I thought that too, when that kid was killed, nobody blamed videogames at all, people just love to use them as a convenient scapegoat.MarsProbe said:
UK Urged to Tax Violent Games
- Thread starter The_root_of_all_evil
- Start date
I could very well be wrong, but I can't remember there actually being a specified scapegoat for that particular crime. Perhaps because those were comparatively rational times where they actually tended to blame crimes on the things that were actually likely to have caused them, not like today.MA7743W said:
On a somewhat related note, I was in Gamestation today on my lunch and spotted a little kid of what, 6 maybe, standing in the queue clutching a copy of Prey for the 360 and crisp £20 note. I decided to watch with interest what would happen when the little kid tried to buy an 18-rated game, especially given that he barely tall enough to reach the top of the counter. Once he handed the game over, the sales guy took the box, put the game disc and manual in, stuck it in a bag and handed it back to the kid. By this time the kids parents (most likely) were standing next to him, so the sales guy pointed to the part of the game box where the 18 rating was (not that you could see, what with the game now being in a bag and all), so must have being pointing out to them the game carried an 18 rating. The dad just responded with the "ok, but it's just a game so it'll be fine" smile and they walked off. Just shows how easy it is though, given that the little guy was unaccompanied when he actually bought the game.
On the other hand, I have actually seen a woman in a Game branch refused a copy of a GTA game because she had a young child with her. Funnily enough, when being told that the game had some fairly adult content she basically said, "I thought it would be okay anyway, because it's a game". So maybe the shops that do so could stop selling these kinds of games to little kids and those parents that actually try and buy them for their kids look into things a bit more beforehand...
Report the guy to the manager (in a discreet way). By not informing the parents before hand and by taking the money from the kid he was commiting a criminal offence (carrying up to 5years in Jail amongst other things). More importantly though the Manager would also be held personally liable and face up £30'000 in fines. S/He will be acutely aware of this fact.MarsProbe said:
The guy probably wouldn't lose his job over it (unless he was persistently doing it), but being lazy like that can land you in such deep shit it's not funny. He needs to be more thorough.
Knife crime.
Look, even in maximum security prisons they can't stop inmates from obtaining stabbing weapons, what hope in hell do they think they can do the same in the wide world, unless they treat us like prisoners, constantly searched and restricting our movements. That is NOT a free and open society.
The ironic thing is Damilola Taylor was not even killed by a knife but by a broken bottle, are you going to ban glass now?
In fact the whole case is a fucking disgrace for the Metropolitan Police, a total of 9 separate people have been charged, often with people being acquitted then being retried again (fucked up double Jeopardy laws in UK) with terrible forensic standards. 6 years and £20 million, for two manslaughter convictions of Ricky and Charles Preddie (brothers) only to be paroled next year.
Crime.
Maybe the problem here is not the inanimate tool but the person who wields it. I prescribe to the view that you get diminishing returns in reducing crime as you use more and more stringent and draconian enforcement. In order to prevent that last 0.001% from murder, you will have to have a police state that meticulously monitors, sanctions and controls every aspect of the public's life.
What is known about the Preddie brothers (who were 12 and 13 at the time they killed Taylor) is they came from broken homes and even at their young age were on probation for serious crimes like armed robbery (with knives) yet they were allowed to walk free and interact with other children. If these teenagers had been properly punished THAT would have prevented the crime.
It didn't come out of nowhere, or from playing video games (in 2000 GTA3 had not even been released) But from the crime that was actually in these teenager's lives that social workers ignored!
It is a bit embarrassing as there is an unwritten rule he was supposed to call a general election but called it off at the last minute when he realised he'd probably lose. In fact he can delay as long as he likes the system is so deeply screwed.
Look, even in maximum security prisons they can't stop inmates from obtaining stabbing weapons, what hope in hell do they think they can do the same in the wide world, unless they treat us like prisoners, constantly searched and restricting our movements. That is NOT a free and open society.
The ironic thing is Damilola Taylor was not even killed by a knife but by a broken bottle, are you going to ban glass now?
In fact the whole case is a fucking disgrace for the Metropolitan Police, a total of 9 separate people have been charged, often with people being acquitted then being retried again (fucked up double Jeopardy laws in UK) with terrible forensic standards. 6 years and £20 million, for two manslaughter convictions of Ricky and Charles Preddie (brothers) only to be paroled next year.
Crime.
Maybe the problem here is not the inanimate tool but the person who wields it. I prescribe to the view that you get diminishing returns in reducing crime as you use more and more stringent and draconian enforcement. In order to prevent that last 0.001% from murder, you will have to have a police state that meticulously monitors, sanctions and controls every aspect of the public's life.
What is known about the Preddie brothers (who were 12 and 13 at the time they killed Taylor) is they came from broken homes and even at their young age were on probation for serious crimes like armed robbery (with knives) yet they were allowed to walk free and interact with other children. If these teenagers had been properly punished THAT would have prevented the crime.
It didn't come out of nowhere, or from playing video games (in 2000 GTA3 had not even been released) But from the crime that was actually in these teenager's lives that social workers ignored!
I agree as well, as both Bernthalbob and Gordon Brown have not been elected to their position. To Americans, Gordon Brown is effectively the same as Gerald Ford, unelected and only got the position after the leader was forced to retire, he took power by default.bernthalbob616 said:
It is a bit embarrassing as there is an unwritten rule he was supposed to call a general election but called it off at the last minute when he realised he'd probably lose. In fact he can delay as long as he likes the system is so deeply screwed.
For one thing videogames, at £40-50 are pretty expensive so what does he think a better price will be? Secondly how about enforcing game ratings and, oh yeah, how about finding proof that videogames incite murder before blaming them!
*facepalm
Because, of course, money will make the pain go away and/or deter people from buying games.
Where's he been buying his games? IF you can afford the average game, you're extremely likely not to be running in circles that think broken bottles are great idea.
Also of note "those dang young people" and "it's America's fault".
F'ing moron.
Because, of course, money will make the pain go away and/or deter people from buying games.
Where's he been buying his games? IF you can afford the average game, you're extremely likely not to be running in circles that think broken bottles are great idea.
Also of note "those dang young people" and "it's America's fault".
F'ing moron.
Here's an idea,
Stop selling violent games which are rated 18 to kids. Appeal to the parents to stop their children playing games underage.
But here's a better one...
DON'T RIP ME OFF FOR MY GAMES BECAUSE SOME FUCKTARD KIDS KEEP STABBING EACH OTHER!
Wheew, I feel better now.
Stop selling violent games which are rated 18 to kids. Appeal to the parents to stop their children playing games underage.
But here's a better one...
DON'T RIP ME OFF FOR MY GAMES BECAUSE SOME FUCKTARD KIDS KEEP STABBING EACH OTHER!
Wheew, I feel better now.
Exactly what I was thinking! And he didnt blame video games for murder, or gang violence, or teens dying, he blamed it for knife crime and knife-related violence, how do you blame something like video games on something as specific as knife crime? Knives have lots of practical uses, everybody has them somewhere and anyone can get their hands on them one way or another. Whether they are used in a violent manner or not is up to the individual and he/she should know betterAardvark said:
Not quite sure how much that would equal out to in AUD but over here in Australia the average PS3 game is $90 - $120. When the PS3 and 360 first came outevery game for them was priced at $110 - $120, I thought this was some sick joke or a mistake. So far the only games lower in price are the ones you wouldnt buy anyway. Or kids games that wouldnt have any knife related mishaps in the first placeKandon Arc said:
It seems like politicians like games as a scapegoat or just hate the game industry...
It also makes no sense that taxing violent games would slow knife crime. Games are easy enough to pirate, and if someone is able to stab someone to death, I think they can steal a tiny plastic case.
However, I do feel for the guy with the murdered kid. This just doesn't seem like the way to go about and stop knife crimes.
It also makes no sense that taxing violent games would slow knife crime. Games are easy enough to pirate, and if someone is able to stab someone to death, I think they can steal a tiny plastic case.
However, I do feel for the guy with the murdered kid. This just doesn't seem like the way to go about and stop knife crimes.
my cats could run it better.bernthalbob616 said:
their platform: 1.kids should be kept under control by parents and far away from me
2. strangers (read: foreigners) should be watched closely and severely punished for any crime
3. food now. (read: more focus on production and safety of food supplies)
4. move the string, now. (read: develop tourism and seek answers to stress driven illnesses)
5. leave us alone (read: the people are smart enough to solve many of their own problems to not need the government to run their lives for them)
6. food now. (they stress this point)
...What videogame teaches you to use a KNIFE? In what Videogame is the knife anything but the shittiest weapon you get before you find a gun?
A lot of "Negativity" comes out of some old prick stealing kids entertainment and calling them criminals. I'ma gonna 'agree with others: tax knives fuckwit, best way to stop kids using them as weapons.
This reminds me of the Mitchell and Webb sketch where they're interviewing a man who's just lost his wife in a car accident, and asking him if they should improve road safety in this area.
'Well of course I do, I've just lost my wife, why are you asking me, I'm the last person able to give a rational, informed answer! Of course I want it fixed, because I lost my wife! Why not ask a professor or road expert or economist who can give you facts instead?'
Paraphrasing, but they made a good point that if you want genuinely useful feedback, you don't ask people with huge amounts of emotional involvement.
'Well of course I do, I've just lost my wife, why are you asking me, I'm the last person able to give a rational, informed answer! Of course I want it fixed, because I lost my wife! Why not ask a professor or road expert or economist who can give you facts instead?'
Paraphrasing, but they made a good point that if you want genuinely useful feedback, you don't ask people with huge amounts of emotional involvement.
they would find a way to Avoid that tax, and send it back our wayjohnman said:
cause there bastards like that
Taxing games to reduce knife crime? Can we not just tax knives? Because that seems a lot more direct to me.
Or how about, you know, the parents actually check up on their underage children, maybe see if they're playing/listening/watching/reading stuff that they're too young to do. That'd be swell.
Or how about, you know, the parents actually check up on their underage children, maybe see if they're playing/listening/watching/reading stuff that they're too young to do. That'd be swell.