Keith Vaz
Media-loving Keith Vaz, MP for Leicester East, has met with government ministers to discuss sales of violent games to minors.
Vaz met with minister for ‘creative Industries’ and tourism, Shaun Woodward, and minister for industry, Margaret Hodge, last week. Speaking to industry journal, MCV, Vaz said:
He also stated that he was keen to discuss Rockstar titles Manhunt and Canis Canem Edit in particular. In the past Vaz’s demands of the government have ranged from discussions on age restrictions to more extreme calls to ban games such as Canis Canem Edit
The outcome of the meeting, which Vaz has been hankering for since last October, is not clear.
Vaz has no doubt been encouraged by recent discussions in Europe about age ratings and information sharing on games. SPOnG’s just relieved that he managed to take some time away from Big Brother to discuss the issue.
Is Vaz completely unreasonable? Is he reasonable but doing himself no favours by being really annoying? Let SPOnG know in the forum.
To discuss racism in Big Brother, click here.
Vaz met with minister for ‘creative Industries’ and tourism, Shaun Woodward, and minister for industry, Margaret Hodge, last week. Speaking to industry journal, MCV, Vaz said:
“I am pleased that the Ministers agreed to meet with me and discuss this important issue. This is a good opportunity to raise concerns that many parents and I have on violent video games falling into the hands of young children.
“Recent research has demonstrated that violent video games can encourage a propensity towards violence in their users. I do not believe that this is a question of censorship, but of protecting children.”
“Recent research has demonstrated that violent video games can encourage a propensity towards violence in their users. I do not believe that this is a question of censorship, but of protecting children.”
He also stated that he was keen to discuss Rockstar titles Manhunt and Canis Canem Edit in particular. In the past Vaz’s demands of the government have ranged from discussions on age restrictions to more extreme calls to ban games such as Canis Canem Edit
The outcome of the meeting, which Vaz has been hankering for since last October, is not clear.
Vaz has no doubt been encouraged by recent discussions in Europe about age ratings and information sharing on games. SPOnG’s just relieved that he managed to take some time away from Big Brother to discuss the issue.
Is Vaz completely unreasonable? Is he reasonable but doing himself no favours by being really annoying? Let SPOnG know in the forum.
To discuss racism in Big Brother, click here.
Companies:
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Comments
Joji 18 Jan 2007 14:15
1/5
This guy should stick to his own part of the u.k for one.
The big problem here is that these MP fuddys still think games are just for kids. If you applied the same kind of banning logic to films or books it would never work.
My guess is he's part of that EU biz on banning violent games. What's interesting is that the majority of adult game sales are pretty tight in the u.k traditionally from shops, especially when compared to the u.s. It's the loop holes like mail order, second hand sales, the net and ebay (that make his job difficult, while adding some weight to his arguement). You'll never stop people full stop.
I'd like to really know how many of the people who elected him are actually worried about this issue, or if he like JT just has a anti games hard on.
The big problem here is that these MP fuddys still think games are just for kids. If you applied the same kind of banning logic to films or books it would never work.
My guess is he's part of that EU biz on banning violent games. What's interesting is that the majority of adult game sales are pretty tight in the u.k traditionally from shops, especially when compared to the u.s. It's the loop holes like mail order, second hand sales, the net and ebay (that make his job difficult, while adding some weight to his arguement). You'll never stop people full stop.
I'd like to really know how many of the people who elected him are actually worried about this issue, or if he like JT just has a anti games hard on.
Jay 18 Jan 2007 14:17
2/5
Whoever wrote this wrote:
Government Meets To Discusses Violent Games
OK, who proofed this?
more comments below our sponsor's message
Ditto 18 Jan 2007 19:31
3/5
He also stated that he was keen to discuss Rockstar titles Manhunt and Canis Canem Edit
Argh, argh, argh. When will they play the games before bitching? CCE isn't a game that encorages bullying.
Smelly 18 Jan 2007 20:46
4/5
I find it funny that he's desperate to discuss something that he obviously knows very little about (CCE for example).
This really opens up my eyes to how little research politicians actually do on anything before discussing it! Kinda makes me scared about all the other things they make decisions on.
Stopping kids playing violent games i have no problem with. Personally I dont see need for ANY game to be violent, but that's another discussion. HOWEVER, I do have a problem with politicians jumping on bandwagons to improve their publicity without actually doing their research.
(*cough* hilary clinton *cough*)
This really opens up my eyes to how little research politicians actually do on anything before discussing it! Kinda makes me scared about all the other things they make decisions on.
Stopping kids playing violent games i have no problem with. Personally I dont see need for ANY game to be violent, but that's another discussion. HOWEVER, I do have a problem with politicians jumping on bandwagons to improve their publicity without actually doing their research.
(*cough* hilary clinton *cough*)
Spanky2090 19 Jan 2007 17:22
5/5
I have become really fed up with these government people dissing video games saying 'games are bad, mmmkay' it makes me want to cry. The amount of violent videos games that have "supposedly" affected people to be violent are very few. I love GTA but i can see why these people want to pick on it but it is obviously not meant for kids. Otherwise they wouldn't stick an 18 sticker on the thing.
So now they pick on CCE aswell because they randomly heard on the grapevine that it contains stuff about bullying. Yeah it does but not promoting bullying. You are technically the one getting bullied and also you help out other kids that are being bullied. It is actually quite realistic in terms of what happens at any "normal" school. Fights, accidents and general bullying occured everyday at my school (It was usually to me) but that is normal school life. If they are gonna ban this game they may as well ban kids from going to school.
So now they pick on CCE aswell because they randomly heard on the grapevine that it contains stuff about bullying. Yeah it does but not promoting bullying. You are technically the one getting bullied and also you help out other kids that are being bullied. It is actually quite realistic in terms of what happens at any "normal" school. Fights, accidents and general bullying occured everyday at my school (It was usually to me) but that is normal school life. If they are gonna ban this game they may as well ban kids from going to school.