Atkinson issues a challenge

PALGN News | Wants you to run against him.

Many gamers are familiar with South Australian Attorney-General Michael Atkinson due to his opposition to an R18+ rating for games.

Mr Atkinson has once again publicized those views, this time in the form of a letter to a South Australian newspaper.

Kotaku Australia has played both reporter and recipient in this slightly strange series of correspondence. Atkinson's initial letter, which appeared in the Adelaide Advertiser in response to a gamer's letter to the same paper, is reproduced in its entirety below:

Quote:

Face the real world
A Queensland letter writer (The Advertiser, 7/3/09) claims that democracy is at an end because I, as Attorney-General, will not agree to an R18+ category for interactive computer games; that "every other state AG is against him"; and the only way to bring back democracy is to vote me out at the next election. It is true that I am opposed to an R18+ category for interactive games, but I am one of at least four Attorneys so opposed.

I welcome a challenge in my electorate of Croydon at the next general election on this issue.
Among my constituents are hundreds of refugees who are trying to find lodgings for the family, gain employment and sponsor relatives from the old country.

Their vote is hardly likely to hinge on the "right" to score gamer points on the computer screen by running down and killing pedestrians on the pavement, raping a mother and her two daughters, blowing onself up in a market, cutting people in half with large calibre shells, injecting drugs to win an athletics event or killing a prostitute to recover the fee one just paid her (Welcome to the world of R18+ computer games).
Those of my constituents who are refugees have been subjected to the practical instead of the virtual suffering that R18+ nerds seek to inflict for their gratification on the computer screen.

MICHAEL ATKINSON,

Attorney-General, Adelaide.

Consequently, 57-year-old gamer Terry O'Shanassy responded with a rather efficient dismantling of Mr Atkinson's arguments, which can be seen here.

The Attorney-General made another response, this time directly to Kotaku. While he ignores Mr. O'Shanassy's points entirely and indeed all points relevant to the R18+ argument, he does expand on several other items, including a personal challenge to run against him in 2010. Anybody up for it?

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28 Jan, 2009 He hasn't changed his mind.

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08 Nov, 2008 It's a start.

Public to decide on R18+ rating
28 Mar, 2008 After Ministers fail to agree.

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25 Comments

Mush Man

1 year ago

I am truely amazed. I litterally shouted out load in my disbelief when I read Mr. Atkinson's anticipations on what content would be legalised should an R18+ rating for video games be introduced. I was utterly bewildered in specific when I read that he expects that games that allows us to r-ape both women and children would be released under this rating, and furthermore when he implies that all gamers that play this game will take such actions, will then think that these actions are accepted by society and, finally, be compelled to execute these actions in the real world. I feel an obligation from the gamers of Australia to write to him about his stance, rationale and comments regarding this issue, and persist a reply to my letter from Mr. Atkinson himself that addresses all the points I have made in a way that satisfies both myself and the gaming public. Think of the letter that I am writing to be of the level of quality of this post, with a length in excess of 5,000 words. I understand that you think that this will be in vain, but I will persist and take high and acceptable messures to help ensure that my goal is fulfilled.

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