Personally this seems like rubbish. I don't think anyone has ever clearly demonstrated a causal link between video games, movies, or, for instance, pornography and violence. Its just another example of the Thai elite's love of censorship.

Ian

My company now has a new CEO. He is not an engineer and now requires anyone who questions him to 'prove it'. Fair enough you might say, but when that question is based on years of experience and just plain old (engineering) common sense, it is insulting to be asked to 'prove it'.

So my company decided to not listen to the common sense engineers, (and we did not have the time to 'prove it'), and they paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to make a new IC that doesn't work, for the very reason we said. I should say we could all be out of job because of this, it was not a game to prove a point.

When people question global warming, even against the weight of scientific opinion, that is fine also, but what is the harm in assuming that we are the root cause of the problems and fixing them; the only thing affected would be some already over-stuffed corporate bank accounts. And if all that scientific opinion was wrong, well, no harm done really.

When people constantly look for proof that pornography or violent video games and movies do or do not affect our children, (and adults), I think that common sense would indicate they would. And in any case what is the harm in preventing children from seeing this material? Does anyone really think it is a good thing that children see this material? Maybe it does cause children to re-enact what they see or maybe it doesn't. But in a generation's time do we want to find out it does.

We are not talking about stopping children listening to Bach or seeing a Titian painting here (and some of those are quite violent). Better act now than cope with the consequences later. For once I think Thailand has got it right.

quote:

When people constantly look for proof that pornography or violent video games and movies do or do not affect our children, (and adults), I think that common sense would indicate they would.

i don't think its common sense but just a basic understanding that everything children and adults see or watch affects them but to say that there is a casual link between watching a violent video game and acting out violent acts is misleading and fails to see the different shades of grey.

if it was that simple then we would live in a much more violent society than we do. violent games, films and music videos are a factor that can lead children to become violent but only a factor, the other factors are just as important and include the enviroment children live in and the behaviour and actions of the adults around.

we could ban all the arts that we believe to be violent but if children still grow up in violent homes and neighbourhoods then they will still become aggressive adults.

There will always be a number of 'Weak minded fools' who need protecting against themselves.

In this case according to the article the guy in question stated that the video game had been a contributing factor in his decision to attack the taxi driver.

I suspect rather than the game explicit content it was the addictive nature of the game play and the lack of cash to pay that really triggered a robbery attempt that failed.

My son plays a game based on the movie 'Cars' and now frequently uses the word 'Kaachow' from Lightning Mc Queen. Empirical proof that what goes in has an effect.


Tony Ianb there are definitely some influenced by violent movies video games etc but I support the theory that spoiling the majority of 'normal' individuals right to enjoy because of a minor risk is wrong.
ash

quote:

Originally posted by ash:
Tony Ianb there are definitely some influenced by violent movies video games etc but I support the theory that spoiling the majority of 'normal' individuals right to enjoy because of a minor risk is wrong.
ash

Try telling that to the cab drivers family.

quote:

Try telling that to the cab drivers family.

So please give up the right to drink alcohol because of all those killed in car crashes, give up your car even

I don't condone the attack and in this instance Grand Theft Auto as a game may have been the catalyst for the attack, but as we do not have the facts it may not. My older son refuses to buy the game because of its terrorist overtones.
ash

Lots of valid points. But please bear in mind we are not talking about banning children from watching these things. My son is not allowed to buy or play any of the Grand Theft Auto series. The attacker was an 18 year old, and Thailand has banned everyone from seeing this video.

At the same time, the staple fare of most Thai newspapers is gruesome photos of broken bodies.

As for the comments on common sense, common sense is not the same as gut feelings. Common sense suggests checking ones facts in case solutions do more harm than good.

I have not watched this "game" so can only surmise it's content.

quote:

The 18-year-old high school student is accused of stabbing the cab driver to death by trying to copy a scene from the game.

Just about sums this up as another example of the ****e that is being exported from America. Well IMO. the yanks can keep it. If Thailand wants to ban it - good for them. It's a pity it can't be banned here.

And before certain people whine about their rights to watch this crap - how about the rights of the majority of us to live in a decent law abiding society?

Just about sums this up as another example of the ****e that is being exported from America.


Spud

AFAIA although they have long been taken over by an American company the orginal and continuing main developers of the GTA series , now called Rockstar North are based in Edinburgh.

Austen

Austen

quote:

And before certain people whine about their rights to watch this crap - how about the rights of the majority of us to live in a decent law abiding society?

Again if that's the case ban alcohol which is responsible for a great deal of crime in the UK.

We only have the reported 'facts' not the real facts which have often proved to be different and while I agree with restricting access to this genre of game to 18+ an arbitrary blanket ban is overkill and also unenforceable as the game will be available to download anyway.

ash

You are absolutely right Austen, American owned.

quote:

The popular game has been described by the British Police Federation as 'sick, deluded and beneath fun'.

quote:

Originally posted by ash:
Again if that's the case ban alcohol which is responsible for a great deal of crime in the UK.
ash

Ash, I've had a bottle of Scotch in my cupboard for the last ten years - to the best of my knowledge, it's never hurt anyone.

On the same note I have a nice shiny shotgun which has hurt no one but there are those who would deny me the right to shoot because a few low life's use guns to commit crime.

The point being that banning something does not prevent people obtaining it nor will it prevent crime , in this case it sound like an excuse "not my fault the game made me do it , honest guv"

As for the Whisky 10 years in the cupboard in my place that would be 24 hours max
ash