This is simply depressing. The pathetic treatment of videogames in Germany has already jumped the shark several times, with the German authorities aping their intolerant forefathers and banning anything they don't like in the name of social justice. Now things have somehow managed to get worse, with one German group instigating what could only be described as a modern-day book burning for what Germany calls "Killer Games."
Aktionsbündnis Amoklauf Winnenden, or Action Alliance has set up a "Killer Game Drive" that will take place outside the Stuttgart State Opera on October 17. The mission? To encourage people to bring their violent videogames and toss them in the garbage. There's a chance to win a signed jersey from the German national soccer team, and it's assumed that the "Killer Games" will be destroyed after they've been tossed, thus saving Germany from violence FOREVER! Because, y'know, getting rid of videogames will mean that nobody shall ever commit a murder again.
As well as linking videogames to one of Germany's school shootings and using scaremongering logos like the one seen above, Action Alliance is also using some rather disturbing imagery to promote its event. One of the promotional images for the campaign shows a person throwing away a Swastika instead of a videogame, essentially implying that games are the modern day equivalent to Nazis.
Quite ironic, considering it was the Nazis themselves who were fans of destroying art that they didn't agree with.
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Contest:
9:20 AM on 10.15.2009
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Germany is no exception to this mindset. It may only have been 70 years ago, but you can imagine that they don't want that shit coming back. Not every German was a Nazi.
@socialnorms
You can't explain these actions just by quoting the wars that have happened in Europe. Most people living in Europe nowadays have no war experience outside of TV War coverage. This is just a very typical "Let's search for a scapegoat for something we can't explain". That's how religions start.
In Germany we have one of the hardest rating and controlling in the whole EU but for some ppl this isn`t enough they want to ban every violent game.
so sad ;(
People were walking out of memento because they couldn't follow the story. I loved it but saw the next showing a couple of hours later just so I could get a full handle on what had happened.
As for germany, their unwillingness to investigate, or accept what is happening is as Subenu wrote 'scapegoating'. I would like to see games publishers stop releasing games there (Sorry german gamers) just to see what they put the blame on next. Hopefully not an ethnicity (gulp).
"...the banhammer only requires common sense:spamming,trolling,racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!"
And what about all that real news footage of soldiers in combat in Iraq etc.
These fanatics are crazy. Ignore them.
This means that a significant portion of the members of this group, clearly non-gamers, are associating such games with sociopathic, violent behaviour. This is clearly irrational, but losing a loved one would make someone irrational.
I certainly don't condone the actions of the group, being as much a fan of violent videogames as anyone, and also believing myself to be a fine, upstanding member of society. I just thought it might be prudent to give this story some perspective, and explain how this group may well consist of people who are simply scared of what they don't know.
My question is; why are Germany's videogame governing bodies, such as the USK, not stepping forward to try and educate the public and explain that videogames are not morally destructive? Active communication, and pulling down the veil of videogame violence as a societal danger, is the only solution in trying to prevent groups like this from gaining noteriety, support, and a belief that they're doing the right thing.
ps. Germans are not a race of people, unless you really do believe in that Aryan crap. so, technically if you're hung up on races -- Jim is just like you, white.
You do know that Kraut is a derogatory name for Nazis popularised by the British armed forces during the 1940's don't you?
Also, lighten up bro.
Free games to those that get there before the fire starts!!
You are fucking brilliant!
I want to be able to look at Germany and laugh about it with everyone else, not facepalm the back of my head off all the time.
HAHA!!
@KrazyKraut
But...kraut is a racist term.
"There's a chance to win a signed jersey from the German national soccer team..."
For some reason I thought that was somethingyou would see on South Park and lul'd.
who knows, maybe soon they will have an ultra-non-violent pure democratic party "cleaning" country of violent people. seriously, what's wrong with their politicians...
germans do love to burn stuff eh?
books, video game, JEWS
fuck you germany.
those who can't remember the past are condemned to repeat it.
>>My question is; why are Germany's videogame governing bodies, such as the
>>USK, not stepping forward to try and educate the public and explain that >>videogames are not morally destructive?
The USK organization does this - with little success. I think there is no money for that. Many politicians are against violent videogames so it is hard for the USK to defend such games. And game companies do many things to market their games as brutal, dangerous and "for bad boys only"...
I wasn't aware comparing one generation to the last had absolutely anything to do with what race you are. If I was an asshole I'd make a joke about the whole pure race thing, but I guess I'll just imply it instead.
That way I might get said jersey without actually losing games I like.