Michael Atkinson Once Again Dismisses Gamers

[SyphonX]

Consider games to be the final frontier in "liberal media". It used to be books, but those were deconstructed and reconstructed with government control. It used to be journalists and the media, but they were deconstructed and reconstructed with total government control. It also used to be movies, but Hollywood was taken over and victoriously claimed by the same pundits of the previous eras, to create "films" that always promote government concerns.

Games are relatively new to the scene, and they are not "infiltrated", so to speak. This is one reason why I absolutely despise companies like EA, because if they continue to stretch their talons over every developer and every game, then it's fucking over people. Companies like EA will sell out immediately, no questions asked.

 

[GestaltEsper]

As South Australia is famous for both churches and serial killers, there is still hope....

Wait what?
...I'm sure there's no correlation between the two.

 

[Low Key]

"I think you will find this issue has little traction with my constituents who are more concerned with real-life issues than home entertainment in imaginary worlds."

So why the hell were you worried about the issue in the first place to pass a worthless law? What a waste of fucking time.

 

[Lord Krunk]

Noting that he'll be up for re-election early next year,

South Australia, you know what to do.

 

[lacktheknack]

saying that it's quite possible for adults to find games that will challenge them without having to resort to "depraved sex, gore and cruelty."

Why, yes, it is. BUT YOUR STUPID RATING SYSTEM BLOCKS THOSE TOO.

 

[lacktheknack]

Actually, now that I look over the comments, I see tons of outright hatred and immaturity.

It's actually YOU guys that give this guy cause to go on.

 

[matrix3509]

God this guy is such a smug son of a *****. If I were living in Australia, I would taint-punch the ************.

 

[mechanixis]

Wait wait wait wait wait.

Exactly what games am I missing that feature "cruel sex"?

 

[CuddlyCombine]

I think his logic is sound, even if a bit misplaced.

 

[Credge]

Actually, now that I look over the comments, I see tons of outright hatred and immaturity.

It's actually YOU guys that give this guy cause to go on.

This is one of the most ignorant statements I have ever heard.

 

[Booze Zombie]

Doesn't he mean "give us more extreme sex and cruel violence"?
Of course he doesn't, that would be a sentence structure that makes sense.

If movies can have violent themes in them like rape, murder, drugs and other such "reprehensible activities", why can't games?
This is the common argument and he never seems to address it, probably because if he admits he's a moron people will realise the flaw of having a system that lets someone like him apparently deadlock an issue like this.

 

[Credge]

I think his logic is sound, even if a bit misplaced.

There is no soundness to his logic.

"Parents can't stop kids from playing certain types of video games" is absurd. Forcing grown ass men out of video games because of parents is NOT sound logic.

Period.

 

[KingTiger]

Let him blabber whatever he wants, we will get our games one way or another whether pirated or ordered online as I did for Left 4 dead 2.

I hope he dies soon, he made me go through a lot of trouble just to get uncensored l4d2.

 

[Ocelot GT]

I have adult video games, I live alone and have no children...

How are children going to play my video games?

Maybe if they committed some crimes first they could

-Break and enter the premises
-theft
-vandalism

So the only way they could play my games is by committing crimes to begin with.

Oh Atkinson, time and time again you demonstrate to the rest of the world your ignorance and arrogance. It's a good thing you're not in charge of anything important like health.

 

[Robby Foxfur]

So basically his argument boils down to "Parents can't take care of children. Only I can". Why exactly is this man in a position of power?

because he thinks like, same thing over here in America, people in power that think they are the only ones who can save the poor American children because their parents are incompetent.

But seriously he seems like a total dumb ass that is pretty much saying FU Australian gamers over the age of 18, (is that the age when they can vote?) and if so then FU next generation of voters and people who pay my salaries...

 

[duchaked]

Wow. I love this guy. It is true as proven in the US that ratings do not work. People just buy their kids whatever they want and everyone thinks that kids have the right to play whatever. So no, parents do not take care of their kids. They just give them whatever they want to shut them up.
Basically it comes down to this. It is the law. Shut up and deal with it or leave.
You do not see pedos or other criminals trying to state the laws are stupid. (well except for stoners but who gives a feth what they think.)

(Of course it helps that I am in New Zealand. A sane country where ratings exist and are enforced as well as such things can be. Plus this is amusing as hell.)

...Speaking as someone whose parents actually did a pretty good job of trying to keep me from playing M-rated games until I became 17 I am appalled that you would suggest they were incapable of raising me. Then again you are in New Zealand and odds are you're just a sheep with a keyboard rather than an actual person.

See I can make wild conjectures too.

The point is that anybody who says that only they have the ability to properly raise the youth of any country is a dangerous and deluded individual who should not be holding power. Especially because what he has said here is "guess what parents, you don't have to try and be responsible for your children anymore." That is not the right message whatsoever.

hahahahahaha FTW

but honestly, I do believe that it is the parents' responsibility
if they aren't going to do a good job, then it's no one else's job really
and the U.S. shouldn't be stereotyped, we're weren't all spoiled with all the games we want (good and bad thing)

 

[MysticnFm]

Then again you are in New Zealand and odds are you're just a sheep with a keyboard rather than an actual person.

lol.

"I would welcome advocates of R18+ computer games testing public acceptance of my policy by standing a candidate against me in that general election," he concluded. "I think you will find this issue has little traction with my constituents who are more concerned with real-life issues than home entertainment in imaginary worlds."

Ok, any smart candidate in SA will take this and run with it I hope. It is stupid to focus your whole campaign on this issue, true, however it could be very easy to persuade people over to your side, without losing the support of whatever parents support Atkinson at the moment.

Simply make this another dot point on your campaign plan, and tell the parents that you trust them, unlike Atkinson. Tell them he doesn't believe they can look after their kids, and you have all the faith in the world.

Result? You have won over both the gaming voters, and the parent voters. Win/Win.

 

[KeyMaster45]

This guy is a class A douche-bag, he's Jack Thompson with power. How the fuck haven't the Aussies gotten him out of power yet?

Because of the way our politcal system works. When voting you are voting for your local area, hence everyone who lives in SA near Atkinson (can't remember the town's name off the top of my head). Thus, unless every video gamer in the country moves there and votes him out, he isn't going anywhere.

Yuck, its like state elections but on a national scale. Well, I suppose there's only one thing for it...Let the great Nerd Rush begin!

 

[CuddlyCombine]

There is no soundness to his logic.

"Parents can't stop kids from playing certain types of video games" is absurd. Forcing grown ass men out of video games because of parents is NOT sound logic.

Period.

It's true, though. It's well known that the ESRB in America has no effect on who plays what games - you could be 13 and buy Manhunt if you want to. There aren't any effective restrictions. Keeping violent games out of the hands of kids is a valiant thing to be doing.

I can see good in this, even though this probably just increases pirating rates.