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"Two years after the Columbine High School massacre, the families of several victims have filed a lawsuit against a number of entertainment companies, including Nintendo of America, Atari, Sega of America, Activision, Sony Computer Entertainment, AOL Time Warner, Id Software, Virgin Interactive Media, and GT Interactive. The families are seeking $5 billion in punitive damages from a total of 25 entertainment companies. The lawsuit was filed the day before the two-year anniversary of the shootings. Several popular action games were specifically mentioned in the lawsuit, including Doom, Quake, and Redneck Rampage."
That is from another web-site.
Whilst I agree that what happened there is a tragedy, you cant pin the blame on video games anymore than you can backwards messages in music.
It's so much easier to point a finger at a movie/song/video game that it is to accept that society and maybe the parents of those two kids are to blame.
Especially in the States, were a culture of violence and access to guns is so easy.
Did you know Walmart refuse to stock albums or magazines it deems "offensive to our family image", yet you can buy machine guns, handguns and crossbows there?
Exactly.
And video games are to blame?????
Who says?
There has been so much research into music and movies influencing behaviour, and if this was the case, censors would be the most depraved animals on the face of this planet.
This argument simply does not stand up to serious examination.
You simply cannot ignore the school system of America, where violent sport is rewarded with popularity and praise (Quarterback heroes dating cheerleaders etc).
Those two kids that shot everyone, they had been bullied for years, mocked and laughed at for being different.
So, considering you can walk into a family aimed store and buy heavy weapons, they took it out the easiest and quickest way they knew.
It wasn't video games that made them kill, it was years of being bullied. Who can remember their school period? Every get bullied? Did you shoot anyone?
No.
And why not? No guns.
Cowards use a gun instead of using fists.
And Doom had nothing to do with this.
Phew, sorry to get off on a rant here, but this really, really angers me.
I play video games every day, I do not have any violent tendencies outside of the electronic world.
Neither does 99% of us.
Dont blame games or movies or books or records.
Look at everything that surrounds kids and the effect that may have 1st.
That is from another web-site.
Whilst I agree that what happened there is a tragedy, you cant pin the blame on video games anymore than you can backwards messages in music.
It's so much easier to point a finger at a movie/song/video game that it is to accept that society and maybe the parents of those two kids are to blame.
Especially in the States, were a culture of violence and access to guns is so easy.
Did you know Walmart refuse to stock albums or magazines it deems "offensive to our family image", yet you can buy machine guns, handguns and crossbows there?
Exactly.
And video games are to blame?????
Who says?
There has been so much research into music and movies influencing behaviour, and if this was the case, censors would be the most depraved animals on the face of this planet.
This argument simply does not stand up to serious examination.
You simply cannot ignore the school system of America, where violent sport is rewarded with popularity and praise (Quarterback heroes dating cheerleaders etc).
Those two kids that shot everyone, they had been bullied for years, mocked and laughed at for being different.
So, considering you can walk into a family aimed store and buy heavy weapons, they took it out the easiest and quickest way they knew.
It wasn't video games that made them kill, it was years of being bullied. Who can remember their school period? Every get bullied? Did you shoot anyone?
No.
And why not? No guns.
Cowards use a gun instead of using fists.
And Doom had nothing to do with this.
Phew, sorry to get off on a rant here, but this really, really angers me.
I play video games every day, I do not have any violent tendencies outside of the electronic world.
Neither does 99% of us.
Dont blame games or movies or books or records.
Look at everything that surrounds kids and the effect that may have 1st.
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These (those sueing) are of the same mentality as those who tried to ban the Tom & Jerry and Road Runner cartoons for being too violent, and Donald Duck becuse he was 'naked' below the waist. Once it starts, where does it end?
I also thought that was great. I can just picture the Nintendo executives in a board meeting:
"Right fellas, we need to make our games MORE cutesy..."
God help us.
"Right fellas, we need to make our games MORE cutesy..."
God help us.
"If someone killed another man by squeezing his head off, you wouldn't blame the stress ball he has on his desk, would you?"
lol!
Perhaps it's the parents own self denial of the fact that they didn't bring up their children properly. Blaming someone else is the most natural, but disgusting, thing to do.
What I find funny, is that Nintendo are known as the "childish" games company... and they're getting sued for encouraging kids to go insane. Hmmm.
lol!
Perhaps it's the parents own self denial of the fact that they didn't bring up their children properly. Blaming someone else is the most natural, but disgusting, thing to do.
What I find funny, is that Nintendo are known as the "childish" games company... and they're getting sued for encouraging kids to go insane. Hmmm.
The way I see it is this: If the two kids didn't have games like Doom to take out their frustration on, how much built-up frustration would they have had then? For a lot of people, viokent games are a good way to allieviate stress and get rid of that anger - I don't know how many times I've wanted to just scream and go and punch someone but I have just relaxed and taken out my frustration on my trusty PlayStation.
If someone killed another man by squeezing his head off, you wouldn't blame the stress ball he has on his desk, would you? Actually, that doesn't make much sense.
If someone killed another man by squeezing his head off, you wouldn't blame the stress ball he has on his desk, would you? Actually, that doesn't make much sense.
I think that out of love for their murdered children these people should try and get something done about firearms, but suing games compnaies who have provided such fun and enjoyment for a group of friends is stupid, especially for personal gain. Money can't buy or replace love, even the Beatles understood that there is no point suing these companies...
A) When they will continue to provide games for that market section anyway and
B) When most people enjoy videogames with no trouble at all.
But there is one true fact to all this. And that is that Bullying causes trouble. No-one prevails or wins with bullying. Inside all of us there is this thing which says 'Be friends, have fun, don't fight and don't trouble' Okay maybe not exactly in those words but you see what I mean.
It could have the same effect on newbies...It might be cool or hip to type in short hand so people are going to do it, if we can accept it, it would mean someone else to talk to and another customer for SR.
Be nice to newbies, they are just trying to fit in...they only post shorthand quick posts to spread their name around...Make friends with them...and more serious topics will come. Laughing or taking the pi$$ out of them won't help anyone. It doesn't matter if you are a 'Notable, Regular or even a Now-And-Again-er...you were new once....yes?
The Game
A) When they will continue to provide games for that market section anyway and
B) When most people enjoy videogames with no trouble at all.
But there is one true fact to all this. And that is that Bullying causes trouble. No-one prevails or wins with bullying. Inside all of us there is this thing which says 'Be friends, have fun, don't fight and don't trouble' Okay maybe not exactly in those words but you see what I mean.
It could have the same effect on newbies...It might be cool or hip to type in short hand so people are going to do it, if we can accept it, it would mean someone else to talk to and another customer for SR.
Be nice to newbies, they are just trying to fit in...they only post shorthand quick posts to spread their name around...Make friends with them...and more serious topics will come. Laughing or taking the pi$$ out of them won't help anyone. It doesn't matter if you are a 'Notable, Regular or even a Now-And-Again-er...you were new once....yes?
The Game
Al Gore wanted to tighten legislation to restrict access to firearms.
George W's policy is of greater availability.
When a guy so stupid can take an office at such high national level purely because of who his father was, despite his blatent incredibly stupidity and incompitance, you have to wonder why America doesn't just get itself a monarchy. At least then the loser wouldn't have any real power.
Personally though, I think the parents have to accept most of the responsibility for these kinds of things, instead of pushing the blame onto 'society'. Although what good the blame will do unless it encourages some fundamental changes... Well, it won't bring their kids back but at least the families can cash in on it in true American style.
So can the case that kicked this whole thing off make any changes?
I think everyone here would agree that there's no way that even if they were to pull off a win in the courts, that anything would really change, that this sort of tragedy would be prevented in the future, they aren't even addressing the right problem.
Just one last point in my rant, to bring a few things together: Why are the families pursuing this legal action, focusing only on video games? Because unlike other equally easy to blame areas of the media, nobody's tried video games yet. That really suggests to me that the families must know this isn't the real source of the problems that caused this tragedy. That in turn reinforces my opinion that the families are shamelessly trying to make a buck from their children's deaths. And if I'm right, that is possibly the most disturbing, disgusting thing to have come out of this sorry mess.
George W's policy is of greater availability.
When a guy so stupid can take an office at such high national level purely because of who his father was, despite his blatent incredibly stupidity and incompitance, you have to wonder why America doesn't just get itself a monarchy. At least then the loser wouldn't have any real power.
Personally though, I think the parents have to accept most of the responsibility for these kinds of things, instead of pushing the blame onto 'society'. Although what good the blame will do unless it encourages some fundamental changes... Well, it won't bring their kids back but at least the families can cash in on it in true American style.
So can the case that kicked this whole thing off make any changes?
I think everyone here would agree that there's no way that even if they were to pull off a win in the courts, that anything would really change, that this sort of tragedy would be prevented in the future, they aren't even addressing the right problem.
Just one last point in my rant, to bring a few things together: Why are the families pursuing this legal action, focusing only on video games? Because unlike other equally easy to blame areas of the media, nobody's tried video games yet. That really suggests to me that the families must know this isn't the real source of the problems that caused this tragedy. That in turn reinforces my opinion that the families are shamelessly trying to make a buck from their children's deaths. And if I'm right, that is possibly the most disturbing, disgusting thing to have come out of this sorry mess.
Absolutely true, nobody knows what happened there except for two kids that are no longer here to explain.
My only point, and I'll leave it after this is:
Until you know for certain that Nintendo helped them - dont start sueing and blaming.
A comfort blanket I understand, but people have been snapping for eternity, why is it only recently that entertainment is held up as a pariah?
It happens over here occasionally (anyone here old enough to remember Hungerford?), and that Bulger murder thing, blaming Child's Play 3?
Come on people, these are movies and songs, if you get ideas from them, then that's not the fault of the artist, that's a problem with your wiring.
Nobody is saying that these situations are anything less than horrific and devestating for the people involved, but it's taking the easy option to blame movies and games.
If that were the case, we could remove all games tomorrow and all movies and the world would be Eden once more.
But we've been attacking and killing each other since we swung through the trees.
What about the murders througout history?
What do we blame Jack The Ripper's insanity on?
Ed Gein?
Ted Bundy?
The Menendez Bros?
You or I would no more dream of taking up a weapon and murdering people randomly than the next person.
I've played Silent Hill, Resident Evil,I listen to rock music/rap/hip-hop, I read Stephen King and Richard Laymon - yet I am one of the most balanced and placid people I know.
So why is it I can read/watch/hear/play these things and I'm not snapping?
Great, ban Nintendo, remove all video games and movies if that makes this world a perfect place.
But it won't, never has done and never will be.
All we can do is educate instead of vilify.
My only point, and I'll leave it after this is:
Until you know for certain that Nintendo helped them - dont start sueing and blaming.
A comfort blanket I understand, but people have been snapping for eternity, why is it only recently that entertainment is held up as a pariah?
It happens over here occasionally (anyone here old enough to remember Hungerford?), and that Bulger murder thing, blaming Child's Play 3?
Come on people, these are movies and songs, if you get ideas from them, then that's not the fault of the artist, that's a problem with your wiring.
Nobody is saying that these situations are anything less than horrific and devestating for the people involved, but it's taking the easy option to blame movies and games.
If that were the case, we could remove all games tomorrow and all movies and the world would be Eden once more.
But we've been attacking and killing each other since we swung through the trees.
What about the murders througout history?
What do we blame Jack The Ripper's insanity on?
Ed Gein?
Ted Bundy?
The Menendez Bros?
You or I would no more dream of taking up a weapon and murdering people randomly than the next person.
I've played Silent Hill, Resident Evil,I listen to rock music/rap/hip-hop, I read Stephen King and Richard Laymon - yet I am one of the most balanced and placid people I know.
So why is it I can read/watch/hear/play these things and I'm not snapping?
Great, ban Nintendo, remove all video games and movies if that makes this world a perfect place.
But it won't, never has done and never will be.
All we can do is educate instead of vilify.
The way I see this kind of teeters inbetween both points of view. Obviously I don't think the parents doing the sueing are just in their thinking - sueing Nintendo especially makes me wonder why and leads me to believe they are doing it for the sake of it. However, I do believe that these influences ie. video games, music, horror film etc. could and may have had something to do with why those boys did what they did. While they probably weren't driven to do what they did by these influences, this kind of thing is probably their 'comfort blanket' when they come home after a day of bullying from those morons. Listening to music like Eminem, or whoever, probably doesn't help when you are feeling low and no-one in their right mind can possibly say that their isn't some chance that the two boys weren't slightly influenced by these things. While I believe that it is mostly the fault of the American Educational system (rewarding Jocks and sending them to college for being good at football, whilst ignoring the 'geeks') the bullies and small minded idiots who drove them to it and the parents of all involved, no-one knows what was going through their heads when they decided to go in guns blazing so we can never truly say if they were influenced or not.
The Game:
"I'd blame stupid rappers"
"I blame Marylin Manson and Eminem"
Dude, that is no different from waving at video-games.
You said you dont play horror games because you dont like them.
That's cool, that's the easiest way to deal with that stuff "It's not for me so I don't choose that"
But you cant blame a singer or a book or anything else except the individual.
To appoint blame to anything or anyone other than the person involved and their environment is to take the easy option.
That's why I can't watch Natural Born Killers (I've got it anyway), that's why rap and rock is always held up as a bad thing.
Elvis was banned from the Ed Sullivan show for dancing "in a manner too provocative for the moral majority of America".
People always look for something exterior to blame, it's easier then facing your own demons and accepting that maybe, just maybe you did something wrong as a parent/teacher/fellow pupil.
The kids that bullied those two Columbine kids, do they feel bad and think that maybe they shouldn't have been such idiots?
Nope, they burnt Marylin Manson posters and cried with the rest of them.
"I'd blame stupid rappers"
"I blame Marylin Manson and Eminem"
Dude, that is no different from waving at video-games.
You said you dont play horror games because you dont like them.
That's cool, that's the easiest way to deal with that stuff "It's not for me so I don't choose that"
But you cant blame a singer or a book or anything else except the individual.
To appoint blame to anything or anyone other than the person involved and their environment is to take the easy option.
That's why I can't watch Natural Born Killers (I've got it anyway), that's why rap and rock is always held up as a bad thing.
Elvis was banned from the Ed Sullivan show for dancing "in a manner too provocative for the moral majority of America".
People always look for something exterior to blame, it's easier then facing your own demons and accepting that maybe, just maybe you did something wrong as a parent/teacher/fellow pupil.
The kids that bullied those two Columbine kids, do they feel bad and think that maybe they shouldn't have been such idiots?
Nope, they burnt Marylin Manson posters and cried with the rest of them.
Ant wrote:
> Wookiee-you were bullied at school???
Yes, I sure was. But it's all better now... as long as they don't find the body... ;-)
> Wookiee-you were bullied at school???
Yes, I sure was. But it's all better now... as long as they don't find the body... ;-)
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