British Media Blames Games For London Riots

[Infernai]

I'm not even mad anymore. I kind of expected this from Somebody, and now it's just not even a surprise anymore. Whenever someone just wants to point a finger, but desperately can't think of something, they always turn to demonize video-games. Unfortunately, doing so just destroys any and all credibility to a person who uses such an argument. It would actually be kind of funny if it wasn't so PATHETIC!

....Ah what the hell, i'll laugh at them anyway!

 

[GvidaZ]

To refraze yahtzee

THERE IS NO FACEPALM BIG ENOUGH

 

[Ldude893]

I blame pants.
If no one had pants, the would be peace.

And socks. Socks are a criminal influence to children and adults alike.

 

[TerribleAssassin]

Despite the fact for people aged 10, GTA London was before the time and there was PS2's out then.

Still, this is the most retarded scapegoat ever, because there is non to pin it on. Besides out of control yobs.

 

[Dogstile]

Do you suppose they'll be raging about mass effect in 5 years?

Only if chavs start dry humping blue aliens in Piccadilly.

They're already humping orange ompalompas, i don't thin blue aliens are too far off.

 

[Agow95]

Yes, the looting is caused by GTA, oh, and teen pregnancy is caused by the sims! and DBZ has made people start flying in the sky and shoot energy beams at eachother. Well at least, this is the state in bollocksland, how does a 12 year old game which doesn't have riots, no, how does a game series which only has theft in one game as a side mission, and no public disorder at all, cause people to do these those exact things in real life? it's ridiculous.

 

[ethaninja]

yeah its only been 12 years since gta london was released guess its taken all that time for the young impressionable minds to grow up and put into action that pent up rioting urge it implanted.

Well, like a certain game we all came to know, it WAS 12 years in the making It could be the Kansas City Shuffle remake? But larger scalled and based in Londan instead? :O
Oooo, maybe next, Green Street Hooligans will come in as a close second!!!

 

[ethaninja]

Yes, the looting is caused by GTA, oh, and teen pregnancy is caused by the sims! and DBZ has made people start flying in the sky and shoot energy beams at eachother. Well at least, this is the state in bollocksland, how does a 12 year old game which doesn't have riots, no, how does a game series which only has theft in one game as a side mission, and no public disorder at all, cause people to do these those exact things in real life? it's ridiculous.

Next they'll blame it on Carmageddon but woops, thats not in London, silly me XD
Guess it's Midtown Madness for them huh? ;D

 

[BabyRaptor]

Really? My god...Let's blame everyone but ourselves! It's a sound plan, right?

 

[fenrizz]

I agree, games are certainly to blame.

Before gaming there was never any violence or riots, nor was there any war in the world.
Shit, before gaming Compton was a nature preserve for bunny rabbits.

 

[Kelethor]

Oh London, You so Craaaazy.

 

[Idsertian]

Oh dear. I feel, as a Brit, that I should apologise to gamers the world over for this. But I guess it's no surprise. Blaming games is the journalism world's equivalent of "being cool". Aw bless 'em, they're just doing it to get in with the kids.

Aside from that, I have no other worthwhile comment about the state of my country.

 

[Griffolion]

What follows is a train of my thoughts regarding this article:

*Sees article on front page* "Hmm, this is intruiging"

*Reads article* "... According to the Evening Standard..."

"Ah it's the Evening Standard, move on."

 

[SonOfVoorhees]

An its always young people that play up, and games are blamed. You never read "War in Iraq due to G W Bush playing to much COD". I mean, the people who commit crimes state why they did it, the guy in Norway and the Columbine killers all stated their reason. Nothing to do with games. An yet eveyone ignore their reason instead of getting to the real cause and looking to ensure it doesnt happen again.

 

[chiMmy]

I just had an idea, not a great idea nor a good idea, but nonetheless an idea.

What if, someone made a national newspaper that pointed out these kind of "braindeadarticles"(or whatever you may want to call them)?

...

I would read that.

 

[Genixma]

So, Australia and UK media have something against video games. Well, US has Fox News so fair is fair.

I guess you can say this is serious, code: Black.

 

[let's rock]

Seeing that there is no scientific evidence to this, I tell those people who say this, to kindly shut the hell up. Also, it says mature for a reason, the parents who let immature people play these games are just as much to blame as the games, if not more

 

[UltraDeth]

I played State of Emergency. That was released 10 years after the L.A. riots and 3 years after the World Trade Center protests. I hate it when people blame violent acts on games. I played Manhunt for God's sake, and it didn't make me aggresive

 

[Mugen Weston]

Really? This is getting ridiculous.
A month ago "Games caused the Norway terrorist attack!"
Now "Games caused the London riot!"

I'm actually looking forward to what games are blamed for next

 

[TheMadDoctorsCat]

Hmmmmm.... what's easier to choose:

1) The London riots are the direct and inevitable consequence of a society that from an early age teaches kids that self-worth is measured in ways that bear no relevance whatsoever to anything that benefits the community (SATS tests anybody?) and that intelligence and talent are regarded as less important than physical beauty and celebrity. In other words, a society that has devalued persistence and hard work until it's less important than random luck and genetics. A society, moreover, in which teenagers are portrayed damn near universally in the media as a "problem" to solve. A society in which the majority of jobs are temporary, unskilled, with little satisfaction or point. A society in which those in charge or regarded as "role models" are overwhelmingly seen as venal, corrupt, incompetent, or any mixture of the three. I could go on.

OR...

2) The London riots are caused by violent videogames.

If you answered option 2, award yourself five hundred Internets and a LOLcat!