New Arizona anti-games bill

[lordlundar]

http://gamepolitics.com/2008/04/07/arizona-bill-worries-video-game-industry/

Now this one worries me, and I'm going to repost my quote from there as to why:

Anyone want an example of the chilling effect? Let’s look at the Flight Simulator example, which would easily pass muster. If it is used in a terrorist training plot again (It was used in 9/11 and some attempts after), the development team under this law would be arrested as terrorists as well and if found guilty would spend their life in Guantanamo Bay with no chance of getting out.

As well, it takes causation out of the equation, allowing the “Games made me do it” defence to be used, and have the developer take the fall instead.

It’s like everyone in a car manufacturing plant facing murder charges because they built the car that a serial murder used to run people over. Who would want to be in the buisness then?

[AFPheonix]

Might as well cite any news organizations that carry stories that other psychos might attempt to copy. We'll never hear about school shootings again.

Jesus Arizona, maybe spend more money on good mental health programs and actually get something done.

[protege]

They're already going after gun manufacturers, since those products have been used to kill people...so this really doesn't surprise me :rolleyes:

[Greenday]

What a load of crap. There is not one shred of evidence that video games push people into committing crimes and killing other people. Maybe, just maybe, if parents would actually put the tiniest bit of effort into raising their damn kids, society wouldn't be so messed up that they would ruin things as simple as freaking video games for those who actually have at least an ounce of common sense.

[powerboy]

Why does this not surprise me. Some people always wants to pass the blame.

Sarcasm on

It is not my fault that I raped her, video games done it
Not my fault I killed that family, video games made me do it.

Sarcasm off

[I8DaCookie]

I just read something a few days ago about how video games are actually helping people release stress.

Personally, I like a nice violent video game every so often when I'm really pissed off. It's better than going after the person I'm pissed at. And after I've blown off some steam, I'm fine.

[Boozy]

The Bible has incited more people to violence than any other piece of "written material" in history.

As soon as this bill passes, I'm heading down to Arizona and filing suit against anyone who's every published a Bible.

Wish me luck.

[Dreamstalker]

They're already going after gun manufacturers, since those products have been used to kill people...
Anything can be used to kill people if you're desperate/creative enough -_-

This is insane. The other thing that worries me is, who exactly gets to decide what is considered offensive content? I really don't like this continuing trend of government thinking they know what we "should" be doing better than we do.

So, seeing as I own a version of FS with the WTC in it, am I a terrist? (I can't even fly a kite without having a tree eat it)

Games make players less violent (http://www.itnews.com.au/News/73410,computer-games-make-players-less-violent.aspx)...I can actually vouch for that. I was bullied incessantly and would get out my anger by playing Dark Forces on god mode. Did it make me want to take a gun to school? Hell no...then again, I was more intelligent/mature than most kids my age back then (I knew fantasy from reality).

Methinks the proponents of this bill have been watching too much Law & Order (I recall a few episodes where the killer claimed games made him do it).

[daleduke17]

They're already going after gun manufacturers, since those products have been used to kill people...so this really doesn't surprise me :rolleyes:

So, a car manufacturer should be able to be sued when someone kills a person with a car?

Stupid, stupid people some are. :rolleyes:

[protege]

Exactly, Dale. Guns, like cars, are simply tools. They can't do anything, except what their owner *tells* them to do. "I'm sorry, Officer. My Mercedes *made* me run down that group of children" "The car made me hit that wall," etc. Give me a fucking break.

Just last year, some idiot killed himself in a traffic accident. This idiot took an exit ramp at too high a speed...and rolled his motorcycle. Almost immediately after the accident, people were blaming the road--"The curve was too sharp," "there aren't enough warning signs," etc. Bullshit. The exit ramp is perfectly safe at the advised 40mph speed limit. There are reflectors all the way around the ramp. Several signs advise of the sharp curve, including a (rather annoying) one blinking "40 MPH." It came out later that the rider was doing well over 70 through there, even though the speed limit on that road is only 35-40. He took a chance, and ended up paying the ultimate price. Nobody wants to admit that--it's easier to blame everybody else for his mistake.

Wihle we're on the topic, does anyone remember the fool who got killed tipping a soda machine (Coke, IIRC) in an attempt to steal sodas from it? (Yes, I know Pittsburghers call it "pop," but I don't want to confuse my foreign friends :p) Anyway, this fool got killed after he tipped the machine. Gravity did what it does best, and it fell on him. His family sued Coca-Cola...because there wasn't a fucking warning on the machine?!?

Sorry if I sound pissed, but I am. I guess I'm tired of hearing about how someone's failure is always someone else's fault. As a result, we have too fucking many stupid people in this country. We should take all the warning labels off of everything...and let the problem take care of itself!

[Amethyst Hunter]

The Bible has incited more people to violence than any other piece of "written material" in history.

As soon as this bill passes, I'm heading down to Arizona and filing suit against anyone who's every published a Bible.

I'd back you on that. Seriously. (On any religious text, actually - there's no organized religion that can claim purity from wrongdoing.)

I'm not thrilled with how many video games seem to be geared towards violence and shooting and stuff like that, but then again I see that as a symptom of a culture that encourages gun irresponsibility.

Blaming video games is just an easy way out. Band-Aid fixes never solved any problem (and usually make it worse).

We should take all the warning labels off of everything...and let the problem take care of itself!

Totally agreed.

[Greenday]

We should take all the warning labels off of everything...and let the problem take care of itself!

Hooray for Darwin Awards!

[DesignFox]

Everytime you make something idiot proof, nature creates a better idiot...

[lordlundar]

And the Senate shut it down due to it being too vague (http://gamepolitics.com/2008/04/08/arizona-state-senate-rejects-dangerous-media-content-bill/)

So of course, it's going to be more specified and they're going to try again.:mad:

[Dreamstalker]

Exactly, Dale. Guns, like cars, are simply tools. They can't do anything, except what their owner *tells* them to do. "I'm sorry, Officer. My Mercedes *made* me run down that group of children" "The car made me hit that wall," etc. Give me a fucking break.
Indeed. Nothing really "makes" anybody do anything. WTF happened that otherwise-normal people as a whole buy into that bullshit?! I'm sick of general lack of personal responsibility, the juries/lawmakers that believe it, and overall complete lack of actual thought this society seems to demonstrate.

I'm all for removing warning labels and letting Darwin sort everything out...we may have a rash of stupid lawsuits along the lines of "but I never knew the coffee I just bought was hot!" Before removing warning labels, we need a jury pool that realizes people are responsible for their own foolishness.

[kamn]

...We should take all the warning labels off of everything...and let the problem take care of itself!

...but, what will we do for minor laughs? Seriously, when we were given a 3 pages long list of stupid warning labels, we laughed our asses off.

[MadMike]

Anyway, this fool got killed after he tipped the machine. Gravity did what it does best, and it fell on him. His family sued Coca-Cola...because there wasn't a fucking warning on the machine?!?


Warning or not, they were clearly doing something they shouldn't have been doing. If they were simply using the machine the way it was intended to be used, i.e. they put their money in, pressed the button, and the machine fell on them, I could see it.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again -- if someone gets hurt or killed as a result of something they shouldn't have been doing, fuck 'em! There should be no recourse.

[anriana]

I'd back you on that. Seriously. (On any religious text, actually - there's no organized religion that can claim purity from wrongdoing.)

Jainism.





Did Jack Thompson move to Arizona?

[BlaqueKatt]

Why does this not surprise me. Some people always wants to pass the blame.


look into the passing of the "comics Code"---in the 50's (I actually have a copy of a pre code comic discussing it)---in the early 50's they blamed comic books for all the "youth" becoming "hoodlams"----in the 60's it was rock music---the parents don't want to take the blame for what their kids do because they might look bad.

[lordlundar]

Did Jack Thompson move to Arizona?

Nope, though he did make a claim that he was responsible for drafting it.

Until it failed of course, then he ran away.:p

[Slytovhand]

2 things...

First.. if you read the original act that they wanted to go through, it does state:

D. For the purposes of this section:

1. "Dangerous" means material that is found by clear and convincing evidence to incite or produce an imminent act of terrorism or a felony offense.

I don't seriously think saying a video game could be found to 'clearly and convincingly' incite terrorism or an offense.... certainly not before they'd find the perpetrator to be psychiatrically affected.


Secondly, there was a case on our Gold Coast of a drunk person who dived off a jetty into the lowtide of a canal... and became a tetraplegic. The owners were overseas at the time (I believe they were friends, but can't find enough evidence...). Said victim sued, saying there weren't signs indicating it was dangerous. On first hearing, he was awarded only 25% of the damages he was after. On appeal, it was all overturned, and judgement went against him...

See... there is sanity in some legal systems!


Slyt

[daleduke17]

look into the passing of the "comics Code"---in the 50's (I actually have a copy of a pre code comic discussing it)---in the early 50's they blamed comic books for all the "youth" becoming "hoodlams"----in the 60's it was rock music---the parents don't want to take the blame for what their kids do because they might look bad.

1950's - comics
1960's - rock and roll
1970's - drugs
1980's - video games
1990's - rap
2000's - ???

Does that sound about right?

[lordlundar]

1950's - comics
1960's - rock and roll
1970's - drugs
1980's - D&D
1990's - rap
2000's - video games

Does that sound about right?

Fixed that for ya.:D

[Bloodsoul]

I don't know, I imagine that "E.T." game for the Atari would've driven more than a few people out of their minds...

"Me, no? My tiger did this! He's a blood-thirsty monster!" --Calvin