Thank you First Amendment

[John Dibble]

It's things like this that make me glad for the first Amendment.

South Korea bans Ghost Recon 2

New Zealand bans Postal 2

Now, while I don't plan to play either of these games in the near future, it angers me when I see a video game banned because some government agency disapproves of it. People like this want to be Thought Police and keep people from thinking thoughts that might be dangerous to whatever the heck their agenda is. It's ridiculous. I'm glad the founders saw fit to have that whole Bill of Rights passed.

[Alcon]

Amen.

The government does not need to be the morality police. Just because 55% of the population considers something immoral does not mean it should be illegal. If something could be harming and is considered immoral by almost everyone (i.e. prostitution) then there is a decent argument, even if fundamentally I think the government should get out of personal matters.

[Angel of Death]

It's things like this that make me glad for the first Amendment.

Eh, the FCC anyone?

[John Dibble]

It's things like this that make me glad for the first Amendment.

Eh, the FCC anyone?

Hey, I hate the FCC, but they have limited powers, fortunately. Mainly they can only ban things on public airwaves.

[Lunar]

Before video games, boys pretended to shoot each other with sticks

[Gabu]

Before video games, boys pretended to shoot each other with sticks

You're right, we should ban trees.

[Silent Hunter]

I can understand both of these. I probably agree with the former, but not the latter.

[Confabulator]

You agree with the banning of ghost recon, but not postal 2?

[John Dibble]

You agree with the banning of ghost recon, but not postal 2?

I can somewhat more understand the logic behind banning ghost recon 2 in South Korea(note, the country is very important), though I still disapprove of the ban. The logic behind banning Postal 2 in New Zealand is just prudery - the government simply doesn't think it's acceptable so they don't want people to have it.

The South Korea ban on Ghost Recon 2 is different - the plot of the game involves a war with North Korea in the year 2007. As you may or may not know, South Korea and North Korea are still technically at war, so the topic of open war with North Korea is a touch subject and they feel that the plot of the game may incite a bit of unrest in the region. Still, as I said before, I do not like the ban - the issue is touchy, yes, but freedom requires allowing controversial subjects to be discussed openly.

[CARLHAYDEN]

I agree with you again John.

Too many countries believe that the natives of those countries are 'subjects', not 'citizens,' and need to be treated like children.

Banning is (alas) too widespread.

Contrast that with voluntary 'shunning.'

I am shunning Target for the vicious attack on the Salvation Army (the lefties who run Target really despise Christians), and will not buy anything made by Levi Strauss (they hate the Boy Scouts).

I not with pleasure that since Levi Strauss began its attacks on the BSA, its market share has declined, and it has had to cut back.

[Silent Hunter]

Does anyone here remember the Manhunt controversy in Britain?

I can see why it got banned by some retailers, but it was reportedly rubbish anyway.

I understand the banning of Ghost Recon 2 in that country. I wouldn't ban it in my own.

There's a nice Penny Arcade cartoon about game banning:

[John Dibble]

If privately owned retailers want to ban a game from their stores, that's their business - those that want the game can still attain it legally.

[The Man From G.O.P.]

Well thats all fine and dandy but you and your ideo games wouldn't be here without the 2nd amendment

[John Dibble]

Well thats all fine and dandy but you and your ideo games wouldn't be here without the 2nd amendment

Ah, the 2nd. The 1st is important, but the second is essential.

"The real beauty of the second amendment is that it is absolutely meaningless until they try to take it away."
            Thomas Jefferson

"A free people ought ... to be armed."
            George Washington

"To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of people always possess arms, and be taught alike especially when young, how to use them."
            Richard Henry Lee

"Are we at last brought to such humiliating and debasing degradation that we cannot be trusted with arms for our defense? Where is the difference between having our arms in possession and under our direction, and having them under the management of Congress? If our defense be the real object of having those arms, in whose hands can they be trusted with more propriety, or equal safety to us, as in our own hands?"
            Patrick Henry

"Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground. Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. Find out just what people will submit to, and you have found the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them; and these will continue until they are resisted with either words or blows, or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress. A despotic tyrannical system could not exist without the ignorance of the people, and all that is necessary for the triumph of evil is to have good men do nothing."
            Frederick Douglas

[CARLHAYDEN]

Thank you for your excellent post!

Must confess I am particularly partial to Patrick Henry.