Thailand bans Grand Theft Auto IV

[BaaBaa.]

Obviously the kid was a perfectly nice lad before playing GTA4.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/techn ... 540623.stm

[buksida]

Typical Thai government reaction, ban the entire country from doing something because one lunatic kid probably on yaba does something stupid.

I'm surprised any video games are allowed here what with their puritanical crackdowns on all those other evil influences in life.

[MrPlum]

I'm in the 'big round of applause' camp. Anything that keeps impressionable young minds away from being immersed in constant violence, criminality, etc.. is okay by me. Drop in the ocean of course.

The only game that gets played in my house is spot the penis in 'The Little Mermaid'.




http://www.snopes.com/disney/films/mermaid.asp

[Jockey]

Watch this if you can and then make an opinion!

GTA V1 is full of very weird sick crap. The game involves a role-play with you waiting in your dirty room alone until it gets dark. You then can go out steal a car, pick up a prostitute, shag her in the car then murder her by using a flame thrower, stabbing her or clubbing her to death with an iron bar. Nice stuff for kids? Its absolutely sick!

http://www.wegame.com/watch/GTA_IV_pros ... ill_yours/

[buksida]

Games, like movies, now have ratings so its upto responsible parents and vendors to decide. Maybe its because the whole country is treated like a pack of kids with their stupid censorship rules that the government behaves like it does.

Why don't they ban TV soaps? Every bugger watches them and all they contain are spoilt kids pointing guns at each other and adultery.

[The understudy]

[quote="buksida"]Typical Thai government reaction, ban the entire country from doing something because one lunatic kid probably on yaba does something stupid.

I'm surprised any video games are allowed here what with their puritanical crackdowns on all those other evil influences in life.[/quote]

with you The understudy does Buksi! This is typical actionism at its best by my Thai Governemnt who cannot distinguish their responsability and respansability of parenst.
Buksida may I quote you again please? [quote]Games, like movies, now have ratings so its upto responsible parents and vendors to decide. Maybe its because the whole country is treated like a pack of kids with their stupid censorship rules that the government behaves like it does.[/quote]
Exactemundo Buksida respaonabble parents and vedors to decide!!
We had a similar discussion too in Germany after a bloke went shooting with a Shoutgun in his former school, left scores dead and a small town in shock and dispair. There too some Polititians sprung into actionism wanted the Game "Counter Strike" to be banned but the Public was against it because it cuts into the respansbility of parents and Vendors to enforce it. So a ban never took place but instead tougher restrictions for the Vendors to enforce the ratungs system stringently or loose their right to seel and go to Prison.
The Thai Governemt is acting out of pure Actionism which is very very sad and this Game still be available harder to get but sill available

Your's The understudy!!!

[Wanderlust]

I am no expert in this, but it has always puzzled me as to why a link is made between watching a movie/listening to music/ playing a video game and the actions of children and adults afterwards; normal people (i.e. the vast majority) can make a distinction between reality and fiction, so if an individual plays GTA4 and then copies it, there is something fundamentally wrong with them, and in the case of children the parents and vendors (as in Germany) bear the responsibility, although I believe even most children would not ape exactly what they have seen in a game or movie and believe it is acceptable behaviour, but common sense dictates that they should not be watching something that could potentially upset them. However I do believe that children will copy what other real people do unless they are made aware by their parents that it is not acceptable - for example they will see footballers on TV (or live) spitting, swearing and cheating so there has to be some parental intervention to make sure they don't copy this behaviour. If the reaction to incidents like this is to ban the medium then many, many books will need to be banned as well as they are full of violence, bad language, loose morals etc etc, and there are no age restrictions on them.
Mr Plum and Jockey, these games are not made for kids so your points are irrelevant, and to be honest i am amazed that you of all people are arguing the case for banning; you obviously don't know that there is a hidden anti-elite message in GTA4?

[MrPlum]

Watch this if you can and then make an opinion!

GTA V1 is full of very weird sick crap. The game involves a role-play with you waiting in your dirty room alone until it gets dark. You then can go out steal a car, pick up a prostitute, shag her in the car then murder her by using a flame thrower, stabbing her or clubbing her to death with an iron bar. Nice stuff for kids? Its absolutely sick!

http://www.wegame.com/watch/GTA_IV_pros ... ill_yours/

I remember the BBC coverage. It was more like a promo.

Responsible parents may take notice of the ratings but I fear they are a vanishing breed. The ratings have been watered down for years.

[Guess]

...............it has always puzzled me as to why a link is made between watching a movie/listening to music/ playing a video

Me neither but the experts have evidence of links. However the scale is small. The understudy mentioned some guy going ballistic and shooting up a load of people. Similar things have happened in England, Scotland, the US and many other places. These incidents are unfortunately rare.

There is no evidence that links games, gun clubs and movies directly to the crimes. People personalities are shaped by their surroundings. Their surroundings may include violent movies, computer games and real guns.

If you look at famous mass murderers or serial killers it is actually more often that they come from sheltered environments.

Thousands of people die in road traffic accidents every day. Many or most of these are caused by people driving badly and too fast. So do we ban every racing simulation game and every movie that has a car chase in it.

Do we ban NASCAR and F1 from our screens?

I admit Jockey's description of a task in GTA 4 is gross and censorship needs applying her. However the scenario has bee depicted in countless films. In fact it is the sort of topic that is likely to attract awards.

The Thai knee jerk reaction is pointless but the Thais are not the only ones guilty. At least they have done something.

I understand what Mr. Plum said about the BBC report looking like a promo.

I remember when the first GTA hit the UK for the PS1. The BBC reporter smiled before going over to the recorded report as if they were reporting on some light hearted amusement.

And YES, these games are not designed for children. They aim at 16 years up knowing that younger kids will play them just as kids under sixteen smoke and have sex.

Let the parents take responsibility is OK if someone tells the parents first.

Anyway this is taking me away from my game. I have just got hold of a hand held nuclear warhead launcher and have hijacked a plane to London. I may stop over in Hua Hin on the way.

[BaaBaa.]

Watch this if you can and then make an opinion!

GTA V1 is full of very weird sick crap. The game involves a role-play with you waiting in your dirty room alone until it gets dark. You then can go out steal a car, pick up a prostitute, shag her in the car then murder her by using a flame thrower, stabbing her or clubbing her to death with an iron bar. Nice stuff for kids? Its absolutely sick!

http://www.wegame.com/watch/GTA_IV_pros ... ill_yours/

Typical of someone who hasnt played the game.

Games have now evolved into entertainment for Adults as well as kids.

I enjoy GTA games but I also enjoyed films such as TaxiDriver, Casino, Goodfellas, Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs.

Should these classic films also be banned?

Dont criticise something you have zero experience of apart from a clip on youtube.

Ps It was a Molotov Cocktail not a Flamethrower.
Flamethrowers are far better for crowds of pedestrians.

[BaaBaa.]

I admit Jockey's description of a task in GTA 4 is gross and censorship needs applying her.

Its not even a task, its something that can be done if you choose to.

Its not something that the game requires you to do.

I enjoy the Game but I am mentally stable and not overly sensitive or PC.

[Jockey]

I admit my only experience of the game is through the link I gave you. I asked you to watch it then make an opinion. If you think a game that allows you to behave like a phsyco murderer of prostitutes, watching the prostitute scream in agony as she burns to death then fine, thats your call. Did you watch the clip? The narration is quite entertaining actually!

I have to say this is a good example of the way our society is going, devoid of any moral fabric, getting kicks out of depravity. It seems also that these games need to become more extreme with each new version. So where do we go from here? Watching a pile of babies burn on a bone fire? Become a pedophile for the night and stalk school playgrounds? Would that be harmless fun or would that cross the line? Is there a line to cross? From the clip I've seen I still think its sick and if there is 'a line' then I suggest its already been crossed. I'm not into banning most things but I can't understand why stuff like this is allowed to go on sale in the first place. More alarming is the obvious popularity of the game.

[BaaBaa.]

I admit my only experience of the game is through the link I gave you. I asked you to watch it then make an opinion. If you think a game that allows you to behave like a phsyco murderer of prostitutes, watching the prostitute scream in agony as she burns to death then fine, thats your call. Did you watch the clip? The narration is quite entertaining actually!

So where do we go from here? Watching a pile of babies burn on a bone fire? Become a pedophile for the night and stalk school playgrounds? Would that be harmless fun or would that cross the line?

I glanced at the clip but i've already played the game.
The killing of prostitutes is not what the games about, its just possible to do.

In a game called Bioshock you can kill young girls if you wish, its a choice that effects the game.

That would be an easy statement to make a media storm from if your one of these Mary Whitehouse, Holier than thou, PC whingers.
But within the Sci Fi universe of the game it makes sense.

Buksida was after that game by the way.

Games have grown up and so has there subject matter, scripts, production etc etc.

[buksida]

Buksida was after that game by the way.

Damn right, cant wait until its out on PC later this year and I can mow down some hoes, bitch smack a bus driver and minigun a shopping mall.

[BaaBaa.]

In fact GTA Thailand would be superb.

Think of the fun you could have Tuk Tuk jacking.