Slashdot Mirror
San Andreas Banned In Australia
UoNTidal writes "The Sydney Morning Herald reports that following the revelation that the 'Hot Coffee' sex minigame was included in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, the Office of Film & Literature Classification has revoked the game's classification, making it illegal for the game to be sold in its current form in Australia. As the highest classification available [PDF link] for computer games is MA15+ (as opposed to R18+ for films that can be sold in all states and territories), the sex scenes in 'Hot Coffee' pushed the game outside the permitted content for that rating, effectively banning the game."
I never quite could swallow this argument.
It seems to me that following this line of thinking leads to classifying all sex in this manner, not just viewed. That having a person act in a semi-dominant role through physical sexual positioning results in the subconscious objectification of their partner.
Even if this were true, so what? Is it so wrong to allow your subconscious desires to objectify the attractive traits of your partner? Hell, I _like_ to be objectified. I'm certain others do as well. It's flattering and uplifting to be found attractive. Though I do expect a reasonable level of respect during close interaction, casual sexual objectification is hardly offensive.
Assume that you're either a) government official or b) the elderly.
What is the last thing you want to see? Of course, more mouths to feed. What do you want to see? Less mouths to feed.
Thus we have legal abortions, outlawed sex, encouraged violent games, needless ground wars that can't be won, ipso facto, et cetera, et cetera...
"I assumed blithely that there were no elves out there in the darkness"
This particular news story isn't about that. The fact is, this game was certified without full knowledge of what was being certified.
This news story is exactly about that. It is about something o extreme violence being 15 rated, yet something which contains sex, a less (if at all) violent act being 18 rated (hence unratable in Australia with the 15 limit mentioned in TFA).
The point is exactly about why sex is considered more heinous/adult/restricted than extreme violence, else why would their placing in the rating system be changed/reversed.
I wonder if Australia knows about the vile sexual imagery I was able to unlock in Mario Paint?