Can they use the same logic to ban all churches of all denominations? I mean after all the violence statistics are about the same?

Maybe they should pass a law that states:

"Those who have kids should teach them right and wrong, and learn to control them. Out of control children will not be tolerated or compensated for. The rest of society shouldn't suffer for parents' inabilities."

Yeah, especially followers of Islam who regularly actually commit violence and are instructed to commit violence by the founder of their religion, Mohammed, instead of the virtual violence these people are so up tight about.

Let them ban it, it wouldbe really interesting to see if anything positive comes from it.But i doubt that, this is just a panic move done by the government in a feeble be attempt to show people that theyre doing something about it , and of course its backed be people who are even more uppity and frightened.Nothing good will come of it.But this will be a long forgotten memory the next time this happens,but by then they wont have violent video games to kick around,next it will be swearing in public, who knows how far the rabbit hole goes.Looking at symptoms and not the root problem...

lol they want to ban all 18+ material huh, funny thing is they allow nazi undead in wolfenstein into the country, very ironic. Columbine brought the same threats, goodluck on enforcing these laws.

first of all that comment about muslims was uncalled for. I myself am not muslim and still think that that comment was stupid and very prejudiced. Redraider is just as bad as these german politicians blaming a whole society for a few people's actions.

second of all. thats a stupid law in which the only outcome is a huge problem with game piracy. think america's prohibition laws back in the 1920's

My feeling is that the power they have to "ban" things in general is scary and unnecessary. There are plenty of laws to prevent killing. The thought police aren't going to stop anyone.

I'm amazed how many people don't know what freedom actually means, much less what totalitarianism truly is. This is another step towards totalitarianism.

You're an idiot.

The people who we call Muslim extremists are just like the 'christians' that bombed abortion clinics. They don't follow the tenants of the religion, and do it under an insane premise.

The problem is they are trying to prohibit what some constitute as free expression, all in the name of hysteria. Sad.

Homosexuality is a crime, punishable by law
The world is flat, all other stuff rotates around it
That's what happens when majority rules and freedom is put aside in the name of common good.
Well, I for once am for freedom and as freedom of one ends when the freedom of the other begins. So punishable is the action of killing, not the entertainment providers filling the need for entertainment of a minority in general (and probably a vast minority in Germany).
There is a line to be drawn, and I believe that line should be no weapons whatsoever in the hands of citizens whatsoever.
Smoking, drinking and sex are all 18+ materials.
Well, let's ban human biology since we are at that point. It shows what potential the human body has, and it's weaknesses too.
End of Rant

The fact that many of the kids who decide to shoot up a school plays videogames means nothing. Its a common hobby for countless amounts of people worldwide of course these kids are likely to play videogames. Its not like every player of violent games is some blood thirsty mass murderer.

Also I just can't stand how they act like violence hasn't existed before video games. I'm sure Genghis Khan, Hitler, Stalin, Nero, and countless other evil men in history are evidence enough that video games or any other type of modern entertainment aren't needed for violent acts to happen.

Also when it comes to school shootings notice that they totally ignore every reason on why the kid said he did such with the note or journal he left behind. Oh no its not because he was victimized by other students and the school did nothing after several attempts of alerting the school about it no its the violent video games fault. Or the fact the shooter likely had a mental problems that went ignored and untreated even though they were painfully obvious and both the parents and the school failed to even acknowledge. But of course no matter what happens its always the videogames fault.

Wow, intereseting that everyone is bashing the government. At least they are trying to do something to stop teen violence. We put ratings on games and then ignore them.

This is not about freedom, it is about the government setting social guidelines. It is no different then saying it is wrong to kill or steal. You may disagree with their guidelines, but this isn't a freedom issue. No one is guaranteed the right to play Counterstrike. That is silly.

The real problem is all the over 18 adults that let their kids play 18+ video games. There is a reason they have that rating, and it is because violent video games desensitize young people toward violence, which is never a good thing for a hormonally driven, easily offended teenager.

Maybe the kid became violent from going to school and taking a class on German History.

Both stealing and killing affect a non-consenting party. The fact of the matter is, everyone is consenting in this case. No one is being harmed against their will.

Setting social guidelines is exactly what totalitarianism does. They tell you what is, and isn't social acceptable, then make it a punishable offense. The government shouldn't tell me what I can and cannot do socially.



If you believe that, you really don't know what freedom is.

They don't believe I should have the freedom to buy specific products. No matter what the reason, they are still taking away my freedoms by banning them.

I read that Germany has one of the oldest populations in the world. Not many kids or teens live in that country because many of the current citizens don't want children. So, what would you expect from a country that has an elderly average age.

If only they banned video games 70 years earlier, there would not have been a holocaust.

Way to go Germany.

Sorry for the DP, something happened and it posted prematurely.

Funny, and here I thought the ratings where so parents could make a more informed decision about what products they believe are appropriate for their children.

If they wanted to keep these games away from people under the age of 18, make it a law that people under 18 cannot play games certified as such. But banning says they don't believe anyone can handle it.



Considering I'm still a teenager (technically speaking), I would disagree. I find little interest in acting out the violent actions in see in games. As a previous poster mentioned, there are many more violent things that these same teenagers would be learning in school, especially in Germany.

There is violence in the world. Violent things happen all the time, are you saying that the News doesn't desensitize us from violence? I mean, thousands of people die in violent manners everyday, but it get's compressed into it's little 30 second chunk to fit right next to the sports scores.

Continuing to play CS in the year 2009 will make anyone violent.

fuck you germany, stop setting stupid precedents.

Remember that what is rated 18+ in Germany is probably rated 15+ everywhere else. They run a very strict ratings system.[citation]
nom]69camaroSS[/nom]There is a reason they have that rating, and it is because violent video games desensitize young people toward violence, which is never a good thing for a hormonally driven, easily offended teenager.[/citation]
Just like the Muslim comments, this is just another stereotypical response. It is very true that a portion of teenagers are hormonally-driven, irrational morons, but not all of them are. I for one think that there are many easily "offended" middle-aged people around as well. Just look at the incidences of road rage over completely insignificant issues like wasting a whole 5 seconds of your life behind another car.

I for one play many shooters, in fact I play shooters almost exclusively. I can't stand real violence. Reichart put it quite well, except it is impulsive hysteria.

(Fixed up the quoting, really need an edit function though)

Remember that what is rated 18+ in Germany is probably rated 15+ everywhere else. They run a very strict ratings system.[citation]
[nom]69camaroSS[/nom]There is a reason they have that rating, and it is because violent video games desensitize young people toward violence, which is never a good thing for a hormonally driven, easily offended teenager.[/citation]
Just like the Muslim comments, this is just another stereotypical response. It is very true that a portion of teenagers are hormonally-driven, irrational morons, but not all of them are. I for one think that there are many easily "offended" middle-aged people around as well. Just look at the incidences of road rage over completely insignificant issues like wasting a whole 5 seconds of your life behind another car.

I for one play many shooters, in fact I play shooters almost exclusively. I can't stand real violence. Reichart put it quite well, except it is impulsive hysteria.

Gah I hate this comment system, it just never works right. Edit function so we can at least keep trying till we get lucky, please!

Technically, so were the comments about the churches. How do you see that comment as stupid and prejudice, but not the one about churches? Or do you?

That was a single comment, whereas as soon as Muslims are mentioned you get a whole stream of posts about it. But it is just as predjudiced nonetheless.

There is a difference between dislike, and ignorant hate. The comment about churches didn't display any ignorant hate (although the poster may have some, he didn't show it), but the comment about Muslims did. It was just a bunch of stereotypical bull.

"Borders on"? It IS impulsive hysteria.

There's another perspective of the problem.

Personally, I don't thinks that's the violence itself is the origin of the problem, but the very artificial fact that it is view on the only perspective of the perpetrator, and not of the waste which result of it.

Secondly, raw pultions management is the real pleasure origin and usefulness in those games. If those pultions are not managed (and actual teens are full of it), they become raw stress which is also destructive. So is it clever to put a ban on the others non destructive raw pultion management tools [like sex] as they do?

There's another perspective of the problem.

Personally, I don't thinks that's the violence itself is the origin of the problem, but the very artificial fact that it is view on the only perspective of the perpetrator, and not of the waste which result of it.

Secondly, raw pultions management is the real pleasure origin and usefulness in those games. If those pultions are not managed (and actual teens are full of it), they become raw stress which is also destructive. So is it clever to put a ban on the others non destructive raw pultion management tools [like sex] as they do?

Germany has been crazy like this since WWII with the ending of the NAZI's. The government has had total control and do what ever they want at any given time. If you apply the freedom of the United States to the recipe. This is a complete control of freedom of speech and expression. If you side with the government you are probably a communist and would love to live in a padded room and treated like a dog. I for one enjoy my freedom and am willing to kill and die for it.

How about speeding? I guess we should be able to drive as fast as we want whenever we want. Again, silly. That would create negative consequences for everyone, just like exposing our minds to violence constantly.

Elected governments are given the right to make these decisions for their people. That is why they are there, to defend basic freedoms by limiting silly ones. There is no such thing as total freedom until you die. There is always a trade-off, a submission to law or rule. If not an elected government, then one run by fear or might or maybe even guilt.

So, instead of attacking their right to choose which was given to them by their people, why don't you actually discuss the issue and realize you simply disagree with their view on proper limits. Don't make them into evil dictating enemies. Show some evidence that violent video games don't have negative consequences. Prove them wrong. Don't just try to silence those you disagree with by calling them names and shouting at them.

Speeding increases the likelihood of harming a non-consenting party.

I have a feeling I'm going to be repeating myself quite a bit.



You mean like how the News does everyday? Or reviewing history? Or better yet, living life? Every few days I see a dead animal on the road, or the side of the road.



"Those who would give up Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither" -Benjamin Franklin



If you'd like to simplify it to that.

It's wrong to censor expression. Do you think we should censor other famous art because of it's contents? It's one thing to say what's appropriate for certain ages, but to ban it is insane.



When you make a claim, it's not my responsibility to prove you wrong, it's your responsibility to prove yourself right.

I'd love to hear about some studies that prove that violent video games cause a violent reaction from user more than any other form of media.