Houston, Do We Have a Problem?

Wow that sucks I'm glad i don't live in Germany right now but it most likely wont pass though.

What do i think? Anything that closes the ****** servers they use in Germany is a result.

Wherever they house them next has got to be an improvement.

Every demand must and will be tended to one way or another.

To stay with the child porn example, there is a demand for child porn. Children have to be protected from sexual harassment, so people who produce such porn are prosecuted as are those who profit from the crime (i.e. the consumers). If the same happens in a virtual way, however, most countries are more relaxed. Hentai goes there quite frequently, for example. Heck, there are even sex dolls in the shape of babies! When I expect a youth to go on a killing spree after playing Counterstrike what should I think of one who "plays" with those?
And while I certainly do not share such preferences I understand that it is better to let those people blow off some steam in a virtual, harmless way than to suppress those needs until they break free in a bad way with real people involved.

Somehow this understanding fails for some people when it comes to violence. Sexual cravings for children are a deviation from the norm while violence - up to a certain degree - is part of human nature. Yet, for some reason some people think they can succeed in completely suppressing that part while not harnessing such delusions regarding the other.
A youth who vents his agression with computer games or sports is a youth who does not beat up grandpa in the subway station and gets my approval.

The cases that make the headlines are those where "virtual venting" is not enough anymore. If it was not for those alternatives I suppose they would snap weeks, months or even years sooner.

Most of the politicians who try to ban computer games come from a part of Germany where they usually vent agressions by drinking too much beer and engaging in a beer tent brawl, so that is probably more desirable for them.

First of all... This is a load of *****.

People who are disturbed to begin with will find their influence to do stuff from movies, books, advertizing and games. They will do what they want (or think is a good idea) anyway.

If this would be the reason as these politici say then at least 75% of all gamers would be coursed to this. I never felt the need to grab someone and drink his blood... yet. And I rp a vampire for three years now. There must be something wrong with me then. Oh yes... I have common sense and know whats real and whats not. I am no psycho.

Ok... aside of that all...

It cant be stopped anyway!

Remove all servers from Germany... The compagnies there rebuild the servers in another country with ease. Sue the German government and get the transfer paid too. Germany loses all the money it gave. And the result will be zero. They know this as well... so expect it to fail miserably.

If this would force NC SOFT to leave germany... the EU server would most likely be imaged to servers in the US. Result... one server list. And a better connection too. It will be the last straw to force them too. Go ahead I say.

Just knowing that people are considering making a law that stupid... Words fail, so I'll have to use a convenient image:

Wow! Epic facepalm or synchronized facepalming?

Ack FFM, I feel for you and all other European players.

The same things happen in the states from time to time. In the 1980s, politicians wanted to blame rock music for bad behaviour of youths. Now, violent video games are the new scapegoat for another generation of politicians who don't understand video game culture and, often times, demonize it.

In my opinion, which is undoubtedly shared by others, politicians are going after a symptom instead of the cause. When Columbine happened here in the states, in addition to music Marylin Manson, KMFDM, and Rammstein, games like Doom were also blamed as influencing factors. However, troubled people will always find inspiration from a multitude of sources, If we didn't have music or video games, what's to stop anyone from being inspired by classic literature like Machiavelli or Sun Tzu? Should society return to burning "unfavorable" books as well? Or should we instead treat the people instead of looking for another scapegoat? Although Michael Moore is far from my favorite documentarian, there are several gems in his "Bowling for Columbine" film.

Obviously, I share your concern and hope that German politicians can overcome their "rectal cranial inversion" and realize that banning so-called "violent video games" will not solve bigger social problems, such as proper parenting, the value of morals, and so forth.

Additionally, they should also realize that placing such a ban would hurt Europe's economy in these stressful economic times, driving business out of Germany, forcing companies to relocate, increasing the bottom line due to costs of relocation and rehiring, etc.

It's the wrong move to make for so many different reasons. Instead, game shops should be made to more strictly enforce the ratings on games (and not sell Mature games to minors) while increasing parental awareness of ratings; and ultimately, making parents more responsible for the actions of their children until the age of emancipation.

*sigh* Customers....what can you do?

The best government is that which governs least.

- Thomas Jefferson

When these sorts of things happen elsewhere don't relax. Bureaucrats imitate each other on a regular basis. If they realize their fellow bureaucrats in another region got away with something they'll eventually try the same thing in their region, it's only a matter of time.

Problem nah , legistation nah ..
Simply but then they would have to censor movies and everything .

What probaly would pass and should have passed , is that violent bloody video games that involves cutting up people headshot with brains splattered all against a wall
Should have been moved to 18+ same rate as sexual stuff .

That can simply put the blaim back to parents , if they allow there kids to play those games.
Not that modern parents care much anymore ...

So much for common sense , and politicians are politicians they use our money to give nice parties ... nice for the ones who attend , not so nice if you really know what they do with our money .
But then again we pay them to do something , and when they finally do something .. we all vote them to do nothing .
So basically make up your own mind . we just pay them to sit there look good and hopefully not screw up so much or keep screwing in private parties so we can all moan what a worthless bunch politicians are .
But in the meantime we keep paying and voting for the same .

Actually, in Germany violence will get a game a more restrictive rating than sexual content (unless it is hardcore in which case both will be for adults only).
So, the blame is already on the parents... only that this is assuming that video games have a negative effect on nearly-adult youths which I highly doubt for the huge majority. Violent video games are only the most visible and most convenient commonnes of many cases of youth-related violence. That, after looking into those cases, you are bound to find out that neglection, mobbing and general mental and physical violence in the youth's social environment are even more common than video games ever could be and that, by extension, violent video games are rather symptom than cause allows for only one diagnosis regarding people calling for a ban: extreme stupidity. That is as if you had skin cancer and decide to hide the dark spots with heavy make-up instead of going to the doctor and thinking that such a course of action will eventually make the cancer go away.

And the part about politicians... please speak for yourself! I do not pay them to do something, I pay them to act reasonably on behalf of the people. Putting intelligent people under tutelage is not reasonable. Doing stupid things that damage the economy and the government's reputation and violate civil rights just because it might get you some votes of some unfortunately numerous stupid people is not reasonable. Oh, and just to clarify: If in a given situation doing nothing is the most reasonable course of action then I do pay them to do nothing.
Personally, if I actually had the choice I would cancel my tax payments just like I would not tolerate an employee who just acts for the crowd instead of doing any real work for the company.
Gah, at least in former times politicians had the decency to put some effort into their jobs, you know, masking their true purpose and in extreme cases even succeeding in governing the state well, so that you could actually pretend not to notice that their main concern is gaining and retaining power. Most modern politicians in Germany are a shame to their profession.

I don't think it's possible to bring extra shame to the political career path.

Sitirel you hit the sweet oilspot .

But sadly where does all education starts with the envoirement around.
Where does all the tolerance or leniency comes from with the envoirement .

Currently Blaiming a video game or blaiming something is the case to do , cause of bad or lazy parents or lazy teachers or neighbours or whatever .
But its simply the community or media of this time .

Now sorry you cannot have much common sense in this world , when good guys on media plain out murder people . Where death counts are cool , where violence wins over reason .
Where politician main issue is just to do nothing as much as possible , instead of speaking up for the wellfare of the people .
Sure they do that during election time , but lets see the agenda , how many items of the agenda has been implemented , you are lucky if even 20% of the list gets done.
And next time nobody say he look i voted for you , but you didn´t get squat done .
Cause we all expect it .

Now sorry you can say its not your fault , but lets see even if we all vote extreme right or extreme left , do you think those representing extreme right or left nowadays .
Will really implement there plans ... sadly not even those are that guilible nowadays .
Infact maybe the most common sense people are the politician , the world is mess .
Instead of cleaning up the mess , lets just enjoy our time and play the PR role .

Now sadly if you look at what changed so much in society , the main reason is the youth.
What changed the youth so much , is that they really lack focus , in a age where brands are cool , pwn leet and whatever is cool ... tolerance is being taught wide spread .
But everything taught is not cool , hanging out in the streets doing stupid things is cool.
Now who is to be blaimed for all this , definetly not parents right . cause none of us teaches those kids rubbishe things , we try to raise them up sensible .
So ask again , you allow video games or media where such rubbishe like headshot .
Everything is about being Leet , everything is about kill counts , sure for us grown up post war stage is a joke and we laugh about it .
But for them its SERIOUS BUSINESS , a net reputation for them is the BOMB .
More important to some of them then real life performance or education .
So where does all this crap come from , it didn´t come from the post war parents .