Atkinson Expects "Criminal Activities" From Gamers4Croydon

[Sparrow]

I don't see how this is any different from racism.

Man, this guy makes me angry enough to want to stab him. With a fork. And I tell you now, that's pretty fucking angry.

I'm not certain that I would go so far as to equate it with racism -- in fact, I would stop well before making that association. His comments are unfair, insulting, and (mostly) unjustified, but it is far from the kind of bigotry and injustice that is the hallmark of racism. Remember, people who are racist (and sexist, and... ethnic-ist?) want to relegate whole groups to second-class status (or lower) based on factors that are not only irrelevant, but also uncontrollable (skin color, eye shape, country of origin, birth parents, etc). Gaming is our hobby, and for some of us, our art-form (like literature and film, game designers and players can create social commentary), so a better comparison might be if certain knitting needles were outlawed, due to their ability to skewer people through the eyes (those things are scary!), or violent books and films (which, of course, happens all the time).

The kind of attitude that you are espousing when you say he makes you "want to stab him. With a fork" is controllable, and probably should be controlled -- if not for common decency, then for the benefit of the argument and our position that gamers are not violent, criminal people.

I-I...

[sup]Nobody told me we had smart people on this site...[/sup]

 

[dex-dex]

i still think someone should take one for the team and kill that son of a *****!

 

[Solivagus]

Non-gamers should be just as insulted by this prick as gamers. First he says parents can't look after their kids (one of the arguments was that kids are bound to play R18+ games if they're in the house) and that adults aren't allowed to enjoy adult material on the off chance they'll do something "bad" later. Now he's telling his constituents that they should trust him because he won't use dirty tricks like those gamers who are borderline criminals.

Though I doubt Gamers 4 Croydon will win this election, it is a positive step towards kicking this idiot out.

 

[008Zulu_v1legacy]

Yes, I'm sure no real politician has ever used "criminal" or dirty tactics before.

 

[Callate]

There's no one who's qualified and willing to run as an opposition candidate? That's surprising. 'Twould seem that finding such a person ought to be the first option; leaching votes from someone running unopposed is like trying to surpass infinity.

 

[Chasmodius]

Don't muddy the water with a special interest party.

Sure... if you're trying to win. Personally, I like the idea of more special-interest parties putting forth more candidates, more information, asking more questions. If it were possible to change the two-part stranglehold that U.S. democracy has fallen sway to, that's what I would like to see. At the least, it might get more people interested and involved in politics -- which is, after all, the process by when we decide how we are to be governed, what we are free to do and not do, and how much power we give to those who promise to guard our safety. So in that sense, I applaud the efforts of small groups of people to create a platform and run for offices, even if they only make people think about what choices they are making.

 

[Magnalian]

This guy is getting more Jack Thompson every day. They're even starting to look related, to me.

In that case it shouldn't be long before he gets sued.

 

[Chasmodius]

I-I...

I'm just suggesting that we should think about what we say before giving the opposition ammunition against us. Admittedly, nothing of consequence will come from this discussion, and no one in power will care one way or another, but I still think it is important for people to get together and discuss important topics like this, and to do so in a thoughtful manner. I don't mean to single out your statement -- it is probably the tamest suggestion of violence in relation to Mr. Atkinson you could find in this thread -- but it made a nice segue from the discussion of this particular form of intolerance, versus its more insidious forms.

 

[Jamash]

"I assume the Gamers4Croydon campaign will involve criminal activities and dirty tricks, which is what I've come to expect from gamers,"

Uhh I need some help here. What gave him the idea gamers are mostly criminals?

Perhaps the death threats [http://www.mcvuk.com/news/37234/Death-threats-in-Aussie-R18-debate] against him & his family, that they've apparently received from gamers?

Politicians have an annoying habit of taking those sorts of things seriously, even more so when they can link them to an opposing party and use it to an advantage.

I'm not saying that the people who sent him the death threats and abusive emails are in anyway connected to Gamers4Croyden, but it only takes a few rotten apples to spoil the barrel.

Apparently the only other death threats he's received have been from a Motorcycle Club [http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/05/15/2571138.htm] (unfortunately not The Lost M.C.), so it's not difficult to see why he would associate death threats with criminal behaviour, and twist gamers making death threats into "gamers are criminals".

 

[Falseprophet]

Atkinson expects the party to take a different tack in lieu of any grassroots support, one he feels is more befitting the average gamer: Sleazy tactics. "I assume the Gamers4Croydon campaign will involve criminal activities and dirty tricks, which is what I've come to expect from gamers," he continued.

Question for Australian forumites: is impugning the character of G4C's membership like this grounds for a libel suit? Just curious.

 

[IrrelevantTangent]

Of course he does. Because he's a bitter, paranoid asshole. It's good to see a new political party's taking the initiative, but for now, I think I'll count my blessings I live in America; sorry, Australians, but you may be stuck with him for a while longer. Hopefully not, though.

 

[Jared]

Showing his bias right there. Saying gamers are criminal...yeah Atkinson, you really want people to take you seriously when you make such statements? You are basically putting a large target on yourself...which will cause more trouble...

 

[The DSM]

If I lived in Australia and was 18 I would vote for these guys.

They are win.

 

[RabidusUnus]

". . . will involve criminal activities and dirty tricks, which is what I've come to expect from gamers"

... Wow... Just... My god... I want him stripped of any power and skin he has.

Make the right choice, Australia; don't support this hateful, judgmental bigot.

My views added In boldface.

 

[teutonicman]

"I assume the Gamers4Croydon campaign will involve criminal activities and dirty tricks, which is what I've come to expect from gamers," - Micheal (douchebag) Atkinson.
It's almost like he's asking to have his knee caps busted and teeth kicked in.

Well, that would give his side a lot more credibility. I don't think he's sane enough to have that specific intention, but just because you're crazy, doesn't mean you're an idiot.

OT: I have to question how he managed to stay in office this long and hope the new party the best of luck.

I was think about the credibility part when I was typing that, but DAMMIT it be just so cathartic.

 

[CptCamoPants]

 

[Gladion]

A party focusing on a single issue is just making idiots out of its members and all the people it wants to represent. I wouldn't vote for them, because there are about ten million issues that are more important they don't cover at all.

 

[Treblaine]

Don't muddy the water with a special interest party.

Sure... if you're trying to win. Personally, I like the idea of more special-interest parties putting forth more candidates, more information, asking more questions. If it were possible to change the two-part stranglehold that U.S. democracy has fallen sway to, that's what I would like to see. At the least, it might get more people interested and involved in politics -- which is, after all, the process by when we decide how we are to be governed, what we are free to do and not do, and how much power we give to those who promise to guard our safety. So in that sense, I applaud the efforts of small groups of people to create a platform and run for offices, even if they only make people think about what choices they are making.

two party system has many merits, then the winning party will almost certainly hold the majority.

Most issues come down to binary choices, and even those come down consistently on either the left or right of the political spectrum.

Sure, this does lead to polarisation but at least you don't have to deal with shit like the BNP as we do, it's just embarrassing having a fascist party that people actually are voting for.

Though I suppose in the USA you have extremist right-wingers who are voting for the Republicans but that least there their views can be diluted along with the more moderate will of the party.