Freedom has its limits

I am reasonably liberal but not, I suspect, a true libertarian. Everyone has limits (even anarchists) but my limits (possibly as a result of being a parent) are definitely more conservative than some.

Take, for example, the video games that Andrew Ian Dodge writes about on The Free Society blog today. Andrew objects to games such as Manhunt II (which I had never heard of until I read his piece) being banned. Give them a rating, he argues, and let adults decide whether they wish to buy them.

I would like to agree - but where do we draw the line? Looking for an image to illustrate Andrew's article, I found some stills of Manhunt and one in particular made me feel distinctly queasy. (It featured a man about to bludgeon another man, cowering in terror on the floor, with what I think was an axe.)

I seriously question the minds of adults who want to play games like this and the thought of my children seeing some of these images, let alone playing the game (should they get their hands on it at a friend's house, for example), disturbs me. 

I have always said that liberals/libertarians should stick together and fight one another's corner because, one day, politicians will target something that you value. But what are the limits? Where do we draw the line?

Personally, I think there is a case for banning some things. Who can seriously argue otherwise? The important thing, before government steps in, is that there should be serious debate and people, including politicians, should make decisions based on hard facts, not intuition, anecdotes or half-baked junk science.

Unfortunately we live in a world dominated by spin doctors and lobby groups and everyone - including politicians - is so busy we simply don't have time to consider each issue properly. And so we get knee-jerk responses and legislation introduced by well-meaning or publicity-hungry politicians

If I am sympathetic to the banning of Manhunt it's not because I think it will encourage people to become serial killers but because - like "No Smoking" signs on every shop door - it adds to what David Hockney subjectively calls the "uglification" of society.

Does that make me illiberal and intolerant? Or just a grumpy old man out of touch with the video gaming generation? I think I should be told.

Another step towards prohibition

The war on tobacco continues with anti-smoking campaigners today renewing their campaign to restrict - and ultimately ban - smoking on film and television. According to ASH, any film that features 'smoking scenes' should be preceded by strong anti-smoking ads; and films containing 'tobacco images' should carry an 'adult' rating. Actors, added the director of ASH ominously, are also accountable. My response ("Films have to reflect real life. In most of the western world, a quarter of the adult population smokes and I don't see why films shouldn't represent that, as long as it's not totally gratuitous.") is included in this BBC report.