Keith Vaz, anti-games campaigner and Labour MP for Leicester East, is on the warpath again, this time targeting Modern Warfare 3.
++ Update, for such an ill-conceived attack and due to popular demand, we've decided to induct Mr Vaz into our W.R.O.N.G. campaign. Here's a helful pic if you'd like to share.
EDMs are formal motions submitted for debate in the House of Commons. While very few are actually debated, they are used for reasons such as publicising the views of individual MPs, drawing attention to specific events or campaigns, and demonstrating the extent of parliamentary support for a particular cause. Here's the full text of Vaz's latest:
That this House is deeply concerned about the recently released video game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, in which players engage in gratuitous acts of violence against members of the public; notes in particular the harrowing scenes in which a London Underground train is bombed by terrorists, bearing a remarkable resemblance to the tragic events of 7 July 2005; further notes that there is increasing evidence of a link between perpetrators of violent crime and violent video games users; and calls on the British Board of Film Classification to take further precautions when allowing a game to be sold.
Tom Watson, pro-games campaigner and Labour MP for West Bromwich East, made the following amendment to the EDM:
"leave out from `House' to end and add `notes that the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) gave the video game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 an 18 classification, noting that `the game neither draws upon nor resembles real terrorist attacks on the underground'; further believes that the game has an excellent user interface and challenges the gamers' dexterity as well as collaborative skills in an outline setting; and encourages the BBFC to uphold the opinion of the public that whilst the content of video games may be unsettling or upsetting to some, adults should be free to choose their own entertainment in the absence of legal issues or material which raises a risk or harm.'."
Comments
47 comments so far...
VampiricPadraig on 23 Nov '11 said:
To Keith Vaz
http://s3.amazonaws.com/kym-assets/photos/images/newsfeed/000/184/961/tumblr_lnvvueuSsj1qcj56b.png
I think this what everyone is saying right now!
You shlaaaag on 23 Nov '11 said:
Seriously, does anyone give two s**ts about what that massive imbecile has to say anymore? And the fact he has the ordacity to make the claim that there is an increasing correlation between violent games and violent behaviour, when he couldn't be more wrong, makes my blood boil.
Mr Vaz, you truly are the worlds biggest wankhammer. Now f**k off.
ninja-key on 23 Nov '11 said:
This guy for real! its a f**king game jesus christ man!
only_777 on 23 Nov '11 said:
Sadly London was bombed a few years back as we all know, but telling people not to talk/write/reflect upon it dosn't make any sense.
What does it achieve? I don't understand.
Where is it then? Unless you name a source it's just a throw away statement. Example:
We can all play this game!
socheeky on 23 Nov '11 said:
I would be very interested to read this "increasing evidence" of a link between video game and real life violence. If anything, games allow a cathartic release of hatred and aggression. If I wasn't playing Peggle I'd probably be in prison by now.
casperthedog on 23 Nov '11 said:
The quote from Mr Vaz i find funny is 'players engage in gratuitous acts of violence against members of the public' you don't shoot a single non-armed person in the whole game, unless you want to see the 'friendly fire' type message and start over again and again. Unless now in his mind, heavily armed people who attack all major countries of the world can be considered 'members of the public'. And still talks about a link between violence and games, though research has shown overwise and doesnt provide a source for his claim.
*sigh* politications, gotta love them eh?.
Thank you, Tom Watson, for being the person who actually understands what he is talking about. Hopefully more will support your side, through i hope this never gets even brought up again.
mrlister on 23 Nov '11 said:
Tom Watson's a badman, smack down the Vaz!
creamerybutter on 23 Nov '11 said:
I am guessing that this statement being incorrect doesn't matter. The train is not derailed by a terrorist bomb. Does this mean no works of fiction are allowed to feature terrorists anywhere near the tube ...
TheLastDodo on 23 Nov '11 said:
No they don't
No it doesn't.
No there isn't.
This sensationalist prat will say anything to try to stay relevant.
Barca Azul on 23 Nov '11 said:
Maybe this is why Labour lost in the last elections, when party "Members" thinking is complete fantasy and out of touch with reality/voters thinking and the content he is discussing.
It would surely also be of interest to the country if they concentrated on real issues, like unenployment, avoiding a second recession and creating growth for the economy.
nathar on 23 Nov '11 said:
Well Mr Vaz, this house is deeply concerned that you are a complete wanker. So nerrr
Earthrod on 23 Nov '11 said:
I find this all pretty rich coming from Keith Vaz. Check out his wikipedia page for the litany of crooked activities this "upstanding" moral crusader has perpetrated.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Vaz
RustySpoon80 on 23 Nov '11 said:
When will people learn there are legal age ratings already on games. Its just that many shops and parents ignore them.
The amount of parents who bought MW3 & shops that let them (while the child was there) is unbelievable.
It's time that there was a crack down on shops selling to parents who are clearly buying for the kids.
COD would be far more friendly online without all the 10 year old running around shouting rubbish.
StonecoldMC on 23 Nov '11 said:
An attention seeking, self publicising, expenses fiddling MP having another go at Games and Gamers? Quelle surprise!!
I didnt see or hear him kicking up a stink, when films like Children of Men (and hundreds others!) depicted terrorists setting bombs off in the centre of London?
http://www.spike.com/video-clips/rj6r3u ... hop-bombed
Fair play to Tom Watson (though he's a bit of a plonker as well), I seen Charlie Brooker tweeting about him opposing it earlier this morning.
superfruit on 23 Nov '11 said:
Vaz is such a moral character he WAS an expenses fiddler. Cries about make-believe violence but has no qualms about being a pig in trough. Stop voting him in.
MANYOO4EVA on 23 Nov '11 said:
One word that describes Mr Vaz: TW@T!!!!
waltyftm on 23 Nov '11 said:
This idiot should be publicly flogged, Politics and Religion are the biggest cause of war and terrorism not video games, ban those first.
corkscru74 on 23 Nov '11 said:
And this evidence? Seems to be omitted from your little tantrum I fear. You sure you're not just making it up? You sure you're not getting the word 'evidence' confused with NOTHING?!
Although, thinking about it, I have been showing more violence towards dragons since playing Skyrim. Maybe he has a point!
gazdog9 on 23 Nov '11 said:
I have an "Early Day Motion" every morning . The results of which are very similar to what Mr Vaz is spouting
kirankara on 23 Nov '11 said:
@keith vaz
i blame the Vietnam war on apocalypse now. oh, wait! the events predate the film!!! tosser!!
politicians and their moral crusades annoy me endlessly with their hypocrisy. ban violent video games they claim in public, whilst happily taking billions.in taxes from them, and spending billions on and wars, whilst wasting tax payers money on doing up their back gardend, putting money in their mates pockets via.contracts for governments, no doubt prostitutes.too.
how bout they sort out economy, and address real issues, like poverty, lack of jobs and that we have millions of scumbag parents having scumbag kids, who dont take responsibility and screen what their kids view.and also raise them with decent morals.
zombiesinmyhead on 23 Nov '11 said:
Keith Vaz touched me inappropriately.
WHERESMYMONKEY on 23 Nov '11 said:
I don't understand why everyone singles out July 7th. Seriously its not like it's the only terrorist attack we've ever had in london. Come on the IRA were dropping bombs all over the place for years. But we don't talk about that now. Espeically now that The US are fighting terrorist not funding them.....
kirankara on 23 Nov '11 said:
you speak in jest , but it's certainly.not beyond the realms.of possibility
delmariachi on 23 Nov '11 said:
Wonder if Keith Vaz is up in arms about Human Centipede 2 getting past BBFC (even with 2m 30s cut out... Oh no wait.. no headlines can be made, yet like MW3 it was, god forbid, rated 18 (EIGHTEEN) Keith...
That means adults can play it, also meaning that hopefully people have an understanding of context. Living in London and having family in central London when the tragedy hit, was horrendous that day with no communication etc,and for those that lost someone, I cannot even comprehend how it felt, but in context, this is a game, I see this is simply a story, its not the story writers fault that such atrocities have actually occurred in some places, otherwise every damn war film or cop show that features a horrible situation (terrorism, murder, rape) that has happened in real life, should be censored too.. But no, easier to bash an industry that has enough difficulty defending itself from these "commentators" - easy target, easy brownie points
So before ya take your regular seat on the videogame bashing bandwagon (it must be worn through by now), why don't you sit down with Human Centipede 2 and watch that, and then, i don't know, complain? Don't even entertain the fact that despite it being quite gruesome, it is a fantasy and a story, just crack on and complain some more, you'll love it in a "I hate Manhunt" sort of way.
Seriously how this person is voted in every four years is beyond me, is he the only candidate?
mothbanquet on 23 Nov '11 said:
Too right, those Al Qaeda are right camping n00bs.
kirankara on 23 Nov '11 said:
possibly the funniest post, ever!!!! much kudos sir!
tedmaul on 23 Nov '11 said:
Going by Mr Vaz's logic.Can he blame the MP's expenses scandal on playing Monopoly as a child?
Paranoimia on 23 Nov '11 said:
If Keith Vaz was any more of a muppet, he'd have a stick attached to his left hand and someone's arm up his arse.
AJ3000 on 23 Nov '11 said:
Just a sidenote, but if you take the game as literally as Mr. Vaz has here, you come up with quite a worrying scenario....
Lets not forget that you play AS THE MILITARY on this game - so if we are wrong to virtually shoot terrorists and save the world, is it also wrong for the same 18+ people who buy the game to join the army and protect our country? After all, the game only emulates what the forces do every day....
Chew that over, Mr. Vaz....
Y2Ken on 23 Nov '11 said:
Well good on Tom Watson, I guess.
Headsrinker on 23 Nov '11 said:
What an idoitic thing to say.
It also has remarkable resemblance to tragic events in Northern Ireland, USA, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Egypt, and just about EVERY other country in the world where a bomb has been planted in a civilian area. IDIOT.
lordirongut on 23 Nov '11 said:
f**k you Hideo Kojima! YOU caused the Cold War by brainwashing people with your Metal Gear Solid 3!
Minifig7 on 23 Nov '11 said:
There is one major problem with this whole thing. If you actually played the game, and followed the story, it's glaring obvious that the train is not blown up by terrorists. About 20 odd soldiers are shooting at it, and there is no one at the controls, then a jeep hits the train. It then derails, flips over, before exploding. Anyone see a bomb there? I don't
The Bossman on 23 Nov '11 said:
He's just seen footage of the van blowing up killing the family, and thinks that the player was responsible for it, but if he had half a brain he would know that that was a lie. He's such an idiot, always looking to condemn videogames and always getting it wrong.
gmcb007 on 23 Nov '11 said:
http://narizdegelatina.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/jackie-chan-meme.png
appyday on 23 Nov '11 said:
seriously though, has he only just got to that bit? i mean the games been out about 3 weeks and most people have finished the campaign by now....
he is seriously slow....
Ch1nMu51c on 23 Nov '11 said:
Keith Vaz - Futility Idol.
KK-Headcharge78 on 23 Nov '11 said:
If ever there was evidence needed, alive and breathing, that our current political system is full of out of touch, knee jerk and frankly shameful bastards, this is it. For a man of supposed authority, who chairs many socially important select committees he churns out enough s**t to fill a Tesco, if politicians wonder why teenagers are so disengaged then this is an ideal example. Get back to your ivory tower and keep your narrow minded, ill informed mouth shut. You are but a thief who got caught stealing from the people who elect you.
billysastard on 23 Nov '11 said:
can i suggest that hearing him open his corrupt mouth (see his wikipedia page for all the gory details) makes me far more likely to commit an act of violence than any number of hours playing mw3 or any other game?
stormchasing1000 on 23 Nov '11 said:
i follow politics and i am a big gamer,i've been a fan of nintendo and playing their games for 2 decades now,so i am know Xbox supporter but i respect them more than Sony
He is a joke of a politician the bombings and the game are like at least 5 years apart,and correct me if i am wrong i don't use the underground i Think it is a made up name,so he is stupid he has always been anti gaming and politicians should look at the benefits gaming could give to the economy that talent is ready to be unlocked if there was more uni courses and a help to start up in business in gaming coz u get a lot back in Tax.
Barca Azul on 23 Nov '11 said:
Still it could be worse, he could be voting on Policy, laws and how the country is run on a daily basis!
Oh.....wait......a........minute........
nb_nmare2 on 23 Nov '11 said:
You know, whenever someone in RL says something along the lines of "there's increasing evidence that...", they should be responded to Wikipedia style: "Citation needed".
thirdwatch on 23 Nov '11 said:
Keith is my MP and he's always been a tool. He refuses to comment on corruption and massive pay rises in his own constituency but he has the time to talk about a computer game.
He made a similar comment about Manhunt a few years back. He was wrong then and is wrong again.
DarthSeaBass on 23 Nov '11 said:
I'm amazed anyone still pays any attention to him he's nearly a big a joke as jack thompson.
alan666 on 23 Nov '11 said:
CVG should get a actual WRONG trophy made & award it to him in person !
rikkicm on 23 Nov '11 said:
Keith Vaz = Tithead
sunrise_phil on 24 Nov '11 said:
vaz is known to be a massive bf3 fan.