Worried About Game Addiction, Thailand Considers Youth Curfew for Cyber-cafes
Worried About Game Addiction, Thailand Considers Youth Curfew for Cyber-cafes
July 22, 2009
Concerned about game addiction among the young, Culture Ministry officials in Thailand have proposed a revised curfew for online game shops.
The Bangkok Post reports that, under the new guidelines, youth under 15 could only remain in gaming establishments until 8pm. Those from 15-18 could stay until 10pm. Shops which allow minors to remain past the curfew could have their operating license suspended or revoked.
Some, however, believe that even more stringent measures are needed. Anya-orn Panitpuengrat, who heads Thailand's Family Network, called for a three-hour time limit on gaming for children.
The Thai cabinet will consider the proposed curfew change next week.
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Posted 11/21/09 at 09:21am
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Posted 11/21/09 at 08:16am
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ZippyDSMlee: Welcome and goodmorning its zippy in the AM....wat OMG its 8:50AM!!!!
Posted 11/20/09 at 05:42pm
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ZippyDSMlee: oh may the cute stab out your eyes, http://www.youtube.com/user/simonscat
Posted 11/20/09 at 05:17pm
JDKJ: O.K. Suit yourself. But when you're wearing Ray-Bans, sitting on a curb with a white cane and a cup of pencils, and doing Stevie Wonder impersonations, don't say I didn't warn you.
JDKJ: O.K. Suit yourself. But when you're wearing Ray-Bans, sitting on a curb with a white cane and a cup of pencils, and doing Stevie Wonder impersonations, don't say I didn't warn you.
Posted 11/20/09 at 05:10pm
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ZippyDSMlee: JD:No thank you I don;t want your cooties...or STDs...
Posted 11/20/09 at 05:01pm
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JDKJ: Me. I'm rehearsing the role just in case I do get dubbed Zippy The Soecnda.
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:59pm
DarkSaber: Wait, is that meant to be Zippy, me or you?
DarkSaber: Wait, is that meant to be Zippy, me or you?
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:49pm
JDKJ: I cud caer lez. =^^= *wakes up in mid-afternoon after staying up until 3:00AM soldering resistors on to circuit boards, stumbles around in formerly white but now grey underwear, while simultaneously scratching groin with vigor and making coffee*
JDKJ: I cud caer lez. =^^= *wakes up in mid-afternoon after staying up until 3:00AM soldering resistors on to circuit boards, stumbles around in formerly white but now grey underwear, while simultaneously scratching groin with vigor and making coffee*
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:46pm
DarkSaber: knell? Don't you mean Neil? Anymore of tht and I'll dub thee Zippy The Soecnda
DarkSaber: knell? Don't you mean Neil? Anymore of tht and I'll dub thee Zippy The Soecnda
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:44pm
JDKJ: Now, now, Saber. Don't be salty. You weren't the first one to knell and bob and you ain't gonna be the last one, either.
JDKJ: Now, now, Saber. Don't be salty. You weren't the first one to knell and bob and you ain't gonna be the last one, either.
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:42pm
DarkSaber: JD's feeling rather desperate it seems.
DarkSaber: JD's feeling rather desperate it seems.
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Posted 11/20/09 at 04:27pm
ZippyDSMlee: JD:No and I ain't touching any part of you or your friends!! :P
ZippyDSMlee: JD:No and I ain't touching any part of you or your friends!! :P
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:25pm
JDKJ: @Zip: You know Lik Mitaint?
JDKJ: @Zip: You know Lik Mitaint?
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ZippyDSMlee: neill and bob,oldest giveing head joke and most lamest...
Posted 11/20/09 at 04:18pm
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Posted 11/20/09 at 04:18pm
ZippyDSMlee: JD:for the record I told you you can suck your own dck.
ZippyDSMlee: JD:for the record I told you you can suck your own dck.
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JDKJ: Naw, man. That's Mueedeegiaap and Bob. And you can stop bobbing. I got Zippy bobbing now, too.
Posted 11/20/09 at 03:56pm
DarkSaber: OH I get it now! It's Men In Black quote! The twins that run the comm centre in HQ.
DarkSaber: OH I get it now! It's Men In Black quote! The twins that run the comm centre in HQ.
Posted 11/20/09 at 03:49pm
JDKJ: I'd like to introduce you to them. First, Neil. Then, Bob.
JDKJ: I'd like to introduce you to them. First, Neil. Then, Bob.
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Comments
I can see where a governement might consider a curfew for minors, but that should apply to everywhere. Singling out one place would just make the teens retreat to other locations, many of which are unsafe, after 8 PM.
Yeah, especially with all those teens there! Ba-dum-pish!
The suggestion that children only play video games no more than 3 hours a day isn't a bad idea, but only as a SUGGESTION. Making it a law is oppressive. As for the curfew, I see nothing wrong with curfews for chiildren, except if you're going to do it, it should be universal, not directed at a single activity.
Neither of these ideas in and of themselves are too problematic. I agree that a curfew should apply generally not merely to arcades. Apply it to movie theaters, clubs, etc as well.
The 3 hour limit is certainly a good idea, I know I usually take a break every hour and a half or so. 3 hours straight is a long time to stare at a computer screen. Even at work I usually take a quick like 2 minute respite from staring at my screen every hour or 90 minutes and just take a quick walk around the office.
I wouldn't have a massive problem with making it a law as a health and safety regulation. But it should be civil penalties (fines, loss of license etc.) only, it certainly shouldn't be a CRIMINAL violation.
Applying the curfew to too many activities is very problematic. Why is drug abuse in teenagers so high in (some) middle class areas? Because the areas are boring with no social activities (outside school and sports) such as community centers, cyber cafes, arcades, movie theatres (not restricted, but you cant go every night), etc. So what to do with yourself? Hang out in someones basement and smoke pot.
I like the limit much better. It's regulation and moderation that wins the day, not oppressive curfews.
A 8pm cutfew is fine, but only 3 hours of gaming seems overkill. That shoulde be enforce by parents not by goverment.
http://www.magicinkgaming.com/
Well it could be understandably difficult to enforce a 3 hour curfew by parents when their kids are at gaming establishments.
If you transpose this situation to the United States, 16 year olds can easily go to a bowling alley, arcade, movie theater etc. by themselves without the parents being present.
It could be difficult even for the establishment but I think its ok to create a 3 hours on 30 minutes off rule mandating some kind of 30 minute break every 3 hours. Go get some food or something.
It would be easier to do with modern places where you use a card instead of coins to play the machines, just timestamp each swipe and you can track how long an individual card has been active and refuse to allow the transaction to go through for 30 minutes every 3 hours.
3 hour time limit? How oppressive! You don't need to take a break that often! :P
Oh wait, I'm not a minor, I can handle it and such things wouldn't apply to me anyway *cackles evilly*
Two things:
This is a good idea in general, but shouldn't be done under the guise of "gaming addiction."
You know people (see whiny bitch teenagers) are going to complain about being limited to three hours. I'd only get to play for one hour AFTER homework was done AND chores finished.
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Freedom of speech means the freedom to say ANYTHING, so long as it is the truth. This does not exclude anything that might hurt someone's feelings.
Whnile I don't have a problem with the idea of this, making it mandatory and punishable by law is overkill.
Suggest it, fine it, make places establish new rules and put up signs, but jail time for gaming a little too long is ridiculous.