Switzerland Passes Violent Games Ban 294
BanjoTed writes with a followup to news from February that the Swiss government was pursuing a ban on violent video games. He writes
"Sadly, Switzerland has now passed the law that paves the way for an outright ban on violent video games in the country. The full implications of the ruling will not be known until the government reveals the exact requirements that will be laid down by the new legislation – a decision that has not yet been made. What is certain though is that the Swiss authorities have now obtained the power to introduce any measures they see fit. The likeliest outcome seems to be an outright ban on the production, distribution and sale of any games deemed to be unsuitable – most likely anything with either a PEGI 16+ or PEGI 18+ certificate."
What are they going to charge pirates with,,,, (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Yay! A violence-free country! (Score:1, Interesting)
Take the piss all you like, the fact is they have the highest gun ownership in Europe and the lowest gun crime.
Back on topic, follow the sponsors of this law, chances are they have an axe to grind and the Swiss voters will soon cost these people their jobs.
Re:How about banning the parent post? (Score:2, Interesting)
What is "violent" anyway? (Score:4, Interesting)
I have played all sorts of games where targeting and destroying objects is what the game is all about. This started with military flight simulations and went on to tanks, mechs and space ships. Then there was the first-person shooter... started out shooting Nazis then monsters and other people... at least the shapes were people.
Also, there have been "boxing" and wrestling games for a very long time -- widely accepted sports that are also quite violent. In fact, American football is quite violent.
I know this is targeting the grand theft auto games, but there are LOTS of games where there is killing and dying. Few with rape and beating activities, but still. As far as I am concerned, MOST games are violent or could be considered such. Where should the line be drawn? The line certainly can't be straight as there are simply too many exceptions in government.
Cops are allowed to be violent. Soldiers are allowed to be violent. The news is permitted to display violence. Art is allowed to depict violent scenes... many of which are considered to be masterpieces.
And while we are telling people what they can and can't do in the privacy of their own homes, let's outlaw "violent" sex play... no more bondage and certainly no role plays or sexual fantasies that might be considered violent.
The term "slippery slope" is an understatement when it comes to this topic.
Forget legislating against entertainment. Let's legislate good parenting and see how many career-minded professionals and politicians get caught up in that net.
So let me get this straight (Score:5, Interesting)
Every able-bodied male citizen of Switzerland is conscripted into the military at age 20 for a tour of mandatory duty (women may also volunteer), and soldiers are required to keep their weapons nearby even if they're at home. This is a country where most citizens have ready access to real militarily useful guns, and the training to use them. And they're worried about Doom?
Is there a Swiss equivalent of Jack Thompson or something?
Re:But how does this reflect poorly on America? (Score:3, Interesting)
So do I, I live in Switzerland by the way. I think the minarett law is a scandal and Switzerland makes itself rididulous with it.
How can you single out a single religion or even a single symbol of it? I don't think it will stand before the european court of human rights.
What they should have done, to protect the swiss landscape (which doesn't include windmills b.t.w., those are dutch) is to have a law that requires new buildings to blend in with the environment. In fact such regulations are already in place, making this idiotic law superfluous.
It would allow minarets in industrial areas for example, where noone should be disturbed by them.
Re:How about banning the parent post? (Score:3, Interesting)
In a practical sense Slashdot is guilty of censorship on a daily basis. It provides the ability to hide any post that moderators don't like.
Offering criteria by which readers can choose to censor incoming content is a positive thing. All readers are two clicks away from either fine-tuning or turning that feature off and viewing every post anyone wants to make. I, for example, view everything below some threshold "abbreviated" and open up some comments that appear potentially interesting even if they were panned by the mods.
OTOH making that decision for them and forever silencing unpopular speech (especially in an automated fashion based on simple word choice) is a negative thing (that many content providers obviously do). Try playing "combat arms" one day (free to play military fps) where if you say the word "sniper" your friends get "s***er" and waste valuable seconds wondering if there is a toilet on the bell tower and strain their eyes in that direction when they should be taking cover. :P
Re:What has gone wrong with the world? (Score:3, Interesting)
Modern Warfare 2 sold 6.4million copies in the first week in the US and UK alone and yet there weren't 6.4million new mass murders on the streets.
To play the devil's advocate, if there were 6.3 million new mass murders then it would be ok too? How do you know that the number of murders didn't significantly increase, or that the number of murders won't increase due to the effects of this game on young minds once they grow up? You're lack of scientific evidence is worse than that on the other side of the argument, with the difference that they actually have done studies (however flawed) and you have not, your pulling conclusions from your anus.