Germany
is using its clout with the European Union to
severely restrict use of video games not only in Germany but across the
entire EU, banning outright the most violent. Germany "has
proposed a national law banning games that depict violence toward human
characters", which would result not only in a ban of games like
"Counter Strike", blamed for a recent school shootup in which 37 people
were injured, but also of popular movie-themed titles such as the
“Star-Trek” series, “The Lord of the Rings,” “The Battle for
Middle-Earth II” and “Scarface: The World Is Yours.” This proposed move is justified by thoughts like: "A certain degree
of linkage between the growing violence among the
younger generation and the growing diffusion of violent games exists."
I'm
all for banning video games.
In Waldorf parlance, some of the
kool-aid of which I have drunk, Video Games = BAD. (Except the
fun ones, of course) But, a ban? Outright? What would
that do, exactly, except line the pockets of the bootleggers? And
hasn't anyone ever heard of the truism that making things forbidden to
kids simply makes them more attractive? Don't German authorities
have anything better to do than crack down on video games? How
about organizing a fun new group for children? Hey, I've got a great name
for it: "Deutsches Jungvolk". Or in English, it could simply be: "Hitler Youth."
