'The Video Game Made Me Kill My Parents' Defense Rejected
from the phew dept
All too often these days, we've seen murderers try to pass off the blame for their crimes by blaming video games. This comes after years of techno panic around weak and often misinterpreted studies concerning links between video games and violence. Despite the fact that there's been no actual evidence that video games lead to increased violence (and the fact that youth violence has continually dropped as video games became more popular should be quite telling), it makes for a great news story -- and, thus, a great excuse for murderers. Luckily, no one's buying it.In the latest such case, where teen-aged Daniel Petric shot both his parents, killing his mother and wounding his father, after they took away his copy of Halo 3, a judge has rejected Petric's claim that it was his video game addiction that inspired the murder (and subsequent attempt to frame his father). It probably didn't help the teen's case at all that there was evidence he had planned the murder for weeks, rather than spontaneously acting following the video game confiscation. The judge still does, unfortunately, suggest that the video game warped Petric's mind, despite little proof that was true. However, the judge notes that even if he was under the influence of the video game, that's no defense for what he did.
In the meantime, of course, politicians are still overreacting to the still unproven idea that video games lead to violence -- to the point that Rep. Joe Baca has introduced a law that would require health warnings on video games, similar to cigarette warnings, saying that: "WARNING: Excessive exposure to violent video games and other violent media has been linked to aggressive behavior."
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Filed Under: blame, daniel petric, joe baca, laws, murder, video games, violence
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Ridiculous
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Re: Ridiculous
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Video games corrupted my mind
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What the hell??!!
MAN is violent by nature. Ever since bipeds have walked the earth, violence shortly follows. Hell, if it wasn't for violence, you wouldn't be here.
To make things even worse, you have this incredibly stupid kid trying to blame video games for his actions. But those who voted "Yes" on the bill probably spend most of their time blaming others for their stupidity as well.
I'm glad the judge turned down the defense argument, but can't give him too much praise as he believes there's a correlation between violence and gaming.
Think, people! How in the world can a video game lead to violence? While you're out voting on this bill, be sure to contact your congress to add the following bills:
Add a warning sticker to automobiles with the message "Exposure to excessive traffic and other drivers has been linked to aggressive behavior"
Add a warning sticker to every person on earth with the message "Exposure to stupid people and other morons has been linked to aggressive behavior" (read blog for further proof)
For those who voted "Yes" on this bill, I feel extreme pity on your clueless reasons and truly, truly suspect you think this warning sticker will help.
Just like those stickers on each pack of tobacco products which continues to kill hundreds of thousands each year, far more damaging than a video game.
Well, it's true: YOU CAN'T FIX STUPID!
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Re: What the hell??!!
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Re: What the hell??!!
No one will read the label just like they don't read the current rating on the game as is. The games also state why it has the rating it does and parents buy it now and will buy it after this for their children just because the kid runs the house and parents don't hit their kids enough these days.
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True, but you're not an idiot, and you can bet many "gamer mothers" out there would definitely be influenced by this label.
The bottom line comes down to who dictates what is offensive for the game to garner the sticker?
The last damn thing I'd ever want to see is an "aggressive" sticker on any Legend of Zelda game which would prevent mommies from buying it, causing sales to fall and that long awaited sequel to get canceled.
It's bad enough we get a crap load of stupid games (comes with the territory) but this sticker could vastly increase this number as studios won't take a chance on making them.
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Re: What the hell??!!
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Really?
Should we now ban working or put a label on our workspaces saying "WARNING: Excessive exposure to work or other work related material has been linked to aggressive behavior."?
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-not on topic
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come to think of it that might explain raves, and after hour night clubs.
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any excess does harm
i think the boy might have been induced to do this by excessive bad communication between him and his parents, one of the reason is: parents need the time for themselves sometime, but if they think that by letting the kid starring at a TV set or yanking some game console/computer will set your kid to love you, this is a mistake, they do need entertainment too, but limited.
and then kids minds are too sensitive at that age, giving a kid a shooting / destruction game over a constructive, logic embedded one, well, who knows what may trigger, again parents the waning is for you, read the stupid rating on a game before allowing-it to your kid
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Re: any excess does harm
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audio-visual stimulus does affect perception, distort reality etc...
well, from there till real violence... like i said, lack of communication between family members... time and space share , small frustration amplified by wild imagination... teenage heaven ...
plus some are more affected than others by same events...
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Re: Re: any excess does harm
google search
Please do not construe this in any way as a claim on my part that video games lead to violence.
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The real warning...
That's the real warning...
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Re: The real warning...
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Freaking idiot!
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I hear he killed them by sticking them with a plasma grenade.
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Not only that, but half the problem here is that parents don't read the *existing* labels. They freak out when they are told that the game called "Grand Theft Auto 4" with the large label saying "Rated M for Mature: Intense Violence, Blood, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Partial Nudity, Use of Drugs and Alcohol" might not be suitable for their 8 year old (that's verbatim from the ESRB site, btw).
It's the same old story. Parenting is hard, and some people try to palm responsibility for their failures onto something else. In previous years it was rock 'n roll, demonic possession, horror comics, heavy metal records and movies. Today it's videogames. In 10 years, they'll have found another scapegoat.
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You guys are all wrong!
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GIVES ME CHILLS . . .
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Re: GIVES ME CHILLS . . .
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DUI of Pole Position
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Graphic Warnings
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Re: Graphic Warnings
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Why JUST videogames?
Will other violent media ALSO carry the warnings?
If not why not? There are many many more violent television shows, movies and rap songs than there are video games. What makes them less dangerous than the games? Many many MORE people see and hear the TV, Movies and songs than play the games, doesn't that mean they need the warnings more urgently than the games?
Why don't you go ask your holywood cronies if you can put that label on their products, then come talk to us again.
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Lame
What next? Crowbar wielding kids blaming Half-Life?
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Violent Video Games
There is a delicate balance between freedom and dangers to the public (there are laws against yelling "Fire" in a crowded theater, for example), and in moderation, it is a good thing.
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Re: Violent Video Games
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HOWEVER, every single type of input from our five senses affects us. It is impossible to experience things while at the same time being unaffected by them. I don't care what any supposed statistic says. Playing violent video games puts thoughts and images in your head, plain and simple, and those things can affect your judgment. Granted, some people can "handle" some things better than others, but it still has an affect.
Now, this kid is still guilty, because nobody but himself decided to pull the trigger. Plus, it was his decision to play violent video games, which may have affected his behavior and judgment in ways he'll never know. Now he has to take responsibility for his actions. It is ultimately nobody's fault but his own, and maybe his parents for not raising him with the understanding that shooting and hurting people is wrong.
But whatever the case may be, the video game should not be blamed, but at the same time, it should be understood that it can very well have a negative influence on somebody. Oh, and just because youth violence statistically went down as video game popularity rose doesn't mean that the two are directly related to each other. Youth violence in general may be down, but I have to wonder if the severity of the still-existing violence may have gone up considerably. Rewind through history a bit, and I think you'll find a time when school shootings by students were NOT common place.
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It's complicated
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this is fucking retarded
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#1) we all know any middle aged parent is afraid of change. They never had games like this out today. Why would they trust them? I never really listen to my parents, or any adult for that matter because they don't take the time and consideration to actually play the games and see how it affects their stimulus. Do THEY get a sudden sensation to want a kill someone? I don't, because I'm not mentally ill and have willpower of my own, and a brain that properly functions in which case will let me overcome any urge some video game might give me,
#2] Wouldn't you rather let your child bust a cap online Xbox live instead of on the street? Some studies say that violence in video games, or gaming in general acts in a therapeutic sense, that is fulfills the anger, discomfort, or temper in a person by relieving it visually, in a game.
3#)VIDEO GAMES ARE NEVER TO BLAME. Jesus, people. I'm going to be brutally honest and say that.. just.. no. Bad adults, bad. You really think stopping your children from playing violent video games while they live with you is going to help? Yeah, say goodbye to that sense of security when they're 18. NO ONE hardly EVER changes from teen to adult years (14 to 18). Theyre just going to buy that xbox they were never allowed to have, play it all day, all of the time, and not only ruin their social life worse than if parents just let them play in the first place, they could possibly even indulge in a type of addiction from being deprived.
Don't blame it on the games, folks. Blame it on humanity's weak will and the loss of ability to control themselves.
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An I**
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Violence: B.C. and A.D.
Note: "Legend of Gelel" is a Naruto Movie Title. Used in place of the "H" Word..... If you were wondering.
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Pictures
P.S. That's as close as he's going to get to a "Killing Spree", I hope.....
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Reaction
Some people can go paranoid in the real world because of just playing hours and hours of video games.
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Its all true
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j
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