[Dryk]

So I opened up my newspaper today and found this in the letters to the editor:

A Queensland letter writer claims democracy is at an end because I, as Attorney-General, will not agree to an R18+ category for interactive computer games; that “every other state AG is against him”; and the only way to bring back democracy is to vote me out at the next election.
It is true that I am opposed to an R18+ category for interactive games, but I am one of at least four attorneys so opposed.
I welcome a challenge in my electorate of Croydon at the next general election on this issue.
Among my constituents are hundreds of refugees who are trying to find lodgings for the family, gain employment and sponsor relatives from the old country.
Their vote is hardly likely to hinge on the “right” to score gamer points on the computer screen by running down and killing pedestrians on the pavement, raping a mother and her two daughters, blowing oneself up in a market, cutting people in half with large calibre shells, injecting drugs to win an athletics event or killing a prostitute to recover the fee one just paid her (Welcome to the world of R18+ computer games).
Those of my constituents who are refugees have been subjected to the practical instead of the virtual suffering that R18+ nerds seek to inflict for their gratification on the computer screen.

- Michael Atkinson, Attorney-General. Adelaide.

Now, I've read through this a bunch of times, and I've yet to find something resembling a real argument. Just appeal to emotion and name calling. Anyone see it?

[Comrade Questions]

Rapelay wouldn't ever make it past the Classification Board even if an R rating was in place.

Who exactly would I address a letter to if I myself wished to write a letter to the editor of your newspaper?

[Dryk]

It says:

Address letters to: Letters to the Editor, GPO Box 339, Adelaide 5001
Fax: (08) 8206 3669
Email: advedit@theadvertiser.com.au

Email must be in plain text and not contain any formatting or graphics. Letters should be brief - preferably no more than 175 words, must be signed and include name and address for publication. Include a telephone number for verification. Letters to the Editor are submitted on the condition that Advertiser Newspapers Pty Limited as publisher of The Advertiser may edit and has the right to, and to license third parties to, reproduce in electronic form and communicate these letters.

[Comrade Questions]

Cheers.

[Hinee]

That game sounds AWESOME! I want it

[Bench]

cue sudden influx of people writing in saying "Michael Atkinson wtf, you've just referred to many games that have made it through the ACB classification system to end up in the hands of 15 year-olds, so much for protecting Australians."

[EdgeCrusher]

They better watch the fuck out now caus Joaby be all up in that

[Remnant]

And they say we can't tell the difference between games and real life.

Turn off CNN, ya leper, and pick up a video game. You obviously can't tell the difference.

[Oracle]

They better watch the fuck out now caus Joaby be all up in that

"Yeah, remember me? That's right, I was wearing the Fallout 3 tshirt bitch."

[Jemry]

I'd love for this to start a flamewar on the newspaper between Atkinson and Joaby.

[Comrade Questions]

They better watch the fuck out now caus Joaby be all up in that

Because, as Oracle so tactfully pointed out, I've traditionally been such an effective weapon in this war.

E You don't have access to a scanner or a digital camera do you Dryk?

I'm just trying to establish sources properly.

Nevermind

[Lewis]

Their vote is hardly likely to hinge on the “right” to score gamer points on the computer screen by running down and killing pedestrians on the pavement, raping a mother and her two daughters, blowing oneself up in a market, cutting people in half with large calibre shells, injecting drugs to win an athletics event or killing a prostitute to recover the fee one just paid her (Welcome to the world of R18+ computer games).

Can we list these games he's vaguely mentioning here? Not only for my sake, but just to maybe open discussion a bit. I'm curious as to what game he's referring to where one would rape '...a mother and her two daughters.'

And, Dryk, are you typing this article verbatim? If so, I think the bracket/grammar usage is a little wonky...

[Comrade Questions]

Rapelay is the rape game. It's a japanese game which wouldn't even get a foot in the door even if we had an X Rating.

In Australia sexualised violence is a no-no for every single rating (depending on context).

[Lewis]

Then, taking that into account, why does Atkinson include such an in-game topic when it would be refused classification regardless of how 'high' the ratings were?

[Comrade Questions]

Then, taking that into account, why does Atkinson include such an in-game topic when it would be refused classification regardless of how 'high' the ratings were?

Because most people don't know any better. It's a scare tactic.

[cliff]

i dont think politics think.... seriously we have a m15 rating... but seriously the reason that children are having violence is because the fact that mum and dad would prefer little billy to sit there and play gta 4 rather then going out side and experiencing the real world or playing a much more age appropriate games i look at alot of g games and well there are alot of games a kid could play rather then gta... I speak through experience I did play doom when i was a young one and well it didnt effect me at all i just had a very little temper and well didnt like putting up with peoples shit...

apologies for the wall of text.

[Lewis]

i dont think politics think.... seriously we have a m15 rating... but seriously the reason that children are having violence is because the fact that mum and dad would prefer little billy to sit there and play gta 4 rather then going out side and experiencing the real world or playing a much more age appropriate games i look at alot of g games and well there are alot of games a kid could play rather then gta... I speak through experience I did play doom when i was a young one and well it didnt effect me at all i just had a very little temper and well didnt like putting up with peoples shit...

apologies for the wall of text.

It's okay, all I saw were many ellipses and a lack of punctuation. Seriously, I don't have that much breath.

Because most people don't know any better. It's a scare tactic.

I assume, given you're still sending a response to the paper, you're bringing this up?

[MoonUnit]

This is actually got to have been about the most petty I've seen Atkinson get... I mean "R18+ nerds"? Wow

[Lewis]

...And yet if we reply in a similar fashion, we're branded as some kind of mass-anarchistic group.

[cliff]

...And yet if we reply in a similar fashion, we're branded as some kind of mass-anarchistic group.

nah if we reply in the same fashion he will just say that it proves his point that videogame violence is affecting people.