Ex-Tory Leader Attacks Games

[meowman]

Why can't we ever get a news story in which a prominant political figure says nice things about games and gamers?

Well, because they're politicians, and all the "Frumpy Moms" and Daily Mirrors out there will get them shouted out of office. And of course they're all horrible old bores.

 

[WestMountain]

When are they going to understand that we game because its really fun? Like its not an unhealthy addiction if it makes you happy, right?

 

[meowman]

When are they going to understand that we game because its really fun? Like its not an unhealthy addiction if it makes you happy, right?

Too right. It's not addictive like drugs or alcahol - it's addictive like a good book or a cool TV series

 

[Gunner 51]

Ian Duncan Smith is completely out of touch with the people and the rest of the Conservative Party. Remember when he was running the Conservatives? He was a complete joke back then and I get the impression people in the Conservative party STILL think he's a bit of a numpty.

Let's not waste too much time worrying over him until he actually gets any power.

Though on the plus side, we can look forward to phrase "Gaming Naaaarsties" being coined by the news.

 

[loveduckie]

"We are driving children to lose their childhood, and some video games are incredibly violent, like Grand Theft Auto. They are meant to be 18 but nobody cares what it says on the label."

Right there.

The problem isn't games. It's the distribution of games. And stupid parents who buy them these games.

After having worked in retail with video games, i'm still struggling to understand where the issue lies in the proper distribution of such games.

Age verifications are made, I know that as i've had to make them myself in store with the "over 21 rule".

So it's really just the parents who are willfully ignoring the labels and simply going ahead and doing it anyway.

 

[GloatingSwine]

This is spreading, first Australia and now England will have a potentially anti-videogame politician, hopefully England has something simmilar to the good ol' first amendmant, which basically says its illegal to ban anything.

Thank God (of War) we have that safety net here in the States, no matter what Jack Thompson says.

On the other hand, you have the Moral Guardians at Wal-Mart deciding what they will and won't stock, your top end rating, AO, is a commercial death sentence. Whereas the 18 rating, the highest a game can get here (since no-one has ever tried to release an eroge here and gone for the R18 (porn, only available in sex shops) rating, is not. Which is why, for instance, Farenheit has a sex scene in and the US version Indigo Prophecy does not.

De jure censorship may not exist in the US, but de facto censorship does, it just gets imposed by people you didn't elect and can't possibly get rid of.

 

[Gunner 51]

"We are driving children to lose their childhood, and some video games are incredibly violent, like Grand Theft Auto. They are meant to be 18 but nobody cares what it says on the label."

Right there.

The problem isn't games. It's the distribution of games. And stupid parents who buy them these games.

After having worked in retail with video games, i'm still struggling to understand where the issue lies in the proper distribution of such games.

Age verifications are made, I know that as i've had to make them myself in store with the "over 21 rule".

So it's really just the parents who are willfully ignoring the labels and simply going ahead and doing it anyway.

A good point, then perhaps the parents should be taken to task. But this is unenforceable, sure a few parents can be tracked down - but to track down all the negligent parents would cost the taxpayer an arm and a leg.

What Mr Duncan-Smith needs to ask himself is:

1.)How many gamers are genuine scum?

2.)How many of them have helped cause the breakdown of society at large?

3.)How many of them have ASBOS or go around in gangs terrorising the general population?
(None of them because gamers are too busy trying to dodge the real thugs by staying indoors.)

4.)If a parent does get caught supplying adult products to children - what would be a FAIR punishment? (I'd plump for confiscation of the adult goods to be resold at the local games exchange with a £100 fine for the parent.)

 

[shadowstriker86]

what politician isnt attacking games? i mean really, every person involved in politics has to attack games and gamers because its the standard of what they're supposed to do

 

[IckleMissMayhem]

What is more worrying however, is that Mr. Duncan Smith is very likely to be a part of the next UK government, and while it seems unlikely that games will be at the top of his list of 'problems', the next few years might be an interesting time for British gamers.

Yeah. It's okay... he probably just reads the Daily Mail.
Also, I doubt that IDS will get a 'top job' in the Cameron Camp, if the Tories get to power in the next Election.

 

[StigmataDiaboli]

I like how politicians get bored, takes a pop at games, media takes note, everyone forgets, next politician gets bored...

 

[Silva]

This man is one reason why gamers who are conservative need to get their acts together and realise what future their beliefs and voting habits will really lead to.

 

[GloatingSwine]

4.)If a parent does get caught supplying adult products to children - what would be a FAIR punishment? (I'd plump for confiscation of the adult goods to be resold at the local games exchange with a £100 fine for the parent.)

Actually, under the law it is entirely up to the parent whether or not their child should have access to these materials.

The only law is against shops selling them to people under their age rating.

 

[Mortons4ck]

"[Iain Duncan Smith said] 'We are driving children to lose their childhood, and some video games are incredibly violent, like Grand Theft Auto. They are meant to be 18 but nobody cares what it says on the label.' "

Here, in the land of Jack Thompson, I would call this a decidedly moderate stance. It's not like he's calling for a game burning ceremony. And it's nothing that the liberal politicians in the states here haven't said before.

The point I think he's trying to drive across is that latch key 12-year-olds playing GTA are a symptom of parents being not around.

 

[Gunner 51]

4.)If a parent does get caught supplying adult products to children - what would be a FAIR punishment? (I'd plump for confiscation of the adult goods to be resold at the local games exchange with a £100 fine for the parent.)

Actually, under the law it is entirely up to the parent whether or not their child should have access to these materials.

The only law is against shops selling them to people under their age rating.

Perhaps the solution to this is to make the games similar to alcohol in terms of the law. If an adult gets caught buying a game only to give it to underage people - they'll get in trouble.

However, now that I have said this and thought about it. The thought occurs to me that most gamers don't get drunk and start acting like idiots on the streets. So this law would end up punishing a lot of innocent people for the sake of one or two nutjobs.

I guess the law is fine the way it is, and if it ain't broke... Thanks for giving me the food for thought.

 

[Giftmacher]

The breakdown of British society? Yeah it's anarchy out there people, oh wait, no it isn't.

Gift.

 

[GloatingSwine]

Perhaps the solution to this is to make the games similar to alcohol in terms of the law. If an adult gets caught buying a game only to give it to underage people - they'll get in trouble.

Except, of course, when at home it is still entirely up to the parent whether to give their children alcohol or not.

The point I think he's trying to drive across is that latch key 12-year-olds playing GTA are a symptom of parents being not around.

Yep, but he's still blaming the games themselves, rather than calling for more effective and engaged parenting.

 

[Gunner 51]

Perhaps the solution to this is to make the games similar to alcohol in terms of the law. If an adult gets caught buying a game only to give it to underage people - they'll get in trouble.

Except, of course, when at home it is still entirely up to the parent whether to give their children alcohol or not.

The point I think he's trying to drive across is that latch key 12-year-olds playing GTA are a symptom of parents being not around.

Yep, but he's still blaming the games themselves, rather than calling for more effective and engaged parenting.

I guess that's politicians for you. They're either too stupid to see the root causes of things, or they're smart enough not to insult voters / parents directly.

Either way, IDS is just going for an easy and largely defenceless mark.

 

[Phenakist]

Why don't they get rid of all gangster influences, make sensible children's programmes again, and have far better moderation on games, like a mod popping up in the middle of say... Modern Warfare 2, I would almost guarantee that half if not all the people in the game would be banned for being under 18.

Also while we're on revolution, how about taking benefits away from those who don't deserve it, if they WON'T work or are repeat offenders, deport them/put them on the streets, I don't see why part the general population's pay cheques should go towards a bunch of uneducated retards in a council flat somewhere. I'm working my ass off in school so I can get a degree and a decent job to live off and enjoy, I don't want to contribute to some lost cause chav with an IQ equal to their credit rating.

 

[silverbullet1989]

"We are driving children to lose their childhood, and some video games are incredibly violent, like Grand Theft Auto. They are meant to be 18 but nobody cares what it says on the label."

Right there.

The problem isn't games. It's the distribution of games. And stupid parents who buy them these games.

Couldn?t agree more, then they whine to the media when they realise there 2 year old is playing a "violent" game.... what annoys me in those cases is the quotes the papers or the news use, for example "i came down to find my 2 year old killing prostitutes on the new game I bought him, i was horrified! i had no idea that a game rated 18+ would contain such horrific scenes! The box only said it contained strong violence, very strong language and drug references!" and then everyone sides with the friggin parent!

 

[likalaruku]

His generation will die out soon enough.

Nuh uh...The good die young but pricks live forever.