[UPDATE] Microsoft Devastates Autistic Child By Labeling Him a Cheater

[Woodsey]

Even if he was cheating, I don't think they need to berate an autistic, 11-year-old kid for something that is obviously important to him - and important in a way that most of us wouldn't "get".

He didn't get berated, he got the exact same treatment that everyone else gets in that situation. Being autistic doesn't magically make you immune to the rules that you agreed to when signing up for a service.

OK, well forgive me for not quite believing that an 11-year-old autistic kid has managed to "tamper his account" to boost his gamer score, and that he should be treated just the same as a regular 15+ year old.

I suppose that deaf guy deserved to be kicked out of his WoW guild too because he could no longer hear people on team speak.

Guild leaders are allowed to run a guild in any way they want. Though, kudos for bringing up yet another story where everyone loved to demonize the people who haven't gotten a chance to tell their side of the story yet.

Microsoft have told their side of the story, it's right here:

"Microsoft says it's confident that someone tampered with Jackson's account to boost his score in an illegitimate manner, and doesn't currently plan to give him his achievements back."

 

[Sandytimeman]

My whole problem with this topic. Nothing about his Autism is causing him to be banned from Microsoft. Their claim is do to hacking and faking achievement points.

As someone who is a high functioning autistic (via having Aspergers Syndrome) I find it mildly counter productive just for a punishment or injustice is supposed to be more outraging because it's from someone with the "tragic" "disease" of the month.

 

[BiscuitTrouser]

Microsoft says it's confident that someone tampered with Jackson's account to boost his score in an illegitimate manner, and doesn't currently plan to give him his achievements back.

"Fuck you, kid. We know you didn't do wrong, but we're not gonna do anything about it."

Many years ago, this would have shocked and angered me. These days, par for the Microshaft course.

Erm, they dont know he didnt do wrong? This comment is sarcastic right? You should work for the papers. I reckon he did cheat. Microsoft know what they are doing with cheaters. They can see if someone cheated. Why lie?

 

[JediMB]

While it's a bit sad that an autistic child is made to feel so devastated, I have to say that it's ridiculous how much people care about achievements and a glorified score counter.

I get giddly everytime I can walk across a room with out falling over (I'm disabled) should people start calling me a cheater because I walk with a stick? (not trying to start a debate here just trying to give a real life example)

...That analogy has absolutely nothing to do with what I actually said in my post.

EDIT: I'm sorry about you being disabled, though.

 

[Warped_Ghost]

How does this make news?

 

[The Bandit]

Microsoft says it's confident that someone tampered with Jackson's account to boost his score in an illegitimate manner, and doesn't currently plan to give him his achievements back.

"Fuck you, kid. We know you didn't do wrong, but we're not gonna do anything about it."

Many years ago, this would have shocked and angered me. These days, par for the Microshaft course.

You're confusing the phrasing. Or, more likely, you're just a fanboy that will find any reason to shit on Microsoft. Anyway, an explanation: Microsoft never said "We know someone else cheated on your account." They said "We know someone cheated on your account." They didn't absolve the kid. They just said "look, somebody cheated, this is what we do to cheaters. Deal."

Which is the right thing to do. The kid obviously cheated, and- despite the autism- I doubt he has it that bad if his mom is willing to go to the news and ***** about some achievement points. He'll get them back, and he probably won't cheat anymore.

 

[Dogstile]

He's autistic and that's worthy of special mention?

I wonder this every time I hear autistic kid gets _____. If he cheated, he deserves to be labelled as such.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Why lie?

Because they don't want to admit they might have made a mistake by letting an automated system lock people out and that they can't reverse anyway. And for installing it in the first place? Why shouldn't they lie?

Even if you firmly believe, without proof, that this kid is cheating - and you firmly believe that Microsoft is in its rights to delete all of your stuff without warning and label you for the rest of your subscription, don't you think it's a little poor that the three members of customer service and the three email replies couldn't even state that? Or where he was caught cheating? Or how?

Because tomorrow, it could be you. And you've got even less chance of sympathy than this kid.

 

[Section Crow]

i can't confirm anything with such little information...

need more facts and the amount of achievement points would help alot

 

[UnnDunn]

Why lie?

Because they don't want to admit they might have made a mistake by letting an automated system lock people out and that they can't reverse anyway. And for installing it in the first place? Why shouldn't they lie?

Even if you firmly believe, without proof, that this kid is cheating - and you firmly believe that Microsoft is in its rights to delete all of your stuff without warning and label you for the rest of your subscription, don't you think it's a little poor that the three members of customer service and the three email replies couldn't even state that? Or where he was caught cheating? Or how?

Because tomorrow, it could be you. And you've got even less chance of sympathy than this kid.

They don't use an automated system. Stephen Tolouse (the guy in charge of XBL policy enforcement... IE, the guy with the Banhammer) has gone into great detail about the process they use.

 

[Triaed]

Would this be news if he wasn't autistic?

 

[bob1052]

When I made my Live account, they never asked me about any disabilities, I wonder how they figured out this kid was disabled so they could single him out. Oh wait, they didn't. The decision was flagged automatically, there is no way they could manually keep track of irregularities in someones gamerscore that would constitute cheating, and then reviewed by someone with no knowledge of the person or persons behind the controller.

Microsoft banning this kid is no different than banning some guy doing everything he can to hack his gamerscore as high as possible. The only difference in the whole situation is that the persons affected are making causing a bigger fuss.

 

[The Bandit]

Why lie?

Because they don't want to admit they might have made a mistake by letting an automated system lock people out and that they can't reverse anyway. And for installing it in the first place? Why shouldn't they lie?

Even if you firmly believe, without proof, that this kid is cheating - and you firmly believe that Microsoft is in its rights to delete all of your stuff without warning and label you for the rest of your subscription, don't you think it's a little poor that the three members of customer service and the three email replies couldn't even state that? Or where he was caught cheating? Or how?

Because tomorrow, it could be you. And you've got even less chance of sympathy than this kid.

Wow, really? It's totally better PR for Microsoft to stubbornly say he cheated when he didn't, rather than reverse a mistake made against an autistic kid. You honestly believe that? Microsoft (or Micro$oft if you prefer), who loves money more than anything, would risk this bad rep when they aren't in the right?

You have less proof that he didn't cheat, so that whole second paragraph is irrelevant. But, it's probably for privacy reasons that they don't go around saying where he cheated. If I cheated, I wouldn't want Microsoft disclosing what games I was playing.

No, it won't be me tomorrow, but if it is I'm sure Microsoft will reverse their mistake because they have a hell of a lot more to lose by lying.

That was probably one of the most illogical posts I've ever read. Congrats!

 

[iamthelizardqueen88]

Everyone feel free to send me hate replies but I just dont see what the big deal is here. I mean yeah sure some achievements arent exactly easy to get but at the end of the day they mean close to nothing so why care, Im 22 and if I lost all my achievements and gamerscore yeah Id be mad then 5min later Id be over it. Then again to a 11 year old they probably mean alot more but ohwell he'll get over it in a week or 2 then start getting them again (he is 11 after all so Im assuming he doesnt have many more important things to do). As for "Cheater" being by his gamertag well if its that big of a deal just make a new account. And finally I believe the fact that the kid is autistic shouldnt have even been mention I mean its not like anyone at Microsoft said "hey Im pretty sure that gamertag belongs to a autistic kid so lets fuck with him for fun" they obviously did what they did for a reason.

 

[iamthelizardqueen88]

Does Rupurt Murdoch run this website or something? What sensationalised bullshit. This isn't news. I hope Microsoft stands strong.

I like this guy ^_^

 

[DirgeNovak]

im sorry but the one time that microsoft "makes a mistake" it just so happens to be a autistic kid whos life is gaming? i dont think so. the kid cheated microsoft caught him end of of story

My thoughts exactly. Autistic people are known for finding faults in systems they learn (see the casino scene in Rain Man, among others). Chances are the kid found something he could exploit to boost his achievements, got caught, went to cry to his mommy who got Faux News to make a story about it. Mental illness is not an excuse for cheating. I rarely say stuff like this, but I'm with MS on this one.

 

[Zing]

Does Rupurt Murdoch run this website or something? What sensationalised bullshit. This isn't news. I hope Microsoft stands strong.

Didn't look like Tom took a stand on either side of the argument. He just reported the news. Did you even read it?

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

They don't use an automated system. Stephen Tolouse (the guy in charge of XBL policy enforcement... IE, the guy with the Banhammer) has gone into great detail about the process they use.

Well, back a few pages we have someone swearing they do. If they don't, then why isn't there a reason?

One Customer Service rep sends a reference to this woman. She can then either shut up if she knows what's happened, or carry on if it's false.

Seriously, O.J. Simpson didn't have to deal with this and he (allegedly) murdered someone before he got his trophies taken away.

Would this be news if he wasn't autistic?

Perhaps it should be?

 

[Lord_Panzer]

Pretty sure if Microsoft is aware the guy they're targeting is an 11-year-old autistic they're going to make damn sure he deserves it.

They might not be PR masters, but they've got sense enough to know that the public at large frowns on unwarranted humiliation of kids with mental handicaps.

And autistic people too, who can be CHARACTERIZED by a higher I.Q. or better logistical skills >:/
But really, I'm totally apathetic on the issue. I have to agree with Latshaw here, and ask why on Earth does Q13Fox even care?! Have they really gotten to the point where they have to go out of their way to paint a negative picture of people in the industry (possibly; them conservatives can really be haters when it comes to vidya games), or were they having a dry spell in the way of news? [/rant]
Also, according to this logic, Geoff Ramsey from RT is autistic.

You're assuming I meant it in a negative manner. I'm merely stating a fact: while they may excel in some areas, they are unquestionably hampered in others. Ergo, a handicap, which happens to be associated with the brain.