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Legislation For 18+ Games Hits Australian Parliament
angry tapir writes "Legislation to pave the way for an R18+ (adults only) classification of video games has just been introduced into the Australian parliament by the minister for home affairs. The state and territories will still have to pass complementary legislation, however. Currently the highest rating for a game in Australia is MA15+, with games that didn't meet the criteria being refused classification, leading to content being gutted prior to release or games just not being released. The legislation marks a victory for a long campaign by gamers (notably lobby group Grow Up Australia). The current legislation, which will take effect on January 1 next year providing it makes it through the lower and upper houses, merely introduces an R18+ classification, falling short of the complete classification overhaul proposed by the Australian Law Reform Commission."
the tabletop dancers in duke nukem can finally be naked
I do not know how it works in Australia, but I always think that making something illegal is the best way to promote it as something fun. A R18+ rating only places a game in the cool sector.
As far as I'm concerned, there is but one appropriate rathing: PG, with a very strong emphasis on the P.
Bill - aka taniwha
--
Leave others their otherness. -- Aratak
If you can't be the P you shouldn't be a P. The government should not be the P.
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But who gets to determine who is and isn't fit to be a P?
People unfit to be a P will often make the decision to become a P completely oblivious to their inability to be a P. Shows like 15 and pregnant are proof of this.
Sorry, but you cant blame bad P's on government bungling, as much as I agree with you about the government not being a P.
Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
Those begging for the government to parent their children are not fit to be a P.
The Official Site of 1337 Pwnage
Easy to say, but are you going to be the one to take away their kids?
Now watch the freak conservative 'family' organisations mount a media blitz that results in this getting killed.
The same government that has the millions of laws meant to parent children is more than happy to take them away from their actual parents.
The Official Site of 1337 Pwnage
Ah, but I am one.
Bill - aka taniwha
--
Leave others their otherness. -- Aratak
Lets face it, in a modern society there are things that are dangerous for kids but should be allowed for adults. Some video games qualify. The old regulation was basically an invitation for censorship. With the 18+ rating, censorship becomes quite difficult.
Most ACs are not even worth the keystrokes to insult them. Be generically insulted by this and ignored otherwise.
That would require every parent to understand every game. That is completely unrealistic even for many good parents, a well run rating system is meant to assist parents in determining what their kids can and cannot play/watch.
People unfit to be a P will often make the decision to become a P completely oblivious to their inability to be a P. Shows like 15 and pregnant are proof of this.
But this is not unique to P. Human stupidity affects everyone, including people who are not parents, or "NP".
In fact, I'd say P and NP are pretty much the same.
Random Thoughts From A Diseased Mind (Not For Dummies)
There is a ton of effort going on to prove that P != NP ... I think you may be coming at this problem from just an odd enough perspective to finally solve it.
Yes, if you're the parent and is asking for the government to do the parenting for you then I agree. But I absolutely think the government should set bounds for what is acceptable parenting. They may be your children, but they're also human beings with rights any civilized society should protect. That goes both for helping or teaching parents to raise their own children or in cases of gross neglect, physical or sexual abuse taking over the role as parents completely. In particular, I'm far more concerned about the religious indoctrination children get in sects than any government indoctrination they get in public school.
Live today, because you never know what tomorrow brings
No, it requires parents to understand every game they are buying. They don't need to know every game out there - just the ones that they're willing to buy and hand to their children....
Misery loves company. Online misery loves unsuspecting random strangers.
Will this law change anything though?
Right now, they have to have 18+ games shipped to them or order online. In countries where 18+ is completely legal, we do the same.
In Canada and the US, for example, 18+ games are completely legal (no special restrictions as far as I know). But that does not mean that a single brick and mortar store has anything to do with them. While we were able to convince the government that games are the same as movies, parents continue to think otherwise.
Troll is not a replacement for I disagree.
I'm all for simple answers, but I think this P vs NP problem is trickier than you suspect.
Yo dawg, I heard you like the Ackermann function, so OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD
Have you been a parent? You're old enough, judging by your id. I am, and I do appreciate ratings. I honestly don't have time to watch or play every show or game that my son wants to. You know, ratings aren't just a substitute for good parenting--they can be a useful tool. My son has earned the privilege of finding his own appropriate shows on Netflix. He knows which ratings he's allowed to watch. If he wants to see something else, he has to ask.
I'm honestly curious: are you a parent, and if so, then how would/do you solve the problem of inappropriate content without ratings?
Yo dawg, I heard you like the Ackermann function, so OH GOD OH GOD OH GOD
you are an idiot, and obviously not a P. the challenge of P has nothing to do with the government, and many perfectly good P's raise horrible C's, and vice versa. there is no magic formula for being a good P. i do everything i can to make sure my C's aren't exposed to unsuitable content, by I can't watch them every moment of every day (especially when they are at school or staying with friends). especially when C's get to teenage years (when the content ratings in TFA become more important) it is much more difficult to control what your C's watch (and if you try to you become the bad guy and likely they will find some other means behind your back). its ignorant morons like you who make being a good P almost impossible.
then you should know better that the "PG" rating can't always apply. if not, maybe it's you who isn't fit to be a P.