Michael Atkinson Writes to Kotaku

Rather than discuss the points of argument he throws in a strawman argument about an irrelevant electoral challege.

I would like to know exactly what his electorate has to do with his position as attorney general. On top of that, what does it have to do with his behaviour to the greater community of South Australia, and the nation as a whole.

I didn’t know Croydon, South Australia, was a special area that dictates the laws of the country.

He can win his electorate as many times as he likes, we don’t care if he’s an MP that represents whatever electorate.

Whether he remains or not, what we all want is justified arguments and responses to our own.

Countless proponents of the R+18 rating having laid case after case of well constructed, logical, and rationalised arguments.

Regarding his actual email here, I would just like to say that his gloating of his achievements and of his electoral skills and community support reeks of smugness and intimidation.

It’s a pity I don’t live in his electorate as I would definitely vote for anyone other than him if I did live there.

As a Man sitting in one of the safest Labor seats in your state, your challenge rings as hollow as your apparent care for your constituent’s right to free speech. I would advise all Kotaku readers to instead concentrate their efforts towards raising awareness of this cause in more marginal seats and in the public eye in general.

What you are doing is wrong. It is unjust. You are stifling free speech.

Put up as many straw men as you like in this debate by listing possible game scenarios and we will always bring you back to the truth: This issue is about one Man who is trying to stifle Free speech.

I suspect that the appropriate response to this letter from Michael Atkinson was made even before his letter was composed, by a reader at gamepolitics.com where the article (and my letter) was mentioned:

“That guy just tore Atkinson a new one. Not that it matters. Man, I really wish people like this were in charge. Too bad they usually have too much dignity to perform the necessary amount of ass-kissing to become such powerful elected officials.”

That’s as much of a response as I’d care to dignify this letter with. Valid concerns were raised and they deserve better than to be met with what one reader described rightfully above as “Meet me behind the sheds at 5 schoolboy brawling”.

It is obvious he doesn’t take this issue and our community seriously.

@ Ryan

‘At the end of the day you comment about your consideration of diversity and yet refuse to acknowledge that a difference in opinion is bound to exist, and maybe, in this case, yours is wrong.’

It’s not even about one opinion being right and another being wrong, it’s about providing people with as much information as possible, and allowing them their right to make reasonable and *informed* decisions for themselves and their children as to what is and is not appropriate.

Then again, our government also wants to censor our internet access, so who knows? Perhaps one day, we’ll be remembering the good old days, when our opinions meant a damn.

Hmm… this seems timely…

http://www.destructoid.com/why-my-children-can-never-play-the-wii-again-124431.phtml

Oh dear.

Well, we can always wait him out. Governments do change.

What a mature response from a man who’s paid by OUR taxes.

Sooo that’s your rebuttal? Sad.

This is what pressure groups are for so that we don’t need to run off & join parliament. BUT with all the evidence around supporting an R rating it just isn’t enough for you is it?

It really isn’t surprising that your getting death threats from people. Did you ever stop to think,
“hmmm maybe I’m wrong on this one..?”

For god’s sake Atkinson, the whole reason you do what you do is because you were voted into it. As a politician it is your job to give the public what they want, and 90%+ of people want an R18+ classification. Just because you dont agree doesnt make you right… I would quite happily have people still hanging in this country if it were up to me, but I accept that capital punishment has been abolished. What I ask of you is that you stop thinking about what you want and start taking into consideration what the PUBLIC wants.

I sent Mr. Atkinson an email, directing him to Terry’s letter in the hope that he might attempt to understand our request and reasoning, rather than making unfounded and subjective claims about a subject with which is he unfamiliar. In his response, Mr. Atkinson has essentially stated that he will not fairly represent, or even consider, this issue. For that, apparently, we would need to elect someone else.

“For the past few years I have received more abuse and threats over my stand against R18+ interactive games than any other topic of public debate…”

@Atkinson: From whom? Members of the public? Perhaps this fact is more indicative of your negligence of the public’s opinion on this issue. You are employed in the public’s service, do your damn job.

From your condescending tone we can only assume that you have no respect for anyone who would offer a different view than your own. Quite a scary attitude from someone supposed to show understanding and respect as a ‘public servant’.
It’s clear you’re unwilling to spare even a moments thought on how out of touch with todays Australian you could be and are content to demonize and vilify anyone who might want to challenge your opinions.

I feel dismayed that someone in a position of trust would take such extreme measures to force their outdated moral standards on me and the rest of the country, as usual your response is littered with alarmist rhetoric designed to illicit sympathy and agreement from the average person yet you still refuse to address the most basic points of the discussion.

To sum up we don’t want your job, we just want you to do it better.