German Videogame Ban Derailed by Internet Petition

[Krabbenhuhn]

I think these efforts of some (conservative) German politicians (frankly, I wouldn't talk of the German government) will vanish as soon as this year's elections have passed. In past years, every once and so often someone claimed violent videogames need to be banned and that mostly happened for reasons different than protecting youths. *cough*shaping the party's profile*cough

 

[Dudeakoff]

The fact that the German government would even seriously consider this saddens me.

More so when I realise that if it passes then it will probably come over to Britain as well, what with the Conservatives being in power soon.

 

[andrat]

EDIT 2: I was about to apply for my dual citizenship this week actually, since both parents are German, but after reading the preceding stories to this, I would be ashamed to call myself a German citizen.

That would make you ashamed to be a German citizen?
Not a few other things that haven't been looked so well upon by everyone else?
Also, I'm like 1/5 German and I'm glad I don't live there

 

[HK_01]

How odd that I didn't hear about this. I am German and live in Germany, so how come I missed this?

It's really not that worrying. They've tried that after each school shooting so far, it never worked.

Edit: I am NOT ashamed to be a German citizen, by the way. This is not reflective of the country, only of a certain part of one political party within the government.

Edit 2: Even if they do it it's not going to last long. It would be against the constitution.

 

[Macgyvercas]

I'm rooting for the petitioners on this one. Can't stop the gamers.

So am I. If Germany bans any kind of video games, I will renounce my German heritage (which means I'll be 25% Hungarian, 25% French, and 50% nothing, but I'm trying to make a point here)

 

[black lincon]

I'm rooting for the petitioners on this one. Can't stop the gamers.

So am I. If Germany bans any kind of video games, I will renounce my German heritage (which means I'll be 25% Hungarian, 25% French, and 50% nothing, but I'm trying to make a point here)

you could be 50% formerly German, that sounds nicer, like the artist formerly know as prince.

 

[DamienHell]

If this goes through, the german government will start to see video game inspired violence. I predict gamers taking Free-For-All and team deathmatches to the streets.

 

[Arkhangelsk]

Where's the petition, so I can sign it? (not that I'm German, though, but it would be sweet)

 

[grimsprice]

What the Germans should do is make it a requirement to own a gaming license to buy a video game, and before you can have a license you have to go through a physcological profile test, so no unstable mass-murders can play them.
Although this will never happen because of civil rights and such.

That's completely unnecessary. What would be the point? An unstable mass-murder is not going to stop killing people because he has a little license saying he can't play video games.

I believe he is poking fun at gun laws.

Then I'm stupid for missing the joke.

Or Canadian

ooooooooo thems fightin words. how can you hate canadians? its like hating lassie. come on man. lol

 

[Gnadelwarz]

The Petition Site is a Official site of the German Bundestag (Lower House of German Parliament)
All Petitions that are reaching 50.000 Signers or more have to be heared by the Petition committee.
In fact the Council of the Federal Ministers of Interior of the 16 German federal states have allready decided to ban violent videogames (Link in German: http://www.chip.de/news/Innenminister-Killerspiel-Verbot-beschlossen_36791376.html and in English: http://www.gamepolitics.com/2009/06/05/germany039s-interior-ministers-ask-bundestag-total-ban-violent-games )
They´re claiming to do this for the protection of young people that are under 18.
In fact the german Youth Protection Laws are allmost the hardest world wide.

But we will fight for our freedom to play the Games we want to play.
There were allready 3 Demonstrations last Weekend in 3 Major German citys, Berlin, Karlsruhe and Cologne. -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-3gdDkgXN4
A Gamer association was founded lately. -> http://vdvc.de/

We will not give up easily. the german Pirate Party is on our side. So i will vote for them in the upcomming election this year.

Greetings from Germany!
and sry if my english is bad

 

[andrat]

EDIT 2: I was about to apply for my dual citizenship this week actually, since both parents are German, but after reading the preceding stories to this, I would be ashamed to call myself a German citizen.

That would make you ashamed to be a German citizen?
Not a few other things that haven't been looked so well upon by everyone else?
Also, I'm like 1/5 German and I'm glad I don't live there

On both sides of my family, by großeltern (great parents and uncles &whatnot) fought for the Nazi regime. Not the bet binch of guys to be sure, but I feel I would be doing my dead relatives a disservice by denouncing the nazis 24/7.

Oh that makes much more sense haha.

 

[Undercover]

Ah yes, the knee jerk reaction to an otherwise unfathomable crime. How typical, but for the otherwise liberal-minded Germany its a slap in the face to common sense. Columbine was Marilyn Manson's fault! Blame the music! Blame the video games! Blame everyone and everything else before someone thinks to blame the real culprits: Inattentive, irresponsible parenting. Point of fact: The two columbine killers Eric Harris and Dylan Kliebold were not, in fact Marylin Manson listeners. Neither one of them had a single MM album in their collections, but were both avid Doom players. KMFDM was actually both their music of choice. Apparently KMFDM wasn't controversial enough for the parents' groups.

This just brings up the same tired, convoluted argument that violent video games and violent song lyrics inspire kids to kill. If that is so true, why is Johnny Cash not being boycotted or blamed for anything? ...I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die

I've been listening to Johnny Cash since I was a freakin' baby, I listen to MM, NIN, and other bands with parent-frightening names such as Fear and Death Incorporated, Front Line Assembly, Skinny Puppy and so on, and I have been playing violent video games for almost as long. Other than the usual adult stresses and concerns, I like to think I'm a reasonably well adjusted grown-up. Blaming a form of entertainment is nothing more than pure scapegoating and it saddens me that this isn't just confined to North America. If, in reality all it took was listening to a particular style of music, or playing a certain type of video game to set off a kid to go and kill a bunch of people, THERE WAS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE KID IN THE FIRST PLACE, and if the parents/teachers/counsellors couldn't see it, then who is really to blame?

It reminds me of the Academy Award nominated song "Blame Canada" from the South Park movie, which ends with the lyrics:

The smut we must stop
The trash we must bash
The Laughter and fun
Must all be undone
We must blame them and cause a fuss
Before somebody thinks of blaming uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuus!!!!

Exactly.

 

[Undercover]

What the Germans should do is make it a requirement to own a gaming license to buy a video game, and before you can have a license you have to go through a physcological profile test, so no unstable mass-murders can play them.
Although this will never happen because of civil rights and such.

That's an interesting idea, kinda like trying to buy a gun (I got the joke.)

As far as I know, (And I've researched this so I'm not talking out of my ass) there have been numerous studies across the world on the correlation between violent video games and violent behaviour, and the unanimous conclusion? There isn't one, period.

Citing video games and music as a reason for abhorrent behaviour is like blaming Hootie and the Blowfish for making your life boring.

 

[Undercover]

My German brethren, please sign my petition that should Alanis Morisette ever set foot within the borders of Germany, she be arrested, cuffed, gagged, and thrown into the deepest chasm in your land.

Also would be nice if you signed my petition to legalize flinging orphans from medieval siege weapons (Trebuchet, Catapult, etc).

Add Celine Dion to that list, (and to the catapult) and I'll sign it in a heartbeat! Even though I'm only half German.

To: The World
Re: Celine Dion.

Uh, sorry about that.

Signed, Canada.

 

[Undercover]

The Petition Site is a Official site of the German Bundestag (Lower House of German Parliament)
All Petitions that are reaching 50.000 Signers or more have to be heared by the Petition committee.
In fact the Council of the Federal Ministers of Interior of the 16 German federal states have allready decided to ban violent videogames (Link in German: http://www.chip.de/news/Innenminister-Killerspiel-Verbot-beschlossen_36791376.html and in English: http://www.gamepolitics.com/2009/06/05/germany039s-interior-ministers-ask-bundestag-total-ban-violent-games )
They´re claiming to do this for the protection of young people that are under 18.
In fact the german Youth Protection Laws are allmost the hardest world wide.

But we will fight for our freedom to play the Games we want to play.
There were allready 3 Demonstrations last Weekend in 3 Major German citys, Berlin, Karlsruhe and Cologne. -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-3gdDkgXN4
A Gamer association was founded lately. -> http://vdvc.de/

We will not give up easily. the german Pirate Party is on our side. So i will vote for them in the upcomming election this year.

Greetings from Germany!
and sry if my english is bad

Wie Gehts! Are you kidding? Your english is better than most Americans I see on forums like this! (I'm Canadian and therefore above all Americans)

Auf Weidersehn, mein freunde (Meine deutchesprechen ist nicht so gut, Ich lerne in der schule fur eine jahr)

 

[MrPop]

If they did ban violent video games you could still just order them off the web or drive next door to another EU country to get one if you're really desperate.

 

[dnadns]

The petition is only one of the things happening here (I was on of the people signing it).
There were also demonstations on the streets which were not that big, but nonetheless attracted some attention, especially as some politicians of the opposition joined.

Also a club (http://vdvc.de/) was founded very recently that aims to represent the gaming lobby by educating others about games, what they do and what the whole industry behind is.

The best way for us to turn out would be, if games would be accredited the same status as other forms of art. Games are still recognized as "toys" over here which explains a bit why there is so much censoring going on with the content of games. (i.e. they have to remove swastikas in games, but not in movies). In my opinion the very same should also apply to comics.

Regarding these "newer" forms of entertainment Germany has a lot of room for improvent.