Here we go again video games now blamed for Washington shooting, now GTA V is blamed for the shootin

[Parasondox]

Hello again Escapist.

While on the bus today I just couldn't help but see this headline from the Daily Mirror;

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/washington-navy-yard-gunman-aaron-2280976

Here we fucking go again and pardon my french but I am getting fed up of video games being blamed for violence as if its the pure evil. Whats worse is the media just loves and I mean LOVE to pin the blame on something for there own higher ratings and yet not work out the real reason why we have so much violence and that mass violence has been there before video games. Even ancient religious text has graphic violence in them but no one cares.

Sorry its been a long day for me and just seeing crap like this. What happened in Washington was a tragic event and my thoughts goes out to those lives lost and those injured. This world seems to be getting darker.

EDIT: GTA V is now blamed for the Washington shooting

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSCQV1X1wOk

http://www.newslo.com/nra-blames-gta-5-for-d-c-shooting/

and now the NRA is blaming GTA V. SERIOUSLY!!!

GIVE IT A FUCKING REST.

 

[Johanthemonster666]

Yes, because a paranoid schizophrenic who pretty much advertized to the world numerous times "Look, I need help...I have no grip on reality". But did the Navy revoke his security clearance? No. Did they revoke is firearms license along with his security guard position pending a much needed stay in a mental health facility? Nope.

But yes, let's blame violent games. The other day two cops opened fire on a mental ill person who was pretending to shoot at them with his finger..they ended up missing the guy (seriously why would that be grounds to shoot someone?) blowing off some innocent bystander's kneecap...IN TIME SQUARE DURING THE DAY.

Is anyone going to blame police for that? Hell no.

Mental health problems, video games....the media is riot when they try to pin point social issues but absolutely make endless excuses or are silent on the institutions, social/economic conditions, and resources (or complete lack thereof) that make mass violence a daily reality.

 

[Atmos Duality]

Typical sensationalist tripe meant to pander to the ignorant, paranoid masses for Nielsen Ratings.
I've heard better, more reasoned reports about him already; citing his PTSD well ahead of his tastes in games.

 

[Hero in a half shell]

Friends said the length of time he spent glued to the ?shoot ?em up? games on his computer, including the popular Call of Duty, triggered his dark side that had previously landed him in trouble with the police on gun crimes.

Oh, so his history of mental illness precedes his supposed addiction to videogames? What does that tell anyone with an ounce of sense?

Also I like how he apparently played videogames for 18 hours a day, yet had a full time job which required him to travel to "six military ­installations across America and Japan while working in IT for a Hewlett-Packard sub-contractor."

It's absolutely ridiculous that this guy managed to pass several checks to be allowed to work in a security job, and buy a shotgun, despite having a dishonourable discharge and 2 incidents of gun related acts where the police were involved, not to mention was actually receiving help for his mental illness.

 

[deleted139124]

DELETED

 

[Berny Marcus]

No surprise, the typical news media united in there hate against video games.

 

[RJ 17]

I find it rather amazing that, despite nearly every study done into this matter - of which there are quite a few - says there is no connection between videogame violence and real life violence. There's almost ALWAYS a glaring reason for the shooting other than videogames...in this case it was because the man had a history that involved discharging his gun in his own apartment and shooting a bullet into the apartment above his as well as the fact that it was known he complained of hearing voices in his head. Then there's also the fun little tid-bit of him shooting out the tires of a truck during which he claimed to have "blacked out due to anger".

But no, it was the games. It was likely because he played GTA V even though it wasn't out yet when the shooting occurred. It all boils down to people wanting an easy excuse and something to blame OTHER than the person who committed the act itself. There's no such thing as crazy people, there's no such thing as people who are inherently dangerous to themselves and others. No, some sort of outside influence MUST be responsible for their actions, something MADE them commit their heinous crimes.

I wonder what videogames/music/movies Hitler was playing/listening to/watching when he orchestrated the Holocaust...

 

[DataSnake]

The other day two cops opened fire on a mental ill person who was pretending to shoot at them with his finger..they ended up missing the guy (seriously why would that be grounds to shoot someone?) blowing off some innocent bystander's kneecap...IN TIME SQUARE DURING THE DAY.

I hadn't heard about that. Link?

 

[Psychobabble]

I find it rather amazing that, despite nearly every study done into this matter - of which there are quite a few - says there is no connection between videogame violence and real life violence. There's almost ALWAYS a glaring reason for the shooting other than videogames...in this case it was because the man had a history that involved discharging his gun in his own apartment and shooting a bullet into the apartment above his as well as the fact that it was known he complained of hearing voices in his head. Then there's also the fun little tid-bit of him shooting out the tires of a truck during which he claimed to have "blacked out due to anger".

But no, it was the games. It was likely because he played GTA V even though it wasn't out yet when the shooting occurred. It all boils down to people wanting an easy excuse and something to blame OTHER than the person who committed the act itself. There's no such thing as crazy people, there's no such thing as people who are inherently dangerous to themselves and others. No, some sort of outside influence MUST be responsible for their actions, something MADE them commit their heinous crimes.

I wonder what videogames/music/movies Hitler was playing/listening to/watching when he orchestrated the Holocaust...

Hitler as a child enjoyed playing cowboys and indians, which let's face it, is pretty much all video games are, a more technologically sophisticated game of cowboys and indians. He was also a massive fan of the works of Richard Wagoner, he was a fan of the film King Kong, and an avid watcher of the O'Reily Factor. ..... okay I made that last one up.

 

[LAGG]

TV sees videogame as a contender for the mass audience attention. Each avid gamer is one less TV addict. Add the Internet into the mix and they know they'll all be going out of business in a not distant future. That's why they attack videogames in every opportunity.

 

[Parasondox]

Might as well blame video games for the following things the way the news media is going;

War
Genocide
Suicide
Hitler
The assassination of JFK
Nazis
NSA spying on us all
Corruption
OJ Simpson trial
Miley Cyrus twerking and having clear daddy issues
Cancer
Greed
The Banking crisis
Slavery
Aliens
World War 1 and 2
Syria
Chernobyl
Justin Bieber's father not pulling out
Iraq War
George Bush and Tony Blair being war criminals
Asshole lying scumbag politicians
*add your list of things they might as well blame videos games for right here*

So really its all video games fault ¬_¬ **Sarcasm level currently at 20%... please recharge**

 

[daveman247]

Well... IT IS the Mirror... Only slightly above The Sun or the Star. :L

Is it just me or is nearly every UK Newspaper absolute trash these days?

Call Of Duty are first-person shooting games where the gamer plays the role of military men on realistic missions.

...indeed?

 

[Zenn3k]

being a Muslim, I am disappointed they didn't put the blame for 9/11 on MS Flight Simulator.

Originally, they did.

 

[Azaraxzealot]

being a Muslim, I am disappointed they didn't put the blame for 9/11 on MS Flight Simulator.

You'll have your chance to shine in the future. Don't worry, someday people will blame every violent problem on videogames regardless of race or nationality.

Together, we can make it happen. *inspirational song cue*

 

[Parasondox]

Well... IT IS the Mirror... Only slightly above The Sun or the Star. :L

Is it just me or is nearly every UK Newspaper absolute trash these days?

Call Of Duty are first-person shooting games where the gamer plays the role of military men on realistic missions.

...indeed?

Mostly the Daily Mail whos journalist can't spell for shit and report on BULLSHIT like a celebrity took a shit and thats headline news.

 

[his1nightmare]

Lincoln was killed because online poker.

 

[spartan231490]

Welcome to how gun owners feel. That said, there's not much you can do about it. Just ignore the haters and play on.

 

[Johanthemonster666]

The other day two cops opened fire on a mental ill person who was pretending to shoot at them with his finger..they ended up missing the guy (seriously why would that be grounds to shoot someone?) blowing off some innocent bystander's kneecap...IN TIME SQUARE DURING THE DAY.

I hadn't heard about that. Link?

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57602998/times-square-shooting-nypd-officers-shoot-two-innocent-bystanders-near-times-square/


If you look into police statistics and hundreds of similar incidents over the past few years alone, this is not rare.