REDRAFT: Movie and Game Rating Act

[Mount Kip]

Redraft: Version 2

REALIZES that the people of the world watch movies and play what are called video games.

UNDERSTANDS that some movies and video games contain innappropriate content that are not suitable for certain ages of youth in most cultures.

DEFINES

(A)"movie" a motion picture film for entertainment.
(B)"video game" any game playable on computer or gaming console.

HEREBY

1)ESTABLISHES the MGRA (Movie and Gaming Rating Association) to oversee and coordinate national ratings organisations, which will establish specific guidlines for each nation depending on their age of majority.

2)DECLARES that to release a video game or movie to the public without a proper MGRA rating is punishable by law.

3)REQUIRES that member countries abide to the same rating levels as declared by their countries MGRA branch.

4)EMPHASIZES that all WA nations have a right to request their MGRA branch to add or delete a nation-specific age restriction. Member nations can only request one restriction and one deletion.

5)AFFIRMS the right of the MGRA to ban a video game or movie completely if it exceeds the amount of explicitness that any one person should view or take part in a game.

[Gobbannium]

While we think that the harmonisation of warning ratings is a fit subject for international legislation, we regret that we have significant issues with the proposal presented here. While we are aware that the Ambassador for Mount Kip has already put this forward for the approval of delegates, given that we have serious reservations that it fits the category it has been submitted under, we hope the honoured ambassador will forgive us for treating his work here as a draft rather than a finished product.

REALIZES that the people of the world watch movies and play many video games.


UNDERSTANDS that some movies and video games contain innappropiate content that are not suitable for certain ages of youth in most cultures.

We note in passing that the people of the world also view pictures, read books and seek to introduce themselves to the Thessadorian ambassador, and yet the issue of the age-appropriate ness of those behaviours is somehow never subject to rating. We also note that "innappropiate" is spelt "inappropriate".

More seriously, we take considerable issue with the term "most cultures". There is an implicit assertion here that most cultures share similar values with regard to age-appropriateness, an assertion that we observe is not remotely accurate. Worse, this step is often used to justify the wholly false assertion that all cultures do (or should) share the same values, something we would decry as rampant imperialism. Were the honoured ambassador to amend this phrase to "many cultures" we feel that this invalid line of argument would find it much harder to take root.

DEFINES

(A)"movie" a motion picture film for viewing a past event

This is a curiously restrictive definition, excluding as it does a vast majority of motion picture films made purely for entertainment which do not involve actual past or future events.

(B)"video game" any game playable on computer or gaming console.

HEREBY

1)ESTABLISHES the MGRA (Movie and Gaming Rating Assc.) to rate all movies and video games.

Here the assertion we spoke of above bears its full fruit. A single organisation is appropriate to determine the singular rating of every film and game created in every member nation? We think not.

A far better and more common approach would be to create the MGRA to oversee and coordinate national ratings organisations, offering some ease in the translation of ratings between nations and (more importantly) cultures without riding rough-shod over the values of everyone to the satisfaction of no one. One might wisely mandate that national ratings organisations exist and do the obvious job, but that is as far as one should interfere directly in our opinion.

2)DECLARES that to release a video game or movie to the public without a proper MGRA rating is punishable by law on a later date in conjunction with a regional court based on the rating the movie or game should have received.

We don't believe the Zhaucauozian Friendship has a suitable regional court, and we are certain that the WA has no mandate to create one. We also flatly do not think that failure to rate a video game or movie should be punished by anything more than a ticking off, but that is in large part because we note that the monolithic nature of MGRA ratings as so far indicated is wholly inappropriate to most cultures. And yes, we do use the term deliberately.

3)REQUIRES that member countries abide to the same rating levels as hereby mentioned.

Absolutely not.

(A)3+ years of age
(B)6+ years of age
(C)9+ years of age
(D)12+ years of age
(F)16+ years of age
(G)21+ years of age

We are reasonable certain that we could find examples of movies that we would rate entirely appropriate for those of 9 years or older that the honoured ambassador would be nervous of showing to sixteen year olds, and probably vice versa. We have noted before that we appear to have attitudes to violence that differ from the norm; the more 'cartoony' and unrealistic violence is portrayed as, the less willing we are to have our young watch it and draw false conclusions.

We are at least grateful that the honoured ambassador has not given any guidance to the MGRA as to how they should determine age-appropriateness. Many prior attempts to introduce ratings have sought to dictate even that, with laughably specific directions that pleased only the proposer.

4)EMPHASIZES that all WA nations have a right to request the MGRA to add or delete a nation-specific age restriction. Member nations can only request one restriction and one deletion.

This makes an obvious mockery of the standardization that the honoured ambassador is attempting to impose, so much so that we are surprised he has not noticed that it undermines his argument. Perhaps it might have helped to articulate that argument a little more clearly.

We would, however, be assuring the MGRA that a request to "delete all" is only one request for deletion.

5)AFFIRMS the right of the MGRA to ban a video game or movie completely if it exceeds the amount of explicitness that any one person should view or take part in a game.

Again, we do not think that this determination can be made for all member nations. We urge the honoured ambassador to leave this to national ratings organisations.

6)PROTECTS movie and game developers from plagariasm that is punishable by law which will be determined with a regional court on a scale of lesser or greater

This is wholly irrelevant to the subject of ratings, and we think renders the proposal illegal. It is clearly a Free Trade element, and cannot reasonably be argued to be a matter of Moral Decency. We are sure that this will not stop people from trying, but in any case it has no business in this proposal.

[Unibot]

(B)"video game" any game playable on computer or gaming console.

Zhilidgo looked over his shoulder to see in the background; the bald-headed, bespectacled creator of the board game "The Wheel of Death & Unnecessary Gore" stoking his forehead dry of sweat and breathing easier after reading the text of the proposal.

Well at least someone was happy thought Zhilidgo,

The Unibotian ambassador pondered for a bit on why the Gobbannium ambassador (who he knew was infinitely more knowledge in these areas) was convinced the proposal was encouraging free trade -- sure it was helping to establish a more internationally convertible system for entertainment ratings. But it would surely kill the Unibotian Porn movement which had been making billions of Eduards a year from foreign consumers of Zuezueland (a notable tough authority on pornography). Zuezueland consumers had been buying foreign porn for years, as it was able to slip by their nation's rating committee because it was, well, foreign.

[Tjennewell]

3)REQUIRES that member countries abide to the same rating levels as hereby mentioned.
(A)3+ years of age
(B)6+ years of age
(C)9+ years of age
(D)12+ years of age
(F)16+ years of age
(G)21+ years of age

I don't think that these numbers will work. Not all WA member states are populated by ordinary humans. Also, even among the human lands the age of majority tends to differ somewhat. In Tjennewell you are legally adult once you hit 18 - you are seen fit to vote, drink responsibly and consume virtual violence and porn in print, movies and games. We will not withhold legal media from our adult citizen.

6)PROTECTS movie and game developers from plagariasm that is punishable by law(...)

We share the view of Gobbannium's ambassador on this clause: It doesn't belong to the rest of the proposal and should be discarded.

[Mount Kip]

you guys are not very nice about things

[Tanaara]

"This is a proposal that will find no favour with me. Elves would be appalled to see their children considered adult at 21, and I know races that their honoured elders don't live to see such an age."

"This is not being mean, but looking at the massive defects I see in this poorly thought out proposal."

[Quelesh]

As it seems that it falls to the representative from Quelesh to be "mean," I must say that this resolution is the foulest proposal that we have seen in some time, and we are relieved indeed that such an egregious violation of the principles of national sovereignty and self-determination stands no chance of approval by the delegates, much less passage by the full Assembly.

[Gobbannium]

you guys are not very nice about things

Some of us were being constructive, and are still hoping for a response. Hint.

[Linux and the X]

Although I will still not be able to support this proposal, it would be slightly less objectionable if clauses 2 and 5 were removed. Clause 5 is in contradiction with previous legislation in any case, and I would like to see unrated material permitted, even if a warning label must be affixed.

If this proposal does pass, I'll inform the Assembly of a simple loophole that will allow nations to ignore the ratings received.

[New Olwe]

Censorship is considered treason, and punishable by death, in New Olwe. War with Mount Kip would be inevitable if this proposal saw the light of day.

[Sierra Lobo]

This proposal is a blatant disregard of the 'freedom of expression' . Any censorship that does not jeopardize national security is not acceptable. Some parts of the proposal also cede control of some national and local interest to an international regulating body and is a direct violation to our soveriegn right.
The 'explicit materials' mentioned in the proposal tend to put some moralistic flavour to the issue at hand and we firmly believe in the separation of the state and the church. This may lead some fundamental factions an avenue to create strife in our nation by giving them an international platform to expound on their beliefs.

[Mount Kip]

Redrafted thanks to criticism.

[TerraPublica]

This should probably be left to the individual countries to decide.We do not believe in any bill that would hurt our young artists, therefore we wish not to have ratings tossed upon us!

[Bergnovinaia]

What would be so explicit that the MRGA would ban it? Just becuase porn is illegal for youth in RL doen't mean that it's going to become removed...

[Gobbannium]

We fear that the redraft has addressed some of the symptoms without treating the underlying disease. We thank the respected ambassador for what has been done, but now find the resolution somewhat lacking in purpose which makes its underlying intrusiveness all the more irksome. The MGRA now appears to have no other purpose than to take over the business of a nation's own screening agencies, and we cannot for the life of us think why it should be allowed to. It makes some of our previous comments all the more relevant, we fear. At the very least, the preamble needs expansion from its current frankly unconvincing form.

We also note with amusement that the games of solitaire that some of the more bored members of this chamber are indulging in while pretending to polish their speeches on their laptops are classified as "video games" by this resolution, and their existence in unrated form would become illegal.

[New Olwe]

Redrafted thanks to criticism.

It's still censorship, and therefore it's still an act of war against New Olwe. Since Mount Kip is so keen on ratings for movies and video games, we see no reason to trade with them... a full embargo is in effect until further notice. If this proposal gains enough support to be a significant threat to our culture, military action will follow.

Alyssa Locke, Olwean Ambassador to the WA

[The Magic Spirit]

Censorship at its finest. Since there is no actual evidence that movies and games actually cause harm to minors whatever there age may be in their respective nations, The Magic Spirit feels this is yet another unneccesary piece of legislation. It is immoral to force ratings on the population when said ratings do not solve a problem. Movies and games do not cause crime or violence and have actually shown to be social experiences people enjoy together and shown to allow people to get angry feelings out of the way in a safe non-threatening manner.

Also, why are books, boardgames and real life role playing games not mentioned in this proposal? The proposing nation appears to be on a crusade against games and movies.

Stop wasting our time or explain what this would actually solve that nations can't do on their own.

[Charlotte Ryberg]

Honoured ambassador to Mount Kip,

I think it would be a good idea to make a system of film and video game ratings compulsory in all member states, under a mild moral decency proposal, but allow member states to determine their own systems rather than centralising it.

Perhaps in my opinion the best solution would be to ensure that all member states enact and enforce at least film and video game rating system (one mandate), each having at least one rating that restricts to only persons over the age of majority (another mandate).

[Flibbleites]

We see no need for the WA to be mandating anything regarding movie and/or video game ratings systems. If nations feel they need such a system they are perfectly capable of establishing one on their own.

Bob Flibble
WA Representative

[Grays Harbor]

It is at times such as these, and with proposals such as these that I really really want to write a proposal demanding that WA members stop with their "one size fits all" nonsense.

[The Inhuman Rampage]

We believe that you are not allowed to be offended by something that you viewed on your own free will. Forcing all nations to abide by one rating system is rediculous. And besides you would have younger kids playing it anyway. Thats a personal issue that people have to work out by themselves.

[Mount Kip]

All you people want 4 year olds watching RL rated R movies and M games?????

[Flibbleites]

All you people want 4 year olds watching RL rated R movies and M games?????

No, and to prevent that from occurring we have established ratings systems for movies and video games without the WA needing to tell us to do so. After that, all we can do is hope that the parents actually do their part by knowing what their kids are up to.

Bob Flibble
WA Representative

[Linux and the X]

Looks like a contradiction of resolution 30.

[New Olwe]

All you people want 4 year olds watching RL rated R movies and M games?????

Ooh, a strawman. Let's set him on fire.