Last year Johnson wrote in a piece that "computer games rot the brain" and that readers should "garrotte the Game Boy and paralyse the PlayStation." Meanwhile, the British games industry reports a shortage of young skilled labor.
London Mayor groups video games with illegal activities
by Alexander Sliwinski 
on Jun 20th 2008 11:00AM
83
Last year Johnson wrote in a piece that "computer games rot the brain" and that readers should "garrotte the Game Boy and paralyse the PlayStation." Meanwhile, the British games industry reports a shortage of young skilled labor.
Reader Comments (83)
Posted: Jun 20th 2008 11:03AM whookid said
Ugh, here we go again... but really we shouldn't be surprised. Politicians will do anything to gain popularity.
Posted: Jun 20th 2008 11:04AM Saria the Cat said
That's rubbish!
Posted: Jun 20th 2008 11:04AM (Unverified) said
He is an idiot, and so is every person who voted for him.
Posted: Jun 20th 2008 1:42PM (Unverified) said
But he's a good politician.
Yes, he's a plank for berating games and using them as a scapegoat, but he got into the Mayor's office for a reason. He's a likeable chap and is far more in touch with London than Livingston ever was.
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Yes, he's a plank for berating games and using them as a scapegoat, but he got into the Mayor's office for a reason. He's a likeable chap and is far more in touch with London than Livingston ever was.
Posted: Jun 20th 2008 3:41PM KarlW said
I also didn't vote for him. The votes he did get were mainly protest votes against the central Labour government, and people just curious to see what the opposition were like after a 10 year hiatus.
Interesting point though, his opponent (the previous mayor) openly admitted lying to central government about the olympics budget, in order to put more money in to revamping one of the poorest parts of London. It'd be the equivalent of the mayor of New Orleans lying about the cost of Katrina, to use the money for better education...etc. It's bad to lie (although he didn't lie to voters), but he did it for the clear good of the people who elected him. And some Londoners thought a man with that much commitment didn't deserve another term, I ask you!
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Interesting point though, his opponent (the previous mayor) openly admitted lying to central government about the olympics budget, in order to put more money in to revamping one of the poorest parts of London. It'd be the equivalent of the mayor of New Orleans lying about the cost of Katrina, to use the money for better education...etc. It's bad to lie (although he didn't lie to voters), but he did it for the clear good of the people who elected him. And some Londoners thought a man with that much commitment didn't deserve another term, I ask you!
Posted: Jun 20th 2008 11:05AM (Unverified) said
You know what's "not cool"? Being a moron. Someone write this on a crumpet and FedEx it to Mayor Johnson's face.
Posted: Jun 20th 2008 11:06AM Shagittarius said
Is that the limey version of Gary Busey?
Posted: Jun 20th 2008 11:20AM baby sea tuna said
Posted: Jun 20th 2008 11:43AM Shagittarius said
damn google screwed me, when you search for Gary Busey that Nick Nolte picture pops up.
serves me right for not doing the complete research =).
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serves me right for not doing the complete research =).
Posted: Jun 20th 2008 11:08AM bobloblaw said
Lovin those Conservatives!
Posted: Jun 20th 2008 12:55PM (Unverified) said
Conservative =//= conservative. Pay attention to the small c; the Conservative party and people who are conservative.
I'm sure not all Conservative MPs are anti-games. Just like not all of them are anti-europe: just the majority.
Reply
I'm sure not all Conservative MPs are anti-games. Just like not all of them are anti-europe: just the majority.
Posted: Jun 20th 2008 11:09AM Saria the Cat said
I like how he makes the assumption that the same youth that are involved with gangs or knife violence are also avid video game players. Don't these people know that the average avid gamer has a 75% higher chance of being a nerd, and a 15% extra chance of catching the "I don't leave the house" disease? Nerds aren't cool enough---I mean nerds don't think knife-play is cool.
Posted: Jun 20th 2008 11:46AM (Unverified) said
Nerds think knives are cool. At least I do. Its why I like "going knives" in games. They just know that stabbing people in real life isn't cool.
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Posted: Jun 20th 2008 12:36PM (Unverified) said
Dear Mr.Mayor:
Chavs DON'T EVEN BOTHER playing video games because it's not cool.
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Chavs DON'T EVEN BOTHER playing video games because it's not cool.
Posted: Jun 21st 2008 5:41AM (Unverified) said
"Chavs"
Wow, I didn't know we were still using classist terms. Jakka, you middle class buffon, go back to your troll hole. .
Reply
Wow, I didn't know we were still using classist terms. Jakka, you middle class buffon, go back to your troll hole. .
Posted: Jun 20th 2008 11:12AM RKN said
What, nobody's commented on his hair yet? Its so lovely!!! : D
Posted: Jun 20th 2008 1:51PM Korova Pamplona said
That's the only reason I am even reading the comments. I think he is mocking my highland bangs.
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Posted: Jun 20th 2008 8:31PM (Unverified) said
Posted: Jun 20th 2008 11:17AM (Unverified) said
this guy can't even brush his hair, and he's the goddamned mayor of london?
what the fuck?
no, really, what the fuck?
what the fuck?
no, really, what the fuck?
Posted: Jun 20th 2008 11:27AM (Unverified) said
George Bush can't spell or think for himself let alone brush his own hair and he is one of, if not the most powerful person on earth!!
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Posted: Jun 20th 2008 11:38AM (Unverified) said
His comments are out of line this time (well, he frequently says things which upset people, but nevermind).
The point is that you're comparing George Bush with Boris Johnson. Boris Johnson speaks 4 foreign languages, including latin, has published books, has been the editor for the Spectator and hosted a popular TV show. Comparing him with George Bush is insulting; Boris has a brilliant grasp of the English language and can write some good stuff, whereas Geore Bush is actually oratorically retarded.
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The point is that you're comparing George Bush with Boris Johnson. Boris Johnson speaks 4 foreign languages, including latin, has published books, has been the editor for the Spectator and hosted a popular TV show. Comparing him with George Bush is insulting; Boris has a brilliant grasp of the English language and can write some good stuff, whereas Geore Bush is actually oratorically retarded.
Posted: Jun 20th 2008 12:19PM (Unverified) said
Here are some good Bush quotes...
"There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again."
"Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?"
"I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully"
"I know how hard it is for you to put food on your family"
It's awesome that this guy is our president.
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"There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again."
"Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?"
"I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully"
"I know how hard it is for you to put food on your family"
It's awesome that this guy is our president.
Posted: Jun 20th 2008 12:36PM (Unverified) said
With the amount of money and connections he has, yes I'm sure I could pass any class fine.
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Posted: Jun 20th 2008 12:43PM (Unverified) said
"Ivy League" doesn't necessarily mean that the classes are more difficult. Just more expensive.
Bush is a dipshit. Thank God we only have 6 more months left with this man.
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Bush is a dipshit. Thank God we only have 6 more months left with this man.
Posted: Jun 20th 2008 1:14PM Ubiquitous Oxymoron said
I know, I live in the UK and am shocked that this prick became the mayor of London. he was funny on a news satire program called 'have i got news for you' but he is not fit to wipe his own ass let alone run London or comment on video games.
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Posted: Jun 20th 2008 11:21AM SocialDefect said
Why are they using the Gary Busey mug shot?
Posted: Jun 20th 2008 11:25AM baby sea tuna said
Eh, Socialism > Facism.
Posted: Jun 20th 2008 11:31AM kinshadow said
Games aren't the answer here. If they would just give the people guns, no one would care about knives at all!
Posted: Jun 20th 2008 12:59PM (Unverified) said
...and if they took away the guns AND the knives, then they'd have to start a "sharp pointy sticks aren't cool!" campaign.
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Posted: Jun 20th 2008 11:34AM (Unverified) said
So this is the same Boris Johnson who was caught on telephone agreeing to supply his former schoolmate, Darius Guppy, with the address of News of the World journalist Stuart Collier, knowing full well Guppy wanted to have Collier beaten up due to his knowledge of a failed insurance fraud purportrated by Guppy?
Posted: Jun 20th 2008 11:35AM (Unverified) said
Your Democrats are pretty much just as right as our Conservatives (varying by degree depdning on state location, i guess); don't think our country's political balance is as right-oriented as yours.
Also, we may have a lot of tax, but Labour hasn't squandered it, like the automatic assumption in America seems to be with ANY tax.
Also, we may have a lot of tax, but Labour hasn't squandered it, like the automatic assumption in America seems to be with ANY tax.
Posted: Jun 20th 2008 11:37AM Top Cat said
i bet he'll ban games on the Underground next...will lead to the most epic lan party ever!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/7429685.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/7429685.stm
Posted: Jun 20th 2008 11:44AM gave1 said
does anyone else think its ironic that he is attempting to curb violence (use of knives) by advocating violence?
Posted: Jun 20th 2008 11:53AM Saria the Cat said
Yeah, his imagery and language when talking about "garroting" and "paralyzing" seem a tad counterproductive as an advocate of "peace." I guess violence is all equally bad, just some violence more equal than others.
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Posted: Jun 20th 2008 11:45AM Nigeria said
I didn't vote for him.
Johnson usually has something intelligent to say, but the way he presents his ideas often leaves the public a little miffed.
The situation on the ground, here in London, is getting quite bloody - hell, some guys tried to stick me up for my Timberlands 2 weeks back - but blaming video games is too easy a cop out. The reason violence is on the rise, or appears to be on the rise, is too complex to blame on a single part of our culture.
Johnson usually has something intelligent to say, but the way he presents his ideas often leaves the public a little miffed.
The situation on the ground, here in London, is getting quite bloody - hell, some guys tried to stick me up for my Timberlands 2 weeks back - but blaming video games is too easy a cop out. The reason violence is on the rise, or appears to be on the rise, is too complex to blame on a single part of our culture.
Posted: Jun 20th 2008 11:52AM Erluti said
I'm pretty sure he's not "lump[ing] violent video games in with narcotics and organized crime".
He totally just listed it with other negative influence on kids. Celeberaties who are publicly druggies and stuff are a bad influence. Living in a neighborhood that glorifies gang life is a bad influence. Letting the little kiddos celebrate violence as their form of escapism, is a bad influence.
He totally just listed it with other negative influence on kids. Celeberaties who are publicly druggies and stuff are a bad influence. Living in a neighborhood that glorifies gang life is a bad influence. Letting the little kiddos celebrate violence as their form of escapism, is a bad influence.
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