Atkinson Says You Don't Need to Impale People

[Dommyboy]

Though I might go buy some porn and some weapons, a few bongs too and perhaps a mace. All this can be done in Melbourne. Heaven forbid though I play a violent video game, after all, I'm so young and innocent to get into that stuff, I beat people down with the weapons I could easily purchase.

 

[Doug]

The Karmapa Lapa has something to say about it. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/94875-Buddhist-Religious-Leader-Says-Games-Satiate-Aggression]

I was asking about this specific author.

I'm asked why he has a need to kill in video games. Does he have the tendency to act aggressive? Does he need to curb that? Are there no alternatives?

Need is a superlative. I am just curious why it's a need. Is it an addiction? If he goes without, will the world be served with violent activity?

Seriously, 'alternatives'?! The 'alternative' is to actually kill someone. FFS, gaming IS the alternative. Its a stress relief, ya fool. We as a species are evolved as omnivore hunters, so we all have aggression within us. Its just how we're born because evolution hasn't had a chance to catch up. Its far better to release stress by shooting, stabbing, impaling, etc, etc virtual characters who a) aren't sentient beings, and b) feel no pain.

 

[Sallix]

at this rate i would expect "violence due to lack of a good videogame rating system" to top "violence due to videogames".

 

[Once a Human]

the Romans [http://www.vladtheimpaler.com/vlad_the_impaler_bio_001.htm].
Also Kratos might have a different opinion on such matters.

 

[Lord Krunk]

All in all, kudos to ABC News Australia and reporter Adrian Raschella for delivering a decent story that doesn't try to vilify gamers. It's definitely worth a watch.

Important distinction there. ABC News US is still on my bad books for the way they handled the Hot Coffee mod and surrounding fiasco.

I hold grudges for a LOOOOOONG time.

ABC (The Australian One) is entirely government owned. Funnily enough, it's also incredibly left wing.

As well as that, they never miss an opportunity to take the piss out at the Liberals (Australia's conservative party, also surprisingly).

And that's why I love them.

Somebody, please get rid of him. The election's coming soon, so we won't have to wait for long.

I'm pretty sure that his seat is a safe seat, so he isn't going to be voted out of office. I also have a feeling that in the next election Kevin Rudd will be voted back in office. There is a lot of time between now and 2011 but I can't see Tony Abbot getting elected as PM. I think we'll be putting up with this guys BullShit for a long time.

I'm both kind of glad and dissapointed that AvP has not be changed to meet the censors demands. I'm glad that the devs are sticking to their guns and not bending down for Australia and maybe a lack of a game will cause people here to try and start fighting against this, but on the other hand there is nothing that we can do against Atkinson and we miss out on what looks like a fun title.

I think that Atkinson enjoys the trouble he stirs up with us. He knows that whenever he speaks about games it will end up on places like this, he knows that it annoys people, and yet he keeps on doing it. He's like a kid kicking up a beehive with a protective bee suit on. What a jerk.

As much as I would love to have my hopes up, I agree.

But here's to good luck and great justice.

 

[machineiv]

Seriously, 'alternatives'?! The 'alternative' is to actually kill someone. FFS, gaming IS the alternative. Its a stress relief, ya fool. We as a species are evolved as omnivore hunters, so we all have aggression within us. Its just how we're born because evolution hasn't had a chance to catch up. Its far better to release stress by shooting, stabbing, impaling, etc, etc virtual characters who a) aren't sentient beings, and b) feel no pain.

So before video games, nearly half the population of the civilized world killed people?

I was completely unaware of this. I would have thought that we'd have died out as a species, if so many of us had a need to kill.

And frankly, if you would kill someone if you were deprived of video games, you're not a positive contribution to society. If you need video games to restrain yourself from murder, you need to seek counseling, and quickly.

 

[Brad Shepard]

so, because of 1 or 2% of gamers are idiots that cant tell the difference between, say, final fantasy and starbucks, the whole country has to suffer.
that makes no sence whatsoever!

 

[Double A]

Is there a game that involves impaling this asshole on a spike?

 

[Doug]

Seriously, 'alternatives'?! The 'alternative' is to actually kill someone. FFS, gaming IS the alternative. Its a stress relief, ya fool. We as a species are evolved as omnivore hunters, so we all have aggression within us. Its just how we're born because evolution hasn't had a chance to catch up. Its far better to release stress by shooting, stabbing, impaling, etc, etc virtual characters who a) aren't sentient beings, and b) feel no pain.

So before video games, nearly half the population of the civilized world killed people?

I was completely unaware of this. I would have thought that we'd have died out as a species, if so many of us had a need to kill.

And frankly, if you would kill someone if you were deprived of video games, you're not a positive contribution to society. If you need video games to restrain yourself from murder, you need to seek counseling, and quickly.

Before video games there was art, drama, literature, theatre, plays, the Colosseum, mock fights, etc, ad nausm.

In short, escapism in all its various forms, both active involvement and passive observation.

 

[Deviluk]

Don't worry, I'm sure Yahtzee will eventually destroy him...in a tron-esque duel on top of Ayers Rock.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

With my vested interest in numbers, it would be lax of me not to mention the 2,283 people who have already signed the petition here [http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/game-ratings-aus/signatures-35.html].

So before video games, nearly half the population of the civilized world killed people?

Given the World Wars, The Troubles, Africa, Middle East, The Crusades etc. I can sort of believe that. Or they played army.

What they didn't do was watch things like POV JugFuckers, as they're perfectly allowed to do now. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.159457?page=1]

 

[Lord Krunk]

EDIT: Double post, sorry.

 

[Doug]

Seriously, 'alternatives'?! The 'alternative' is to actually kill someone. FFS, gaming IS the alternative. Its a stress relief, ya fool. We as a species are evolved as omnivore hunters, so we all have aggression within us. Its just how we're born because evolution hasn't had a chance to catch up. Its far better to release stress by shooting, stabbing, impaling, etc, etc virtual characters who a) aren't sentient beings, and b) feel no pain.

So before video games, nearly half the population of the civilized world killed people?

I was completely unaware of this. I would have thought that we'd have died out as a species, if so many of us had a need to kill.

And frankly, if you would kill someone if you were deprived of video games, you're not a positive contribution to society. If you need video games to restrain yourself from murder, you need to seek counseling, and quickly.

Before video games there was art, drama, literature, theatre, plays, the Colosseum, mock fights, etc, ad nausm.

In short, escapism in all its various forms, both active involvement and passive observation.

You should probably add sports to that list too... Although some of the more popular ones would come under "mock fights" anyways.

True, I forgot about sports; but regardless, the point is even the earliest records of humanity as a species (i.e. the cave painting era) suggests that even at the very beginning, escapism and fiction where apart of our lives. I shudder to think of a world without escapism.

As for the mock fights, I was more thinking the sparing/dueling system employed by so-called Barbarian tribes for both recreation and training - this can also be observed in animals, for example, Wolves and Dogs, especially puppies, love to play fight with each other.

As for the original point, no, we don't NEED to impale people. But if we give in on this, next it'll be "Well, you don't NEED to shoot people" and before you know it, we're reduced to low power paintball guns and blunt sticks in all video games.

 

[Booze Zombie]

Seriously, it doesn't matter what you give a violent person, they'd still be a violent person if you gave them a kite (to more or less quote Dylan Moran).
And if he's so worried about degenerates being inspired by violent images, why does he allow violent media in at all, should he not do something like ban all violent/sexual/mildly-sweary media?

I'm sure a media mogul would have him assassinated post-haste, but if he really has such convictions, he would not be as hypocritical as he's being.
In fact, I'd go so far as to say he doesn't have these convictions and that he has an ulterior motive for doing this, though I've no idea what it is.

 

[Daedalus1942]

I suppose then we should ban books, music, movies and TV shows that have violent acts because of the 1 to 2% who could go on to be motivated by those to commit said horrible acts? You fail censorship forever, Atkinson.

Well It's been proven films warp minds. Look at John Hinckley. Tried to assassinate Ronald Reagan after seeing the film Taxi Driver. So... yeah fuck you Atkinson. You're a douchebag and there'll always be some psycho who spoils it for the rest of us.

 

[ZehGeek]

I suppose then we should ban books, music, movies and TV shows that have violent acts because of the 1 to 2% who could go on to be motivated by those to commit said horrible acts? You fail censorship forever, Atkinson.

Ignorance is bliss I guess.
Would be nice if atleast one Politician grew up in the "real world" insted of being bred from inside and the best private schools money can buy.
-There's gonna be violence everywhere. We as humans can get pretty violent. Video Games do nothing to negatively influence. For every person who's stupid enough to try stuff they've seen is just stupid.
-You also don't need to "see violence in a video game" for some jackass to say "Ohey, i r go try and be liek The Incrediable Hulk and paint myself green and smash people".
There's violence and negativity everywhere in the world. Sports, Gang Violence, Car Crashes, War, History, etc etc.
-History had ALOT of stuff Michael Atkinson, Jack Thompson, and many others could consider "violent and motivatble to do said acts". Loiue the 14th's decapitation, Vlad Dracula(The Real Dracula)'s impalement of people, using War Axes, etc etc. There's ALOT of stuff people can take from anywhere.
-The important thing would be trying to teach everyone the difference between right and wrong, not censoring the games and punushing those that had nothing to do with it. Make sure they know "You try and be a jackass and cut someone's head off, or try and jack a car, it's your own fault, not GTA or whatever's fault."
-The sad thing, most people don't take responsiblity for what they do. They try and blame it on everything from TV, to God. Would be SOOOO nice if people stoped trying to be "Politicaly Correct" all the time, and stuff.
-But yea, there's honestly no reason to ban the game due to the impalement bits. Who is gonna be idiot enough to try and impale someone and say "Ohey I got it from AvP", like seriously.
Sorry for the rant.

 

[Deleted]