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Aussie Attorney General Says Gamers Are Scarier Than Biker Gangs

Posted by Soulskill on from the well-perhaps-in-some-senses dept.

Sasayaki writes "South Australian Attorney-General Michael Atkinson claims, in an interview with Good Game, that gamers were more of a threat to his family than biker gangs. This is the man who has been the biggest opponent to Australia receiving an R18+ rating for video games and who has the power to veto any such law introducing it."

10 of 409 comments (clear)

  1. Bwahahaha! by MightyMartian · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Where does Australia find these whack jobs? I mean, either the guy is a paranoid schizophrenic or a mental retard.

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    1. Re:Bwahahaha! by MightyMartian · · Score: 5, Insightful

      As a politician and (assuming Rudd isn't running everything) a setter of policy, it's his job to look beyond personal anecdotes. If he's making policy based solely on the fact that some nutjob left a note on his door, and he can't get past that, then he has no business being in a position where he does form policy. I'm sorry someone made some sort of a threat, but if he's suffered that significant an emotional scarring from it, perhaps he should recuse himself.

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      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
  2. I'm pretty sure... by SharpFang · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ...it would be opposite if he was proposing a ban on motorcycles.

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  3. Soo.. by binarylarry · · Score: 4, Insightful

    What he's saying is, every person under 30 who lives in Australia is scarier than Biker Gangs?

    Does he ever leave the house?

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  4. What a tit by Attaturk · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I'm not sure whether my biker self or my gamer self is more offended by this arsehat. I've met and hung out with dozens of "biker gangs" at various rallies - yes including the patch clubs that people refer to here like they're comprised of mindless hooligans - and felt safer in their company than when taking a trip through a town centre on a Friday or Saturday night.

    In short, "biker gang" is not shorthand for dangerous thug. Nor is "gamer" shorthand for brainwashed serial killer. And while we're at it I'm pretty sure that "Australian politician" doesn't mean paranoid, misinformed and dangerously ignorant jerk"... but I could be wrong.

    Just a thought Mr Atkinson but perhaps your ill-considered bigotry is what causes people to take such a dim view of you. A single gamer harrassing you is more likely indicative that you've pissed someone off personally than that all gamers are out to get you and your family. Gah.

  5. Re:The guy's right by Qzukk · · Score: 5, Insightful

    this guy thinks that gamers are generally more dangerous than bikers in order to discredit him.

    Quote:

    "I feel that my family and I are more at risk from gamers than we are from the outlaw motorcycle gangs who also hate me and are running a candidate against me"

    He didn't say "from a gamer" he said "from gamers", as in the whole group. As opposed to the outlaw motorcycle gangs, as in their whole group. He feels that gamers are more dangerous than bikers. If he's never received a death threat from anyone but a gamer, then perhaps he's justified in feeling that way, but I'm seriously surprised that this is the first death threat an AG would get.

    I do have to say that the motorcycle gangs have a better long term plan than the gamers do at this point. Someone should start a gamer party and run for election on the grounds that you actually know something about what you're trying to regulate.

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  6. Re:Well, i guess so... by interkin3tic · · Score: 5, Insightful

    To be fair, the context was that a gamer slipped a threatening note under his door. I think in general, zombies are scarier than my next door neighbor, but if my next door neighbor says he's going to burn down my house, and zombies remain fictional, temporarily my neighbor becomes scarier than zombies.

    It's not a statement that should have been made by a politician in public though, and since he's keeping censorship going, he deserves whatever he gets (quotes taken out of context AND the threats). Furthermore, for him to fairly make the comparison, he needs to try banning motorcycles and then telling us which is scarier. I don't know much about motorcycle gangs, but I think they probably wouldn't have slid a note under his door, I think they would have slid a note on the end of their boot up his ass.

  7. Re:Article says he helped ban biker gangs by element-o.p. · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This begs the question, and I'm sincerely curious about the answer. In practical terms and under Australian law, what is the difference between a group of friends riding motorcycles together and a biker gang? He couldn't seriously have outlawed group rides, could he? Or is it only a gang if everyone (majority, perhaps?) are wearing black leather and riding Harleys?

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  8. Re:Well, i guess so... by ozbird · · Score: 5, Insightful

    To be fair, the context was that a gamer slipped a threatening note under his door.

    A gamer allegedly slipped a threatening note under his door.

  9. Re:Well, i guess so... by jcr · · Score: 4, Insightful

    A gamer allegedly slipped a threatening note under his door.

    An alleged gamer allegedly slipped an allegedly threatening note under his door. Personally, I would need more than a politician's word on it.

    -jcr

    --
    The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."