What about my crusades?

Currently there isn't much moving with either of my crusades. "Size 00" still exists, but there haven't been any special things happening. And, of course, the politicians still debate about "Killerspiele," but with no lasting success.

That doesn't mean I have forgotten about them. But there's no point in writing long posts about them as long as nothing moves.

But nevertheless here's a short update on both topics:

"Killerspiele" are not the major issue at the moment, but the politicians still have no idea what they are talking about, that much is obvious. There has been a discussion as to whether or not put more games into the category of "18+," but that's rather stupid: most games they are talking about are already "18+." The problem is not how the games are categorized, the problem is whether or not the games are only sold to people of the right age.

Just as with alcohol or cigarettes, vendors usually do not ask for the age of the person buying computer games. That's not a problem when it comes to "6+" or "12+" games. But there's games "16+" and "18+," games that should not be sold to people beneath those ages.

Currently, there's actually a huge discussion about the government sending in children to buy alcohol - to check whether the vendors actually sell alcohol to people beneath 18 (which is the new limit for buying any alcohol in Germany). But where was that discussion when TV-stations sent out children to buy computer games - to show how easy a child could get "Killerspiele?" It's one thing when the government lets children buy alcohol (which, of course, they don't get to keep, but is taken from them immediately). It's another thing when a company that's at least nominally not part of the government does the same thing with computer games (as they only do it for a documentary or a report). Not to the media, obviously. Maybe the editors and reporters always sent out their own children to buy them alcohol and don't want that to stop... But I can't prove that, so it's just a theory.

"Size 0" and "Size 00" still exist, too. And there's still loads of women out there who either really thin down to wear those sizes or at least try everything to make it. I personally rather find it scaring, to be honest.

It's one thing to go for a healthy weight, to keep in shape and do sports moderately in order to keep fit. But thinning down to a weight normally associated with girl much younger, hardly eating anything and looking like a refugee from a third world country, that's not what I would call healthy.

And as long as there's still women's magazines (though I can hardly understand what's so great about them...) out there who show a thin model on the cover - and a diet to reach the same weight the model has on page 3 -, women will still try everything possible and impossible to reach that weight. Because, ultimately, those magazines suggest that "all will be perfect" the moment you reach that weight and can wear those clothes (provided you can afford them). You'll find the perfect guy, get the perfect job and live happily ever after. At least it was much easier for the princess once upon a time: the prince was doing all the work, after all. And she didn't have to be that thin either.

So you see, I'm still following my crusades, but there's an armistice right now, so I'll regroup and wait for the next battle.