Germany embarks on total and complete ban of killer games
 

Breaking News, just in. German interior ministers have agreed to completely ban and forbid killer-games in all Germany. The prohibition should cover both production and selling of such games. This is in reaction to the latest school shooting in Germany. It also includes a good deal of populism. This was decided on a conferenece of all german interior ministers from all federal states.

http://www.welt.de/politik/article38...yes#reqdrucken


The issue will cause absolute polarisation between fans and critics, no doubt, and each camp will argue with total absolutes. They always did.

The truth, imo, would be found somewhere in the middle. I personally wanted much more regulation and bans of certain games, but i also think that it aims too short to assume that such games are the key trigger for people going nuts, I would see the time spend at a computer as a factor as important, and the question of wether or not the time spend with killer games is compensated by other, non-PC-related social activities as well. Just to give one example.

I love this country.:dead:

yeesh.
thats pretty bad.
I could see some kind of Counter-Strike Underground...fun.

But to be honest, I have a relative idea of what it takes for kids (columbine and VA tech, for example) to go absolutely bonkers and shoot up a school. They are tired of this or that, their girl just left them, social outcasts, whatever, they get the crazy idea to shoot everyone who has caused problems for them. they use the games astraining more likely than not. since I cant ask any of them. Its a psychological issue. I played every Grand Theft Auto since GTA 3, and I still dont feel the urge to go out and kill people at random.

Frankly, a ban on all "killer" video games is a little extreme. There's easier ways to go about this. Metal detectors in school doors is a start, we had liaison police officers at my old high school. It wouldn't be too much to throw a police officer or two into a school. Perhaps better counselors? Do schools there even HAVE counselors? A ban on all "killer" games is a bit extensive. That, and you just can't get all of them.

Well here ya go Skybird. Enjoy the new gaming genre!


http://www.barney.com/usa/index.asp

This is complete bull****.

How unfortunate. It is always dissapointing when a group of legislators don't seem to learn from the past. In the US there was a total ban on the sale and distribution of a certain product under the Volstead Act and it was an unmitigated disaster. Germany's geographic position would seem to make it difficult to stop cross border incusions, and people who want it would get the material in any case.

A better idea would be to tax the material rather heavily and earmark the revenue to mental health efforts.

With all due respect, but that comparison is a bit unfortunate, isn't it? If these two were the only options, I prefer a total ban of killer games to turning schools into police-controlled fortresses any time.

Baning killer games will have no effect on school shootings, while metal detectors at the doors will hinder people bringing weapons into schools at least to some degree.

Though I agree, I am not for making schools into police controlled fortresses.

Germany seams to be big on censorship.

Would someone explain to me what a 'killer' game is?

Would duck hunt qualify?

How about Silent Hunter?

it wasnt a police-controlled fortress, per se. they were merely quick response people for incidents (fights being the most prevalent) but they also had that "im watching you" thing about them. it made me feel safer, anyways. Im suprised you missed my point about counselors. I seriously think more or better qualified counselors would help

Just my opinion.

Well, obviously something is repsonsible for that schools are argued to be in need of using metal detectors, and having plicemen patrolling them. When I was at chool, we did nbot need that. Nobody brought weapons and iknifes into school. the most dangerous item we were armed with eventually were a Edding-type of marker pencil. Graffiti was the worst you coudl expect in violence.

This has chnaged. Mobbing is a rule in many German schools now. Knifes are brought in, gas-weapons, pepper-spray, etc. People vpoicing acceptance for having metal detectors and police patrols - 20 years ago nobody would even have imagined such a debate possible in the future.

So, something obviously has changed, but nobody wants to face the respnsibility. Not the movie makers showing explicit depictions of horror and violance. Not the TV makers, having constantly lowered the moral barriers on nudity and violence and crap TV. Not the makers of video games. Not the producers of firearms. Not the print media. Not the producers of alcoholic drinks.

Our youth is growing up in a more and more violent climate, and a culture that is fond of violence. What would have been a scandal 30 years ago, today'S does not make anybody raising his exebrow anymore.

Something has changed for the worse, but nobody wants to be the bad guy causing it. I assume it were some brownies then.

Many things have indeed changed over the past 30 years. However in my mind it is not healthy or fair to lay the blame at the doorstep of any particular industry, product or group. As far as children being responsible for many henious acts, that is why they are called immature, because they are. More attentive parenting may prove to be our best defense against such sad happenings. All too often, in the US anyway, we let others, whith less incentive to do good by our children (schools, TV, Video games, gov't, with silly laws) take care of said children.

I think we can trace many bad behaviors back to the home. A good paddling can do a world of good when dispensed fairly with consistent rules and without being abusive.

EDIT Having re-read that last part I don't mean to imply corperal discipline is the only option but boundries are important and should be established within the framework of the nuclear family.

Piracy rates will go thru the roof in Germany, that's for sure. :har: