an R rating.

and thats the way it should be!

so many adult games get watered down in technical and irrelevant ways in order to slip in as MA15+.

it is absolutely imperative that everyone understands that about introducing the R18 rating. because its about just that: introducing another rating to allow for more clarity.

whether or not this results in more previously banned games getting in (which obviously, I personally hope it does) is a separate issue. they are well within their power to continue to refuse classification of games once the R18 rating is introduced.


so it really is a simple issue. to argue against the R18 rating is to argue that maturity and responsibility when it comes to consuming games, peaks at 15 years...

 

[ottenni]

Hehe, silent majority. If there was one phrase that could be used to describe Australia as a political nation that would be it. "whats that Skippy? Theres a rebellion in Canberra? Fuck it the crickets on well go later".

 

[Danny Ocean]

The "silent majority" is rather antithetical to a democratic society, anyway.

Especially one where voting is obligatory.

 

[MMMowman]

I like it better when the "silent majority" stayed "silent" mainly because they're "majority" stupid people

 

[SpaceMedarotterX]

oh for the love of god.

okay I sat through two years of legal studies, if I had brought this up to my teacher as a response to a public inquiry, she would have laughed at me and called me a fool.

THIS IS KINDERGARDEN STUFF! There is no excuse like "I didn't know!" we don't excuse that if someone breaks the law "your chain belt with spikes is a weapon and we have to confiscate it" "Oh I didn't know" "That's okay we still have to confiscate it" they still have to abide by it.

You asked, we answered, the situation is resolved, if you do not act on this, if you do not act on the will of the people, the response you received from your own public forum, then you are invalidating the spirit of elected government, to change laws according to the WILL OF THE PEOPLE.

It is your job to get knowledge of the inquiry out there, you can't ask for a re-do.

Though this doesn't surprise me, in australia you can't choose to not vote. You either vote or get fined because "Your abusing your right to vote if you don't vote"

 

[latenightapplepie]

How disappointing.

At least it doesn't come as a surprise.

 

[mooncalf]

And how much of the "silent majority" MUST be heard? All of them? Everyone? Nawr that's unreasonable, not everybody gives a rats... So how many will you ask, eh? Just enough to agree with how you want things to be? Yeah sounds about right...

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

Hm, funny thing about the silent majority. They haven't given a vote when it mattered (i.e. an election)

Australia has mandatory voting in both State and Federal elections, but thanks for trying.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

I heard somewhere that most of the Attorneys General are in favour of the R rating.

Doesn't matter, it takes ALL the State Attorneys-General and the Federal Attorney-General to make the change. One dissenting opinion and the whole thing gets torpedoed, you know, like Michael Atkinson was amusing himself doing.

 

[Bob_Bobbington]

The government does know that if people didn't respond the first time, it's because they don't give enough a shit one way or the other, right?

Oh, yeah, I forgot. Governments were never known for common sense.

Common sense? What's that? Some type of cake?

Nope it's a super power.

Spoiler: And a damn good one

OT: What the fuck is this shit. I sick of my government. I'm moving to Canada. They have maple syrup over there!

 

[dark-amon]

Hm, funny thing about the silent majority. They haven't given a vote when it mattered (i.e. an election)

Australia has mandatory voting in both State and Federal elections, but thanks for trying.

Mandatory voting? Dosen't that violate the human right of political, religious (etc) opinion? Consider the scenario where nonoe of the possible options in the election fits a certain group of voters personal beliefs and they want to respond to this by not giving their vote as they oposes the choiceoptions. (this dosen't count in yes/no elections but in election for goverment it's possible outcome) What will happen? Will the police break down the door give them a pamplet and say 'vote or go to jail!'?

 

[ottenni]

Hm, funny thing about the silent majority. They haven't given a vote when it mattered (i.e. an election)

Australia has mandatory voting in both State and Federal elections, but thanks for trying.

Mandatory voting? Dosen't that violate the human right of political, religious (etc) opinion? Consider the scenario where nonoe of the possible options in the election fits a certain group of voters personal beliefs and they want to respond to this by not giving their vote as they oposes the choiceoptions. (this dosen't count in yes/no elections but in election for goverment it's possible outcome) What will happen? Will the police break down the door give them a pamplet and say 'vote or go to jail!'?

You get a fine, and not a very big one anyway. I know a few people who dont vote because the fine is less than the travel costs where they to vote (they live overseas so they have to travel to an embassy).

If you dont want to vote then just draw a massive penis on your ballot paper like most people do, or if you are mature you can just write nothing. Its not actually compulsory that you vote, just that you sign in at the polls and hand in a ballot paper.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

Hm, funny thing about the silent majority. They haven't given a vote when it mattered (i.e. an election)

Australia has mandatory voting in both State and Federal elections, but thanks for trying.

Mandatory voting? Dosen't that violate the human right of political, religious (etc) opinion? Consider the scenario where nonoe of the possible options in the election fits a certain group of voters personal beliefs and they want to respond to this by not giving their vote as they oposes the choiceoptions. (this dosen't count in yes/no elections but in election for goverment it's possible outcome) What will happen? Will the police break down the door give them a pamplet and say 'vote or go to jail!'?

You have to attend a voting station on election day and you have to stuff ballots in the boxes... what you don't have to do is put any marks on the ballot... or draw a large cartoon penis on it.. or something else that amuses you. If you don't they hit you with a bullshit fine.

 

[RicoADF]

ahh yes the silent majority dont they get it, the fact that there silent shows that they DONT CARE enough on this matter to voice there opinion.

As much as I'd hate to defend any government, if the notion passed odds are that "silent majority" would suddenly have an opinion, and it would be of hate. Example, some parent don't care about TV age appropriation rating. Yet the second something would be done that relaxed those too, they'd be out forming action groups (instead of being home making sure their kids aren't watching these new "foul" shows). They could be dragging their asses on the issue, but at the same time they could be trying to save their asses as well.

You've got a good point here, if they do what they are claiming and then pass it then anyone that comes back and bitches can be told "bugger off, we've given you a chance to oppose it and you did nothing, your own fault"
The question is will they pass it, I think theres a good chance they will but like always the government takes forever to do it. Weather they like it or not the fact is that gamers are getting older and its getting to the point that lots of adults play games and games are now equivalent to television and radio as an entertainment medium.

Hm, funny thing about the silent majority. They haven't given a vote when it mattered (i.e. an election)

Australia has mandatory voting in both State and Federal elections, but thanks for trying.

Mandatory voting? Dosen't that violate the human right of political, religious (etc) opinion? Consider the scenario where nonoe of the possible options in the election fits a certain group of voters personal beliefs and they want to respond to this by not giving their vote as they oposes the choiceoptions. (this dosen't count in yes/no elections but in election for goverment it's possible outcome) What will happen? Will the police break down the door give them a pamplet and say 'vote or go to jail!'?

You have to attend a voting station on election day and you have to stuff ballots in the boxes... what you don't have to do is put any marks on the ballot... or draw a large cartoon penis on it.. or something else that amuses you. If you don't they hit you with a bullshit fine.

Actually you only have to go there and get your name marked off as attended, you can walk out and throw the paper out if you want. As much as its a pain in the butt, it does makes sure everyone has had a chance to vote.

 

[AWC Viper]

I hate my government...

 

[LawlessSquirrel]

I completely agree, it sounds more like them trying to find excuses than them trying to consider all angles. It already seems that almost 99% of the people with any knowledge or care for the subject are in favour, I don't think trying to find evidence to support yourself by seeking out people without any knowledge or stake is worth anything more than time-wasting.

If it was close, I could kind of understand, but that's a hugely overwhelming response to a simple issue. Seriously, a tiny majority of people voted against the current freaking government and they still got in, but an overwhelming majority on a relatively small issue calls for further research.

I just don't get this country any more...

 

[Labyrinth]

Ahh, I see it now. These politicians have been spending too much time around cosmologists and theoretical astrophysicists. They can't explain why their expected results didn't happen, so they've invented "dark populations", who don't show up in any surveys about a matter, likely won't have it affect them and yet they must exist and they must care!

Unfortunately, there's less evidence for these "dark opinions" than there is for dark matter. A lot less. It's also substantially more difficult to model and hence should be called a "hypothesis of dark majority opinion".