Comments on: Game Censorship in Australia – The land of the Banned. http://gamerlimit.com/2009/03/game-censorship-in-australia-the-land-of-the-banned/ Gamer Limit Wed, 23 May 2012 02:53:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: zosha http://gamerlimit.com/2009/03/game-censorship-in-australia-the-land-of-the-banned/#comment-32898 zosha Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:22:38 +0000 http://gamerlimit.com/?p=9157#comment-32898 there was a country in Europe where if the country wanted to introduce a new law, it required anonymous decision of all the nobles. Unfortunately every time the country tried to pass a new law one of the nobels opposed it. That country has failed miserably and disappeared from the map for few hundred year. Learn from history Mr Atkinson! Also, it's ridiculous that anonymous decision is needed, majority should be enough! there was a country in Europe where if the country wanted to introduce a new law, it required anonymous decision of all the nobles. Unfortunately every time the country tried to pass a new law one of the nobels opposed it. That country has failed miserably and disappeared from the map for few hundred year. Learn from history Mr Atkinson! Also, it’s ridiculous that anonymous decision is needed, majority should be enough!

]]> By: random515 http://gamerlimit.com/2009/03/game-censorship-in-australia-the-land-of-the-banned/#comment-10173 random515 Tue, 05 May 2009 08:43:38 +0000 http://gamerlimit.com/?p=9157#comment-10173 We actually have nothing protecting free speech in Australia. We don't have a Bill of Rights. There are some rights that are set forth in the Australian constitution, namely the right to trial by jury, the right to just compensation, the right to freedom of religion and the right to freedom from discrimination against out-of-state residents, but no freedom of speech etc. Someone seriously needs to amend the constitution. We actually have nothing protecting free speech in Australia. We don’t have a Bill of Rights. There are some rights that are set forth in the Australian constitution, namely the right to trial by jury, the right to just compensation, the right to freedom of religion and the right to freedom from discrimination against out-of-state residents, but no freedom of speech etc. Someone seriously needs to amend the constitution.

]]> By: Name (Required) http://gamerlimit.com/2009/03/game-censorship-in-australia-the-land-of-the-banned/#comment-5486 Name (Required) Sun, 22 Mar 2009 07:54:09 +0000 http://gamerlimit.com/?p=9157#comment-5486 @zingrs: We don't have much in terms of free speech laws in Australia, so I find it difficult to believe that America's free speech laws could be 'worse'. I think there is much of a distinction "free speech", "censorship" and "control of information"; they are very much related. @zingrs:

We don’t have much in terms of free speech laws in Australia, so I find it difficult to believe that America’s free speech laws could be ‘worse’.

I think there is much of a distinction “free speech”, “censorship” and “control of information”; they are very much related.

]]> By: Jimmy P http://gamerlimit.com/2009/03/game-censorship-in-australia-the-land-of-the-banned/#comment-5463 Jimmy P Sun, 22 Mar 2009 01:55:52 +0000 http://gamerlimit.com/?p=9157#comment-5463 @ zingers Very good point mate. The control of information is something a lot of democratic governments - in the US, UK and Australia, need to start working on relaxing. Australia may have a draconian ratings system, but it doesn't have anywhere near as strict laws on things like drugs or alcohol. @ zingers

Very good point mate. The control of information is something a lot of democratic governments – in the US, UK and Australia, need to start working on relaxing. Australia may have a draconian ratings system, but it doesn’t have anywhere near as strict laws on things like drugs or alcohol.

]]> By: zingrs http://gamerlimit.com/2009/03/game-censorship-in-australia-the-land-of-the-banned/#comment-5459 zingrs Sun, 22 Mar 2009 01:26:03 +0000 http://gamerlimit.com/?p=9157#comment-5459 P.S Whirljack: It's less about 'free speech' and more about control of 'information'. I don't believe America's free speech laws are better than Australia's for a second. But that's a whole other topic. P.S Whirljack:

It’s less about ‘free speech’ and more about control of ‘information’. I don’t believe America’s free speech laws are better than Australia’s for a second. But that’s a whole other topic.

]]> By: zingers http://gamerlimit.com/2009/03/game-censorship-in-australia-the-land-of-the-banned/#comment-5457 zingers Sun, 22 Mar 2009 01:14:41 +0000 http://gamerlimit.com/?p=9157#comment-5457 Great article, guys. Living in Australia I'm continually amazed by the hypocracy and inconsistency of the OFLC's behaviour, especially when it comes to video games. The OFLC purports to being open and transparent in thier operations, which allows them, at least in a broader public sense, to downplay their power to control. Unfortunately for such a free spirited and open minded society, most Australians simply believe our classification system is there to 'protect' rather than 'control'. It's very much like America's FCC- try messing with them and see how far you get. Great article, guys. Living in Australia I’m continually amazed by the hypocracy and inconsistency of the OFLC’s behaviour, especially when it comes to video games. The OFLC purports to being open and transparent in thier operations, which allows them, at least in a broader public sense, to downplay their power to control. Unfortunately for such a free spirited and open minded society, most Australians simply believe our classification system is there to ‘protect’ rather than ‘control’. It’s very much like America’s FCC- try messing with them and see how far you get.

]]> By: Carlo http://gamerlimit.com/2009/03/game-censorship-in-australia-the-land-of-the-banned/#comment-5339 Carlo Fri, 20 Mar 2009 14:30:23 +0000 http://gamerlimit.com/?p=9157#comment-5339 Yeah, I get your point Jimmy. The whole censorship/free speech issue in Australia is interesting. We've never had a strong legacy of freedom of speech down here (there is nothing explicit about such a right in the Constitution) and the effects can be seen throughout Australian culture. Yeah, I get your point Jimmy.

The whole censorship/free speech issue in Australia is interesting. We’ve never had a strong legacy of freedom of speech down here (there is nothing explicit about such a right in the Constitution) and the effects can be seen throughout Australian culture.

]]> By: Jimmy P http://gamerlimit.com/2009/03/game-censorship-in-australia-the-land-of-the-banned/#comment-5316 Jimmy P Thu, 19 Mar 2009 23:02:34 +0000 http://gamerlimit.com/?p=9157#comment-5316 @ Carlo Physically no, but metaphorically yes. I heard that stores got to sell existing stock but couldn't replace it until the ratings situation was sorted. It didn't take very long. @ Carlo

Physically no, but metaphorically yes. I heard that stores got to sell existing stock but couldn’t replace it until the ratings situation was sorted. It didn’t take very long.

]]> By: Carlo http://gamerlimit.com/2009/03/game-censorship-in-australia-the-land-of-the-banned/#comment-5305 Carlo Thu, 19 Mar 2009 21:25:49 +0000 http://gamerlimit.com/?p=9157#comment-5305 Good article but I am pretty sure that the MMORPGs you listed were never actually pulled off shelves. Good article but I am pretty sure that the MMORPGs you listed were never actually pulled off shelves.

]]> By: Jimmy P http://gamerlimit.com/2009/03/game-censorship-in-australia-the-land-of-the-banned/#comment-5285 Jimmy P Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:19:34 +0000 http://gamerlimit.com/?p=9157#comment-5285 @ Whirljack No one stands for it, and believe me, we fight for a lot. One man is holding up the reform, and for nothing but his own pathetic agenda. Because the issue is based around a niche group with little to no power (gamers) it leaves us with little political support. They just tote out the "Think of the Children!" argument and suddenly logic flies right out the window. @ Whirljack

No one stands for it, and believe me, we fight for a lot.

One man is holding up the reform, and for nothing but his own pathetic agenda. Because the issue is based around a niche group with little to no power (gamers) it leaves us with little political support. They just tote out the “Think of the Children!” argument and suddenly logic flies right out the window.

]]> By: Whirljack http://gamerlimit.com/2009/03/game-censorship-in-australia-the-land-of-the-banned/#comment-5283 Whirljack Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:08:53 +0000 http://gamerlimit.com/?p=9157#comment-5283 Man, say what you will about the United States, but our free speech protections are second to none. Don't know why Australians and Europeans stand for this sort of crap... Man, say what you will about the United States, but our free speech protections are second to none. Don’t know why Australians and Europeans stand for this sort of crap…

]]> By: Guy http://gamerlimit.com/2009/03/game-censorship-in-australia-the-land-of-the-banned/#comment-5263 Guy Thu, 19 Mar 2009 07:56:24 +0000 http://gamerlimit.com/?p=9157#comment-5263 Germany has the strongest classification system in the world but we have 18+ titles. this is just awful but it is not really doing anything as there is always the possibility of importing games. I seen it in Germany with Gears of War - the game is indicated in germany still I was able to purchase it in a local game store without any problem - of cause as an 18+ title but still I managed to buy it. I think this will be the case here. Germany has the strongest classification system in the world but we have 18+ titles. this is just awful but it is not really doing anything as there is always the possibility of importing games. I seen it in Germany with Gears of War – the game is indicated in germany still I was able to purchase it in a local game store without any problem – of cause as an 18+ title but still I managed to buy it. I think this will be the case here.

]]>