Let's Not Ban RapeLay

[CrafterMan]

As long as it's only for sale in Japan. This is hard to justify, but at least Japanese society can deal with games like this.

Imagine what would happen if this game came out in the West?

1)You're going to hear a massive uproar from the media, which is bad publicity for all video games since we aren't exactly the most beloved form of entertainment to exist.

2)Communities will speak out and start spewing their own ideological crap, suddenly religions gain opinions on rape games.

3)It's a slim chance that this game will ever cause anyone to actually go out and fulfill a fantasy, but by god if it happens, even if it's only once, it will be, not a scar, but a laceration on the face of the video game industry.

So yeah, we live in a civilisation with a very...open voice..,unless you want that voice to be heard, I think it's best to put rape games back in the cupboard out of reach, not of the ignorant hands of children, but the ignorant hands of adults.

Bravo, what an exceptional diagnosis of what would happen. I can realistically see this happen where I live haha.

Top show!

-JB

 

[NickCooley]

I've played the game before. It was a fan translation, quite poor really but that's not the point. I downloaded it because quite frankly I wanted to see what the big deal was about. I won't get into detail because I'm not a reviewer but all I can say is that the only way you could influenced by this game is if you were already a rapist.

 

[Kurokami]

"We live in a mature and responsible society in which adults have the right to choose for themselves: What they watch, what they read, what they listen to, and yes, what they play. It's one of the most fundamental principles of our freedom; a bit ironically, perhaps, it's also the one that's sometimes the hardest to live with. But if we accept that videogames are no more responsible for causing deviant behavior than any other form of media - which I do - then it becomes quite obvious that a lot of people are looking at this the wrong way. I don't need to tell you why RapeLay shouldn't be banned. You need to tell me why it should."

I think it should be banned because rape is worse than a 'death' no matter how bloody, no matter what household appliance is used, no matter the context of dieing used in any other video game I can think of..... being raped is worse. Men don't get raped (ok, there have been some stories, but none that I have heard that are legit in my opinion) so maybe you as a man, don't understand what rape is like for a woman (I know I can't even begin to guess).

That being said, take the most offensive violent God of Bore, Hot Coffee, game you can think of, and explain to me how we are talking about a game instead of an outlet for trash.

Do you, as a human, know of something that is more evil than raping a woman? If you do, should that be allowed in games as long as we say people under the age of 18 can't play it??

Many may think I'm overreacting, but this sounds to me like people want to have some rape fantasy happen for them, and don't want to admit how horrible they are for allowing it.

I used to think that rape was worse than murder too, but how can you justify that? I'm sure if you gave the woman the ultimatum she wouldn't choose to die.

The biggest appeal in sex is the taboo of it, the vulgarity, indulging in peoples sexual fantasy's is completely different from enabling it. If they already have the capacity to do it than it may give them ideas, but I'm certain it wouldn't convert anyone towards it.

Finally, isn't that a bit sexist? To be completely honest, from the discussions I've had anyway, Men put a much bigger taboo on rape than Women do, in fact they seem much more comfortable discussing and even joking about it. The whole perspective of rape seems to radiate a stench of sexism to me.

Anyway to go back to my opinion on the topic. No, I don't believe rape is a laughing matter, I definitely don't think it can be justified in any situation. But this isn't rape, much the same way as porn actors running around a room doesn't count as rape to me.

 

[silasbufu]

You would think that rape is so wrong to put in a video game..well yeah it is , but think about all the other wrong stuff we're doing every single day , killing hundreds and thousands.

 

[WaderiAAA]

Now the statement that videogames aren't more demonizing than any other form of media doesn't seem quite right to me. Sure, if you can show to studies on the topic that shows this conclusion, I'll probably believe it, but I believe that the inter-active aspects of video games make them different from other media. Ideally, a video game will give you the idea that YOU save the world and YOU lead the team to the world cup, or that YOU are the murderer and YOU are the rapist. Movies and books just don't do that.

 

[reciprocal]

There just isn't sufficient statistical evidence to show that these items have a negative impact on the Japanese people. At worst it has a neutral effect. There are so many other factors involved that may have a dramatic effect but I believe treating Rapelay as a scapegoat is delusional and almost criminal as it prevents the more pertinent factors to be addressed.

It's true we'd have to see Japan banning Hentai and wait to see how it's rape rates evolve to conclude on the cultural factors ; but it remains that there is no evidence of pornography having a negative impact on society at all.
http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/forumy/2006/06/rape-porn-and-criminality-political.php
Studies like this are real statistical evidence of this ; and that's what this is all about, showing how senseless censorship is.

Rapelay became sort of like a simbol by accident, it could have been some other game like it, It's after CNN made a scandal out of it that literally hundreds of american lawyers started harrassing japanese publishers. Then japanese pro-censorship organisations started receiving large amounts of money from american associations.

That said,I'd like to know what are the more pertinent factors you're thinking of.

I honestly wish I could give you an unbiased answer but I really do not have enough research or experience to give an analysis on what are the leading causes of rape. In my opinion, though, the following may have a higher chance of being causes:
1) Increased usage of drugs, which may lead to date-rape
2) Social taboo on pornography and masturbation coupled with poor sex education. Natural urges are often treated as shameful and are repressed instead of given a safe outlet. I don't want to take a cheap shot but lets look at the recent Catholic priest scandal.
3) Ease at which perpetrators can get away with the crime. This could be 'bringing the family shame', poor public facilities (e.g. dark and no security camera), poor justice system, corruption, etc.
4) Cultural disparity. There was a very controversial rape case a while ago in Australia where a group of boys gang raped a girl because they thought she deserved it and needed to be taught a lesson. As far as I am aware, they tried to blame her for the way she dressed and communicated with them. I don't think Rapelay was out at that time or that the boys had access to loli manga.

All countries have these problems. Most of them are extremely difficult things to tackle but taking cheap shots at a very minor and localised phenomenon such as Japan's manga and anime industry or the games industry in general is extremely disappointing (not surprising).

One more thing to ponder: It is very likely that the Rapelay issue will fade away quickly in America. However Australia's media recently used Rapelay in a very biased poll to push the internet censorship agenda. I think it's worth considering how much freedom we will be giving up if this fear-mongering succeeds.

 

[Asturiel]

Did this just feel like him going on about random stuff just to fill those two pages because he didn't actually have anything to say?

Nice read but not much content, maybe I should read it again...

 

[Andy Chalk]

Now the statement that videogames aren't more demonizing than any other form of media doesn't seem quite right to me. Sure, if you can show to studies on the topic that shows this conclusion, I'll probably believe it, but I believe that the inter-active aspects of video games make them different from other media. Ideally, a video game will give you the idea that YOU save the world and YOU lead the team to the world cup, or that YOU are the murderer and YOU are the rapist. Movies and books just don't do that.

So you're suggesting we should ban all videogames that require players to take part in antisocial in-game behaviour?

 

[William Dickbringer]

wow I am undecided on this subject both sides have good arguments
on one side it's a rape game on the other hand freedom of speech on the other hand it's a rape game but on the other hand censorship is wrong

know what I think I am anti-banning of rapelay just because censorship is wrong we shouldn't be needing the government telling us what not to play it should be up to personal preference and parent's decision (if a parent is even retarded enough to get this game for their kid I mean the object of the game is in the title) whether to get this game for their

plus it's in japan only and we shouldn't be telling japan what to do it's their country they can have any games no matter how messed it is to us

 

[Miral]

People who want to ban games like that take the view that games are reinforcement training tools, that playing a game which depicts violence or rape inherently makes the player want to go out and commit violence or rape in the real world as well. (Note that this is the exact same viewpoint that the "think of the children! oh noes, ban the violent games!" crowd take.)

Other people take the view that games are escapism, that playing a game which depicts violence or rape actually makes the player less likely to do so in the real world (since they're "getting their fix" from the game).

And the final group take the view that games are pure fantasy and have no bearing on the real world at all, and that just because someone enjoys murder in a game doesn't mean they have any inclination to do so in reality.

Personally, I fall somewhere between the last two groups. I play a lot of games involving shooting and otherwise killing people, and I have never felt the urge to do so in reality (quite the opposite). So I don't see how this would be any different for a rape game.

And on the topic of freedom of speech: like the man said, "if you don't believe in free speech for your enemies, then you don't believe in free speech at all."

 

[TheodoreLuke]

It is a problem...you ban one, and then, another and another.

Soon, only games we will be able to play will contain fluffy clouds and good will towards everyne..

Fahrenheit 451 reference?

 

[incal11]

All countries have these problems. Most of them are extremely difficult things to tackle but taking cheap shots at a very minor and localised phenomenon such as Japan's manga and anime industry or the games industry in general is extremely disappointing (not surprising).

It's not taking cheap shot, nor is it a localized issue, hentai is becoming illegal in quite a lot of developped countries ; and it definitely is a dangerous path against freedom of expression the world is taking.
I repeat, it has been proven that legal access to pornography of all kind has a good effect on society overall.

The other causes you talk about are important too but they are actual causes already taken care of by the right associations (more or less), not a media scapegoat .

 

[Guitarmasterx7]

I don't see why anybody is concerned about kids getting this. No matter how irresponsible a parent is, I highly doubt they're going to purchase a game with the word "Rape" in the title for their child. Plus to order it on amazon you would need a credit/debit card, so to get it the kid would have to take their parent's credit card, buy the game, get to the package before the parent did, and play it in windows where neither one of their parents weren't home. This is all on the assumption that a kid not only knows about but WANTS this game.

Since it's gotten so much attention, I'm curious now as to what this game's actually like. Kind of hard to misconstrue a game with a title like "rapelay," but generally when a videogame is being demonized the degree to how graphic it is increases a lot in the prosecutor's synopsis.

 

[Dorian6]

I have to agree.

While I find the acts portrayed in the games disgusting, banning offensive material is a slippery slope.

If we start censoring material concerning rape, then that can pave the way for any special interest group to erase anything they find obscene.

Today its rape, but tomorrow the anti-smoking lobbies could demand that mediums that glorify cigarettes be banned, or Christan groups could demand that anything portraying homosexuality be banned.

Where does it stop?

 

[PoliceBox63]

It's boils down to censorship is wrong. Period. The age rating safeguard is there for a reason. A video I saw about RapeLay (I think it was on here :. ) with parents in the street going "wah what if my kid played this?" Obviously it won't because the game wouldn't be available to the under-18 market. Now we all know over-18 games get into the hands of 8 year olds but that's the responsibility of the seller/parent. In an ideal world freedom of speech and all that jazz should be unconstrained. Banning this is pointless because what good will it do? The rape crisis groups speaking out about it "it's not a light issue... there are many consequences..." all that shit, ya okay but it's a video game. Just like all the games with murder and violence and war, they don't make people kill. Just like Rapelay won't make people rape.

 

[Altorin]

Rape is pretty much the most horrible thing one human can do to another.

So...By that logic: Rape > Holocaust

You might notice eye said pretty much. not literally and plus i said that incorrectly i meant to say "one individual can do to another"

the argument is still flawed. I'm sure an incredible number of rape victims would still rather be alive at the end of the day then dead. And claiming that just because someone you knew killed themselves because they were raped is anecdotal evidence at best.

Look lets not get into an argument about just how horrible rape is and agree on the fact rape is a horrible sick twisted act and it should not be encouraged for any reason ever at all.

then the argument becomes "does watching rape porn turn you into a rapist", and I say it does not.

To quote Penn Jillette

"You're trying to take away our porn by telling us that rapists are sensitive lovers who are simply misled by fiction?"

Although he was talking about porn in general but he also made this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ACSsUhFk7I

can't watch it in canada, but I think i saw it before it was removed from my country.

Like a year ago.

And if I remember correctly, he was actually answering a question about RapeLay itself

THIS IS OLD NEWS CNN GOD.

"current" events my ass.

 

[daemon37]

I know this has been said before many times but here it goes...

I've seen this game, and a few of the other games by the same company "Illusion". They are all far too anime/cartoonish to take seriously. Not to mention that the cutscenes are ridiculously poor and the stories are laughable. I find nothing terribly offensive about them.

On the other hand, there are legal games that I find very offensive. Fallout 3, Bioshock, Left 4 Dead 2, etc. I'm not going to list them all, but western society clearly doesn't mind extremely graphic depictions of violence. i.e. Cutting people in half with a chainsaw is OK... just as long as their genitals aren't exposed in the process.

 

[breadlord]

Guys, CNN is doing it as a publicity stunt, and the views on their page.

I should say that they are becoming the new Fox News. But I'm trying not to bash anyone. ><

 

[SecondmateFlint]

To be honest, I'm really upset right now. I had never heard of this game. I think it's incredibly wrong and taken a step too far.

I'm not against games with sex scenes in them and whatever, you do what you want and I'll do what I want. And we should not tell Japan what to do, we're not their Mom.

But this is different. This is rape. Rape is not a joke nor should be made to be taken lightly. This is just a simulation to exercise dominance.

And I know games don't "make" people into things but I feel like it might desensitize. I am anti-censorship unless it hurts people. And I feel like this could hurt people who have been raped. Making something so horrific into almost a joke.

I'm sorry, but I can't support this game.

EDIT: I feel rather prudish about this statement but it's how I feel. I do find it ironic though that people can be horribly mutilated in games and those games can pass. I just think this is different. But then again, what makes it different than Manhunt?

Oh what horrible conflicting feelings.

 

[Kouen]

Call me odd... but Yea, Graphics are old and dated nothing good, was only designed for the Japanese market for use in Japan and wasn't intended for outside of Japan till CNN Poked its nose in the first time and there at it again? Urgh..

To be fairly honest what's the point in banning it:

* It will just get more popular because of that
* Take that one out and another will pop up
* seems to tie into the Japanese culture anyway with there love sims n sex sims...

[Edit] To help clarify my point of view.

I Do agree its a terrible ordeal for anyone to go through (Words cant describe it) for ether sex (Yes men do get raped too but its not as reported) but on the other side its also a sexual kink for some people too, to be fair I don't think the game was made to promote the act in the negative fashion that maybe CNN would want you to believe and was made for the latter