Bhutan assembly bans members' laptops "to stop gaming"

Bhutan's national assembly has banned laptops, nominally to prevent officials from distracting themselves with games and "pictures" (though there's nothing in the article to suggest this has been a problem in the past -- this could just be garden variety authoritarianism that uses games as a scapegoat):

The national assembly in newly democratic Bhutan has stopped lawmakers from bringing laptop computers into the house for fear they might spend their time playing computer games.

"The members can be distracted playing games and viewing pictures," said Nima Tshering, speaker of the assembly

Link (Thanks, Razib!)

[#1 posted by dougrogers , July 1, 2008 6:31 AM]

I suppose forbidding eating and smoking in the assembly is also garden variety authoritarianism?

[#2 posted by dalziel_86 , July 1, 2008 6:35 AM]

By 'pictures' they obviously mean 'porn'.

[#3 posted by Ugly Canuck , July 1, 2008 6:36 AM]

The Bhutanese are new to democracy, cut 'em some slack.
The only country in the world that has the happiness of its citizenry as the explicit and primary goal (not "efficiency", not power or respect, not wealth, but happiness...kinda like the US was supposed to be ... before the Courts decided that phrase "the pursuit of happiness" is functionally meaningless as a stop to the actions of the Powerful).

[#4 posted by Grobstein , July 1, 2008 8:04 AM]

The king tried to ban TV, too (for everyone, not just the legislature).

[#5 posted by Jeffrey McManus , July 1, 2008 8:34 AM]

The U.S. Senate, that bastion of authoritarianism, has had a similar ban for more than 10 years.

[#6 posted by dougrogers , July 1, 2008 8:36 AM]

Link to longer BBC story

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7483643.stm

[#7 posted by Antinous , July 1, 2008 8:38 AM]

TV was only introduced to Bhutan in the last few years. Since its introduction, there's already a documented break-up of family structure, parental neglect and youth disaffection that didn't exist ten years ago. Hey let's give them crack, too. Why should we hog all the good stuff.

[#8 posted by Jeffrey McManus , July 1, 2008 9:14 AM]

I'm sure that TV could be the only possible reason for the decline in Bhutanese society. Probably best to start burning comic books as well, since I heard from a guy that they are responsible for the downfall of civilization.

[#9 posted by dougrogers , July 1, 2008 9:51 AM]

Well, America is proof of that.

[#10 posted by Baldhead , July 1, 2008 10:30 AM]

I don't see the problem. They can still bring in PDAs yeah?

[#11 posted by sleepylemur , July 1, 2008 11:33 AM]

I've visited Bhutan, the most striking memory were kids from the mountains watching Indian tv broadcasts of soap operas and commercials. I completely understand why the king would want to ban television, but you can't jam the airwaves and the sets are cheap and already there.

At Bangkok airport we saw Bhutanese returning home with gigantic plasma displays on their luggage carts. I hope they're able to hold onto the best parts of their culture as the country is thrust into the modern world.

shiny toy guns

[#12 posted by alexander ayzenband , July 1, 2008 10:02 PM]

not to worry dear assemblymen, iPhones will be provided and the service is paid for by the taxpayers.

[#13 posted by Sephiriz , July 1, 2008 11:11 PM]

I don't think laptops should be banned, although I understand why they would be. Legislatures seem to be doing so little that they need to play games to pass time. How comforting...