Baroness Walmsley.... blather.
The House of Lords has once again shown a total, utter and almost negligent misunderstanding of the nature of video games. Speaking in a recent debate on 'Online Purchasing of Goods and Services (Age Verification)' two 'noble' Lords and Lordesses (yes, we know) splutted out opinions condemning gaming.
Let's start with Lib Dem, Baroness Walmsley: "Knives, guns, certain games and DVDs, alcohol, solvents and gambling are all very harmful and can destroy young minds and young lives."
Yes, unbelievably, knives and guns are equivalent to 'certain' video games. Prove it, Walmsley - and if you can't, then apologise to the UK's gaming industry.
Next up in the line-up of shame is the Conservative, Lord de Mauley, with: "I understand that there are about 20 categories of item that are restricted, among them alcohol, tobacco, knives, solvents, and certain DVDs and video games, all of which are restricted for very good reasons to protect children from their various harmful effects."
So, video games, knives, solvents and booze are all harmful. Once again, some proof would be useful.
No mention of 'certain' books, 'certain' music. We imagine that neither books nor music have ever had an effect in the House of Bores...
Let's start with Lib Dem, Baroness Walmsley: "Knives, guns, certain games and DVDs, alcohol, solvents and gambling are all very harmful and can destroy young minds and young lives."
Yes, unbelievably, knives and guns are equivalent to 'certain' video games. Prove it, Walmsley - and if you can't, then apologise to the UK's gaming industry.
Next up in the line-up of shame is the Conservative, Lord de Mauley, with: "I understand that there are about 20 categories of item that are restricted, among them alcohol, tobacco, knives, solvents, and certain DVDs and video games, all of which are restricted for very good reasons to protect children from their various harmful effects."
So, video games, knives, solvents and booze are all harmful. Once again, some proof would be useful.
No mention of 'certain' books, 'certain' music. We imagine that neither books nor music have ever had an effect in the House of Bores...
Comments
Psalms 11 May 2009 11:07
1/5
I don't really understand you objection to this. Saying certain games are harmful to young minds (OK, maybe not lives) doesn't seem unreasonable. Does SPOnG let its 6 year old play GTA and The Guy Game?
I don't think that there was any suggestion that they were equivalent to knives, although its strange that music isn't mentioned. I also find it strange that there is no clear book classifications board, at least no one that I know of.
I don't think that there was any suggestion that they were equivalent to knives, although its strange that music isn't mentioned. I also find it strange that there is no clear book classifications board, at least no one that I know of.
deleted 11 May 2009 11:24
2/5
in all fariness it did include DVD!!, although that in no way always them to state that games and DVD are as harmful as said Guns and Knives although i have heard New SUper mario bros thrown at a 45 degree angle towards the corner of a childs head can cause more damage than a .45 Magum.
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TimSpong 11 May 2009 11:44
3/5
haritori wrote:
... i have heard New SUper mario bros thrown at a 45 degree angle towards the corner of a childs head can cause more damage than a .45 Magum.
Exactly... absolutely. And sniffing an Xbox 360 Elite will get you high enough to choke!
Cheers
Tim
Joji 11 May 2009 15:28
4/5
These snobby MPs don't surprise me anymore. They never do their research and just clutch at straws. Keith Vaz is enough of a display of that kind of thinking, yet they see fit to spend money the games industry brings into the country.
Think I'll go sell that used copy of American Psycho, to the kid next door.
Think I'll go sell that used copy of American Psycho, to the kid next door.
TimSpong 11 May 2009 17:02
5/5
Psalms wrote:
I don't really understand you objection to this. Saying certain games are harmful to young minds (OK, maybe not lives) doesn't seem unreasonable. Does SPOnG let its 6 year old play GTA and The Guy Game?
One big objection is that you can walk into an A&E department, walk up to the nearest triage nurse and ask, "How many deaths or injuries can you say were caused by guns, knives, solvents or booze?" without being looked at as if you were mad. The same can't be said when asking the same question about video games.
Psalms wrote:
I don't think that there was any suggestion that they were equivalent to knives, although its strange that music isn't mentioned. I also find it strange that there is no clear book classifications board, at least no one that I know of.
Not a suggestion, a statement. And it's not strange that music wasn't mentioned... no matter how hard Tipper Gore tried, no one has yet been able to attribute a death to a book (not even Catcher in the Rye, Lennon fans), a piece of music (not even Helter Skelter, history fans) or a video game.
No, I am wrong! I apologise. There are one or two books that probably can be blamed for quite a few million deaths over the centuries... so if one was to introduce a rating system for ideas/books, I'd imagine that the 'Holy' ones should get the "Do not allow this near the mentally unstable, easily lead, gullible or manipulative" rating.
Cheers
Tim