Daddy Needs His Fix: Bavaria's Interior Minister Talkin' Smack On Videogames
What is better than ridiculous statements from public figures? Baseless, extremely ridiculous statements from elected officials. Seriously, who doesn't like it when someone makes some comment about video games that has no basis in fact? I know I love it. The Bavaria's Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann has decided to jump on the blowhard train, which one of the greatest anti-videogame statements I've heard in quite some time, and in a press release no less!
The statement contains the usual accusations that "such games are one of the causes for youth violence and also for school shootings, where images from killer games become reality",and that "more and more children are getting mired in this virtual world of violence", so that "they have no time left for school or job training, and are lost to our society". However, this time, he's taking it a bit further. The last sentence states: "In regards to their harmful effects, [violent video games] are on the same level as child pornography and illegal drugs, the ban on which rightly is unquestioned"
That's right. You're going to need years of therapy, rehab and possibly a hug after playing your average game. Ok, maybe this is true if you're playing the latest 50 Cent title, but I don't think Grand Theft Auto is going to give you daddy issues or make you perform favors in a back alley for a fix.
Not to be shot down, another German official, Commissioner for the New Media Thomas Jarzombek, was more than happy to slap Joachim Herrmann in the proverbial face.
The comparison is completely inappropriate... anyone making such statements is unqualified to participate in any further debate [regarding the] protection of minors from harmful media.Delicious.
Bavaria's Interior Minister Likens Violent Games to Drugs, Kiddie Porn [GamePolitics]
Asterick
Posted to Video Games on 3 April 2009
· Comments (3)
Other stuff like this: baseless comments, drama, game politics, joachim herrmann
It should be noted that there was a really bad school shooting a couple of weeks ago in germany, and the perpetrator did play video games. The general reaction here has been really hard ('cause it was a really bad shooting).
Correlation does not equal causation.
Any person in any possition of power that remotely suggests such a logical fallacy should be immediately fired in my opinion.
(especially in these circumstances where there isn't even a correlation, considering recent studies)
I was playing Noby Noby Boy earlier.
Strangely... I did NOT get the sudden urge to swallow every inanimate object in sight and fire them out of my ass...
I'm also wondering how much of a correlation there is between watching TV and shooting people to death, or drinking soda and shooting people to death. I'm betting it's at least as high as the video games/shooting people correlation, if not higher.
But that's not really something you can explain to an irrational person... or TV news show.... or culture.