Openly gay New Zealand Chief Censor Bill Hastings is the recipient of personal attacks from a radio host for allowing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 into the country.
Radio Live host Michael Laws (pictured left), who is also Mayor of Wanganui, bashed Hastings on a recent radio show reports GayNZ.com. Laws made sure to mention the censor’s sexual preference, stating, “I know the gay guy we've got at the moment who is the Chief Censor Bill Hastings is a liberal sort of guy.”
He continued, “I don't care if he lets gay sex through because, well, that's what he enjoys watching in a darkened room somewhere and thinks everybody else of his ilk should be able to do so as well.”
Just last month, Laws made headlines for proposing that New Zealand’s poor be offered money in return for undergoing sterilization.
Hastings has been New Zealand’s Chief Censor since 1999.
Update: Laws' entire show is available online (thanks Andrew). Even worse than his attacks on Hastings, comes this bit on gamers:
…it’s a graphic and violent came called Call of Duty: Modern Wafare 2 and it was released in stores on Tuesday, a couple of days ago, and it’s proved extraordinarily popular with gamers, a very unusual group of people, and just the kind of people, if mass murder was ever to be committed in this country, it would be committed by a gamer.
Comments
Re: Gay NZ Censor Draws Criticism From Right Over MW2
This is hilarious:
“I don't care if he lets gay sex through because, well, that's what he enjoys watching in a darkened room somewhere and thinks everybody else of his ilk should be able to do so as well.”
So what if a gamer enjoys playing violent games in a darkened room somewhere, and thinks all the other gamers should be able to do that, too? Why doesn't he mind gay sex, but does mind violent games?
Re: Gay NZ Censor Draws Criticism From Right Over MW2
I'm catholic, and nothing ticks me off more than people claiming to be christian and then say that both they and God hates gays. My faith may not believe in gay marriage but our stance against hate is even stronger. If me or any true catholic had to choose between stopping gay marriage or stopping hatred, violence, or descrimination against gays, we would choose to stop the intolerence. It's people like Jack Thompson and others that hide behind religion that make me upset. I hope people see past. Others like Michael Laws hide behind a wall of false integrity.
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." -Albert Einstein
Re: Gay NZ Censor Draws Criticism From Right Over MW2
Actually, the Church's stance against homosexuality remains that its a sin.
As a Catholic, that's not my stance, but it IS the church's stance. Hell, that's not even my priest's stance.
Re: Gay NZ Censor Draws Criticism From Right Over MW2
Well that's not entirely true, in the case of Roman Catholics only homosexual acts are a sin; as are any sex acts that cannot possibly result in a child. The basics of attraction to the same sex is not a sin unless acted upon. Much like thinking about murder is not the same as committing it.
Anyways, it ties into their beliefs about no sex till marriage, and that the only reason to marry is to propogate and provide for your progeny, thus insuring a family line. All their beliefs about abortion, sex, and homosexuality stem from this idea.
Re: Gay NZ Censor Draws Criticism From Right Over MW2
Sorry If I wasn't clear. I meant that homsexuality is a sin to our faith. Still, we may find it a sin, but to hate is considered worse. I see homosexuality as a sin, but I still have gay and bisexual friends.
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." -Albert Einstein
Re: Gay NZ Censor Draws Criticism From Right Over MW2
The attacks on our favorite hobby seem to be getting more insane with each passing day.
Re: Gay NZ Censor Draws Criticism From Right Over MW2
So this person who complains about a game then bashes gamers as being "If they is anyone who will commit a murder, it is those gamers who are most likely to do so."
Then they go on a Gay bashing against the politician.
I feel lucky for New Zealand that has got an R18+ rating for such games, even though they are being re-rated from the Australian versions...
But still, as much as there are people who go on Gamer-bashings, there are also allot more people who go on Gay-bashings.
Mostly they do this based on opinion and emotionally driven by hate against something they don't like.
And even though they try to justify it with religion, I personally think that religion has got nothing to do with discriminating gays and demonising gamers.
It is people who use religion to justify their hate for gays and gamers that are the problem.
Re: Gay NZ Censor Draws Criticism From Right Over MW2
Why is this being reported on here?
Re: Gay NZ Censor Draws Criticism From Right Over MW2
Because a politician is being bashed over the allowed release of a controversial video game.
Andrew Eisen
Re: Gay NZ Censor Draws Criticism From Right Over MW2
This guy sounds like a certain disbarred lawyer.
Re: Gay NZ Censor Draws Criticism From Right Over MW2
Ironic following the apology on Monday for the mass kidnapping and abuse of British children that took place with the consent of both the British and Australian governments...
So, apparently, if mass child abuse was ever commited in that country, it would be commited by a Politician.
Hey, I can generalise too!
Re: Gay NZ Censor Draws Criticism From Right Over MW2
"if mass murder was ever to be committed in this country, it would be committed by a gamer."
A vegan killed millions, and nearly successfully committed genocide (fact!), does that make vegans evil? We must ban vegetables!
Sorry for following Godwinds law, but statements like that annoy the hell out of me.
Re: Gay NZ Censor Draws Criticism From Right Over MW2
Tell you what, next time an Ininity Ward developer farts, you go ahead and post about it.
Re: Gay NZ Censor Draws Criticism From Right Over MW2
"if mass murder was ever to be committed in this country, it would be committed by a gamer."
That asshole's lucky Jack the Ripper never went to New Zealand.
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Debates are like merry go rounds. Two people take their positions then they go through the same points over and over and over again. Then when it's over they have the same positions they started in.
Re: Gay NZ Censor Draws Criticism From Right Over MW2
I think most of the country considers Laws a crackpot. He used to be a fairly ineffective member of parliament in years gone by and now as mayor of a small town just causes the occasional controversy to keep his name in the news. He has about as much chance of getting the game banned as he does of growing wings and flying to the moon. This outburst only only continues his long tradition of shooting himself in the foot.
Re: Gay NZ Censor Draws Criticism From Right Over MW2
Once a game is banned in New Zealand is banned for good illegal to import, sell, own, anything. Caught with it and face a huge fine and get you ass thrown in prison for years.
Re: Gay NZ Censor Draws Criticism From Right Over MW2
" if mass murder was ever to be committed in this country, it would be committed by a gamer."
umm proof or it didn't happen, so far 99% of anything thats happened to even be picked up by a news site was of someone who maybe played one or two games at best, a "gamer" they are not.
Re: Gay NZ Censor Draws Criticism From Right Over MW2
I would say it is far more likely that a mass murderer would be a practicioner of one of the Abrahamic faiths. But you know, it is easier to people to classify something viewed as the threat if it is seen as part of minority group of people instead of the majority.
Note - Comment was not made as a slur against any kind of religious faith but was done to show the idiocy of making broad statements to try and point out what makes people crazy.
Re: Gay NZ Censor Draws Criticism From Right Over MW2
OMG! I do NOT want to know someone's sex life & preference! MORE OF THE GAME!
"It's better to be hated for who you are, then be loved for who you are not." - Montgomery Gentry
Re: Gay NZ Censor Draws Criticism From Right Over MW2
There IS nothing about the game, baring it's name being dropped in the first sentence.
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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
Re: Gay NZ Censor Draws Criticism From Right Over MW2
Not in the sourced article but be patient, details on Laws MW2 comments are on the way.
Andrew Eisen
Re: Gay NZ Censor Draws Criticism From Right Over MW2
You mean there's still someone working for this site who actually does some investigation! ;-)
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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
Re: Gay NZ Censor Draws Criticism From Right Over MW2
Bring down the pitchforks, people, as valdearg noted, the link is incorrect.
Re: Gay NZ Censor Draws Criticism From Right Over MW2
The article still has nothing to do with video games.
Re: Gay NZ Censor Draws Criticism From Right Over MW2
I agree. The article writer mentions the game once in the first sentence, then goes on to quote loads of gay-bashing that has nothing to do with any games.
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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
Re: Gay NZ Censor Draws Criticism From Right Over MW2
Laws took issue with Hastings' decision to allow violent videogame Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 to be released in New Zealand.
If the source is to be believed, the attack was provoked by allowing the game in, seems pretty relavent to me.
but hey, i'm an easy going guy, I read something on a blog, and move on with my life, regardless of whether it's connected or not. Stuff on kotaku like the night notes with no relavence whatsoever (most of the time) is some of the most entertaining stuff.
This article makes me aware of yet another idiot, and i feel the more equipped for it should i ever go to australia.
or at the very least it kept boredom away for another minute or two.
To GP: keep on posting whatever the hell you want dude, i enjoy it.
Re: Gay NZ Censor Draws Criticism From Right Over MW2
New Zealand and Australia are two very different places. Jesus Christ, get a globe.
I doubt very much that the attack wouldn't have occurred had it not been for the game. If the article is to be believed, he's come under fire simply for his sexual orientation, and MW2 was simply an excuse. This reporting is lazy and dishonest.
It's sad to watch what was once a good source of news concerning our shared hobby become an outlet for ECA propaganda that completely ignores and dodges real issues.
Re: Gay NZ Censor Draws Criticism From Right Over MW2
New Zealand? oops my mistake.
Probably shouldn't read and comment on two articles at the same time (reading the atkinson article).
Doing homework and checking 5 other sites also probably doesn't help lol.
And the fact that he uses MW2 as an opening to bash a gay man does not concern you at all? because it does me. Last thing i want is a man's decision to let a game in to a country be a reason to bash his sexuality, it's horrible.
And if it's lazy and dishonest reporting, then i guess it's a good thing he's a blogger and not a reporter. take his or anyone's story with a grain of salt an move on.
In the end it would seem he interpreted this article as i did, which is obviously different than how you have.
Now if he starts blatantly improper things, like citing non expert actors or something, as truth, then yeah that's where i'd draw the line.
Re: Gay NZ Censor Draws Criticism From Right Over MW2
I think a man who already was bashing a gay individual using something else as an excuse is unimportant.
That's like printing what the head of the KKK has to say concerning Obama's race, but prefacing it with the comments being provoked by a bad policy decision (pick your own). Sure, he has an excuse (kind of) for his hateful comments, but he would make them either way. The fact that MW2 was mentioned is unimportant.
Re: Gay NZ Censor Draws Criticism From Right Over MW2
Having listened to a recording of Laws radio show, I don't agree with the sourced article's take. Laws started in with his gay comments before he even got to his point. It doesn't appear Laws used MW2 as a springboard for gay bashing. He made a few comments about Hastings' sexual orientation and then got to his point about the game.
Andrew Eisen
Re: Gay NZ Censor Draws Criticism From Right Over MW2
Which leads me to believe that this was more about gay bashing using the game as an excuse than criticism from the game. I guarantee, if this was anything else that would be able to draw as much coverage, there'd be just as much gay bashing.
Re: Gay NZ Censor Draws Criticism From Right Over MW2
In point of fact, you should have seen the article that was linked to by mistake earlier. THe gay-bashing was carbon-copy of the bashng here, and COD6 was not mentioned at all. It even reference a gay-bash-fest that occured over Passion of the Christ being allowed into New Zealand.
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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
Re: Gay NZ Censor Draws Criticism From Right Over MW2
True, but if the article author is to be believed, "Hastings' decision to allow violent videogame Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 to be released in New Zealand" was the springboard for the gay bashing. That is actually news appropriate to this site. It is unfortunate that none of the quotes concern the game aspect though.
Hopefully, GP will run across another source with more details.
Andrew Eisen
Re: Gay NZ Censor Draws Criticism From Right Over MW2
How is the fact that because he let it be released people were gay bashing him relevant to this site? It's just gay bashing, and the fact that the article makes only one passing reference to COD MW2 makes the article's presence here a stretch of the phrase 'where politics and video games collide'.
Re: Gay NZ Censor Draws Criticism From Right Over MW2
A radio host is bashing a politician over the allowed release of a controversial video game. That's very appropriate to GamePolitics. Yes, the sourced article is light on details but be patient. Actual game-centric quotes from law and even a recording of his radio show are coming.
Andrew Eisen
Re: Gay NZ Censor Draws Criticism From Right Over MW2
This is why i said hold on before making the angry mob. stories can always be further updated and we may not always know the full details right away due to the time follow-up may take. in this case obtaining and posting the recording.
Not to mention, as far as the mislinked site goes, eh, everybody makes a mistake.
Morale of the story: Chill out if the connection isn't obvious right at the time of reporting (although as i said, i thought the connection was easy to see, but everyone see's things differently).
Re: Gay NZ Censor Draws Criticism From Right Over MW2
It still looks like this has nothing to do with Video Games or politics surrounding them. Meanwhile, we still have nothing on the ACTA.
Re: Gay NZ Censor Draws Criticism From Right Over MW2
http://www.gaynz.com/articles/publish/2/article_8172.php
I think that's the correct link, GP. The one in your article points to a Lobby group slamming Bill Hastings, not the Radio Host.
Re: Gay NZ Censor Draws Criticism From Right Over MW2
Even in that article, the only mention of COD6 comes from the article writer. Once. In the opening paragraph.
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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
Re: Gay NZ Censor Draws Criticism From Right Over MW2
And the reason GP decided not to tell us what this host had to say about COD6 and went for the sexuality stuff instead is.....?
EDIT: Having READ the article, COD6 specifically, and video games in general are not even mentioned once, not in passing, not at all.
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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.