The most interesting part of the violent videogame debate, of course, is the difference between the way courts treat violence and the way they treat sexual content. I'm not really taking a position on the videogame law at all; I'm just noting the difference.

By the way, one of the most entertaining things I have ever read -- and I'm thinking I might have linked to it long ago, but that's no reason not to link to it again -- is the original 1930 Hays Code that governed movies at one time. My favorite parts:

1. The ban on "excessive and lustful kissing."

2. Ministers are not allowed to be comic characters.

3. Along with "brutality and possible gruesomeness" and "cruelty to children or animals," one of the Repellent Subjects is "surgical operations."

4. "Impure love must not be presented as attractive and beautiful."

5. "Certain places are so closely and thoroughly associated with sexual life or with sexual sin that their use must be carefully limited." This is apparently a reference to the strict limits on showing people's bedrooms.

6. Lewd dancing includes "excessive body movements while the feet are stationary." That just cracks me up every time. "UUUUNH! Lemme hear you say 'UUUUNH!'" Heh.

Ah, censorship.

Posted by Alison-Jane at July 17, 2003 05:34 AM