Am I the only person who is more than a little impressed that a seven year old managed to actually drive a car from observing older figures alone?
Maybe he did get the idea from the game. This wasn't a teenager, we're talking seven years old. Thats the age where some of us were still fighting imaginary orcs. A kid really enjoys driving around in a game at top speed, occasionally running over some screaming pixels, and decides he wants to give real driving a try. Naturally he doesn't really want to hurt anyone, he's not a psychopath, but it is plausible he got the motivation to give driving a go from GTA. However, he could just as easily have got the motivation to go driving by himself from watching his mother or sister drive, or from watching motor races on TV. Are we going to restrict those actions just in case little hands get ideas from them? As for the police chase, there's no reason to connect that to GTA. This kid was seven. If police sirens come on and you're a kid who is barely in control of the vehicle and is already quite scared, what are you going to do? Two things, screech to a halt, or bolt in panic. This kid bolted in panic. Simples.
Also, I've got some choice words for the father who decided it was a good idea to give his son a GTA game. Considering all the other stuff that goes on in the game, your biggest concern is him getting motivated to joyride?! What about the shooting people and blowing up buildings with rocket launchers? Or more insidiously, the crime element. But again, a computer game isn't going to make a child who is not by nature inclined towards crime break a wing and start committing crime or a child who is not naturally psychopathic break and start shooting people. It doesn't make sense. Children are impressionable and get some odd ideas, but they aren't THAT impressionable! Combine a violent computer game with the bully you hate and an already violent disposition though and... thats where the critics have a point. However, in that case, why did the school allow the bullying to go to that extreme. Isn't the idea that this kind of violence goes on a sign not of a problem with games, but a sign of far more insidious problems in schools in America?
And, to finish on a light note, a sign that you should never underestimate a seven year olds imagination? To add, I played GTA at a pretty young age. I have never committed a crime, I've never taken drugs, I've never even been hungover. I abhore violence. What does that case study say? That playing a violent computer game is not going to turn a peaceful child into a raving lunatic!
