Red Cross Debates If Virtual Killing Violates International Humanitarian Law 516
Ron2K writes in with a story about a Red Cross committee that is debating if people playing war video games should be subject to the same humanitarian laws as people in a real war. Seriously. "With 62 billion kills in Call of Duty: Black Ops alone, a committee of the Red Cross is debating whether the International Humanitarian Law is applicable to online gamers, and if they are violating it. From the committee's site: 'While the Movement works vigorously to promote international humanitarian law worldwide, there is also an audience of approximately 600 million gamers who may be virtually violating International Humanitarian Law. Exactly how video games influence individuals is a hotly debated topic, but for the first time, Movement partners discussed our role and responsibility to take action against violations of this law in video games.' While it's questionable if gamers themselves can be prosecuted for not obeying the Geneva convention, the Red Cross committee's actions seem to be aimed more at game developers — as first person shooters become more realistic, do game developers have an obligation to include humanitarian elements?"
Comment removed (Score:5, Informative)
Two thoughts (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Two thoughts (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Retarded. (Score:5, Informative)
It looks like it was a "side event" at a conference. See here [icrc.org].
I can't find any extra information on the ICRC website, can anyone else? Otherwise, it's most likely that the Daily Mail fabricated the rest of the story. Most of the article is speculation, except for a copy+paste from the website I linked to.
WARNING - DAILY MAIL (Score:4, Informative)
Please realise that this story is published in a far-right newspaper originally started to publish the antisemitic views of Oswald Moseley. The Daily Mail is anti-government, anti-Europe, against socialised healthcare or indeed any form of social responsibility, and run by people known to be members of right-wing extremist groups.
If you're not white, English and a good tax-paying servant^Wcitizen, the Daily Mail hate you and want you jailed, deported, or dead.
Comment removed (Score:4, Informative)
Clickbait (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Retarded. (Score:5, Informative)
Its by the Daily Mail, a newspaper which we in the UK call the Daily Wail, and they are known for their extreme "angles" on anything. Their "reporting" and slants can even make Mother Teresa appear as a devil.
Re:International law (Score:2, Informative)
Bush: "So how can we get away with imprisoning our own citizens in Cuba and torturing them?"
Aide: "Well, the Red Cross once said something stupid, so this gives precedent to ignore international law"
Bush: "Awesome"
Re:Retarded. (Score:4, Informative)
Its by the Daily Mail, a newspaper which we in the UK call the Daily Fail,
FTFY. I've never heard it called the Wail.
Re:Retarded. (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Retarded. (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Clickbait (Score:5, Informative)
Sadly you could level nearly the exact same comment at Slashdot for including this bollocks. Seriously, why the fuck can't Slashdot try and provide news rather than helping flamebait and misinform. The number of people who are likely to see this, think that the Red Cross has gone batshit crazy and never realise that Slashdot is, by fronting for the article, bullshitting them.
Re:Retarded. (Score:4, Informative)
So you don't have to wade through the bullshit in the article or the outraged incredulity of the comments:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/game-on-red-cross-says-players-of-combat-simulations-wont-face-war-crimes-prosecution/2011/12/08/gIQAivwAfO_story.html [washingtonpost.com]
Re:Retarded. (Score:3, Informative)