Are Computer Games all that dangerous?

[Rofl]

I think we should ban violent computer games, just because someone might murder someone.

I think we should ban porn, just because someone might rape someone.

I think we should ban alcohol, just because someone might commit a drunken act or damage their liver.

I think we should ban fatty food and only sell vegetables to consumers, just because someone might become obese.

I think we should ban cars, just because someone might get run over.

There, once we have taken away all these "oh so terrible risks" and absolved individuals of all responsibility, there won't be FUCK ALL to do in the world that's any fun, but hey, we'll be safe right? Perhaps we could go to Church group and holds hands or something? Actually, fuck computer games, I'd rather sing songs of praise.

[neak]

Anyone who thinks that the stabbing had anything related to the game is wrong.

[SleazyBear]

I love gta san andras, I use a bunch of cheats, and just walk around and steal shit, and kill people, mostly just the gang members. It really relieves the stress factor.. but it can get into your head if your not carefull. Don't know if I want the new version or not.. I don't do a lot of the games, don't have time for them..

[Mihx]

I've played for five hours now - absolutely incredible game. Great graphics and animation, interesting characters, very good voice acting and as usual a ton of all the comedy stuff that really underlines that GTA is to a large extent a paradody of violence, murder, drug use etc., rather than a glorification as some critics like to suggest.

And this time they have not only included all the usual gags and hilarious ads on the radio stations, mixed in between all the great music, but there are actually several TV stations with all kinds of funny and insane ads and short shows as well - and they've even gone so far as to add their own little Internet to the game, complete with dating sites, ringtone and wallpaper sites for your ingame cell phone, news sites documenting your exploits in Liberty City and so on.
I haven't had time to check out the last one, but I just spent my last 20 minutes before calling it a night watching one of the TV stations.

If you own a PS3 or XBox 360 - and didn't hate the GTA series in the past (because this is really just more of the same, only improved in pretty much all areas) - you really owe it to yourself to get this game.
Even if it will tear anywhere from around 30 to a few hundred hours out of your schedule

[mikesinner]

Originally Posted by LezGeri

Grand Theft Auto IV stabbing and mugging in the UK

A stabbing and a violent mugging today marked the long-awaited release of the violent computer game Grand Theft Auto IV (GTA).

A 23-year-old was repeatedly stabbed in Croydon, south London as he walked past 100 people queuing to buy the controversial game, in which players rob and murder their way through the criminal underworld.

A hooded man with a knife - who is thought to have known the victim - jumped out of the line outside Gamestation and stabbed him several times before running away.

Meanwhile in Manchester two young men broke a teenager's jaw and nose as they snatched the game from his hands.

The rest of the article is here:
Grand Theft Auto IV: Violence flares after launch - Telegraph

These aren't acts inspired by the video game players. These guys are idiots. There are a lot of idiots that play video games and a lot of idiots that don't play video games and the same thing could be said about intelligent law abiding people. Games are only going to get more realistic and there will always be video games that center around violence or guns. Playing Mario kart over and over gets boring after awhile.

Until there is a video camera on every corner on every street and prisons big enough to hold 3% of the world population you are always going to have lots of crime because humans are just like any other animal on this planet.

[morningstar]

Nice to hear that!.. I like that game.

[Dupont]

Damn that is freakin nuts.

[LezGeri]

Originally Posted by Boop

Speaking about the 2 young men.I'm willing to bet they don't have any mental problems, they just wanted to game and thought they could get away with doing it.

They "just wanted to game" ???

Ever had you're jaw and nose broken at the same time? I bet it fucking hurts.

According to The Manchester Evening News, the two men punched the victim to the ground and then kicked him, shattering his nose and jaw. They then snatched the game before running away.

So they knocked their victim to the ground and kicked him in the head. That means the victim is lucky to be alive.

For what? Because they wanted to play a computer game?

As to whether they have any mental problems - what they did was sociopathic. That doesn't mean they are insane. It does mean they have psychological problems.

[Head Boy]

Wallets are wrong - they incite people to steal them.

Probably because taxes are too high, but then governments are allowed to run mafia style theft and protection rackets.

[Moxie]

Originally Posted by LezGeri

They "just wanted to game" ???

Ever had you're jaw and nose broken at the same time? I bet it fucking hurts.

According to The Manchester Evening News, the two men punched the victim to the ground and then kicked him, shattering his nose and jaw. They then snatched the game before running away.

So they knocked their victim to the ground and kicked him in the head. That means the victim is lucky to be alive.

For what? Because they wanted to play a computer game?

As to whether they have any mental problems - what they did was sociopathic. That doesn't mean they are insane. It does mean they have psychological problems.

I'm willing to bet it hurts like hell too. I hope they catch the kids and throw the book at them.

But I'm still willing to bet it is because they wanted the game. Kids today are a lot more extreme from when I was growing up. Take the girls that beat up another girl 2-3 weeks ago. They wanted to do it so they can have some youtube fame.

All that aside, I personally still don't think we can lay blame on the game. Which is what this is all about right?