Communique En Masse!

No one can ignore regular and consistent communication from the public. Here is a letter that presents a well organised argument you can use to educate the South Australian Attorney General, the Hon Michael Atkinson, exactly how many Australians care about their "liberty" and are willing to fight for an R(18+) game classification for Australian's.

If you are serious about changing Australia's classification laws, you should send your own copy to both available email addresses and both postal addresses listed below the letter.

To the Hon Michael Atkinson,

I respectfully add my voice to the growing chorus asking you to reconsider your stance opposing an R-rating for video games in Australia.

Your opposition means that many fine games available overseas are simply banned here in Australia, as they do not meet the requirements of the MA15+ classification.

You know that the median age of Australian gamers is 28. You know, for you have been told repeatedly, that video games are not just for children.

Despite knowing all of this, you seem have missed the main point. The point is that video games are not even primarily for children.

I don’t think you fully understand this.

I think that when you envision a group of video gamers, the image in your mind is one of 10-year-olds, not 30-year-olds. If this is the case, it must be a major stumbling-block to your analysis of the issue.

There are, of course, video games designed for children. But there are far, far more designed specifically for adults.

The complexity of storytelling and character development in modern video games like Bioshock, Halo and Mass Effect easily rivals the best Hollywood has to offer.

More to the point, these games require a level of reasoning and patience that, while not beyond children, is much less interesting to a child than it is to an adult.

In your speech to State Parliament on March 6, you made specific mention of the game Reservoir Dogs, banned in Australia in 2006, but which would become available under an R classification.

The game is based on the 1992 film of the same name. The film is readily available in Australia with an R-rating.

Because of this R-rating, there is no concern in the community that children might be adversely affected by this film. The classification system gives parents the information they need to make informed choices for their children.

This classification system works very well, and would work just as well if applied to video games. Were the game to be available with an R-rating, there would be no concern in the community for precisely the same reason.

In closing, we the people of Australia thank you for your concern, Mr. Atkinson.
But we want you to understand that we can look after ourselves and our children. We believe that the responsibility for monitoring a child’s entertainment choices lies with the child's parents. It does not lie with the government, and it does not lie with you.
That, Mr. Atkinson, is not your job. Your job, as an elected representative of the people, is simply that. To represent the people.

The people of Australia are saying clearly that they support an R-rating for games.
Your colleagues in the parliament agree.

Every other developed nation on Earth has an R-rating for video games.

Your views are out of step with the views of your colleagues, the views of the Australian public and the views of the international community.

Mr. Atkinson, I ask you to please consider your position.

Yours Sincerely,
You're Name Here

Addresses:
488 Port Road
Welland SA 5077

GPO Box 464
Adelaide SA 5001

Email:
First Address
Second Address

Welcome fellow gamers...

After a heated discussion among friends today we decided that enough was enough. As grown adults we could no longer sit back and let a SINGLE man decide for a nation our right to enjoy adult games designed for adult gamers destined for an R18+ classification.

As a free man, a father and avid gamer I feel I hold an undeniable right to voice my opinion on this issue so I've created this blog to facilitate a homecoming of the R18+ classification to our Australian shores.

I intend to educate gamers openly about both sides of the debate an address the concerns of the Hon Michael Atkinson.

I intend to provide direct links to the petitions that clearly consolidate the opinions of Australian gamers, to the studies relating to sociological studies in video game violence and to the communication channels available publicly to speak directly to the Attorney General himself.

I've never entertained the idea of single handedly revolutionising the classification of games within Australia but the ear of our leaders must ring with the voices of the people, and this blog is my voice.

"Freedom is not merely the opportunity to do as one pleases; neither is it merely the opportunity to choose between set alternatives. Freedom is, first of all, the chance to formulate the available choices, to argue over them -- and then, the opportunity to choose." (C. Wright Mills)

Sincerely,
Old-Enough