Slashdot Mirror
Japanese ESRB Bans Rape Depiction In Games
eldavojohn writes "The Ethics Organization of Computer Software (EOCS), now 233 companies strong, and met in Tokyo yesterday to ban a controversial title from Japan known as RapeLay, an eroge game (something much more adult than the more popular dating simulators). It's gotten a lot of press as reviewers have noted at one point the player must force sex on a 12-year-old. More importantly, the large ($353 million annually) adult game industry in Japan will now need to stay away from rape in their games if they wish to remain a member of EOCS. RapeLay seems to be available on Amazon's UK and JP sites, sparking outrage and causing a former US Ambassador to Japan to write an editorial criticizing Japan, saying, 'Only Japan allows people to possess these hideous images without penalty. Six of the G-7 countries have found ways to protect the innocent from being prosecuted for possession of child pornography. Is it not time for Japan to find a way to punish the guilty?' Singapore's Straits Times has more details, pointing out that it's still not illegal to possess these materials in Japan. We discussed this and other games last month in an editorial."
> What to you suggest? Harsher penalties?
Only as part of whole solution. The problem with the justice system is bigger that that. The bigger problem is that it has become a game. The idea of justice is simple. The purpose if to determine the Truth (or as close as we mortals can come) of who did what to who, using the Law as guide and then to dispense Justice. Not dueling rulebook lawyers playing games with the judges to see how much evidence can be thrown out, how many witnesses tossed out and delays introduced until the whole thing collapses in a weak assed plea agreement. No, in my justice system you get swift, fair and impartial Justice. All facts are admissable, bullshit gets gavelled down and weeks after the crime report you get the case to a jury who hands down a verdict that won't spend the next decade going through endless appeals. As important as Justice being done is, it is equally important that it be seen to be done. A final verdict in the third appeal as a minor note in the newspaper years after everyone (except the family of the victim of course) has forgotton the blaring headlines that accompanied the crime isn't effective.
If you limit the trial to an attempt to determine the Truth it doesn't take months. Did Tyrone kill the clerk at the 7-11? That question doesn't usually need months of court time. Endless pretrial motions to exclude each and every piece of evidence does. Endless bullshit examining his broken childhood and various other minutia of his mental state eat up time, bringing in endless expert witnesses on each side to debate it does. The seperate trial to determine whether the statement he gave the cops when he was first brought in is admissable eats up lots of time. Then there is the new trend where the victim's family gets to eat up yet more court time that has nothing to do with determining guilt or innocence. No. Did the accused murder? Yes or no, show the jury the evidence, let the defense do their best to shoot holes in it and let em bring back a verdict and get on with their lives. If getting picked for a jury in a major crime didn't mean losing a few months people would be a hell of a lot more willing to serve.
Put em on trial and put em away after their first felony and pretty soon the courts won't be so backed up ya have to plea criminals down the first dozen crimes. Amazing how that works. Even from the first you aren't increasing the prison population much. Most of those guys are going up anyway in a few years, so go ahead and save a few of their victims. And once everyone realized this was the new way of things and wasn't just a temporary thing that would be reversed after the next election crime would indeed drop.
And when the cops really do something improper, instead of the current game of excluding the evidence and letting a monster walk free, they can show up next week for their own swift, fair and impartial Justice. Allowing those sworn to uphold the law to break that law inspires a lack of respect for the Law all around.
But just fixing the justice system won't bring crime under control longterm. We also have to smash the Welfare State and the government schools.
Democrat delenda est