South Korea's "Shutdown Law" Takes Effect

[isometry]

Online gaming addiction can be a real problem for kids. In the west, not many people get truly addicted to online games like Call of Duty or Starcraft, they just enjoy them as hobbies. The exception are MMO type games, and if you've experienced MMO addiction or been around an addict, then hopefully you can see why it's an issue that deserves legal attention, specifically for kids.

An adult who works to support themselves and comes home to play WoW for 12 hours every day is living a precarious life, but that's their choice. But when kids who have never had a job are playing like that it's very hard to make them transition into adult working lives.

I see people saying "the parents should be handling this", I wish it were that easy. These kids are almost beyond help once they become addicted to gaming at that age. They don't just recover when you take away their computer access. Just like alcoholic anonymous says they are never cured and they have to fight the addiction every day, it's the same way with online gaming. Unless the kid can be steered into a non-gaming activity that they truly enjoy, then they always fall back to online games.

So anyway, I agree with what the law is trying to do. My only concern is to separate "normal gaming" from "addict gaming", because of course there is nothing harmful about logging on for a few quick matches at 2am, it's playing around the clock that is a problem.

 

[Terrible Opinions]

I must point out.

Starcraft Brood War is not part of this new law.

 

[DalekJaas]

I fully support this law actually, about time the Korean gov did something because every second day you here some ridiculous game-based tragedy story from Korea.

 

[Robert Ewing]

Well, this is going to be a problem for about 14 seconds before the south Korean hive mind work together to get around it.

 

[Lord Legion]

I must point out.

Starcraft Brood War is not part of this new law.

I think Starcraft is in their 'Bill of Rights'

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

As much as I hate the Government for doing parenting I would actually love to see this done in other countries to keep the whiny pricks off the online services at night. Not that all gamers under 16 but collateral damage happens.

 

[Sizzle Montyjing]

Yeah, this is actually the right way of going about this, if anybody can think of a better way, then please do say.
I do know for a fact that gaming addiction is a big problem in South Korea, and is severely effecting studying.

Also, from what i've heard, parents are kind of useless in controlling and disciplining their kids.

Good way of handling it if you ask me.

 

[AugustFall]

So I dunno but isn't a lot of the online gaming in S. Korea done in internet cafes? I may be wrong but surely they could just ID people as they come in.

Of course if I'm wrong this won't work but just an idea.

 

[Tay051173096]

Should free up the countries band width as well in the shut down time, Less lag...

 

[Wolfram23]

Who needs parenting when you can just have the government do it for you.

This, exactly this.

I mean yeah North America needs better parents too, but basically this is the responsibility of parents/guardians, not the governments.

 

[The-Epicly-Named-Man]

Yes, because kids won't be too tired to do their homework after midnight.

 

[Irony's Acolyte]

I don't see this as a bad thing at all. The South Korean government is stepping in to make sure the generations that are currently going through school don't end up addicted to online games. And though in keeps those under 16 from playing during certain times, its only during 12-6 am. That's pretty much the time when they should be sleeping.

So I don't see much wrong with this.

 

[Rarhnor]

Isn't this rather fascist? I mean restricting people's actual rights, to make them do their homework?

Wow. So much for the happy ol' farmers of South Korea.

 

[Treblaine]

Yes, this is going to be about as effective as banning fat people under the age of 16 from eating between Midnight and 6am.

i.e. it won't be, it'll just piss off fatties who occasionally want a midnight snack!

I love how inflexible this is, what about on holidays or weekend nights were you might want to game till 1 or 2pm. The result of this is you will now find a lot more teenagers up at 6am fragging and clicking.

 

[isometry]

Isn't this rather fascist? I mean restricting people's actual rights, to make them do their homework?

All the US states I've lived in have laws banning the sale of liquor in the early morning hours, e.g. 2am - 6am. Is that fascist?

Sure, alcohol and games are not the same, but they do have one important thing in common: some people get irresponsibly addicted to them.

 

[The Great JT]

Eh, that's too bad. I guess I get why they did it, but I don't think I agree with it.

 

[Rarhnor]

Isn't this rather fascist? I mean restricting people's actual rights, to make them do their homework?

All the US states I've lived in have laws banning the sale of liquor in the early morning hours, e.g. 2am - 6am. Is that fascist?

Sure, alcohol and games are not the same, but they do have one important thing in common: some people get irresponsibly addicted to them.

True, but alcohol can pose an actual threat to the persons (and possibly other's) health. What South Korea is doing here, isn't really of humanitarian concern as it is of governmental interest.

But even then, it is the parents' responsibility to teach their children discipline, not the governments...

 

[Virtual-Goose]

Freedom above all else just saying

 

[Korolev]

Well, what's next? Will they start shutting off TV signals after Midnight since some kids might stay up all night watching television? Will they start banning kids from going to the cinema during exam time because that's when they are supposed to be studying?

Excessive MMO playing is a SYMPTOM of a problem, not the cause of a problem. I know I'm just repeating Extra Credits, but they were right when they said that people play MMOs to get away from problems - the problems don't stem from the MMOs themselves. Korean society, like Chinese and Japanese societies, are high-pressure, stressful societies. I would know - I grew up under that system. It's great for helping your kids to succeed academically and in keeping crime low, but the side effect is that... well, a lot of us who grew up with Asian Parents (or in my case, Asian parent) are a little bit.... warped. And that's putting it mildly. We are constantly told that we have to get a good job. We are constantly told that our behaviour must be perfect. We are constantly told that even the slightest mistake can ruin our chances at "a good life". Don't get me wrong: my mother loved me unconditionally, but she sure as hell manipulated her children into believing that she wouldn't love us if we failed at school or we failed to be "good citizens". When you grow up in a very rigid, very orderly society and family, with a TREMENDOUS pressure to succeed and act "normally" (i.e act in a way to impress the "all-important" neighbours and family relatives) you start to get a little.... off centre. You start seeking escapism.

Get rid of MMO's, and kids find something else to immerse themselves in. This law does nothing to address the underlying cultural problems which drive these kids to seek this sort of escapism.

 

[Charli]

Egh under 16...Midnight ...that's not a bad thing I suppose, I don't know how they're going to reinforce this though since gaming can still continue offline like the olden days of yore but... okay Korea, I'm on board, what's the game plan?

I could stand less mouthy teens on my games after hours.