January 17, 2008 -
Labour MP Keith Vaz, a frequent critic of violent video games, quizzed Prime Minister Gordon Brown on the issue in Parliament yesterday.While Vaz pushed for a meeting on the topic, the PM deferred to the upcoming, government-commissioned report of Dr. Tanya Byron.
The Prime Minister did, however, suggest that "changes in the law" might be necessary based on the outcome of the Byron study.
Here is the exchange between Vaz and Brown:
MP Keith Vaz:
On Monday, the Prime Minister said that he was very worried about the content of video and computer games. Some of those games, such as Manhunt 2, depict scenes of torture and murder using hammers, knives and guns. They seem to make a virtue of gratuitous and graphic violence.
Will he meet a delegation of Members, including the hon. Member for Canterbury (Mr. Brazier), who has a private Member's Bill on the subject, to see what further steps the industry can take to show better responsibility? Does my right hon. Friend, as a parent, agree that—
Prime Minister Gordon Brown:
My right hon. Friend is right, and this is an issue that concerns all parties in the House and every parent. It is right that we look again at the classification system for those games and at what is happening on the Internet in influencing young children.
That is why the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families has set up the Byron review, in which Dr. Tanya Byron is looking at these very issues. We want children to be able to enjoy the benefits of the internet and video games, without being influenced by the pornography or violence of them.
Dr. Byron will report in March 2008 and while it would be premature for me to say what she is likely to recommend, the classification system is one of the things that she is looking at. I hope that when we get the report we can have a debate in this House. I would be happy to meet my right hon. Friend's delegation and move forward whatever changes in the law are necessary.
Comments
wow.. that isnt predetermining the results atall mr vaz
dont you mean to see IF THE INDUSTRY needs to take better steps?
how about parents need to take better steps. it really isnt hard. advertise parental control features of ALL next gen consoles. Advertise the rating system, and advertise the fact that the average gamer is over 30! GAMES ARE NOT A 'KIDS THING'
ps. Vaz is an ill informed ignoramus anyway. i remember about 2 years ago he was reporting on the rating system he so despised, yet he was using the outdated rating system that hadnt been used for several years as his examples.
Perhaps Mr Vaz and Mr McCullough should be collected with the rest of societys ill informed parents and sent to a simple government funded parenting class where video game awareness is raised. i mean what itd take about 2 minutes to put the necessary points across?
Oh and all members of parlaiment could just cut back on limousine rides once a month and that itself would fund it.
that would be common sense!
Common sense is not allowed in politics, even more so in Britain! I am afraid we are just going to have to prove them right and become violent bloodthirsty killers, I mean, that is what we are being told to do by the evil videogames which have desencitized us to real world violence...
This is the reason why the gene pool needs cleaning, forcibly, idiots like those in parliament make me more of a self elitist anarchist by the day, soon I will be working alongside Maddox
"So Dr Byron, you state that violent videogames CAN have an effect on impressionable children?"
"Yes, which is why impressionable children are not able to buy them."
"But....parents claim that their kids are being manipulated!"
"Well parents shouldn't buy their kids these games. End of story."
It was like when he asked whether there would be a European hearing on Game Rating almost 6 months after there had actually been one. He only pays attention when he thinks he will get attention for it.
Maybe he should be campaigning for a law that means that people who commit financial crimes cannot be politicians? Of course, that would mean that most of the Houses of Parliament would be unemployed, himself included.
Vaz just really gets me mad tho, moreso than most, he seems to focus continually on games, and has done for years, like he is parlaiments leadin expert in the field.
It scary because with the misinformation he spreads, the other politicians tend to lap it up trusting the untrue, out of date , incorrect information he tells them
I think it was him who called out bully, as the game where all you do is go around and get points for being a bully. Which clearly isnt what the game is about, infact you succeed by avoiding trouble and you are fighting back AGAINST the bullies.
But not one person questioned it, they just all murmored in agreement that this 'sick' game should be banned.
What I personally read between the lines of what Brown's saying is "yeah yeah, ok Vaz, we all get that you want to save the kids, but until that report comes through there really is no point discussing it all here so can we move on to some more pressing issues."
Thats the name of the game. Politics. Yes he is saying they may need to "move forward (with) whatever changes in the law are necessary," but personally I think it is very unlikely.
...
Really?
...
Yeah, good luck with that.
Heres a hint Vaz - right now quite a bit of the UK is under water. I think parliament should be talking about that, not video games.
Why are MPs talking about games?
"Heres a hint Vaz - right now quite a bit of the UK is under water. I think parliament should be talking about that, not video games."
They will be Ian. It will be covered under Climate Change debates which will entail blaming us the public for the mess and resolved with more taxation placed upon us, and more civil liberties taken away, rather than actually tackling the problem.
If Vaz is to say that the BBFC classification is not working for video games, then he must be also saying that is not working for films at cinemas and DVD movies to buy. Last time I checked no one has been saying the BBFC has been getting anything wrong for film classification in over a decade.
Just remember my fellow Brits, if Vaz pushes his luck further, just remind him of the Filkin Inquiry that has stopped any chance he has becoming a front bencher. That will shut him up!
im honestly scared if even one line says ''violent videogames affect kids, but the rating system protects them adequately"
they will read it as
"violent video games affect kids....*SNIP*...."
im sure JT wouldnt hesitate to misquote
Vaz has even less of a leg to stand on than his fellow game-critics in the USA.
"We want children to be able to enjoy the benefits of the internet and video games, without being influenced by the pornography or violence of them."
While I'm sure many people will jump on the fact that he said "pornography" and "games" in the same sentence, he doesn't appear to be making that connection. He's saying there's a Big Scary Media out there and it's increasingly difficult to filter what your child can and can't see.
"Dr. Byron will report in March 2008 and while it would be premature for me to say what she is likely to recommend, the classification system is one of the things that she is looking at."
Spoken like a politician. The classification system already says that GTA can't be bought by kids so it's hard to imagine it getting more restrictive. Chances are she'll suggest the BBFC use more descriptive information, like the PEGI system.
Now the BBFC gives them better treatment than games.
I'm totally believe that adult content should not get into children's hands, and I am not, as can easily be seen in previous content a great fan of the Manhunt series either, but I'm hoping we can have a serious, sensible and adult debate on some of these issues that we are now seeing in the UK, and especially from Keith Vaz MP, who seems to be quite the loose with facts at times.
No, but the lead content in the UK's air pollution was poisoning their citizens and contributing to violent crime
For English Speaking:
I play www.netlandowner.com - does enybody have any experience in it?
I just randomly won $50 but already spent 20 bucks on in-game credits - should I ontinue playing or get my money now? (they transfer in E-gold and Webmoney)
many thanks in advance!
For Russian peakers:
Now i'm sure i'm not the only person who has become sick of seeing the BBC give out biast reports of video games(they always mention violent ones)
Frankly the media and politics should keep their nose out of the gaming industry and maybe tackle crime or climate change or the many other problems facing britain. I'm sad to say 80% of the public are stupid as hell.
And can't make a well informed decision but that is life and democracy.
Oh and anyone see how the bbc selectively chooses their comments to show on their website. Now that is censorship and biasm.
P.S Anyone see the BBC report on video games may make children smarter a couple of months ago. They showed Battlefield 2. You should see the shight graphics they gave it. Are their P.Cs Commodre 64's or something. or is it to make video games look foolish and unrealistic.
Hmmmm
http://www.number10.gov.uk/output/page821.asp
I just did and frankly to be heard we need everyone to. Show your support and send him an email of your thoughts on gaming issues. IT YOUR RIGHT TO!
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