Mayor blames Hate Murders on video games

[CptStern]

"the mayor of New Bedford, Mass, hometown of deceased murder suspect Jacob D. Robida, has decided to single out video game fantasy violence as one of the root causes of this weeks real life violence that took place on his watch. In response to the hate crimes allegedly perpetrated by Robida, Mayor Scott Lang has issued a statement reading “violent video games have to be taken out of our homes”."

"One can only assume that the mayor sees some sort of relationship between the horrific violence that ended three lives and something he’s heard about on the news. Maybe the mayor ought to look more closely at Robida’s obsession with Nazism and the Insane Clown Posse for clues about his motivation. Certainly we could all benefit from having the latter taken out of our homes (and pretty much the entire universe)."

http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/violen...tes-video-games-in-recent-killings-152849.php



Mayor Lang's Statement Regarding the Events on February 4, 2006

The actions of a single deranged individual act as a wake up call to our community and once again the nation. We must unify and begin a community wide effort to enforce a zero tolerance policy for crimes of violence, crimes of hatred, and anti-social behavior. We cannot ignore what has happened in our community, we must address our situation immediately. All clergy, every church and synagogue in the City of New Bedford, must facilitate a positive, engaging dialogue with our young people and their families. This cycle of violence must stop. The guns have to come off the streets. The violent video games have to be taken out of our homes.



this is becoming an epidemic

 

[Ikerous]

Life, liberty, and violent video games <3

 

[CptStern]

I thought it was "life, liberty and a shitload of firearms"

 

[ktimekiller]

Damn, too many idiots lurking around in the world!

 

[Yuri]

Maybe the mayor ought to look more closely at Robida’s obsession with Nazism and the Insane Clown Posse for clues about his motivation

..So the article says "Don't blame video games, blame music!

That makes no sense whatsoever.

I mean, ICP is one of the worst bands I've ever really come across. But that doesn't mean that it leads people to murder. :|

 

[CptStern]

sure it does!

I didnt write the article ..but I think he's trying to point out that the mayor singled out video games when it could have been a number of things ...had he said The Carpenters instead of ICP it would have illustrated his point better

 

[Yuri]

sure it does!

I didnt write the article ..but I think he's trying to point out that the mayor singled out video games when it could have been a number of things ...had he said The Carpenters instead of ICP it would have illustrated his point better

No, the author actually compared ICP to Nazism... it doesn't seem like he was pulling random things from the murderer's life to make his point. I mean, the rest of the article is fine, but since the author did that, it kind of ruined their credibility.

ICP is one of the most immature and hateful bands I've ever known of, but that doesn't mean that they should be banned any more than video games, and that they lead to murder...

Doesn't change the fact that this whole case is screwed up, but biased news articles don't help us gamers.

 

[15357]

I guess this is the new trend: Blame all on video games.

 

[CptStern]

No, the author actually compared ICP to Nazism...

no he didnt, not a direct comparison, he just mentioned it along with nazism, but didnt compare it

it doesn't seem like he was pulling random things from the murderer's life to make his point. I mean, the rest of the article is fine, but since the author did that, it kind of ruined their credibility.

it would have been nice if he had linked to an article that listed those details ..seems kinda disjointed cuz there's no frame of reference besides the murders themselves

ICP is one of the most immature and hateful bands I've ever known of, but that doesn't mean that they should be banned any more than video games, and that they lead to murder...

again I dont think he suggested that ..but in any event ICP's lack of any discernible talent will eventuallly silence them

Doesn't change the fact that this whole case is screwed up, but biased news articles don't help us gamers.

I agree it's playing the same card as the mainstream press however I think it was a minor point and in over a year of reading kotaku I've never run into similiar biases

 

[Beerdude26]

I guess this is the new trend: Blame all on video games.

God, it would be so funny to blame something incredibly silly on video games and take it to court

"Holy shit! I cut my finger on this CD!"
"Holy shit! Because I completely disregarded that cut I now have a heavy flu!"
"Holy shit! Because I didn't do anything about my flu I now have chronic bronchitis!"
"BLAME VIDEO GAMES BLAME VIDEO GAMES BLAME VIDEO GAMES"

I'd hit it.

 

[joule]

Nothing new.

 

[Septih]

Don't blame it on the firearms
Don't blame it on the nazis
Don't blame it on the ICP
Blame it on the BOOGIE..I mean Video Games

 

[Sulkdodds]

The ICP thing is stupid. However:

I go to New Bedford every day. godmstr is right. New Bedford has waaay bigger problems than video games. Try homeless junkies accosting you at every corner. Try wading through pools of vomit on the sidewalk every morning. Try praying every day that when you return to your parking space your car will be where you left it. Video games don't kill people. Living in a total industrial wasteland like New Bedford Kills people.

So Mayer Pooface is using videogames as a scapegoat for the horrors caused by his total and callamitous inability to run a town. Sorry mayor, but it's not the fault of the games industry that your conSHITuency is a hellhole.

 

[Icarusintel]

Why hasn't the government granted me a license to kill yet?


I'd have this dumbass taken care of by now if I had one of those.

 

[CptStern]

Why hasn't the government granted me a license to kill yet?


I'd have this dumbass taken care of by now if I had one of those.

hehe you've answered your own question

 

[Nat Turner]

Why hasn't the government granted me a license to kill yet?


I'd have this dumbass taken care of by now if I had one of those.

You're allowed to kill in certain circumstances, you just can't murder.

 

[Edcrab]

Here we go again... another example of mass-media scapegoatism so an impotent and useless official can cower behind public ignorance.

Hurray.

I think the Mayor has a point, however: clearly if he hadn't played the original Sim City so much (calling down disasters, demolishing buildings for the joy of it) his abilities wouldn't be so stunted in later life.

 

[Lucid]

...

I actually knew this kid.
He wasn't really a total asshole, but it was frightening to go to his house(Nazi stuff everywhere, and lots of anti-christ crap.)...
But guess what? He didn't play any video games... with the 6 years that I knew him... he never played any video games.

Sure, You may all view him as evil and stuff... but when we weren't at his house, he was quite funny and fun to hang out with.

He just chose the wrong path in life.

 

[CptStern]

he chose to act out on his hate and took 3 innocent lives ..he deserves nothing in life or death

 

[Ome_Vince]

Interesting discussion though, where does personal responsibility end? and for instance media, music, MC Donalds ( supersize me.. ) responsibilty begin?
Personally i think video-games and music only emphesize the problem, not essentially spawn it.
A screwed up childhood is where i think most future "frustrations" begin....

 

[Lucid]

Hell, Trust me... me and my friends were shocked to read about the bar attack.

 

[CptStern]

you should probably set the mayor straight, write to the local paper and say that he doesnt play video games and that it's an unfair attack on all the responsible video gamers out there ...demand an apology ..what better way to get noticed in your town ...just think of all the looks of admiration you'll get when you set the mayor straight ..go now

 

[Jintor]

"the mayor of New Bedford, Mass, hometown of deceased murder suspect Jacob D. Robida, has decided to single out video game fantasy violence as one of the root causes of this weeks real life violence that took place on his watch. In response to the hate crimes allegedly perpetrated by Robida, Mayor Scott Lang has issued a statement reading “violent video games have to be taken out of our homes”."

"One can only assume that the mayor sees some sort of relationship between the horrific violence that ended three lives and something he’s heard about on the news. Maybe the mayor ought to look more closely at Robida’s obsession with Nazism and the Insane Clown Posse for clues about his motivation. Certainly we could all benefit from having the latter taken out of our homes (and pretty much the entire universe)."

http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/violen...tes-video-games-in-recent-killings-152849.php



Mayor Lang's Statement Regarding the Events on February 4, 2006

The actions of a single deranged individual act as a wake up call to our community and once again the nation. We must unify and begin a community wide effort to enforce a zero tolerance policy for crimes of violence, crimes of hatred, and anti-social behavior. We cannot ignore what has happened in our community, we must address our situation immediately. All clergy, every church and synagogue in the City of New Bedford, must facilitate a positive, engaging dialogue with our young people and their families. This cycle of violence must stop. The guns have to come off the streets. The violent video games have to be taken out of our homes.



this is becoming an epidemic

Mmmm... I wonder if, I don't know, the DRUGS and the LACK OF EDUCATION are to blame... not to mention the PASSING THE BUCK.

 

[Septih]

you should probably set the mayor straight, write to the local paper and say that he doesnt play video games and that it's an unfair attack on all the responsible video gamers out there ...demand an apology ..what better way to get noticed in your town ...just think of all the looks of admiration you'll get when you set the mayor straight ..go now

agreed, but not for the admiration, but simply for the fact that the more people aren't challanged on these statements, the more local governments are going to hide their bad policies and local problems behind scapegoats such as video games.

 

[CptStern]

agreed, but not for the admiration, but simply for the fact that the more people aren't challanged on these statements, the more local governments are going to hide their bad policies and local problems behind scapegoats such as video games.

ya I know, I was just trying to appeal to his vain side

 

[Ome_Vince]

Back in the day when film was introduced, you got similar responses of how "bad television and film was for kids and people".
Think in general people also have to get used to the video-game as an "accepted" media in society.

 

[Tollbooth Willie]

you should probably set the mayor straight, write to the local paper and say that he doesnt play video games and that it's an unfair attack on all the responsible video gamers out there ...demand an apology ..what better way to get noticed in your town ...just think of all the looks of admiration you'll get when you set the mayor straight ..go now

Holy sheet..... DO AS HE SAYS! ADO EET NOW! ARRAHHHH! ARRRAAAGHHHHH! [/Arnold Schwarzenegger talk]

 

[Asknoone]

Ohho, Mayors these days. Boo!

 

[Lucid]

I doubt the mayor would listen to anything I'd have to say.

But I guess writing to the guy wouldn't hurt...
Oh god, this might draw Jack Thompson to my city :O :x

 

[Sulkdodds]

DOO EEET

 

[Septih]

I doubt the mayor would listen to anything I'd have to say.

But I guess writing to the guy wouldn't hurt...
Oh god, this might draw Jack Thompson to my city :O :x

write to the press as well, not just the mayor

 

[Direwolf]

I dunno, I'm pretty sure ICP can directly be linked to violence. The difference is that it causes other people to be violent towards the listener.

 

[Yuri]

I dunno, I'm pretty sure ICP can directly be linked to violence. The difference is that it causes other people to be violent towards the listener.

Hahaha, good point.

I think the Mayor has a point, however: clearly if he hadn't played the original Sim City so much (calling down disasters, demolishing buildings for the joy of it) his abilities wouldn't be so stunted in later life.

Haha, at first I thought you meant the Mayor. Which would be a hilarious comparison to make.

 

[<RJMC>]

I doubt the mayor would listen to anything I'd have to say.

But I guess writing to the guy wouldn't hurt...
Oh god, this might draw Jack Thompson to my city :O :x

them in the roadway to your city put a giant billboard saying
"if your name is jack thompson you will not get alive out of here" and put a pic of the closet monkey of family guy

 

[OvA]

I don't know what you guys are talking about, ICP is awesome.

They were once on the Howard Stern show promoting something or other. Stern
(no, not the stern) asked them if their music was promoting violence, and they replied by saying that if listening or viewing violence (playing too) makes you want to do those thing in real life, you are a f*cktard.

 

[Septih]

them in the roadway to your city put a giant billboard saying
"if your name is jack thompson you will not get alive out of here" and put a pic of the closet monkey of family guy

win! :imu:

 

[Edcrab]

Haha, at first I thought you meant the Mayor. Which would be a hilarious comparison to make.

I did mean the mayor :| "Blame problems on video game" sounds like the kind of hackneyed summary you'd get covering a basic diplomacy option in a god sim...

 

[OvA]

 

[MultiVaC]

Lol.


Yeah, the video games made him do it, let's ignore the fact that he was a god damn Nazi.

 

[Yuri]

I did mean the mayor :| "Blame problems on video game" sounds like the kind of hackneyed summary you'd get covering a basic diplomacy option in a god sim...

Your post was confusing.