Generally Speaking, You Probably Shouldn't Get A Tattoo Of The Felony You Plan To Commit

from the just-a-suggestion dept

Thu, Sep 21st 2006 11:21am — Mike Masnick

No one ever said criminals were intelligent. If you're going to go out and commit a crime like "grand theft auto," we might recommend that you not first tattoo the words "Grand Theft Auto" to your back. While it may not have anything to do with the actual crime... it probably doesn't do much to help your case either. The news report, of course, assumes that the tattoo was in reference to the video game, though it's not clear if the tattoo had anything to do with the game, or was just what the guy wanted on his back. However, while some will want to use this as evidence of the guy being inspired by the game, I think it's fair to argue that, instead, this particular individual just wasn't particularly smart.

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team

16 Comments

If you liked this post, you may also be interested in...

Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread

Anonymous Coward, 21 Sep 2006 @ 11:26am

He set the example for me!
When I go home to my wife and kids tonight, they are going to see the new me! I'm going to get me a tattoo of the crime I'm going to commit too, just so I can be all cool like.

It will say Jay Walker. What could be cooler than that?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Matt Bennett, 21 Sep 2006 @ 11:29am

Ok, that's funny.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Sanguine Dream, 21 Sep 2006 @ 11:30am

Here is comes...
In today's news Jack Thompson has chosen to represent a young man accused of grand theft auto in a lawsuit against Rockstar Games. The suit alleges that the popular video series (that is ironically named after the very crime he is charged with) that is known for its violent content inspired the young man to commit the crime in question. Thompson nor the young man could be reached for comment.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 21 Sep 2006 @ 11:46am

Re: Here is comes...
Hrm... You seem to be under the impression that JT actually cares about the victims of video games. Altho representing this man pro bono might get Mr. JT some good press, it would all very much backfire when the court finds the idiot guilty of the crime, and says they don't give a rats ass how/why/where he was inspired.

JT is well aware of that, and I don't think he would want to go anywhere near one of these suspected victim/criminals.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 21 Sep 2006 @ 12:03pm

Re: Re: Here is(it) comes...
the victims of video games

victims... of video games? we're talking about a guy whole stole a car... not an asian kid who stayed up 3 years straight and then died of exhaustion playing an mmorpg. people need to stop trying to correlate violent video games with commiting violent crimes. the real issue is fantasy role playing games... how many people must die from everquest or wow before the world wakes up! damnit people, it's for the children!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
anonymous coward, 21 Sep 2006 @ 12:20pm

I just paid a $100 invoice without proper approval! I'm a rebel like that...

I have "SARBANES OXLEY" tattooed on my back...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Dom, 21 Sep 2006 @ 1:29pm

Er...
I think it's fair enough to say the man's tattoo was inspired by the video game. It's a very similar font to the one used in GTA3, I'm pretty sure:
http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2006/09/21/grandauotheft_narrowweb__300x397,2.jpg
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 21 Sep 2006 @ 1:31pm

Re: Re: Re: Here is(it) comes...
yeah, I put victims in italics for a reason.

It is only the twisted view of ole Jackie boi that gamers are victims and must be protected from the big bad gaming companies.

Me, I think he's a twit who's only after fame, and doesnt give a rats ass about protecting anyone.

I do agree tho, there should be some kind of law agianst overly addictive mmo's... Make the gamine companies offer free withdrawal recovery facilities or something.. (thats mostly a joke..)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Chronno S. Trigger, 21 Sep 2006 @ 2:04pm

Yah that's GTA3
But he probably got it around the same time as GTA3
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Brandon Rusnak, 21 Sep 2006 @ 3:28pm

Prison Break
Does this remind anyone of Prison Break?

If you are going to break out of prison you might as well have the blueprints on your back. If you're going to steal a car I suppose you could have a road-map tattoo instead. :)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Disappointed, 21 Sep 2006 @ 3:55pm

Yeah, but...
I'm still searching for the "tech" part of this news story.

Can anyone help me?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
wwc, 21 Sep 2006 @ 4:21pm

Re: Yeah, but...
"the game made me do it?" ?

that tech aspect?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
wraeth, 21 Sep 2006 @ 4:40pm

RE: Yeah, but...
The tech relation to this story is that, once again, video games are set to take the blame as scapegoat for a crime, because he had some sort of identifiable connection to a violent game (ie. the tattoo).

I think he had Fruity Loops...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
adam, 21 Sep 2006 @ 5:02pm

LMAO
LMAO @ Sarbanes Oxley comment!!!!!!!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 21 Sep 2006 @ 6:47pm

Re: Er...
GTA shares a font with The Price is Right. I always knew Bob Barker was a car thief.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Charlie Blix, 22 Sep 2006 @ 10:02am

Re: Er...
Even if this guy got the tat because of the game it doesnt really show anything. I've seen people with tats of Loony Toons everywhere. When they snap and hit someone with a frying pan do we blame the cartoon they love?

Oh and I thought the big problem about GTA wasnt the steeling of the cars, I thought it was the killing of people in mass? Let me know when a man with a GTA tat pays for a hooker, kills her, then takes all her money, then maybe I'll care.
[ link to this | view in thread ]