Hey Escapist. So following the very disappointing situation in Australia following the refusal of classification of Saints Row IV, I decided to write the candidates of my electorate a letter telling them how I feel about the whole thing. The following is the letter I wrote; it addresses the NBN and the classification of computer games in Australia. I urge all Australian gamers to read the letter, edit what you don't like, add what you think also needs to be said, and send it to your electorate candidates.
Thanks for your attention.
EDIT: I should mention that this particular message was sent to a Liberal candidate, so I added in the "small government, less taxes" to make it seem like I was seriously considering voting for him. Not that I'm not, but yeah. Change it up depending on which party you're messaging I suppose.
Hello INSERT NAME HERE
I wish to inform you of some concerns I have regarding some policies and pieces of legislation.
Firstly, while I am an advocate of small government and less taxes, I do believe that a National Broadband Network is required for Australia to keep up to date technologically into the future. I understand that this entails a large cost to the Australian taxpayers, and that Labor may not be able to successfully manage the program, but I nevertheless am unimpressed with the current Liberal internet infrastructure policy. As a regular consumer of Internet media, I am aware that Australian internet speeds need to be improved, and this can only be done in any significant way by delivering Fibre optic cable to the home. I want you to know that if the Liberal party were to promise a continuation of Labors NBN plan after being elected, voting for the Liberal party would be a far more alluring prospect than it currently is for both myself and my peers.
Second, I wish to voice my dissatisfaction with the legislation "Guidelines for the Classification of Computer Games 2012". I am a strong believer in the right of adults to choose for themselves what they believe they will find suitable or not. The Guidelines for the Classification of Computer Games 2012 refuses classification of computer games that contain "Drug use related to incentives and rewards is not permitted." I do not believe that mature adults would be influenced to abuse drugs though the playing of a computer game.
Further, I object to the following criteria being grounds for a refusal of classification:
(i) activity accompanied by fetishes or practices which are offensive or abhorrent;
(ii) incest fantasies or other fantasies which are offensive or abhorrent.
While I do not doubt that much of the Australian population, including myself, may find media containing some 'fantasies' or 'fetishes' offensive, I do not personally believe that they should be refused classification. If the general public do not support such media, such media will not be financially viable and thus will not be an issue for most of the population. Further, the use of the phrase "or other fantasies" is vague and open to interpretation by the Australian Classification Board, which I have been disappointed by several times in the past.
In general, I believe that there should be a culture of freedom of speech, not of restriction and censorship in Australian media. The refusal of classification of media only hurts Australian retailers, content creators and consumers. I believe this applies to all forms of media, not just video games, though I am also concerned by the more strict classification of video games in Australia.
Thank You for your time, and I hope you consider my point of view and get back to me on your course of action regarding the above issues.
I wish to inform you of some concerns I have regarding some policies and pieces of legislation.
Firstly, while I am an advocate of small government and less taxes, I do believe that a National Broadband Network is required for Australia to keep up to date technologically into the future. I understand that this entails a large cost to the Australian taxpayers, and that Labor may not be able to successfully manage the program, but I nevertheless am unimpressed with the current Liberal internet infrastructure policy. As a regular consumer of Internet media, I am aware that Australian internet speeds need to be improved, and this can only be done in any significant way by delivering Fibre optic cable to the home. I want you to know that if the Liberal party were to promise a continuation of Labors NBN plan after being elected, voting for the Liberal party would be a far more alluring prospect than it currently is for both myself and my peers.
Second, I wish to voice my dissatisfaction with the legislation "Guidelines for the Classification of Computer Games 2012". I am a strong believer in the right of adults to choose for themselves what they believe they will find suitable or not. The Guidelines for the Classification of Computer Games 2012 refuses classification of computer games that contain "Drug use related to incentives and rewards is not permitted." I do not believe that mature adults would be influenced to abuse drugs though the playing of a computer game.
Further, I object to the following criteria being grounds for a refusal of classification:
(i) activity accompanied by fetishes or practices which are offensive or abhorrent;
(ii) incest fantasies or other fantasies which are offensive or abhorrent.
While I do not doubt that much of the Australian population, including myself, may find media containing some 'fantasies' or 'fetishes' offensive, I do not personally believe that they should be refused classification. If the general public do not support such media, such media will not be financially viable and thus will not be an issue for most of the population. Further, the use of the phrase "or other fantasies" is vague and open to interpretation by the Australian Classification Board, which I have been disappointed by several times in the past.
In general, I believe that there should be a culture of freedom of speech, not of restriction and censorship in Australian media. The refusal of classification of media only hurts Australian retailers, content creators and consumers. I believe this applies to all forms of media, not just video games, though I am also concerned by the more strict classification of video games in Australia.
Thank You for your time, and I hope you consider my point of view and get back to me on your course of action regarding the above issues.
Thanks for your attention.
EDIT: I should mention that this particular message was sent to a Liberal candidate, so I added in the "small government, less taxes" to make it seem like I was seriously considering voting for him. Not that I'm not, but yeah. Change it up depending on which party you're messaging I suppose.
and i hope it works as someone that is living in Australia.