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Here's (another) quote from PCZone:
"It has been revealed that playing videogames is commonplace within the penal service, and online games retailer ******** ***** has even released details of the top ten games ordered by HM prisons over the last year. It is predictably headed by the various incantations of Tomb Raider, swiftly followed by sundry Resident Evils and also includes titles such as Carmageddon and Grand Theft Auto."
In this post I'm not going to argue whether or not people in prison should be able to play games or not. In my opinion they shouldn't, prison is a place for punishment. But that's an entirely different argument, one which I'm not going to delve into here.
So, my argument is this:
Given that convicts are able to play videogames in prison, is it really a good move for them to be playing titles like GTA, Carmageddon etc? Do people lose some of their rights (apart from the obvious ones) when they get convicted? Or do they have the freedom to chose, and if they want to play violent games, or car stealing games, then they can, just like the rest of us?
These people in prison are, by law, allowed to make their own decisions. They are not medically insane, they are normal people who broke the law, therefore they can chose what they want to play. Yet some people will not want them playing games like GTA etc. So what should we do? Decide for the convicts what they can and can't play? But surely that goes against what a democracy stands for?
We all know that psychologists and people in america say that computer games are bad for you, and they can make you go out and shoot people etc. So surely the government, who are supposed to listen to important people like them, ban those sorts of games from the prisons?
Or should the government not say "Hey, ignore that Yank, games don't make you more violent, we let people in prison play them, so they must be ok." Surely one of those situations should occur. You can't, logically, have them both at the same time.
Either the games can affect people, so it would seem to be a good move to stop convicts playing them. Or games dont affect people and some government/watchdog person should say so. See?
Personally I don't think games can affect people, but I'm not 100% sure of the idea that convicts can play them. So I contradict myself. Hmmmm, bit of a puzzler that one.
I know a lot of you will just say "They're only games, let them play what they want." but if these people have a history of stealing cars, for example, is it a wise move to let them play a game where they steal cars?
What do you lot think?
"It has been revealed that playing videogames is commonplace within the penal service, and online games retailer ******** ***** has even released details of the top ten games ordered by HM prisons over the last year. It is predictably headed by the various incantations of Tomb Raider, swiftly followed by sundry Resident Evils and also includes titles such as Carmageddon and Grand Theft Auto."
In this post I'm not going to argue whether or not people in prison should be able to play games or not. In my opinion they shouldn't, prison is a place for punishment. But that's an entirely different argument, one which I'm not going to delve into here.
So, my argument is this:
Given that convicts are able to play videogames in prison, is it really a good move for them to be playing titles like GTA, Carmageddon etc? Do people lose some of their rights (apart from the obvious ones) when they get convicted? Or do they have the freedom to chose, and if they want to play violent games, or car stealing games, then they can, just like the rest of us?
These people in prison are, by law, allowed to make their own decisions. They are not medically insane, they are normal people who broke the law, therefore they can chose what they want to play. Yet some people will not want them playing games like GTA etc. So what should we do? Decide for the convicts what they can and can't play? But surely that goes against what a democracy stands for?
We all know that psychologists and people in america say that computer games are bad for you, and they can make you go out and shoot people etc. So surely the government, who are supposed to listen to important people like them, ban those sorts of games from the prisons?
Or should the government not say "Hey, ignore that Yank, games don't make you more violent, we let people in prison play them, so they must be ok." Surely one of those situations should occur. You can't, logically, have them both at the same time.
Either the games can affect people, so it would seem to be a good move to stop convicts playing them. Or games dont affect people and some government/watchdog person should say so. See?
Personally I don't think games can affect people, but I'm not 100% sure of the idea that convicts can play them. So I contradict myself. Hmmmm, bit of a puzzler that one.
I know a lot of you will just say "They're only games, let them play what they want." but if these people have a history of stealing cars, for example, is it a wise move to let them play a game where they steal cars?
What do you lot think?
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Dr Gonzo wrote:
More than any of that - do you think getting a
> computer game really makes up for loosing your liberty? These
> people are locked away from their family and herded around a cold,
> unwelcoming building 24 hours a day. They have to have permission
> to do ANYTHING.
They broke the law. They knew when they did it that there was a chance they'd get caught and go to prison. Yet they took that risk, and lost.
I personally believe that prison is a place for punishment, but that is just my opinion, you obviously have a different one, which is fair enough.
I just ask you though, how many prisons have you been to? I've personally never been to any. But it seems as though your verdict that they are "a cold, unwelcoming building" seems a little harsh.
I would guess that the life in prison is better than some people have outside.
Of course, I could be wrong.
More than any of that - do you think getting a
> computer game really makes up for loosing your liberty? These
> people are locked away from their family and herded around a cold,
> unwelcoming building 24 hours a day. They have to have permission
> to do ANYTHING.
They broke the law. They knew when they did it that there was a chance they'd get caught and go to prison. Yet they took that risk, and lost.
I personally believe that prison is a place for punishment, but that is just my opinion, you obviously have a different one, which is fair enough.
I just ask you though, how many prisons have you been to? I've personally never been to any. But it seems as though your verdict that they are "a cold, unwelcoming building" seems a little harsh.
I would guess that the life in prison is better than some people have outside.
Of course, I could be wrong.
This thread makes me so cross. The basic attitude you are all taking is
> prison is a place for punishment
RUBBISH. Prison is a place for rehabilitation. You want to lock up a criminal but release a decent person. Whether it works or not most of the time is neither here nor there. I ask: do you stop the fire service as they don't always rescue the baby from the burning building?
Punishment makes people resentful and hence if anything the criminal is probably more likely to offend when released. It costs thousands of pounds to lock up a criminal, if it was just punishment you're after you may as well start cutting off hands or branding people and save a whole pile of cash.
We are not animals. We realise the complexities of our behaviour and know that returning fire with fire is not always the best tactic. To simply punish an individual who is probably already very resentful of the "system" is idiocy. Teaching them that what they did was wrong and more importantly why it was wrong is far more important. Addressing the issues behind the crime and answering these problems will hopefully result in an individual who can aid rather than hinder society.
More than any of that - do you think getting a computer game really makes up for loosing your liberty? These people are locked away from their family and herded around a cold, unwelcoming building 24 hours a day. They have to have permission to do ANYTHING. Can you imagine having the right to get up and go to the bathroom anytime you like being a privilege rather than a right? Can you imagine being locked in a six by eight cell for twelve hours a day? Do you really think being able to play a computer game every once in a while, if you been good for months, maybe years, preceding to earn this right makes up for all that? Then you are a fool. Sorry, don't wish to seem overly harsh but fool is the only word that I can think of that fits the levels of ignorance and naivety seen in this thread
> prison is a place for punishment
RUBBISH. Prison is a place for rehabilitation. You want to lock up a criminal but release a decent person. Whether it works or not most of the time is neither here nor there. I ask: do you stop the fire service as they don't always rescue the baby from the burning building?
Punishment makes people resentful and hence if anything the criminal is probably more likely to offend when released. It costs thousands of pounds to lock up a criminal, if it was just punishment you're after you may as well start cutting off hands or branding people and save a whole pile of cash.
We are not animals. We realise the complexities of our behaviour and know that returning fire with fire is not always the best tactic. To simply punish an individual who is probably already very resentful of the "system" is idiocy. Teaching them that what they did was wrong and more importantly why it was wrong is far more important. Addressing the issues behind the crime and answering these problems will hopefully result in an individual who can aid rather than hinder society.
More than any of that - do you think getting a computer game really makes up for loosing your liberty? These people are locked away from their family and herded around a cold, unwelcoming building 24 hours a day. They have to have permission to do ANYTHING. Can you imagine having the right to get up and go to the bathroom anytime you like being a privilege rather than a right? Can you imagine being locked in a six by eight cell for twelve hours a day? Do you really think being able to play a computer game every once in a while, if you been good for months, maybe years, preceding to earn this right makes up for all that? Then you are a fool. Sorry, don't wish to seem overly harsh but fool is the only word that I can think of that fits the levels of ignorance and naivety seen in this thread
Lock them up for 3 days with MS's Train Simulator... that will teach them a lesson!
True, we could!
We could charge everyone £1. We post the important bits, with our opinions added free of charge, and they get the news free!
Good idea!
We could charge everyone £1. We post the important bits, with our opinions added free of charge, and they get the news free!
Good idea!
Since we both read the PCZONE mag thourghly as soon as it comes out, we could start our own monthly Quote PCZONE e-mag, so no one has to spend 3£ buying it....unless they want the unimportant pages and demos!! :-S
Your Honour wrote:
> Ok, I agree with what you say, but surely if they ask for a game
> like GTA, surely someone can't say "No, you're not
> allowed."
Or do people lose some of their rights (aprt from
> obvious ones) when they go to prison?
look at prisons in Thailand and china and singapore. you get food and clothes and that's it. you have to work, you sleep in big rooms with no beds on a concrete floor.
That's prison!
There's no TV's or playstations.
That is punishment. People would not like to go there. BUT our prisons are basically a 5 star hotel. They just get to sit, watch TV and play games. That isnt fair.
> Ok, I agree with what you say, but surely if they ask for a game
> like GTA, surely someone can't say "No, you're not
> allowed."
Or do people lose some of their rights (aprt from
> obvious ones) when they go to prison?
look at prisons in Thailand and china and singapore. you get food and clothes and that's it. you have to work, you sleep in big rooms with no beds on a concrete floor.
That's prison!
There's no TV's or playstations.
That is punishment. People would not like to go there. BUT our prisons are basically a 5 star hotel. They just get to sit, watch TV and play games. That isnt fair.
Your Honour wrote:
> Ok, I agree with what you say, but surely if they ask for a game
> like GTA, surely someone can't say "No, you're not
> allowed."
I don't think they do get the choice of what they get to play. And if they do then I am very shocked. Why save up your money when you can go to prison and play all the new releases for free. There is something not right about this is there?
> Ok, I agree with what you say, but surely if they ask for a game
> like GTA, surely someone can't say "No, you're not
> allowed."
I don't think they do get the choice of what they get to play. And if they do then I am very shocked. Why save up your money when you can go to prison and play all the new releases for free. There is something not right about this is there?
Ok, I agree with what you say, but surely if they ask for a game like GTA, surely someone can't say "No, you're not allowed."
Or do people lose some of their rights (aprt from obvious ones) when they go to prison?
Or do people lose some of their rights (aprt from obvious ones) when they go to prison?
I believe thet prisoners shouldn't get any of the things that we call luxury. They have been sent there for comitting a crime and deserve to be punished for it. Life in prison seems to be of a high standard compared to what alot of people have, with the only exception that you can't leave the prison. They have tv's, videos and now playstations. Whats next? Probably giving them holidays or PC's and unlimited net access.
I know alot of people in my town (read about them in the local paper) who have delibratley broken the law then when they get to court they ask to go to prison as prison life is better than theres right now. Now correct me if Im wrong but I thought prison was to stop people breaking the law and make them think about what they are doing.
Ok so they already have all this and it dosn't look like it will change ( I think they should be allowed, clothes, food, water and a toilet and thats all(well the serious criminals anyway))
but giving them games like GTA is just showing how messed up the criminal system is. Don't know if you read but Sarah Payne's parents recieved £11,000 compensation for her death whereas a man was given £30,000 after another man called him a pr!ck (something not right here at all). Why would you give them a game like GTA, a game that encourages you to break the law, steal cars, shoot people, run them down, dabble in the world of drugs. It seems a little odd.
Maybe they hope that by playing these games it will prevent them from doing it again as they could play the game instead. I doubt that will work.
I agree if they are too play games in prison it should be the ones at the bottom end of the market like barbie race and ride.
I know alot of people in my town (read about them in the local paper) who have delibratley broken the law then when they get to court they ask to go to prison as prison life is better than theres right now. Now correct me if Im wrong but I thought prison was to stop people breaking the law and make them think about what they are doing.
Ok so they already have all this and it dosn't look like it will change ( I think they should be allowed, clothes, food, water and a toilet and thats all(well the serious criminals anyway))
but giving them games like GTA is just showing how messed up the criminal system is. Don't know if you read but Sarah Payne's parents recieved £11,000 compensation for her death whereas a man was given £30,000 after another man called him a pr!ck (something not right here at all). Why would you give them a game like GTA, a game that encourages you to break the law, steal cars, shoot people, run them down, dabble in the world of drugs. It seems a little odd.
Maybe they hope that by playing these games it will prevent them from doing it again as they could play the game instead. I doubt that will work.
I agree if they are too play games in prison it should be the ones at the bottom end of the market like barbie race and ride.
Meka_Dragon wrote:
> Prison is a place for punishment, so should they play
> games?
Yes.
Barbie Race and Ride.
Yep that will work. If you go in prison and you are forced to play Barbie Race and Ride, it'll make people think twice about it. Also I think Barbie Fashion Designer and Sabrina the teenage witch would go down a treat!
> Prison is a place for punishment, so should they play
> games?
Yes.
Barbie Race and Ride.
Yep that will work. If you go in prison and you are forced to play Barbie Race and Ride, it'll make people think twice about it. Also I think Barbie Fashion Designer and Sabrina the teenage witch would go down a treat!
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