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Los Angeles To Impose Restrictions On Gaming Cybercafes
Thanks to the L.A. Daily News for its story discussing new safety-related restrictions for cybercafes in Los Angeles, including "restricted hours for children, video surveillance and interior waiting areas." Apparently: "Council members voted 11-0 to place rules on roughly 30 cybercafes in Los Angeles that draw a primarily teenage clientele to play video games on high-speed computers linked to the Internet", following "a melee outside the NetStreet Cafe in Northridge [that] left two people injured in December 2002 [and was linked to Counter-Strike in some stories]." Councilman Greg Smith commented: "Cybercafes are not inherently bad or troublesome, it's the attractive nuisance that they provide to children... It's just the nature of the beast that they draw people late at night and provide a place to go that may attract problems." Update: 07/08 23:56 GMT by S : A commenter points to a detailed analysis of the requirements from someone involved in the negotiations, who concludes: "This is actually a victory for the nascent and struggling [cybercafe] industry."
I was the industry representative for the cybercafe industry who helped negotiate a better deal for the cybercafes. Here is my detailed description of what the ordinance requires: LA City Council Votes to Regulate Cybercafes
Seriously, when are we going to stop legislating absolutely everything.. Do politicians own stock in paper mills?
What are we going to do tonight Brain?
They do this sort of thing in China all the time. I mean it isn't like giving the government the ability to spy on whom ever they want would ever lead to problems.
Honestly what the heck are they thinking down there? Doesn't anyone care about freedom anymore? Communists!
Seriously people, come on. Is this the new thing that is corrupting our youth? I know that the article did not actually say that, but it was infering to it. This must be the line of thought of these people forming the laws-"The cafe is a place where young people congregate and there seems to be some crime there...well i guess we better start regualting that place." Why not look at the causes at the problems, not the effects. Why is there crime there? Did it have anything to do with the cafe? Will this law really change anything?
That's the one I go to, where Kinko's used to be next to where Common Grounds used to be (dang I miss that place).
Its pretty quiet over there.
They have a security guard, and the cops come by in the parking lot once in a while.
Nowadays, though, there's a lot of women, mothers, and regular people just doing internet, printing, and students doing term papers.
(they wisely split the space in two: a warzone (dark, neony, loud) and the rest (headphones, light, etc)
About 10 of their PC don't actually have any games.
their website: netstreet.net (i think)
It's at reseda and prairie, 91325.
"Piter, too, is dead."
heh, these aren't your typical bloods and crypts. They are basically an extension of the gangs in places like Vietnam and Korea. And they hate eachother as bad, if not worse, than the participants of the gang wars of the late 80's early 90's. They also tend to only fight amongst other asians, and a lot of the crime goes unreported.
more info here
It's also difficult for police to deal with these gangs because of hte large cultural and language barriers. I think this is just an attempt to keep them out of eachothers hair, though to me it's kinda like a leaky boat in one of those cartoons, plug up one hole and another one will spring open.
being a Center Manager, I dont really doubt them, however, some of the rules just seem outlandish. I mean, Counter-Strike is a game. People take it for real life. The people who annoy me the most are CS gamers, and I dont think it's just me.
Another requirement is that the ratio of each computer user station to floor space not exceed 20 sq ft per station. This is generally not a problem for all but the most sardine-packed cybercafés, though some may have to make some adjustments.
When would you have over 20 sq feet per station?
Some gamers like to shout when playing, and that is enough to start a fight between gamers. I heard once from a friend that there was a kid who was very good at playing but yells everytime he frags other people. Then one day a gang was playing against him and was losing to him and was annoyed by him yelling "loser" or something. Then BAM! They shot him to dead.
Well, that's what I heard, it was stupid though. If only he could play quietly, his life wouldn't be such a waste. Wouldn't it be better for people to play quietly and anonymously? I mean, whose gonna know who fragged whom, that way, no fight would start.
Don't bars have 100x the problem with late night crowds and fights?
-m