Atkinson nearly causes a black hole of irony (Aussie Gaming Issues)

SOLE Australian AG responsible for the refusal of an adult (18+) classification for games in Australia speaks.

I was just... Astounded when the words came out of his mouth.

EDIT: The Australian Government may be looking to override this guy. Check out the discussion paper and submit your arguments, Aussie GWJers!

Choice quotes:

This is a question of a small number of very zealous gamers trying to impose their will on society. And I think harm society. It’s the public interest versus the small vested interest.

Weird. Imposition of will now occurring over Xbox Live, apparently. Used to be you needed real men with guns to do that. Progress!

I accept that 98%, 99% of gamers will tell the difference between fantasy and reality, but the 1% to 2% could go on to be motivated by these games to commit horrible acts of violence.

You don’t need to be playing a game in which you impale, decapitate and dismember people.

First line unsupported, second line so what?

If your delicate Aussie brains finally crack under the strain of virtual death and destruction, have this guy's address in your pocket.

The comments to the article pretty much summed up every crack/joke/criticism I could've made. The Frank Zappa quote was my favorite:

"Yes, my music could cause someone to go on a killing spree, but then, so could the colour of my tie, or my moustache", the whole thing about crazy people is that they are crazy..."

So has poverty ended and all children are now vaccinated in Australia?

KingGorilla wrote:

So has poverty ended and all children are now vaccinated in Australia?

Is that your metric for determining what issues deserve to be addressed?

NSMike wrote:
KingGorilla wrote:

So has poverty ended and all children are now vaccinated in Australia?

Is that your metric for determining what issues deserve to be addressed?

I think he was saying that the politician should be focusing on those things, and not on keeping an 18+ rating out of the gaming system. Or maybe I misread?

Rallick wrote:
NSMike wrote:
KingGorilla wrote:

So has poverty ended and all children are now vaccinated in Australia?

Is that your metric for determining what issues deserve to be addressed?

I think he was saying that the politician should be focusing on those things, and not on keeping an 18+ rating out of the gaming system. Or maybe I misread?

I was wondering which way it was going, too, actually. Since I like to stir the pot, however, I figured I'd just make an assumption and run with it. This is P&C, after all.

Of course Atkinson isn't aware of the irony. His opinion is right, after all. He has a business suit and everything!

NSMike in a proper country, like America, we f*ck up the important things before we move on to minor things like video games. Bush and Congress ruined the world economy, international travel, started an illegal war, and set US education back a good 5 years before they started ruining marriage and having hearings about why Barry Bonds hits homeruns. California had their disastrous energy policy before Leland Yee started his campaign against games and Klingons.

KingGorilla wrote:

NSMike in a proper country, like America, we f*ck up the important things before we move on to minor things like video games. Bush and Congress ruined the world economy, international travel, started an illegal war, and set US education back a good 5 years before they started ruining marriage and having hearings about why Barry Bonds hits homeruns. California had their disastrous energy policy before Leland Yee started his campaign against games and Klingons.

So what you are saying is that America is too big to fail? Suck that Europe, give us your money!

Aussies pride themselves on being tough, yet apparently they're letting one man tell the entire country they're a bunch of pansies?

What a joke.

So what you are saying is that America is too big to fail?

One of my deep fears is that we'll manage to convince the world of exactly that, and drag them with us into collapse.

Staats wrote:

If your delicate Aussie brains finally crack under the strain of virtual death and destruction, have this guy's address in your pocket.

Will Do

KingGorilla wrote:

So has poverty ended and all children are now vaccinated in Australia?

Minimum wage is about $13 an hour and yes we're all vaccinated for free

Lard wrote:

Aussies pride themselves on being tough, yet apparently they're letting one man tell the entire country they're a bunch of pansies?

What a joke.

We're tough enough that we don't care what idiots think.

No Worries mate

Prozac wrote:
KingGorilla wrote:

So has poverty ended and all children are now vaccinated in Australia?

Minimum wage is about $13 an hour and yes we're all vaccinated for free ;)

Wow. If it weren't for the fact that every living creature in your country can apparently kill me by simply brushing up against me, I'd move there.

Prozac wrote:

[

KingGorilla wrote:

So has poverty ended and all children are now vaccinated in Australia?

Minimum wage is about $13 an hour and yes we're all vaccinated for free

To be accurate, its only the children who aren't eaten by dingos that get vaccinated.

Kehama wrote:
Prozac wrote:
KingGorilla wrote:

So has poverty ended and all children are now vaccinated in Australia?

Minimum wage is about $13 an hour and yes we're all vaccinated for free ;)

Wow. If it weren't for the fact that every living creature in your country can apparently kill me by simply brushing up against me, I'd move there.

That and the crazy high tariffs. I guess they have to pay for all those "free" vaccinations somehow, and the minimum wage will allow you to pay all the overpriced stuff. None of that pesky responsibility and it sort of comes out even!

Prozac wrote:
Lard wrote:

Aussies pride themselves on being tough, yet apparently they're letting one man tell the entire country they're a bunch of pansies?

What a joke.

We're tough enough that we don't care what idiots think.

No Worries mate ;)

The problem is, he's getting to decide whether you are pansies or not, whether you disagree or not.

Well, the plot thickens. The government is asking for public input on the issue.

Discussion paper and submission forms are available here, for our Aussie members.

Interesting. Can some of the Aussies answer if any submissions from foreigners would help or hinder your cause or would it be worth it?

As much as I'd like to make a snarky quip there's no way I can top "Achieving a Just and Secure Society."

Axon wrote:

Interesting. Can some of the Aussies answer if any submissions from foreigners would help or hinder your cause or would it be worth it?

Seconded. If I can help our Aussie brothers and sisters with virtual dismembering, killing, maiming and pillaging in any way please let us know!

Axon wrote:

Interesting. Can some of the Aussies answer if any submissions from foreigners would help or hinder your cause or would it be worth it?

Looking at the submission template PDF, it looks like foreign submissions are at least accepted, as there is a "Country" field there.

True but outside interference can backfire depending on where it comes from or the terms its couched in. Not that I foresee a problem here but better be safe than sorry.

God, don't get me started on this dickhead.

This guy is so pathetic.... GRRRRR!

Lard wrote:
Prozac wrote:
Lard wrote:

Aussies pride themselves on being tough, yet apparently they're letting one man tell the entire country they're a bunch of pansies?

What a joke.

We're tough enough that we don't care what idiots think.

No Worries mate ;)

The problem is, he's getting to decide whether you are pansies or not, whether you disagree or not.

Such is a democracy.

You have to realise that 95%+ of gamers wouldn't even realise games were being refused classification, or care.

But to those 5%, it's possibly the most frustrating thing in the world.

Democracy does have its downsides occasionally

Sorry to do this AP... but we're not actually a Democracy we're a Commonwealth, which is why Atkinson is in place at all

The Attorney-General of Australia is the first law officer of the Crown, chief law officer of the Commonwealth of Australia and a minister of the Crown. The Attorney-General is usually a member of the Federal Cabinet, but there is no constitutional requirement that this be the case. Under the Constitution he or she is appointed by the Governor-General on the advice of the Prime Minister, and serves at the Governor-General's pleasure.

And of course, Atkinson is SA's Attorney General, Redwing is in SA, maybe we can send him in on a suicide mission he can claim violent video games made him do it

Prozac wrote:

Sorry to do this AP... but we're not actually a Democracy we're a Commonwealth, which is why Atkinson is in place at all

The Attorney-General of Australia is the first law officer of the Crown, chief law officer of the Commonwealth of Australia and a minister of the Crown. The Attorney-General is usually a member of the Federal Cabinet, but there is no constitutional requirement that this be the case. Under the Constitution he or she is appointed by the Governor-General on the advice of the Prime Minister, and serves at the Governor-General's pleasure.

And of course, Atkinson is SA's Attorney General, Redwing is in SA, maybe we can send him in on a suicide mission he can claim violent video games made him do it :D

You've got a thing for sending goodjers to their deaths, don't you?

Prozac wrote:

Sorry to do this AP... but we're not actually a Democracy we're a Commonwealth, which is why Atkinson is in place at all

Bleh! Damn you and your knowledge.

Prozac wrote:

And of course, Atkinson is SA's Attorney General, Redwing is in SA, maybe we can send him in on a suicide mission he can claim violent video games made him do it :D

AHA! So we now know who's fault it is!!!!!!

Die Redwing, or kill him as a tradeoff

Axon wrote:

True but outside interference can backfire depending on where it comes from or the terms its couched in. Not that I foresee a problem here but better be safe than sorry.

So how about we all submit stuff from Iran or some other bastion of democracy, claiming how much we love and admire the current way that Australia deals with it?

Reverse psychology FTW!

Jonman, I love that Idea

Jonman wrote:
Axon wrote:

True but outside interference can backfire depending on where it comes from or the terms its couched in. Not that I foresee a problem here but better be safe than sorry.

So how about we all submit stuff from Iran or some other bastion of democracy, claiming how much we love and admire the current way that Australia deals with it?

Reverse psychology FTW!

Maybe say you're from Uganda.