Outspoken MP comprehensively mocked and ridiculed by execs, developers and politicians
Backbench MP Keith Vaz –better known within the game community for his frequently objectionable outbursts on violent game content – has made a last-minute exit from a Whitehall debate where he would have faced a number of execs in the game industry.
Vaz had a panel seat booked alongside the likes of EA’s Keith Ramsdale and Tiga CEO Richard Wilson, but at the eleventh hour event organizers announced he “couldn’t make it”. Today’s Whitehall eForum event had featured various panel discussions with guests such as David Braben, Eidos’ Ian Livingstone, game enthusiast MP Tom Watson and shadow culture minister Ed Vaizey.
Attendees jeered upon hearing the announcement that Vaz wouldn’t be attending after all, and the crammed meeting room was evidently filled with industry execs who wanted to ask Vaz to explain his frequent colouring of games as evil.
Vaz quickly became the subject of ridicule from his fellow panelists as well as audience members. Ian Livingstone was Vaz’ last minute replacement for the panel, and the Eidos Life President took his seat and began to pejoratively recite the kind of soundbites Vaz is known for.
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Perhaps rather than jeering, people could have asked why Mr Vaz needed to make expenses claims on his second home just 12 miles from his first home, and why he felt the need to "flip" his home status. Then there could have been a discussion about how MPs (not necessarily Mr Vaz) having their noses so firmly in the public trough and indulging in a bit of creative accountancy is a Very Bad Example to the youth of Britain. At least if you're playing a game, you're not actually stealing...
i'm no fan of Vaz but we do need him and other opponents of gaming to engage in a debate so we can actually make some progress and not only change peoples perception of gaming but perhaps also augment our attitude to help the process.
but if they're not willing to engage then we're the ones who suffer with an inaccurate reputation.
still, he would have gotten a good ribbing had he been there, gods knows i would have done a bunk if i were him.
