Beyond a Joke...

[Dropdeadqt]

ONLINE games played by millions of Australians could be blocked by the Federal Government's controversial new internet filter plan.
Existing laws that currently refuse classification, and therefore ban the sale of any games that exceed an MA15+ rating, will be rolled over to the internet filter under a proposal by the Government.

That means browser-based or downloaded games, or online roleplaying games such as the popular World of Warcraft, will be blocked in Australia if it contains content deemed inappropriate for anyone under the age of 15.

A spokesman for Senator Stephen Conroy said the ISP policy was just seeking to enforce current laws agreed by states and territories.

"The states and territories have not agreed to introduce an R18+ rating for computer games so, under existing laws, any game that exceeds an MA15+ rating is considered 'Refused Classification'," the spokesman said.

"The Government is interested in filtering RC material as identified by the Australian Communications and Media Authority complaints process."

Games including Silent Hill, Sexy Poker and Necrovision have already been refused classification and will be blocked from Australian online gamers.

Purely online-based games, including World of Warcraft and Second Life, which haven't been classified, will be blocked if the ACMA believes it contravenes the National Classification Code.

Under Conroy's proposal, it would take only one complaint to the ACMA for WoW, played by 11.5 million gamers worldwide to be scrutinised and banned if it's seen to "describe, depict, express or otherwise deal with matters or sex, drug misuse or addiction, crime, cruelty, violence or revolting or abhorrent phenomena in such a way that they offend against the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults to the extent that they should not be classified."

It is understood that very few complaints have been made to ACMA about online games and no complaint has ever been received about World of Warcraft or Second Life.

http://www.news.com.au/technology/story ... 39,00.html

This guy is truly the epitome of human stupidity...

HOW this guy continues to function is beyond me.

[Cartollomew]

WoW won't be banned because Blizzard go to pains to ensure that it won't exceed any content restrictions for under 15s.

But yeh, Conroy is a moron, and the classifications system for games in this country is utterly backward.

Sadly, though our major political parties are mostly secular, they're also not very progressive. Go figure.

[Vampirial]

Where are the damn parents?!!! I find it ridiculous they want to ban games because parents can't watch their own bloody kids.

[Dropdeadqt]

My PC is my Babysitter (online games), Best Friend (MSN) and my lover (Porn) all in one.

Therefore my parents go out, get high and drunk then blame the PC for taking me away from them.

CRIMINAL!!!!

[Mitra]

My PC is my Babysitter (online games), Best Friend (MSN) and my lover (Porn) all in one.

Therefore my parents go out, get high and drunk then blame the PC for taking me away from them.

CRIMINAL!!!!

if you played second life you could have all 3 in one ...

this post not intended to advocate second life in anyway, one life is enough for almost everybody