Author: Vicente Fernández
Date: 17:03:02 09/05/02
Go up one level in this thread
On September 05, 2002 at 10:49:47, John Marountas wrote: Lets forget about chess for a while. If a kid uses an educational game designed for learning math or music, he (or his parents) is a criminal. My father, who is 84 years old and has never placed a bet as far as I know, loves to play PC domino every night. Oh, what an offense. When I first heard about this stupid greek parliament bravado, I thought it was a joke. But sadly it isn´t. The real problem is not about gaming or not gaming; the problem is about the way a government (or some ignorant parlament members) dares to intrude and/or violate the private affairs of the people. Now, it is electronic gaming. Tomorrow it may be your bank account, your home or your right to express ideas. That very same road has been traveled a lot of times before. I just remembered a graffiti found in an argentinian wall: Lets vote for the bitches so they can become presidents; we've had enough of their son's stupidities. I hope the Greek people (not only the involved companies) react until these "politicians" understand that there is no place for autoritarism in today's democratic countries, such as Greece. Remember what the late John Donne wrote about critics? Well, a paraphrasis is well suited for this case: "When the critics find no wrong, they go and commit it." >Hide your chess engines cause you gonna end in jail!! > > >After reading the official newspaper of the government I felt >anger and mercy for those who sign such a law ! > >All started when a well known politician from the government was caught playing >lucky games at an underground cafe'. For day the media was talking about this >and many >other similar persons were anounced. > >Here comes the government . They had to set very strictly rules on this subject >in order >to save innocent people from losing a fortune playing lucky games. >At 30 July 2002 the Law 3037 was signed. So what now ? > >The government bannes all "mechanical" , "electrical" , "electromechanical" , >"electronical" games ! And they include also PC's games ! Even Chess . > > >As they say in their publication of their newspaper (FEK 174 ), a company that >provides >internet services is allowed to setup and use pcs after obtaining a special >license from the authorities, but in NO way can use these PCs to play all the >above mentioned games ! > >Insane ? Yes you are right , what has chess with gambling or with blackjack ? >No connection. Hey , both of them are games so bann them both !! > >Just this simple example shows how quikly and unlogically they have signed this >law >JUST to stop the media talking about the above incident. > >I believe that this law needs a lot of improvements at least minded games , like >chess , bridge , go etc... > >Many companys here in Greece have started a fight against this law. I will >report soon >if something new come to light . > >Regards, >John > >Some articles over the web: >http://www.netcafe.gr/modules.php?name=News&new_topic=35) >http://www.et.gr/docs/OE8V/D/F2487M5.pdf (Greek bovernement Newspaper) >http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_100020_30/05/2002_17011
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