Seriously, is this wrong or what?

Question

Long story short, this is about the kid who went on a killing rampage in New Mexico. People are now blaming makers of Grand Theft Auto saying that THIS was the reason why he went on a murdering spree. The part about him being abused for years about his dad were mentioned and obviously overlooked. IS this a load of crap or what?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060925/ap_on_re_us/ranch_killings_video_game_suit

Just my two cents in case anyone cared.

http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-IbmW6d09dLPIrIw6nVANzSpJGsCp

Answer 1

Telling quotes from article:
"The $600 million lawsuit names several companies and Cody Posey, who it alleges played the game "obsessively" for several months before he shot his father, stepmother and stepsister in July 2004. Posey, now 16, was sentenced earlier this year to state custody until he is 21.
The games and others in the "Grand Theft Auto" series depict police killings and other acts of violence. The lawsuit calls various editions of the game "virtual reality murder simulators."
"But for Posey's use of these products ... he would not have killed," the lawsuit claims.
The game trained him "how to point and shoot a gun in a fashion making him an extraordinarily effective killer without teaching him any of the constraints or responsibilities needed to inhibit such a killing capacity," according to the suit.

AH HUUUMMMMM.
Im just wondering why, if the family KNEW he was "obsessed" with the game for "several months", why they didn't do something about this obsession.So now he's 16 and he'll be out and about when he is 21. And out and about looking for another 'game'

Further I don't know what lawyer prepared this complaint, but they are already in trouble. The defense will have the same concern as above, that being:
"If the boy was so OBSESSED, for SEVERAL MONTHS, why didn't the family take the time to watch the game themselved
and insist that he discontinue playing it? and "why did they buy such a violent game in the first place?'

The parents had just as much responsiblity for the killing as did the boy.

Answer 2

Quote
"
its proven that violent video games increase violence, but i highly doubt that......... i play 4-6 hrs over the weekend and i still hate violence (favorite game= true crime NYC)
"

Not true! =)

I did a great deal of research on this for a composition final paper. Playing violent video games *can* greatly increase the level of aggression within players (of ALL ages) for short periods of time. But what is aggression?! Aggression is a natural, not neccessarily destructive human motivator. One, say, to help you do better in video games?

But violence? Did you know that violent crimes among minors (and no, the standards have remained the exact same) have dropped over 80% since 1986 (20 years.) That is insane! This is also VERY relative because while property crimes would relate to a Gross per Captia and Standard of Living, hate crimes involve issues that have mostly to do with anger, instability, and loss of control.

The drops in these numbers are indisputable. They are numbers!

Honestly, as crazy as it sounds, I would say that violent video games actually give kids an output for their aggression, meaning they don't have to release it on other kids.

This case in New Mexico may have been influenced by GTA by the fact that the kid gathered ideas from the game, but the game is no more to blame for the kid doing this than the gun company, the creators of cars for that matter (who influenced the creation of GTA.)

The arguement sounds like it makes sense, that is why it is so widely believed. But it is simply not true. Kids today may be desensatized to grusome violence in comparison, but the numbers show that that isn't effecting their reproduction of that voilence.

Answer 3

Its common practice for people to blame games for the dysfunctions of there kids. Its mostly a way for politicians to get vote from dumb adults who never played video games. Ive been playing games since 1980 and i never once wanted to do anything Ive seen in them in real life. Its just one of those bullshit issues that will never go away because know one want to be responsible for there action so they need something to blame.

Answer 4

anytime any type of violence is in any kind of school and it always involves a kid or two they go straight to the video games

screw the video game

maybe the kid was picked on so much that he said f*** it and decided to go on a shooting spree

Answer 5

ive seen that game and it just makes me sick that someone even thought it up! you cant blame the makers of the game though. we are not forced to buy the game and the parents are responsible for knowing what their kids are doing. obviously this boy needs professional help, and i sure hope he gets it.

Answer 6

its pr oven that violent video games increase violence, but i highly doubt that......... i play 4-6 hrs over the weekend and i still hate violence (favorite game= true crime NYC)

Answer 7

eminem said it best when he said will my song load it and cock it for you too.