I’m not a big fan of South Australian Attorney General Michael Atkinson.

I have made that clear, time and time again.  I loathe and pity him simultaneously. In truth, I view him as a stubborn, uncompromising fool who is content to use his position of power to force his personal opinions upon others.  Currently, Australia’s Office of Film and Literature Classification lacks an R18+ rating for video games, which means software with content deemed “unsuitable” for players under the age of 18 are not classified, which essentially bans them from domestic retailers. Atkinson stands in the way of any change, and remains unwilling to budge on the issue.  He’s a bullheaded lout who seems to think that he is a moral guardian of Australian society; a protector of vulnerable youths.  He often cites the need to protect children from objectionable content. Heaven forbid that duty be left to Australian parents.

As tends to happen with the most vocal and persistent activists, hobbyist gamers have grown tired of Atkinson’s blather, with some lashing out in radical and wholly inappropriate ways. Unfortunately, frustration sometimes turns to anger.  In a recent chat with GameSpot AU, the controversial politician commented on the vitriol that is often tossed his way, some of which manifests as death threats.

“It’s unlikely I’ll change my stance [on R18+ for games] anytime soon, considering the last death threat I received was pushed under my door at 2am, presumably by someone who doesn’t like my stance on R18+,” he told GameSpot AU. “It was like something out of a Hollywood film–letters cut from magazine headlines arranged together on a page.”

Am I surprised? Hell no.  I’d be a naive to think that Atkinson is free from harassment from irrational parties with opposing views.  In light of former Florida attorney Jack Thompson’s career, it’s wholly expected.  Still though, I’m extremely disgusted by this type of behavior. It’s unnecessary, and doesn’t do anything to advance the public debate on violent, adult-themed content. In fact, such boorish actions only stand as ammunition against gamers.  In defense of his position, Atkinson has cited studies linking violent video games and aggressive behavior, so threatening him with violence won’t do a damn bit of good.  Rather, it will just strengthen his conviction.

“I’ll consider changing my mind about all this when the gaming community decide to behave in a civil fashion and apologies for the threats to me and my family,” he said.

Atkinson didn’t attach a number to his claims, but revealed that he had recently been receiving “abusive emails from anonymous senders on a daily basis.”

I understand the frustration. Really, I do. Oftentimes, it feels like talking to a brick wall. The agitated parties feel as if their concerns aren’t being heard, and are instead tossed aside without any consideration. From that view, it’s easy to feel powerless. However, aggression is not the answer. Rather than author a baleful message, disgruntled entities should engage Atkinson in civil discourse. Send him an e-mail that shares pertinent thoughts and concerns. During the GameSpot interview, Atkinson said he tries to answer as many e-mails as he can. If he is, as I perceive him, a stubborn ass, then write to another representative. Atkinson isn’t the only politician involved in the debate.

There are other options as well. One could submit an opinion piece to a local paper or news site, or seek to inform other voters through face-to-face interactions. Atkinson is up for reelection this year, and will be facing a pro-game ticket. Atkinson can’t shackle the R18+ debate if he’s not in office.

Author’s note: The quotes were taken directly from GameSpot AU, and any typos or errors reflect the editing of that particular outlet.

Image credit: Gamer Limit

Source: GameSpot AU via GamePolitics

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