Gaming News, Cthulhu, Sex Crimes

[tcpip]

Recently read from the beginning to the current issue; The Order of the Stick, one of the funniest pieces of work from gamer culture. Roleplaying reviews this week included RuneQuest (3rd ed) and a very old Traveller module, Chamax and The Horde. Played some Traveller: The New Era on Tuesday and Dungeon! Dragonlords Dreamland scenerio went very well except for a very strange visitor.

Last night attended the arthouse film gathering in Collingwood with the usual suspects (Brendan, 2600AU crew, Paul from Polyester). Gorged ourselves at "The New Raffles" (opposite The Tote) and then watched three H.P. Lovecraft inspired films, including "The Call of Cthulhu", a 2005 film in a 1920s style, the very cheesy From Beyond and Dagon. On a related note, fishermen in New Zealand have caught a half-tonne squid. Ry'leh is nearby you know...I-ai! I-ai! Cthulhu, Ftan'g!

The war against youth marches on; a 13 year old in Italy gets pregnant to her 15 year old boyfriend. Her parents and the courts force her to have an abortion (link in Italian). A couple (one 16 the other 17) exchange sexual images of themselves to each other. They are charged and convicted of child pornography (from erudito. In good ol Denver, a 13 year old girl has been charged as both offender and victim for having sex with her 12 year old boyfriend.

Comments

[cluebyfour.livejournal.com]

a 13 year old girl has been charged as both offender and victim for have sex with her 12 year old boyfriend.

Actually, although the article you linked to comes from the Denver Post, the incident in question occurred in Utah.

But yeah, I have a hard time wrapping my head around the idea that someone can be both a victim and perpetrator of the same crime.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

from the Denver Post, the incident in question occurred in Utah.

Ahh, quite correct. My bad.

But yeah, I have a hard time wrapping my head around the idea that someone can be both a victim and perpetrator of the same crime.

Something has just sprung to mind; these article suggest that the US applies criminal convictions to minors, yes?

[cluebyfour.livejournal.com]

these article suggest that the US applies criminal convictions to minors, yes?

Yes, although typically they're tried under a separate juvenile code, with different sentencing guidelines. And those records aren't usually made public. Of course, in some cases juveniles can be tried as adults, usually for violent crimes committed by older teens. Thankfully, it's no longer permissible to impose the death penalty for capital crimes committed as a juvenile.

And each state has, I believe, a cutoff age at which a minor is considered too young to understand that he or she has committed a crime and can't be charged.

[amazinggoatgirl.livejournal.com]

But yeah, I have a hard time wrapping my head around the idea that someone can be both a victim and perpetrator of the same crime.

Well, that's the same line of reasoning used to forbid drug use and suicide.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

True, but in both of those cases they are self-regarding acts, which is, of course ridiculous in its own right; the particular oddity here is being on the receiving end (from someone else) and causing the same (to someone else).

[kremmen.livejournal.com]

Those last two stories come from Florida, one of the most corruptly and incompetently run states in the US and Utah, one of the most heavily Bush-voting states in the US. No big surprise.

The Italian one is more surprising (given Catholicism) and more interesting. Should a 13 year old be allowed to have a child? If so, who pays?

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Should a 13 year old be allowed to have a child?

Well have it, yes, I think she should be allowed to (especially given her rather strong views on the matter).

Keep it depends on her cognitive ability.

If so, who pays?

Even in the worse case scenario I really don't think a single mothers penion would be that much of a problem on the budget. The Italians could save the money from withdrawing from NATO for starters...

[kremmen.livejournal.com]

The fact that you don't see it as a problem on the budget isn't the point. The Italians could save money other ways, but they may not choose to just because you think it's a good idea. I think you'll find that most taxpayers would not want to pay for it. If the government doesn't plan to pay and the parents don't want the child, that leads to few good outcomes for the child, were it to be born. Adoption is, of course, a decent option, but the whole issue of whether you can compel someone to adopt out a child is another difficult one.

[angel80.livejournal.com]

'worst case' please

You can be too narrowly rational on some points. Personally I think that no 13 year old should be allowed to destroy her life prospects at such an age - cognitive ability or not. She certainly lacks enough experience to be a halfway decent mother, except in a more tribal society in which child mothers would not be expected to handle the major burden by themselves. Which is why grandparents must be allowed to have a say in the matter.

(I'm talking about the Italian case, not the stupid Florida and Utah criminal codes.)

[seriouspaul.livejournal.com]

Those last two stories come from Florida, one of the most corruptly and incompetently run states in the US and Utah, one of the most heavily Bush-voting states in the US. No big surprise.

Nor is it surprising that you'd use this as a measurement of fact. Perhaps someone here is allowing their emotions surpass their rationale. Gee it sure is hard for me to tell who.

Oh wait. Nope. I can't back that up.

As a non politically aligned independent, who is also pretty militantly atheist I'd have to say you give people like me a bad name by acting just like the people you hate.

[kremmen.livejournal.com]

Huh? Of the states with sodomy laws on their books (ruled unconstitutional in 2003), only one, Michigan, voted Democrat in 2000. Judges in the US tend to be appointed by politicians. I therefore find it unsurprising that some of those states have harsh, badly written laws regarding minors and that those laws occasionally get prosecuted in the courts. I therefore conclude "no big surprise". Why do you have such a problem with that?

[iosef.livejournal.com]

Stil cathcing up on OOTS, I'm only up to 300. Maybe another 50 tonight.

In a related note: In the US a 15 year old is also being charged as Perpetrator/victim in a "Make and or distribute child pornography" for sending her boyfriend nudes of herself. Application has been made to try her as an Adult!

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Stil cathcing up on OOTS, I'm only up to 300. Maybe another 50 tonight.

Apart from all the in-jokes and witticisms, it actually has a very clever story and background as well...

Application has been made to try her as an Adult!

If I was speaking for the defense, I would let the application go through and when it goes to trial say: "According to the prosecution, she's an adult, therefore she's allowed to do this".

Oh, that would make their brains break....

[scarletazalea.livejournal.com]

I know nothing about gaming and little more about HP Lovecraft, but I do know about the increasing infringement of youth rights, though I didn't know those particular incidences. It is sad to me that we criminalize normal youthful expression of sexuality. (I'm catching up on my livejournal reading inbetween testing Physician Assistant students on their cardio exam skills).

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

I do know about the increasing infringement of youth rights

*nods* At the point in time when they really need their own space it is increasingly in denial.

I wonder how the system is going to cope with the decreasing age of sexual maturity?

Although as a physician you would have more information on whether this is still the case; I have a sneaking suspicion that the chronological decline has been arrested in first-world countries since the late-70s due to "fast food" culture.

It is sad to me that we criminalize normal youthful expression of sexuality.

As caseopaya commented, soon there will be a ban on playing "doctor's and nurse's".

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

I know nothing about gaming and little more about HP Lovecraft

Get yourself a copy of the "Call of Cthulhu" roleplaying game - any edition will do - you want regret it, it really is one of the best.

[kremmen.livejournal.com]

The US cases are at once better and also worse than a general infringement of youth rights. On the one hand, convicting a few kids doesn't have any effect on the vast majority. Like laws against various adult sexual practices, they will be successfully ignored by millions of people.

The sinister side is in how such laws will be applied. To be prosecuted requires a specific set of circumstances, the important one being that someone who has access to the evidence, probably someone very close to the participants, has to report them to the police. Such laws are basically a device for some evil bastard with a grudge to turn a(n ex-)friend or family member into a criminal.

I spy with my EYE something beginning with "Iyeh..."

[grailchaser.livejournal.com]

Call of Cthulhu RPG.... Darn but I used to love that game.

Q: What's the quick version of the Call of Cthulhu Roleplaying Game?
A: Roll 1d6. If you roll 1-4, roll again. If you roll a 5 you go insane. If you roll a 6 you are dead.

As for the movies... I don't think I've seen the movie of the same title -unless it was some lame collection of forgettable short stories like the Necronomicon.

"Dagon" has got to be the *best* Lovecraftian movies I've ever seen - being a version of Terror out of Innsmouth (I think). Since it was set in Spain, Innsmouth was translated to Imbolca (which means much the same thing). The creepy townsfolk were a bit campy and its a pity that they were all turning into miniature clones of Cthulhu rather than Deep Ones... But that bit where the townsfolk were chanting in unison to Cthulhu always sends a shiver down my spine. I have the DVD with me in my flat but somehow playing it at night whilst staying at Christmas Island doesn't seem like a good idea right now.... :)

"From Beyond" is cheesy but its surely one of the best HP Lovecraft films around - most of which, like this one, traditionally find a role for Jeffrey Combs somewhere. (See Reanimator, Reanimator II, Bride of Reanimator, Frighteners ... well okay its almost Cthulhuish - its in a coastal town and involves undead).

Of course, neither of the films are actually great. They're definitely B grade.

Hmmm... I also happen to be reading the "HP Lovecraft Omnibus 2: Dagon and Other Macabre Tales" right now, in fact. "The 20th Century Horror Story's Dark and Baroque Prince", according to Stephen King.

Re: I spy with my EYE something beginning with "Iyeh..."

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Yep, Dagon was indeed a version of the Terror of Innsmouth, with some significant but appropriate modifications.

It was also the last film of the actor Francisco Rabal who played (quite excellently, I thought) the town drunk.

Forced her to have an abortion?????

[grailchaser.livejournal.com]

Wouldn't that constitute an assault? On her? Don't even get me started with the unborn child's rights or the Father's.

If she wants to keep the child or at least bear it term, how the hell are the courts going to stop her? Tie her down and give her an injection - like they do in the mobile abortion clinics in Tibet?

Re: Forced her to have an abortion?????

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

I rather suspect that's exactly what they intend to do.

[discordia13.livejournal.com]

I suspect Mr Cthulhu is making a comeback. I'm seeing sites like this http://www.cafepress.com/buy/cthulhu+2008 popping up everywhere.

Sometimes I do wonder if I'm beta testing the Cthulu MMPORG - How would we tell?

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Ahh, Cthulhu for President again... "Why settle for the lesser evil?"

If you notice gills on the desk clerk of the seaside hotel you're staying in, then you'll know for sure.

[darknova666.livejournal.com]

paul is a character!

i was in mymar / burma a few weeks ago and one of their main beers is DAGON !

brought back a label

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Damn, dagon beer. That could be very dangerous indeed.

Of course, Danes tend to look at us quzzically when it is mentioned about the Aussie beer "Fosters".