We first mentioned last August that the Venezuelan legislature was looking into banning violent video games and toys as a way to combat high crime rates. The measure was eventually passed last month in a move backed by some parents while decried by others.Now comes word that Brazil is looking into banning “offensive” video games. The bill introduced by Senator Valdir Raupp would “curb the manufacture, distribution, importation…(of) video games that affect the customs, traditions of the people, their worship, creeds, religions and symbols” and would carry a punishment of one to three years in prison.
On the heels of a Human Rights Watch report blasting Brazilian police for widespread abuse, Raupp’s measure appears to be superficial to combat the problem of increased violence appears to be superficial. Indeed, this was what one tech commentator said as quoted by Foreign Policy’s Passport blog:
CNET's Dave Rosenberg has lambasted Brazil's move, suggesting they deal with "larger social issues, including lack of parental oversight," instead. They praise the US system of industry self-regulation, which relies on ratings to isolate children from violent games.What do you think? Would a video game ban work in Brazil and/or Venezuela or is it like placing a bandage on a flesh wound?
Image- The Telegraph (Still taken from the “Manhunt 2” video game)
Online Sources- The Latin Americanist, Foreign Policy Passport, MSNBC, boingboing.net, gamespolitics.com, CNET, Miami Herald
3 comments:
From Clermont - All violent videos should be banned everywhere. They are just as offensive as child pornography and sexual assault (rape) imagery. We humans need to wake up and start being a LOT more cogniscent of the effect of undesirable behaviour being presented in images. Why do you think that Coca Cola and McDonald's spend hundreds of million os US$ on advertising - it brainwashes people to constantly think of their brands and to make them feel emotionally comfortable with it. We call ourselves civilised, but we are still barbarians.
I don't like those games at all but I am wondering if there are not other priorities. I doubt most kids killing people around in Venezuela had video games at home. They do have TV. Venezuela's TV channels are among the worst I have seen in the world, the opposite to German ZDF and ARD. The high rates of crime in Venezuela have more to do with an ever increasing social injustice, no accountability, policemen who are miserably payed (just now Hugo announced an increase of over 260%...but: he has been governing for 10 years in the middle of the biggest oil boom in many decades).
I think some of very curial and adult game should be ban other game not to be ban it is really a very nice and fantastic game I am very excited about this one.Thank you for this post it has very useful information.
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