Brazilian senator hopes to ban sale of 'offensive' games

On topic: I'm not quite sure why politicians view video games as more harmful and less deserving of recognition than other forms of entertainment and art. The increased interaction may be a part of that, but I think the vast majority of gamers are able to distance themselves from the game character just like they would a movie or literary character. I'm not going to imitate Niko from GTAIV any more than I'm going to imitate Mickey Knox from the Natural Born Killers.

I think that's a very shallow statement. Somebody's hair colour or other generic appearance should not affect our opinions of them - i respect this man for letting his hair go gray and not feeling the pressure to colour it black.

But yes, it is strange for such a bill to be passed - I must say the increase of the gaming industry in general is worrying in terms of lifestyles of the new generations - but i disagree with violence in games affecting people in life.

Somebody get me a drier, cause Cob just became the wet towel in our party!

Seriously though, who knows vid, I've played games since before I can remember, and those include Wolfenstein 3D and Alone in the Dark (and that was around 4-5yrs old), I played Silent Hill when I was 9, and hell, I've yet to even shoot a pellet gun anywhere even close to my schools, and only have been in one fight.

Its all paranoia and agendas. Games are the new medium of entertainment on the block, so they are the new scapegoats for all of our problems. Just like any other medium, there are idiots who will do what was done in them, disregarding any common sense or logic in the process. Studies are often times biased and clash with others, but its enough for some people to base their entire career off *coughcough Jack Thompson cough*, and for politicians to blame issues upon instead of themselves.

I have never laughed so hard or for so long at a comment on Joystiq. Seriously dude, that was fucking awesome. I don't care how much of a low blow it is, the guy is trying to censor media/art form/entertainment. There is no blow low enough for that.

1-3 years for playing a violent game?!?
What happens to people who do something even mildly wrong?

Brodo, they just get a slap on the wrist cause their lawyer will tell the court that they were forced to play a violent game by some person they are close to, so are not responsible for their act... =P

First of all I'm going to say that I'm Brazilian, and I'm against this law, which is a form of censorship.

And second, well, this bill is not banning violent games. I have read the content, and the idea is another. It actually is meant for content that is offensive towards religions and customs. The approval provides some examples of such behaviors, like the use and perversion of religious symbols, and I quote the bill's approval text, "beating up an angel while listening to a christian choir" and "a supervillain (...) beating Jesus and his 12 apostles". And also beating up people of different sexual orientations.

I'm not suportive of such content (specially forms of discrimination), but games are under free speech rules, and as vidGuy said, is no diferent then a book, like Dante's Divine Comedy (which is also inspiration for such a "profane" game), or Romeo and Juliet, which has teenager suicide. We know that the government will always be biased when dealing with games. Everquest, Counter Strike and Bully were banned here, while violent movies (Saw and Hostel) or pornographic movies are totally legit (this is not a critic to such movies, it's merely to show that society has learned to properly deals with such subjects in other forms of entertainment, while a game are seen as meant for kids only).

I will try to contact the senator, and if that won't work (and I know it won't), I will sue the bill, as it clearly is censorship, which is forbiden by the current constitution.

When it comes to down to it, only government sanctioned violence is allowed (no draft dodging now!). It's all about productivity! How are we supposed to get kids to kill the enemy if they busy killing terrorists in Modern Warfare 2?

To war, friends!

Sorry sir, it's not El Stupido, that's "sorta" spanish.

It's Estúpido or Babaca (Asshole) here in Brazil ;D

You can say "O Estúpido" ;-) which means the same.

I'm very happy Portugal never conquered more of the world.

I wonder what he thought of MW2.

Because that would involve actual progress?

Because it's not that easy, it would take at least two decades to sort the mess that Brazil is, and that's IF some honest politician would invest in something other than immediate things to fool our population in thinking their actually doing some good.

*they're :(

They should start by kicking out politicians that help television crime show hosts put out hits on people just so he can have ratings.

Also noticed

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment

Un-related: i thought your name was 'Look At This Shit' i had flashbacks of my 5 y/o brother being proud of his gigantic poops and uttering those exact words to me.

That's why there's a visual aid next to my name.

Now I just flashed back to when my little brother once pooped while sleeping.. don't ask how

Why does the thread following from my comment have to be about poop?

Um, it's Joystiq?

That's crazy! I was thinking to myself while reading this thread "wow, I really need to poop!"

To the toilet!

Just saying, it's better to leave the choice to buy video games to the consumer rather than the government. I don't believe they know what the consumer wants.

They're not talking about want here, it's a case of what they believe we should have, but the funding that goes into ridiculous bills such as these could be put a more useful cause, games aren't the problem here at all.

As its been said, Jack Thompson has been mating !!! We had one of his progeny in Australia, and now in Brazil !!

See, the flaw in your argument there is that you're trying to apply logic to the bible. The two are incompatible.

:P

This isnt logic, if we follow this logic then violent movies should be banned too.

Whenever i play a violent videogame it doesnt make me want to kill people, it just makes me relax and enjoy my damn self.

Remember kids, consoles have a reset button, life doesnt. Quote me

Ps i know this gen doesnt have a reset button [the wii might], i miss the reset button :(

Actually, the Bible's methods are illogical, but the logic in its intent is sound. Strange, never thought I'd be defending the Bible.

Really? Are you not detecting the sarcasm?

If you're adressing me then yes, i detected your sarcasm, i was pointing that they go after games for being violent but let movies in because that medium is considered 'mature'

One thing I hear a lot from anti-videogamers is that they keep pointing to studies that violent video games make people more "aggressive". So does watching a sports game, but we don't make playing sports illegal, nor do we even ban little kids from watching a game. Hell, people have even rioted (repeatedly!) over sports events!

And besides, you wouldn't let your 5-year-old watch a rated R movie, why would you let them play a rated M videogame?

The scary thing I see is that he wants to ban video games in the name of religion. Just ban an entire form of entertainment because he thinks it's hurting society and his country. That is seriously screwed up thinking and this guy should not be in any position of power.

to the person who says you would not let your 5 year old watch r-rated movies. My Parents let me watch Terminator and Aliens and other r rated movies at 5 and was first kid on the block with mk all the other parents stop letting there kids come over since they where playing mk at my house but mine told them get a life. I have never gone on a shooting spray or anything like that. people just need to grow up. i probably go to jail but i will let my children watch R rated movies and play ma games when there 5 or so.

They're coming for our dirty magazines next! Is nothing sacred?!

...

Well, I'm sure it'd be more like "banning specific porn-related IP addresses" actually.

I havent bought a 'Gentleman's Interest' magazine ever since i got the internet. Memories :)

i remember when al gore and tipper gore where trying to ban twisted sister, cannibal corpse and ice t 's body count. silly liberals.

Don't trash an entire country just because one guy is a douche and the country has some laws that are odd in our culture.

Actually, a lot of the world is okay with letting cousins marry, including 26 of the 50 states in the USA.

The more you know.