Joe Lieberman

[Soldat_Louis]

Due to his importance in video game debate, he deserves a thread her. After all, he's the one who sparked the 1993 senate hearing that led to the creation of ESRB and IDSA, now ESA.

But first of all, I'd like you to explain me this : as as Christopher Weaver (http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2639&Itemid=2&limit=1&limitstart=1) and other people (http://italia.planetelderscrolls.gamespy.com/interview2.htm) recalled, Lieberman attacked Daggerfall in 1996, in a same way Mass Effect is being attacked now (i.e. he never played it, never watched it, but condemned it anyway). And in order to express how much he loathed this game, he used a curious metaphor : to him, Daggerfall was the "electronic equivalent of coal in the stocking" (http://fourfatchicks.com/Reviews/Morrowind/Morrowind.shtml) for its violent and "immoral" content.

Can someone explain it to me, please ? Because I'm not sure to understand what he means. Thanks in advance.

[beemoh]

The phrase itself comes from the notion that naughty children will only get a lump of coal at christmas, meaning that either:

a/ Lieberman views Bethesda/Daggerfall as the industry's Naughty Child
b/ Lieberman views the content of Daggerfall as being a ruinous event (ie: receiving coal instead of proper presents) in what should be the positive experience of the child-exclusive entertainment form, videogames (ie: Christmas)

EDIT: without a proper quote, though, it might be hard to explain it properly, though.

[Pominator]

It was a new media, it is the obligation of any political mouthpiece to attack a new form of entertainment when the chance is given, Daggerfall was the unlucky victim of the MM (modern media) attack mounted by someone trying to get a leg up in the world, we each think that we are never going to do it, but when we are his age, and nanotech driven VR games/movies/music are made, a few of us will probably condemn it, not realising that we are making the same mistake as our forefathers.

I am a pessimist and a misantrophe in case you haven't noticed, for that I blame these forums.