S Korea to investigate whether conscientious objectors played violent video games

[Tifoso]

CNN appears to be the ONLY source to this story.  I'm sorry, but I don't trust CNN anymore.  They've been caught in too many lies.

Plus, this article is an Editorial, meaning it's just basically someone's opinion, not true news.  We need to be careful...

[rocket]

5 minutes ago, jcosta79 said:

CNN appears to be the ONLY source to this story.  I'm sorry, but I don't trust CNN anymore.  They've been caught in too many lies.

Plus, this article is an Editorial, meaning it's just basically someone's opinion, not true news.  We need to be careful...

I know where your coming from, I don't watch Fox News any more for the same reason. In fact all of them have their agendas.

[Tifoso]

Whenever someone shares a news story with me, I immediately do a search to make sure there are other news outlets covering the same story.  If no one else is, that's a huge red flag for me.  And I don't mean other websites simply reposting the original story, I mean they did their own research and wrote their own article about the event.  Unfortunately these days that's just what you have to do so that you don't get duped into believing someone else's opinion as fact.

[Shawnster]

On 1/27/2019 at 11:10 AM, jcosta79 said:

CNN appears to be the ONLY source to this story.  I'm sorry, but I don't trust CNN anymore.  They've been caught in too many lies.

Plus, this article is an Editorial, meaning it's just basically someone's opinion, not true news.  We need to be careful...

JW.org reports the same.  I do not know their source.

 

Now, conscientious objectors are asked to prove that their refusal to perform military service is based on “deep, firm and genuine” beliefs. Judges have been instructed to look for evidence of the objector’s sincerity. In the words of the Supreme Court, “All aspects of his life . . . should be influenced by the deeply held conviction.” As they answer the judges’ probing questions, our brothers thus have a fine opportunity to testify about their personal decision to abstain from war and military service.—1 Peter 3:15.

 

https://www.jw.org/en/news/jw/region/south-korea/Not-Guilty/

[tuntun]

 

could this be including person who often watch violent films such as action films? I'm sure a lot of people watch something not because they like it but they just want to get rid of boredom

[Alsadan47]

18 hours ago, tuntun said:

 

could this be including person who often watch violent films such as action films? I'm sure a lot of people watch something not because they like it but they just want to get rid of boredom

Whilst I'm not overly sure on the direct answer to this question, Psalm 11:5 states;

Jehovah examines the righteous one as well as the wicked one;

He hates anyone who loves violence

The reality is we shouldn't really be partaking in anything violent. And if we do, then we probably wouldn't really have a leg to stand on if someone brought it up. Again, to keep in mind;

1 Timothy 1:5

Really, the objective of this instruction is love out of a clean heart and out of a good conscience and out of faith without hypocrisy

 

If I had decided to play violent games or watch movies depiciting violence - If someone then called me out on it, I'd be a hypocrit to say that partaking in violence goes against my faith.

 

So, going back to your original question, I'd well imagine so... or at least not be surprised if it did include that.

[CynthiaG]

 

https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/11/asia/conscientious-objector-south-korea-gaming-intl/index.html

 

This article is a MUST READ! It's a topic we have to review here at home regularly since we live in the digital age. I love how the article uses the phrase "shooting games" so to me this would include any game where you aim and pull a trigger like laser tag, paint ball etc. 

 

Ask yourself: Would I risk involving myself in a specific form of entertainment if it meant I could possibly be subjected to military service? The answer seems simple right.... Just a great reminder of how important it is to watch our choice of entertainment. I'd love to hear your thoughts and insight! 

 

I actually posted this article on my instagram page to spread the message to all my friends and to my dismay it got very little attention. I don't know if the friends are just trying to avoid controversy or as unfortunate as it may be perhaps most of them don't take the topic so seriously and even make excuses for why it's ok to play "shooting games" so they just avoided it alltogether.

 

[Qapla]

Perhaps one of the reasons the sited article has not generated your expected response has to do with the three concluding paragraphs ...

 

Quote

Lim Tae-hoon, head of the Center for Military Human Rights Korea, told CNN the investigations of conscientious objectors showed prosecutors "still sees objectors as criminals."
"They are imposing a moral line fit for saints and spiritual leaders on them," he said. "It is a violation of privacy. Playing shooting video games and the refusal to bear arms is unrelated. It's a subjective judgment. A game is merely a game."
He added that the center planned to report prosecutors to the National Human Rights Commission. "It's their duty to defend human rights," Lim said. "They are not upholding the duty but acting against it."

 

[CynthiaG]

On 1/11/2019 at 9:18 AM, Bob said:

Well, I understand on one hand how they're want to make sure conscientious objectors are practicing what they preach, but at the same time, this is a clear invasion of privacy and a violation of your right to play whatever sort of video game you want. Yes, a brother objecting to military service but playing shooting games can be seen as a hypocrite, but my biggest fear is the subjective precedent that can be set.

 

What subjective criteria will they now use to determine if an objector is lying? Owning a pocket knife with a blade longer than a certain length? What constitutes a violent video game?

 

I'm just saying that this opens the door for even more human rights violations when the ruling should have done the opposite.

 

 

Truth be told my brother is we have NO PRIVACY! The government run by satan has the advanced technology to listen in on our conversations and watch us whenever they please. 

 

If I asked my adult son who still lives at home to clean his room and he tells me it's already clean so I warn that I am going to check but he says he doesn't want me to check because it would be an invasion of his privacy I am going to assume he's being dishonest and only trying to cover up. 

 

True we all want a measure of privacy but unfortunately I am inclined to believe that the ones crying about "invasion of privacy" are most likely guilty in some way or another. 

[CynthiaG]

1 hour ago, Qapla said:

"Playing shooting video games and the refusal to bear arms is unrelated. It's a subjective judgment. A game is merely a game."

 

 

I strongly disagree with this statement. The ouija is also just a game isn't it? A game that is supposed to incite spirit forces....spirit forces that we know to be wicked. So NO a game is not merely just a game! 

[Shawnster]

On 2/8/2019 at 9:43 PM, tuntun said:

 

could this be including person who often watch violent films such as action films? I'm sure a lot of people watch something not because they like it but they just want to get rid of boredom

It could, if the government had access to the movies a person watched.  

 

 

[BenJepthah]

On 1/11/2019 at 9:05 PM, Tortuga said:

This reminds me of something a brother said many years ago, he asked 'if you were arrested as one of Jehovah's Witnesses, would there be enough evidence to convict you?'

 

We think the limits of our conscience is just between us and Jehovah, there may be times that we do something that our conscience allows us to do, however again we need to think of how others will view the things we do. In this case, whether or not a brother felt it was okay to play violent video games may make the difference whether or not he goes to jail. 

Happily my answer is very certainly yes.  

    On your second point:👍 Sometimes even when the scriptures give no direct statement on a thing we must do our best to adapt to the situation at hand.  

    I guess the next hurdle will be to determine what ( in the Korean public consciousness) constitutes violent video games. Will it be just FPS’s or Is Mario Carts to violent??🤡

[BenJepthah]

19 hours ago, CynthiaG said:

rly since we live in the digital age. I love how the article uses the phrase "shooting games" so to me this would include any game where you aim and pull a trigger like laser tag, paint ball etc.

This actually doesn’t go far enough. And also too far at the other end. In many lands firearm usage is a part of putting food on the table. A trip to the shooting range necessary for the ethical use of the firearm in so doing. ( but it isn’t entertainment ). On the other end of the spectrum is the video game which uses non firearm weapons in depicting violence. Or forms of so called entertainment that are essentially violent though non lethal ( boxing , wrestling, even possibly American style football ). Even Polo was once recreational  training for War. 

[Memeber212]

Keep in mind that South Korea is technically at war with N. Korea. All of us, whether in the US, the UK or almost whenever in the world are only allowed to abstain from the service during the peacetime. If there is a war we will be subject to compulsory military service. South Korea breaks young peoples' lives by drafting them to the army. For example, Koreans have the best electronic sports players (playing computer games). They are the elite of the world. They make careers, huge money and just about their peak form those young boys are taken to the army. Nobody has come back to their form after the army. No surprise they try to avoid it as hard as they can. I did the same.

[Hotteok]

I don't think playing shooting games can prove you are not a conscientious objector.

Clearly, even if a young JW who has been habitually playing shooting games were to participate in a war,  he wouldn't want to kill someone in the battle field because of his Bible-based conscience.  

But still I understand why they try to base their decision on it.

 

I don't know if they would take into account the frequency or the seriousness of playing such games, too, 

but I'm not sure if it's fair to deem them as liars if they have played such games for a few times. 

 

I remember playing such games when I was 11, and people in  their 20's are different but still I think it violates privacy.

But I know why they made such a decision.

They fear that anyone would try to avoid military service and probably assume now a 3-year-alternative-service isn't enough to prove one's belief. 

 

[Memeber212]

On 1/27/2019 at 4:10 PM, jcosta79 said:

CNN appears to be the ONLY source to this story.  I'm sorry, but I don't trust CNN anymore.  They've been caught in too many lies.

Plus, this article is an Editorial, meaning it's just basically someone's opinion, not true news.  We need to be careful...

I appreciate you check the sources.

[Shawnster]

On 5/22/2019 at 7:44 PM, tarcamion said:

Keep in mind that South Korea is technically at war with N. Korea

The two Koreas made a broad declaration of peace in 2018.  While falling short of an actual peace treaty, tensions have greatly reduced.

 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2018/09/18/korean-summit-moon-jae-kim-jong-un-agree/1354113002/

SEOUL — South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a broad agreement on Wednesday morning in Pyongyang that both said would usher in a new era of peace on the Korean Peninsula.

 

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/26/world/asia/korea-peace-deal.html

HONG KONG — It might fall short of a peace treaty, but after seven decades of truce on the Korean Peninsula, the “peace declaration” that President Trump and North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, could announce when they meet in Vietnam this week would be no small thing.

 

How can warring nations embroiled in a conflict that left millions dead agree to end the fighting — but not manage to ever sign a formal peace treaty for 70 years?

 

It’s complicated.

[Brother_Bliss]

On 5/22/2019 at 9:08 PM, NobleEndeavours said:

I don't think playing shooting games can prove you are not a conscientious objector.

Clearly, even if a young JW who has been habitually playing shooting games were to participate in a war,  he wouldn't want to kill someone in the battle field because of his Bible-based conscience.  

This was my thinking as well.

 

I might like to jump and turtles when I play Mario, but I wouldn't imagine hurting one in real life

[Bek]

I think they do have a point. Actual violence as opposed to virtual violence (games, films) is like sexual immorality vs porn. In fact, violent games are more than the "porn" version of violence, because they are interactive.

 

The Bible says that Jehovah hates lovers of violence. Can a person who loves and enjoys violent games say that he does not love violence? He can say that, but it will be difficult to believe him. It is like saying I love and enjoy porn, but I hate sexual immorality. You get the point.