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Switzerland Pursues Violent Games Ban

Posted by timothy on from the brutal-crackdown-on-violence dept.

BanjoTed writes "We hear lots about the issues facing violent games in Australia, but the anti-games bandwagon is gathering pace closer to home — in Switzerland, to be precise. The Swiss government is gearing up to consider a total ban on mature games in the country."

9 of 276 comments (clear)

  1. Part of a general pattern by JoshuaZ · · Score: 5, Informative

    Switzerland has very little regard for free speech. Very little regard for things that are unpopular or disliked and has an aging, reactionary voter base. Frankly, I got far more worked up over the ban on minarets that they enacted last year. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/30/world/europe/30swiss.html That was a much more serious violation of basic rights. This? This is small potatoes.

    1. Re:Part of a general pattern by golden+age+villain · · Score: 5, Informative

      Switzerland has very little regard for free speech. Very little regard for things that are unpopular or disliked and has an aging, reactionary voter base.

      Aaaaah Switzerland, this famous dictatorship... And you are supporting these claims how? Because I happen to live in that country but it doesn't seem to be the country you are describing. Free speech? Very little regard for things that are unpopular or disliked? What the hell are you talking about exactly? Do you have examples that make Switzerland stand out of the crowd of European countries? Agreed, the ban on minarets is not exactly the vote we can be most proud of. I would just like to point to the fact that Switzerland is no different from other European countries in that regard as was demonstrated by numerous polls in Europe following this particularly infamous vote. Also on votes asking whether or not to put a cap on immigration, the Swiss people have constantly voted no (there was several votes on this question since the 70s) and we have also accepted to embrace bilateral agreements with the EU and extend those agreements to the new EU members from Eastern Europe so I don't really see more reactionary voters than in any other western country. The only difference is probably that pretty much everything goes into a public vote and is hence very visible.

    2. Re:Part of a general pattern by Radtoo · · Score: 3, Informative

      Agreed. Free speech is not really in danger in switzerland:

      Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index 2009

      Freedom house

      I'm sure you can find more evidence if you care enough.

      Whether a human right has been dented with the minaret law is (potentially) still to be determined by some court. But I think it would sure be a tough case for the court. Determining whether towers in certain shapes can't be prohibited by a democratic and fair election isn't easy by itself, I bet. Add to that that these towers are not necessary, but only somewhat (modern-)symbolic for a certain religion...

    3. Re:Part of a general pattern by biovoid · · Score: 3, Informative

      The ban on minarets was based on a vote of the public on that specific issue. The Swiss people decided on this issue. You may not agree with the result, but at least the Swiss have the ability to vote on specific issues, as opposed to most other so called "democracies", where the only control the individual has is on electing a representative. In other words, your "democracy" is really just a democratic republic.

  2. on positive side by jarkus4 · · Score: 5, Informative

    Switzerland has more direct democracy than most countries. Even if the legislation passes parliament, if someone gathers 50k signatures against some law (in 100 days), he can cause national vote on this matter. In this vote all citizens decide whether the law should stay or be rejected. So to get rid of it they just need to convince normal people (and not politicians) that this is a bad idea.

  3. Re:"Mature"? by Asic+Eng · · Score: 4, Informative

    It's shorthand for "for mature audiences". But you knew that.

  4. Re:Quoting Orson Welles... by zarzu · · Score: 3, Informative

    this quote needs to die, now.

    until the end of the 15th century the eidgenossenschaft was fighting the habsburg, throughout the 16th and 17th century there was religous civil war all over switzerland. at the end of the 18th century france essentially conquered switzerland and started the helvetic republic. the last fights on swiss territory were in 1847 and there is only democracy since the 19th century.

    that italy had a strong cultural development during the rennaissance has nothing at all to do with war and bloodshed, it mostly has to do with social structures, immigration and patrones like the medici family.

  5. Turnout of voters by goto_break · · Score: 3, Informative

    Since more than half of voters are over 65, there is little chance for that.

    This is just wrong: http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/17/22/publ.Document.89803.pdf Turnout of voters by age (in 2003): 18-24: 33% 25-44: 35% 45-64: 52% 65-... : 57% (and average age is 31)

  6. Re:Slipperly slope by radish · · Score: 4, Informative

    Why aren't we seeing any games manufacturer try for a push in games that aren't quite as destructive?

    You're right! Those damn game makers should try making games which aren't violent. Maybe someone could make a game where you're in a band, or maybe you're a DJ. How about sports? Someone should make a football game, or a snowboarding game, or skateboarding, or bowling!. If only someone had thought to make a game to tie into the Winter Olympics! There's such a lack of imagination in games these days.

    --

    ---- Den ene knappen er powerknapp, den andre er Bender voice knapp "Bite My Shiny Metal Ass"