South African Watchdog Group Wants Violent Games & Music Taken Off Shelves

Hot off this newspress today, we had an interesting distribution snub in the entertainment industry!

The IO reports that Cape Town-based watchdog group the Family Policy Institute has petitioned South Africa’s government to recall all music containing violent lyrics and all video games with violent content. FPI spokesman Errol Naidoo made the request, expressing the group’s concerns over potential negative influences on young people. The move comes in the wake of the samurai sword killing of a 16-year-old by a schoolmate who allegedly dressed himself like Slipknot drummer Joey Jordison. (See image below)

Preferring not to wait for any type of inquiry, Naidoo requested the recall of the games and CDs ”pending the outcome of the investigation”. Naidoo cited the case of two US teens who were convicted of murder in 2003 after stabbing a friend 20 times and slitting his throat after listening to Slipknot’s song “Disasterpiece”. He also cited the case of Bangkok teenager Polwat Chinno who had killed a taxi driver by punching and stabbing him after playing the computer game Grand Theft Auto. “Police believe he was acting out a scene in the violent video game,” Naidoo said.

There was no guarantee that removing violent music and games would prevent violent behavior, but that it would “provide added peace of mind for families”.

I need not take the fun away by showing everyone how much of a stuff up marring this is for many parties involved. Some may agree that these rash decisions are good moves for the industry – those that are in a settled space in life or that have families? Whatever it be – it seems Naidoo has taken a conservative (or paranoid) step by ensuring that an expensive scapegoat was quickly found as to hush the SAWG knocking on his door? This probably won’t affect me much (or anyone on Huddlemind?), as his isn’t even the kind of music I listen to often (as a classical guitarist). Though even I know to throw stereotypes at these micro-cultures as to cynically disrespect and boycott them. Naturally, the problem is perception. And ignorance? We all know the cognitive and attitude differences between age gaps make for many misunderstandings and misinterpretations of trend and tact, hmmm? This dribbles my mind a bit on a SL article I’m compiling in the background – stay tuned, as these generation disjointments present themselves elsewhere too.

Now there’s gaming (and music) politics for you
{ Insert moral discussion here }