Venezuela bans violent video games, gamer responds

[jfe2]

This article is from the perspective of a Venezuelan gamer, and is a GREAT read.

http://www.boingboing.net/2009/11/05/ve ... z-adm.html

Here are a few excerpts that I found particularly interesting.

"Last year, on a trip to the US, I was able to buy a Nintendo DS for my brother, and a puzzle game that deals with using weapons to defend the fish stock of penguins in Antarctica, Defendin' de Penguin. Early next year, when the law kicks in, bring such a game could land me in jail for 3 to 5 years, for importing forbidden violent games, as the penguins use snowball guns to ward off walruses, foxes (in Antarctica? OMG think of Biogeography!), polar bears and the Yeti."

"This law makes selling video games to anybody actually worse than giving real guns or cigarettes to a minor, or even forcing him or her to work, as you get less jail time and lower fines if you do any of those things."

That is just crazy. 3 to 5 years in jail for importing violent video games?! He also mentions that he could get fined for writing this article due to the promotion of violent video games. His government really needs to focus some of their energy on real issues IMO.

This is really very sad, not only because they are using video games as a scapegoat, but because they are taking away civil liberties to do it.

Anyone else want to weigh in?

[BigTinz]

Eek. What a shitty government...this is absurd.

[Erik_Twice]

Venezuela and friends are going down the drain, it's very sad. There's no day I don't hear something like this happening in South America and it sucks ass.

The worst part is how some people think that Chavez or Morales are saviors that help the country to be freed from Imperialist America (TM) and Capitalism (TM).

[Ack]

Eek. What a shitty government...this is absurd.

That's Chavez, baby!

For the record, that image came from DictatoroftheMonth.com.

[Gnashvar]

I don't like violent games but you can't ban something just because you don't like it. That's what freedom is all about. These so called fighters of freedom from the "left" are doing things that are moving the world backwards instead of forward. Chavez is the perfect example of someone who just says what people want to hear while he does things for his own benefit.

[Hatta]

Here in America we send people to jail just for bringing in some pot. That's no less ridiculous and unjust than this is. So keep your righteous indignation about crazy leftists to a minimum. Things in the "land of the free" aren't really that much better.

[aaron]

LEFTIES! AH CAN'T STANDS EM!

[J T]

When the legal punishment is more immoral than the crime, you've got a serious social problem.

[Gnashvar]

Here in America we send people to jail just for bringing in some pot. That's no less ridiculous and unjust than this is. So keep your righteous indignation about crazy leftists to a minimum. Things in the "land of the free" aren't really that much better.

I do not live in "your america" which to me is the United States. Venezuela is also in America. And I can say whatever the hell I want about "leftists". The man is not crazy he knows how to manipulate and do things for his benefit. No right wing or left wing extremists are good to anyone, he is a dictator and does what he pleases just like Castro. Go live in Venezuela and see what life is like in Latin America, then we will see how bad you see the USA and not be able to smoke your pot when you barely make enough to eat.

[Limewater]

I don't like violent games but you can't ban something just because you don't like it. That's what freedom is all about. These so called fighters of freedom from the "left" are doing things that are moving the world backwards instead of forward. Chavez is the perfect example of someone who just says what people want to hear while he does things for his own benefit.

Yeah, I was going to say, I don't really associate the terms "Venezuela" and "Freedom" anymore.