Jack Thompson: Maybe he's right...just a little?

Kurt_ · Post by **Kurt_** » Wed May 28, 2008 4:12 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKN64o-vHyU

Watch that, and tell me that kid was not influenced by GTA.

Sure, not everybody's like that, but lack of discipline, lack of perception of reality, and lack of consequences are a dangerous mix.

Post by **Triton** » Wed May 28, 2008 4:21 pm

its a combination of negliance on the part of the parents for getting the SEVEN YEAR OLD KID games like grand theft auto to begin with, in cases like this people LOVE to shift the blame to videogames because its an easy cop-out. why take the blame on yourself when you can point the finger at videogames instead of your own bad parenting

Post by **bicostp** » Wed May 28, 2008 4:35 pm

Triton's right. That kid had no reason to have a mature rated game in the first place, and parents blame video games for the violence rather than accepting the responsibility having a child comes with.

A similar example: around here a few days ago, a parent was riding bikes with her 5 year old. They approached a railroad crossing, and thanks to a petition the neighborhood circulated (and the woman most likely signed herself), it was a silent crossing. That is, it has the lights and swinging arm every other crossing has, but the trains can't sound their horns. They continued onto the tracks. Both dodged the arms and ignored the lights. She made it across, but his tires must have gotten caught or something because he was killed on impact with the train. Who did the mother blame? The MBTA because the train didn't stop in time.

Besides, it's not like the kid won't pick up violence from other sources anyway. Television, other children at school, or even their environment will influence their actions and decisions.

EDIT

CronoTriggerfan wrote:Do you blame food for obesity? Do you blame guns for murder? Do you blame television for laziness? Do you blame WoW for lack of a social life? Do you blame lenders for the current American housing crisis?

No. No. No. Yes. No.

LoyalistRevolt · Post by **LoyalistRevolt** » Wed May 28, 2008 4:37 pm

first off I don't think they are bad parents I just think the boy is a dumbass...second I didn't hear GTA in that report but I could be wrong...Third look at were that kid lives its a Ghetto society turns its back on places like that.

Aguiluz · Post by **Aguiluz** » Wed May 28, 2008 5:29 pm

I wanted to steal a car because it is fun.

My gawd. Tell me that wasn't GTA.

Anyway, I'm not blaming the games. The reason why there are game ratings is because that they are there so that kids won't be exposed to that type of content.

Mister X · Post by **Mister X** » Wed May 28, 2008 5:40 pm

Yap yap, bad parenting, utter lack of personal accountability.

This crap is more common than the media would have you believe, but nobody cared until they could pin it on THE VIDYA GAEMS.

I miss the days when comic books and rock music were the evils leading children to lives of SODA DRINKING and WOMEN WEARING SLACKS! Deviltry! Ah, the good old days of hyper-reactionary BS aren't behind us; we're up to our eyeballs in it.

Post by **CronoTriggerfan** » Wed May 28, 2008 8:24 pm

Do you blame food for obesity? Do you blame guns for murder? Do you blame television for laziness? Do you blame WoW for lack of a social life? Do you blame lenders for the current American housing crisis?

As far as my point goes, what everyone else said. I'm just trying to relate and articulate to you that the above examples, which are also absurd statements, are just as silly as the ones you're making now.

Kurt_ · Post by **Kurt_** » Wed May 28, 2008 8:32 pm

Yes, yes, yes, yes, and maybe.

My point is, if the kid hadn't played GTA, he wouldn't have thought of stealing a car or anything of the sort.

typamc95 · Post by **typamc95** » Wed May 28, 2008 8:44 pm

He said " I do bad things because they are fun"
Not "I steal cars because it's fun"

soundwave · Post by **soundwave** » Wed May 28, 2008 8:49 pm

Kurt_ wrote:My point is, if the kid hadn't played GTA, he wouldn't have thought of stealing a car or anything of the sort.

Do you have a what-if machine? PM me, I have a few fantasies I'd like to entertain.

Post by **CronoTriggerfan** » Wed May 28, 2008 8:53 pm

Kurt_ wrote:Yes, yes, yes, yes, and maybe.

My point is, if the kid hadn't played GTA, he wouldn't have thought of stealing a car or anything of the sort.

If those answers are really true, your thinking pattern is seriously flawed, my friend. Besides, do you honestly believe that the sole actions in a video game are what makes up this kid's idiocy? He probably didn't come from a very good home or social situation to begin with, not to mention the fact that he probably got more of this thug mentality from rap music or television than GTA.

EDIT: Thought of another good one.

Do you blame the internet for piracy?

Post by **bicostp** » Wed May 28, 2008 8:56 pm

Kurt_ wrote:My point is, if the kid hadn't played GTA, he wouldn't have thought of stealing a car or anything of the sort.

Who didn't teach the kid the difference between fantasy and reality?
Who didn't teach him right from wrong?
Who bought him the game, if that's really the case?
Who said he played GTA?
Why is GTA solely to blame for 'corrupting the childrens'?

The point is, Grand Theft Auto is like pornography: very fun when you're an adult, but it's not for kids. Rockstar Games or whoever is behind this title is not to blame. You can't blame the game itself, which is an inanimate object, incapable of performing acts on its own. The negligent parents are the ones who are at fault.

CronoTriggerfan wrote:he probably got more of this thug mentality from rap music or television than GTA.

^ That.

soundwave · Post by **soundwave** » Wed May 28, 2008 9:03 pm

CronoTriggerfan wrote:Do you blame food for obesity? Do you blame guns for murder? Do you blame television for laziness? Do you blame WoW for lack of a social life? Do you blame lenders for the current American housing crisis?

As far as my point goes, what everyone else said. I'm just trying to relate and articulate to you that the above examples, which are also absurd statements, are just as silly as the ones you're making now.

and Do you blame the internet for piracy?

These objects don't force our hands, but they sure as hell aren't passive forces. The abundance of food and the advances of technology lead a large percentage of the country towards obesity. The easily obtained hand gun makes it extremely easy to rob someone, and perhaps mistakingly murder them. I don't know enough about real estate and financing to comment on the housing crash, but its quite obvious that loaning out ridiculous amount of money leads to ridiculous amounts of debt. And I think piracy would be much, much harder, if we had to do it by mail-order.

I think its just ignorant to say that video game violence has no impact on youths, but such an impact can be curbed by <i>common sense</i> and proper guidance by a child's superiors.

LoyalistRevolt · Post by **LoyalistRevolt** » Wed May 28, 2008 9:12 pm

What is all this speculation for!

1. He never said "I play GTA and I stole the car because GTA told me to"
2. There is not an increased crime rate because of video games
3. His punishment was "No more videogames" for all we no he could play FRICKING pacman! Did you hear of the murder who went home and all he ever did was play dig dug?!
4. THEY NEVER EVER EVER EVER said that videogames was to blame...His friend smoke FRICKING cigarettes...I'm sure he learned more form that Kid than from any videogame!

Post by **Triton** » Wed May 28, 2008 9:27 pm

we were arguing the point/counterpoint to kurts statement that the kid was influenced by GTA