South Korea's "Shutdown Law" Takes Effect
- Thread starter Hevva
- Start date
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.
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.
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.
I could stand less mouthy teens on my games after hours.
Honestly?
This isn't a bad ruling.
Midnight to 6am should be free of gaming until you're old enough to handle the chronic sleep deprivation effects.
Kids need their sleep; and tbh, so do I. I just choose to flout it.
This isn't a bad ruling.
Midnight to 6am should be free of gaming until you're old enough to handle the chronic sleep deprivation effects.
Kids need their sleep; and tbh, so do I. I just choose to flout it.
I don't see this as a bad thing. People can suggest that it's the parents' duty to make sure their kids' go to bed, but it's clear to me that they aren't doing that. And, if the effects of excessive gaming are really having such a large impact on school grades, I don't see why this is such a bad idea.
This is the kinda stuff that worries me more and more governments are finding ways to threaten human freedoms.Sorry but it is not the governments role to judge how children should be raised.
The governments of the world should focus more on runing a country then invading people's personal lives as this law is no way a new thing governments are more and more abusing the power they have been given by their people
The governments of the world should focus more on runing a country then invading people's personal lives as this law is no way a new thing governments are more and more abusing the power they have been given by their people
It sounds so extreme but you have to understand this is a massive problem in South Korea. Something had to be done.
Glad 1 I live in Australia.
2 I'm glad I am 17
3 WOW REALLY?
That is all you can think of to make your policies around?
If parents are stupid let them be stupid.
But Forcing people's information. What about Phishing attempts?
meh TOR BITCHES... Play on American/Australian/European servers (all be it with some lag).
Just configure it to work and all will be good
2 I'm glad I am 17
3 WOW REALLY?
That is all you can think of to make your policies around?
If parents are stupid let them be stupid.
But Forcing people's information. What about Phishing attempts?
meh TOR BITCHES... Play on American/Australian/European servers (all be it with some lag).
Just configure it to work and all will be good
You are aware that on-line gaming "addiction" is actually a serious problem in S. Korea right? A few example being the parents who let their kids starve to death because they were too busy playing games and the kid who pulled the monster marathon of WoW (I think it was WoW anyway) and dropped dead because he barely ate, drank or slept?
But hey don't let facts get in the way of your dismissal of a completely different country and culture, no just carry on shouting "Freedom!" I'm sure they'll pay attention.
But hey don't let facts get in the way of your dismissal of a completely different country and culture, no just carry on shouting "Freedom!" I'm sure they'll pay attention.
Because governments should me making subjective moral decisions about what people should be doing with their free time. Whatever the majority (that is, the majority of a load of middle aged politicians) thinks is 'right' clearly, should be imposed on everyone.
So we should have a government body looking over our shoulders at all times to stop us hurting ourselves?Carsus Tyrell said:
What do you think about extreme sports, or even just skiing or mountain climbing? Far more people die due to pursuit of those hobbies than videogames. I think we should demand permits for them. You can scream 'freedom' all you want, but people shouldn't be able to ever endanger themselves, because the nanny knows best.
As as for this 'different culture stuff', well, it makes no sense. South Koreans are humans, not some mysterious alien race with a different brain setup. Gaming is culturally a bigger deal there, sure. But you can't generalise a whole country and say 'their freedom should be reduced for their own good, because they have a different mindset to us'. That's only a few steps from European colonists deciding to 'civilise' the natives, because they're different and it's for our own good.
People have to be allowed to make their own choices, for better or for worse.
Normally, I'd be right up there with all those saying that the parents shouldld be handling this issue. But considering that even adult S. Koreans are probably having much of the same problems, I wonder if government intervention might not be a necessary evil here.
I mean, if you can't even count on parental intervention, what can you count on? If it means keeping your whole country from going down the tubes, you have to do something, right?
I mean, if you can't even count on parental intervention, what can you count on? If it means keeping your whole country from going down the tubes, you have to do something, right?
I'm not sure how they think they can enforce this. But it's a good thing. Kids need their sleep. And kids shouldn't wake up at 12:00 or later.