Microsoft’s Mass Effect Incurs Homophobic Backlash from the Government of Singapore
Before I get on my soap box, I want to say that I absolutely love Singapore. I have been there no less than fourteen times and every time I had a blast. The people are friendly, polite and everywhere you go you feel safe. You can say what you will about their draconian legal system, but it does dissuade average folk from engaging in criminal activities. I am all for stamping out crime and I firmly believe that you have to respect different outlooks on dealing with crime. What I do not get is banning video games because they feature two females kissing. That was what the scene from the Microsoft game Mass Effect contained that caused it to be banned. Two females, one human and one alien passionately kiss and that is enough to incur the wrath of the government censor.
Ban a game for drug use, ban a game for excessive violence, but banning a game for two people doing what comes naturally (with their clothes on no less) defies logic. There are people that for whatever crazy reason will feel violated for witnessing such scenes, I can accept that, but rather than banning the game, why not let such prudes exercise a little self censorship. I would hazard a guess that the majority of Singapore’s population is not offended by such a trivial matter and that more than a few Singaporeans believe that this is yet another example of paternalistic big government at its worst.
Extreme Tech
via uberreview.com
