Way to spend taxpayer money, Illinois!

[GunnyMo]

In what was a no brainer to everyone but the grandstanding governor of Illinois, the U.S. Court of Appeals has upheld (http://www.gamepolitics.com/) a late 2005 ruling that the proposed "Safe Games Illinois Act" was unconstitutional.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich ordered an appeal on portions of the legislation regarding sexually explicit games as well as a requirment that retailers label such games with a four-inch square sticker displaying the number “18″. The court found the labeling requirment objectionable:

Indeed, at four square inches, the “18” sticker literally fails to be narrowly tailored — the sticker covers a substantial portion of the box.The State has failed to even explain why a smaller sticker would not suffice. Certainly we would not condone a health department’s requirement that half of the space on a restaurant menu be consumed by the raw shellfish warning. Nor will we condone the State’s unjustified requirement of the four square-inch “18” sticker.
The judge goes on to address the specific game mentioned in the appeal, God of War:

As we have suggested in the past, there is serious reason to believe that a statute sweeps too broadly when it prohibits a game that is essentially an interactive, digital version of the Odyssey.
Even more, the State of Illinois has, so far, not paid the just over half a million dollars in legal fees racked by the video game industry in defending against this ridiculous law.

The end result of the governor’s quixotic and politically motivated effort is that Illinois taxpayers now owe the video game industry over half-a-million dollars.
How many schools could have been funded for that cool 500 grand? Or how many homeless could have been helped? Or scholarships for inner city kids created? I certainly hope the voters of Illinois remember this monumental waste of money by the governer come his next election bid.

[Sion]

These conservative christians never quit.

[Jukey]

I certainly hope the voters of Illinois remember this monumental waste of money by the governer come his next election bid. Unfortunately that will be up to his opponent. If John Q. Public will remember anything it'll be that Gov. Blagojevich tried to curb sales of adult material to minors.

P.S.
Someone tell GamePolitics that four-inch square and four square inches don't mean the same thing. :p

[Wonka]

It seems that its very rare for politicians to ever be brought to task for all the costly political posturing...

It happens nearly constantly.

[Zander]

Exactly.

This will HELP him get re-elected. Outside of Chicagoland, the average Illinois voter will just see this as him trying to protect children.

The bottom line is it's about votes. The more press this gets, the more votes G.Rod get's.

[Xenkylm]

These conservative christians never quit.

Blagojevich is a democrat.

/or was that sarcasm...?

[Johan]

These conservative christians never quit.

Oh please...and Christian bashing is always in vogue...(or sarcasm absent any contextual clues as to its sarcastic intent...just as bad, anyways).

If you're going to worry about anybody restricting video games right now, you'd best be watching the Democrats...Hillary and Joe have a real thing for censorship of video games.

Oh...but that doesn't fit into the "conservative Christians never quit" stereotype...since Joe is Jewish, and Hillary is, well...the spawn of Satan? :rolleyes:

[Kelegacy]

As we have suggested in the past, there is serious reason to believe that a statute sweeps too broadly when it prohibits a game that is essentially an interactive, digital version of the Odyssey.

Hell, yeah. Awesome words, Your Honor.

[Evil Avatar]

Oh please...and Christian bashing is always in vogue...(or sarcasm absent any contextual clues as to its sarcastic intent...just as bad, anyways).

Yes, but in the good old days we didn't just bash them, we lay around on cushions gorging on fine foods while we fed them to the lions.

[Sion]

Oh please...and Christian bashing is always in vogue...(or sarcasm absent any contextual clues as to its sarcastic intent...just as bad, anyways).

If you're going to worry about anybody restricting video games right now, you'd best be watching the Democrats...Hillary and Joe have a real thing for censorship of video games.

Oh...but that doesn't fit into the "conservative Christians never quit" stereotype...since Joe is Jewish, and Hillary is, well...the spawn of Satan? :rolleyes:

Old Joe is hated by dems because he isnt really one, and Hillary is trying to appeal to conservative Christians.

and it isnt that bashing Christians is in vogue, it's just too easy. Were talking about educated adults who still have imaginary friends.

[GunnyMo]

Yes, but in the good old days we didn't just bash them, we lay around on cushions gorging on fine foods while we fed them to the lions.

That, good sir, is priceless. :)

[J3DI]

I'm not really sure why so many politicians have jumped on this destroy the games band wagon, but I think they'd gain a lot more footing if they all joined forces... That won't happen though, most likely because they have some other policy that they want to push to... everyone has their agendas.

I live in Illinois ( I say it with the the "s" sound, angers a lot of people). Any-who, I would actually appluad an initiative to censor video games from those under 18. My version would just make it illegal to sell mature games to those under 18, just like the porn thing, just like the rated R movie thing. I don't want my box art all covered up though... that is just crazy.

But there are a lot of parents out there not doing their part either, many of them can't due to poor economic conditions where 2 parents work and kids are left at home unmonitored. I say, if you bring up a child in the way that they should go, when they grow old they will not depart from it.

[Johan]

Yes, but in the good old days we didn't just bash them, we lay around on cushions gorging on fine foods while we fed them to the lions.

Detroit Lions? They suck since Barry Sanders left. Hell, they sucked with him, too (sadly!).

And that was primarily the Italians (for the most part...Romans, really)...are you Italian?

Were talking about educated adults who still have imaginary friends.

Cough...excuse me while I choke...cough...ack...ugh...video gamers don't have imaginary friends...like ONLINE or IN GAMES (RPGs...game characters ....Nintendogs...etc., etc., etc.)? :rolleyes:

If you (or any of us) died tomorrow (seriously, I hope we all live to 100 or more), how many people on any forum you (or any of us) frequent...or characters in any game you (we) play...would be at your (our) funeral to lament the loss? I'm sure we all have real connections in the real world, but talk about imaginary...sheeeesh!

Ack...cough...ack...

[Kagger]

I'm not really sure why so many politicians have jumped on this destroy the games band wagon, but I think they'd gain a lot more footing if they all joined forces... That won't happen though, most likely because they have some other policy that they want to push to... everyone has their agendas.

I live in Illinois ( I say it with the the "s" sound, angers a lot of people). Any-who, I would actually appluad an initiative to censor video games from those under 18. My version would just make it illegal to sell mature games to those under 18, just like the porn thing, just like the rated R movie thing. I don't want my box art all covered up though... that is just crazy.

But there are a lot of parents out there not doing their part either, many of them can't due to poor economic conditions where 2 parents work and kids are left at home unmonitored. I say, if you bring up a child in the way that they should go, when they grow old they will not depart from it.

Selling R-rated movies/seeing one under age is not illegal, just against policy.

[Jukey]

My version would just make it illegal to sell mature games to those under 18, just like the porn thing, just like the rated R movie thing. I don't want my box art all covered up though... that is just crazy.
Things are apparently a little different here in California. There isn't a law restricting the sales of R rated movies to minors. And the box art on the porn IS covered up. Win some, lose some I guess. :)

[GunnyMo]

Selling R-rated movies/seeing one under age is not illegal, just against policy.

Dammit, you beat me to it. :D

[Greymane]

I'm not really sure why so many politicians have jumped on this destroy the games band wagon, but I think they'd gain a lot more footing if they all joined forces... That won't happen though, most likely because they have some other policy that they want to push to... everyone has their agendas.

Eh, it's actually not that hard to understand. It's just the current round of "thing X the ruling generation doesn't particularly enjoy is destroying the morality of our children" game. It's those fiendish movies, it's that evil rock and roll music, it's that rap music, now it's those gosh-darned porn-o-graphic videogames.

Don't worry too much; in ten years, there'll be a new scapegoat.

[agentgray]

Well, the voters could have spoken about it earlier this month but he won by a large margin.

I didn't vote for him. Both parties in Illinois are pretty corrupt. Heck, the previous governor is going to spend six years in jail starting this next year.

...and the Blagovitch is under investigation for pretty much the same thing.

[TheEpicOfTyler]

Illinois politicians are never good. Hasn't been an (half-way)honest guy in charge for as far back as my mother can remember.

Both parties put up poor offering in these previous election.

EDIT: *from Illinois*

[Loganrapp]

Old Joe is hated by dems because he isnt really one, and Hillary is trying to appeal to conservative Christians.

and it isnt that bashing Christians is in vogue, it's just too easy. Were talking about educated adults who still have imaginary friends.

And you're big on science, right?

Nevermind that most actual scientists say religion is not a question that science can prove or - listen, listen - disprove.

And apparently you haven't looked at the voting record, dipshit. Joe Lieberman has voted in line with the Democrat party on every single issue except for one - the Iraq War.

He is, in every sense of the word a Liberal. He's no different than Tony Blair, and no one accuses him of being conservative.

Try to, oh, I don't know, research a topic instead of popping up and spouting off what comes to the surface. Because it isn't all that intelligent.

Illinois politicians are never good. Hasn't been an (half-way)honest guy in charge for as far back as my mother can remember.

Both parties put up poor offering in these previous election.

EDIT: *from Illinois*

Obama was Illinois, right? Is he the exception or are there skeletons that just haven't cropped up, yet?

EDIT: Or were you just talking about state politicians? I didn't think of that until later.

[Sion]

Scientists would never say that because they know that you can not disprove a negative.

And thanks for sidesteping the issue. You obviously cant fight it on the same grounds as it was presented on. Lieberman is a social conservative.




Cough...excuse me while I choke...cough...ack...ugh...video gamers don't have imaginary friends...like ONLINE or IN GAMES (RPGs...game characters ....Nintendogs...etc., etc., etc.)? :rolleyes:

If you (or any of us) died tomorrow (seriously, I hope we all live to 100 or more), how many people on any forum you (or any of us) frequent...or characters in any game you (we) play...would be at your (our) funeral to lament the loss? I'm sure we all have real connections in the real world, but talk about imaginary...sheeeesh!

Ack...cough...ack...

So what you are saying is that playing Halo 2 with a few guys online is the same as being religious? Hmmm, very interesting.

[ReaverX]

Well, the voters could have spoken about it earlier this month but he won by a large margin.

I didn't vote for him. Both parties in Illinois are pretty corrupt. Heck, the previous governor is going to spend six years in jail starting this next year.

...and the Blagovitch is under investigation for pretty much the same thing.

You're not lying bro. BOTH of are choices for Gov sucked. I remember some of the polls they were running on the news stations and that being a major point that came up. Nobody liked either one of them and Blago got elected because most thought he was the lesser of two evils.

I personally swore that I wouldn't vote for either of those chuckleheads and would vote for ANYONE else that was on the ballot.

[Loganrapp]

Scientists would never say that because they know that you can not disprove a negative.

And thanks for sidesteping the issue. You obviously cant fight it on the same grounds as it was presented on. Lieberman is a social conservative.


Yes, because you hang with scientists. You used to go on lunch dates with Feynman and Hawking way back in the day, and they were like, "no, we'd totally would never say that."

In case you missed college, here's what the scientific method is about: in order for science to apply, the question must be testable. With religion, it's not. Therefore, science does not apply. Not "science is above religion." They're separate entities.

Jesus fuck, dude, I don't even believe in the guy, and I think you're a prejudiced douche.

And the rest of the Dems aren't social conservatives when it comes to games? How is he somehow different from every single politician on the block, regardless of political or religious affiliation?

[agentgray]

You're not lying bro. BOTH of are choices for Gov. sucked. I remember some of the polls they were running on the news stations and that was a major point that came up. Noboby liked either one of them and Blago got elected because most thought he was the lessar of two evils.

I persolally swore that I wouldn't vote for either of those chuckeheads and would vote for ANYONE else that was on the ballot.
Well, it worked this way for me this year. If you robocalled me and left a message you lost my vote.

After you eliminate that and then vote for whoever is left to be your best candidate it was easy.

They must have thought it was weird that some of the other offices I voted on, but not governor.

[Ultima Thulian]

Old Joe is hated by dems because he isnt really one, and Hillary is trying to appeal to conservative Christians.

and it isnt that bashing Christians is in vogue, it's just too easy. Were talking about educated adults who still have imaginary friends.

Man, you're a fucking tool.

[Johan]

So what you are saying is that playing Halo 2 with a few guys online is the same as being religious? Hmmm, very interesting.


Yeah...that's it exactly. :rolleyes:

What I'm saying is YOU ARE A GAMER ON A FORUM...YOU HAVE IMAGINARY FRIENDS!!

Want the cold truth? If you died tonight, and stopped posting, life would go on here at EvAv. Same for me. Same for virtually everyone here except for a select few.

You mock the religious for their imaginary friends? You're on a FORUM! You play VIDEO GAMES! Talk about a plethora of imaginary friends...

*dense as all hell...*

[Keldi]

and it isnt that bashing Christians is in vogue, it's just too easy. Were talking about educated adults who still have imaginary friends.

I see trolling is still alive and well on these here forums, yup yup.

You (usually) can't emperically prove faith, thus the faithful have no real ammo against haters. You also (usually) can't emperically disprove a basis of faith, thus the haters have nothing tangible to throw at the religious. All there really is to do is sling mud.

But yes, it is easy, and it still has just enough of a hint of "defiant rebelliousness" to make it attractive... while still being socially acceptable enough to have minimal backlash. It's several attractive ego boosts in a convenient disposable package. Not at all surprising Christian bashing is so common.



(I included the "usually" above because, yes, you can disprove lots of individual parts of any religion, but you can't disprove the "spiritual" part of faith... which is what most of the argument is about anyway.)

[Rirath]

How about enough bashing of Illinois and more bashing of the guy that caused this, if that's what you want. Yes, "we" elected him, but seriously... like "we" had a decent choice. And as for the "how many..." spiel, oh come on.... are you serious? If they didn't waste the money on this, they would have wasted the money on something else.

And for the record, I'm glad it's been kicked to the curb, I'm amazed to see a judge with common sense, but at the same time I'm all for restricting the sale of M games to minors. I'd rather have it be voluntary than law, though.

[Xenkylm]

in order for science to apply, the question must be testable. With religion, it's not. Therefore, science does not apply. Not "science is above religion." They're separate entities.

As someone who does the "science thing" for a living, this boy speaks the truth, so please do listen to him. That first sentence should ALWAYS cool a religion/science flamewar, but no one ever listens to it. Sigh.

[Abash Alarmist]

Johan, I know you're a teacher and all, but lay off the ellipses! Thanks :)

[shnastybiznastic]

IMAGINARY
I don't think you know what that word means...

[Wolvie]

Lesson learned here? STOP THE STUPID VIDEO GAME LEGISLATION!!! No one needs it, or wants it. It's just a stupid ploy for cheap votes, and not even that is working. So to all the Feds? Just drop the video game laws.

[Lunar Blue]

You mock the religious for their imaginary friends? You're on a FORUM! You play VIDEO GAMES! Talk about a plethora of imaginary friends...

It's quite easy to prove that you and i exist. On the otherhand, proving that god exists is not.

[Ultima Thulian]

It's quite easy to prove that you and i exist. On the otherhand, proving that god exists is not.

You can't prove he doesn't exist either.

Though I personally am more thouroughly convinced that there is a god everytime I see a cheery blossom tree in full bloom. But that's just me. :)

[Abash Alarmist]

Though I personally am more thoroughly convinced that there is a god everytime I see a cheery blossom tree in full bloom.:)

Or a picture of George Clooney

[jwbxx]

I still think it's funny that people choose which political party to follow. I'm a republican! I'm a democrat! Last time I checked both parties have done everything but help this country out in the long run. All they have successfully accomplished is dividing the American people, and focusing their attention on partisan, meaningless, political banter.

We're headed in the direction of economic, social, and militaristic chaos. Once Americans wake up, put their petty differences aside, we could actually do something to save this damn country.

So if you're with me vote jwbxx in 08. I promise to cut taxes, triple welfare spending, decrease the deficit, ban gay marriage, make gay marriage legal, ban abortion, protect the right of a woman to choose, stay in Iraq, pull out of Iraq and definitely declare war on Canada.

Jwbxx in 08! Building a stronger America by destroying Canada block, by block.

[Abash Alarmist]

Colbert/Stewart '08!

[Rirath]

stay in Iraq, pull out of Iraq

That sounds pornographic if you repeat it a few times.


and definitely declare war on Canada.

Can-nada? Where's that?

[Sl1pstream]

Yeah...that's it exactly. :rolleyes:

What I'm saying is YOU ARE A GAMER ON A FORUM...YOU HAVE IMAGINARY FRIENDS!!

Want the cold truth? If you died tonight, and stopped posting, life would go on here at EvAv. Same for me. Same for virtually everyone here except for a select few.

You mock the religious for their imaginary friends? You're on a FORUM! You play VIDEO GAMES! Talk about a plethora of imaginary friends...

Does that even matter? I mean, I'm dead, why should I care how many people attend my funeral/cremation? It's not like I'll look up/down from my grave/some place in the sky and suddenly be happy because x amount of people are there.

[Johan]

Does that even matter? I mean, I'm dead, why should I care how many people attend my funeral/cremation? It's not like I'll look up/down from my grave/some place in the sky and suddenly be happy because x amount of people are there.

No...it doesn't matter.

Here's my point; if someone is going to mock those of faith for having an imaginary object of their faith, I'm going to point out how unbelievably stupid that is to do as a video gamer on a forum...since you're kidding yourself if you think you've got great friends through a forum (there are exceptions, of course!), and you're spending, quite likely, far too much time with imaginary digital friends in freaking video games (again, there are exceptions, of course).

I'd rather have faith in a God I can't prove or disprove, than faith that the people on a forum, or characters in a video game, are actually my friends. THAT is imaginary and an illusion.

Or I guess all the hours spent in WoW, Zelda, Oblivion, or etc., are more valuable (AND REAL!!!!) than a religious faith. Yeah...that's it! :rolleyes:

I love video games and forums (see: post count), but if you mock people of faith, I'm going to mock your hypocrisy and massive blind-spot, pouring hours of your life into a digital black hole...which I do as well; but I don't claim it's anything more than a time sink and imaginary. It's an escape.

Sion needs the blinders removed; big time. Maybe some others do, as well?

[Goronmon]

As we have suggested in the past, there is serious reason to believe that a statute sweeps too broadly when it prohibits a game that is essentially an interactive, digital version of the Odyssey. Pure Awesomeness.

Cough...excuse me while I choke...cough...ack...ugh...video gamers don't have imaginary friends...like ONLINE or IN GAMES (RPGs...game characters ....Nintendogs...etc., etc., etc.)? :rolleyes:

If you (or any of us) died tomorrow (seriously, I hope we all live to 100 or more), how many people on any forum you (or any of us) frequent...or characters in any game you (we) play...would be at your (our) funeral to lament the loss? I'm sure we all have real connections in the real world, but talk about imaginary...sheeeesh!You have issues man.

[Asmodan]

It's ok... Blagojevich has plenty of money to burn after DOUBLING THE GODAMN TOLLS on 294. Seriously, adding the open road tolling makes administer the tolls cheaper, but instead of having the electronic tolls cheaper as an incentive to use them he f'ing DOUBLES the cash tolls.

I'm from Chicago and now live in Wisconsin, I cringe every time I have to drive home because of this crap.

[Johan]

You have issues man.

Pointing out the truth...

0101010101010101

Enjoy the friends!

[XxSATANxX]

As Agent Gray pointed out this Gov like the last one is headed to Jail! The system we have works. It's far from perfect but over time it will become accepted just as Movie ratings are. LESS GOVERMENT is going to have to be the future.

[alienhead]

I'm embarrassed (and pissed) that this asshole is wasting our tax money, when schools are closing left and right here in Illinois. Who voted for this asswipe?

[Klunka]

Am I the only gamer on the planet that has absolutely no problems with there being an "18" sticker on the damned box?

What's the fucking deal? If something isn't meant for minors, let's make it clear. They're not trying to censor the game, they just want the sticker.

[Johan]

Am I the only gamer on the planet that has absolutely no problems with there being an "18" sticker on the damned box?

What's the fucking deal? If something isn't meant for minors, let's make it clear. They're not trying to censor the game, they just want the sticker.

I don't have a problem with it, either...

which makes you certifiably insane, since I agree with you! ;)

[drakkarim]

I certainly hope the voters of Illinois remember this monumental waste of money by the governer come his next election bid.

you haven't been around for long have you? :)

the only thing voters remember (excluding the 65% of the folks that won't even bother to vote because they don't want to miss their american idol or latest big mac commercial) is what the politicans feed them in the week before the elections in commercials.

i.e. iraq is good/bad, abortion is good/bad, gays are good/bad.

nothing else matters to the sheep. people vote their fears, NOT their beliefs.

speel aside. i still think games should be regulated just like movies are regulated, just like music is regulated. it should be age appropriate in all cases.

4" sticker is plain idiotic, however places that sell mature games to minors should be sued or fined like there's no tomorrow. since they have no incentive to NOT sell a mature game to minors, we should give them a reminder on a regular basis until they learn, pavlov's dog anyone?

[laggerific]

Old Joe is hated by dems because he isnt really one, and Hillary is trying to appeal to conservative Christians.

and it isnt that bashing Christians is in vogue, it's just too easy. Were talking about educated adults who still have imaginary friends.

Or all too often imaginary enemies!

[Selar]

It's ok... Blagojevich has plenty of money to burn after DOUBLING THE GODAMN TOLLS on 294. Seriously, adding the open road tolling makes administer the tolls cheaper, but instead of having the electronic tolls cheaper as an incentive to use them he f'ing DOUBLES the cash tolls.

I'm from Chicago and now live in Wisconsin, I cringe every time I have to drive home because of this crap.

If you drive through the tolls enough that this is a problem for you, get an I-Pass. Otherwise, get over it.

If your going to complain about the new tolls complain about the giant Rod Blagojevich signs over every toll both. Makes me more and more angry every time I drive under one.

[Morangie]

He is, in every sense of the word a Liberal. He's no different than Tony Blair, and no one accuses him of being conservative.

Try to, oh, I don't know, research a topic instead of popping up and spouting off what comes to the surface. Because it isn't all that intelligent.
Quite amusing because Tony Blair is often accused of being conservative. Perhaps you should do some reseach?