Laser tag banned in Germany.

[cosmicvortex20]

Its a sad day for freedom.

Germany bans laser games

[Pithlet]

1. Okay. Now THAT is a nanny state.

I played laser tag once. It was fun. Great exercise, too.

[rwheeler31]

2. It is a good thing

Hitting others is not a good thing.

[Pithlet]

3. It's a beam of light

You don't feel a thing, I promise :)

Edit: unless you meant Laser Tag is a good thing. I wasn't sure.

[Catch22Dem]

4. You don't hit in laser tag

Unless I totally missed the intent of your post. It's late, I could be guilty of doing just that.

[cosmicvortex20]

6. Nice to have the maternal squad ruling everyone with an iron hand.

Maybe we should outlaw running with scissors while were at it?

[Spider Jerusalem]

7. Eh...Germany tends to be a bit anti-violence, given their history.

They don't allow blood in video games, either, and a few have actually been banned for excessively violent content "GTA: Vice City", for instance). Understandable, to an extent, I suppose...but it still strikes me as a little silly.

[Pithlet]

9. Laster Tag is no more violent than a regular game of tag

or dodge ball. I understand how something like Germany's history can run really deep, but this is a game. There is no physical contact, blood, or gore. Truthfully, I felt a little dorky at first, before getting into it. How bad can something dorky like Laser Tag be?

[Spider Jerusalem]

10. Nonviolent in practise, maybe.

But aiming a gun at someone with the intent of "killing" them certainly has violent implications.

[Pithlet]

11. Oh, please!

I don't let my kids play with toy guns, and don't have guns. But even I think banning this for adults is over the top, even for Germany.

Honestly, if you could see a bunch of adults playing this game, you'd be reassured. I wasn't kidding about the dorkiness factor.

[Spider Jerusalem]

12. I've seen it...

and it strikes me as only a shade down in the silliness scale from the people who do live-action roleplaying. Hell, I said the ban was silly. But I can still understand what the reasoning behind it was (even if I don't necessarily agree).

[Pithlet]

13. Sorry. I missed the part of your post

where you thought the ban was silly.

And, I only did it once. I was dragged by a friend. I swear.

[bloodyjack]

15. LARPing is ANYTHING but silly and you dont know what youre talking about!!

[Spider Jerusalem]

16. LOL...

That picture kinda reinforces my point :)

[Dogmudgeon]

19. Meet the new members of Bush's 2nd-term cabinet!

Moe, Larry, Curly, and Bozo were unavailable at for the photo shoot.

--bkl

[cosmicvortex20]

14. Someone has been watching to much "Demolition Man"

I think they even outlawed curse words? You would like it there.

[Spider Jerusalem]

18. Haha!

Funny. I curse like a drunken sailor with Tourette's Syndrome; I play many violent video games; I actually own a couple of guns. You obviously didn't read everything I said.

[Kellanved]

30. not exactly banned

Very few games are actually banned (Manhunt for instance).

All games get rated by an lobby-group-run organization. These ratings have to be obeyed by all sellers; selling games rated USK18 (unrated games are USK18 per default) to minors carries a penalty under the youth-protection act.



If the voluntary self-control is deemed insufficient, then the Federal Youth Protection Agency can blacklist the game (or any media; books, movies, ...). The agency can not act on it's own; it has to be called by a state or city.
This happened, for instance, to the original Vice City version (a replacement version was released shortly thereafter).
Blacklisted games may not be sold to minors (it is a felony actually).
In addition it is forbidden to advertise them or display them in store-shelves. It does not constitute a ban however, and is actually a lifesaver for small independent game-stores.

Blacklisted games can be banned for good; even selling them to adults is forbidden then. AFAIR four (4) games (not counting Nazi filth) have been banned so far (Mortal Combat 1-3 and Manhunt).

[Kellanved]

31. Snarf; oh come on

You have read one posting on a forum. A forum, which, at least judging from the replies the post got, is populated by clueless jerks.

So, ten years ago one (1!) laser tag place got closed down by the city (not a German state, not Germany; just one city) of Bonn. Now ten years later, the courts have reaffirmed that the city has and had the power to close down gambling places.

And that makes a nanny state? Yes, it is true that Germany is a lot more sensitive about the display of violence than the US. On the other hand it is far more open for other things (nudity, ...).
So, yeah, just like the US , Germany has some aspects of a nanny state. I'd say the US is a little more nanny-ish on the media, but that's just my observation.

[Pithlet]

35. I was talking about banning of laser tag

It happened to take place in Germany. But, yes, it is a bit nannyish to ban such a thing. And this is coming from someone who is about as anti-Libertarianism as you can get. I think it is an overreaction. My term nanny state was just hyperbole. I actually hate that term, and my emphasizing "THAT" was kind of a nudge at those who use the term so loosely. I do not think that Germany, overall is a nanny state.

[Tweed]

5. You have your country run by Hitler and see how that impacts

the mind set of your nation.

[kick-ass-bob]

33. I thought we were experiencing that now.

:scared:

[Bucky]

8. I say we retaliate---ban strudel

NO, NO! NOT MY STRUDEL!!

[Robeson]

17. I'm not going to cry about a nation that has...

...been for, 2,500 years, habitually militaristic, banning a game in which people simulate shooting other people. Sounds good to me.

[cosmicvortex20]

20. Well, that would be because you are a statist control freak...

but to each his own. You wanna play mommy to the world, thats your buisness.

[Spider Jerusalem]

21. "Statist control freak"?

You sound suspiciously like a Libertarian.

[FDRrocks]

22. or a Libertarian Socialist....

:)

[Robeson]

24. Thats an oxymoron

isn't it. :silly:

[Robeson]

23. You sound suspiciously like you don't know who I am...

...try Socialist next time. Looks like your diagnostic technics need a little homing. :think:

[Robeson]

25. Let me apologize, my post #23 was meant for the one above yours

sorry

[Robeson]

27. "suspiciously like a Libertarian."

I was thinking the same thing. First time I've ever seen a "Democrat" not care about the World. Hhmm.

[cosmicvortex20]

32. Doesnt matter and you might be in the wrong party.

It doesnt matter what you think I am, the assessment still stands that your at the very LEAST a control freak, and at worst one that likes to project this into your politics.

If people want to play laser tag, its none of your buisness. Voting in representatives that would legislate your particular view on this sport is beyond repulsive.

If you want to try to legistlate social customs,, I think youll be more happy in the republican party - where you can join them outlawing pot smoking, homosexuality, and other non-agressive "sins". The democratic party at minimum should stand for social freedom.

[Name removed]

34. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

37. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Robeson]

26. No, just an old Historian with a conscience

[ze_dscherman]

28. NO, it is NOT banned in general

The court stated that it is not against European law that German communities MAY ban laser tag. Moves to ban the game on states or federal law have not been successful.

[Kellanved]

29. No, not Germany.

The city of Bonn banned one Laser-tag installation. The court just reaffirmed the city's right to prohibit such places ( gaming arcades).


Edit: Ze beat to it... :hi:

[Downtown Hound]

36. Man, this thread has more hostility than all Laser Tag games combined

I hope they don't ban it here. What would Bush do with his spare time?