Teens Turn 'Grand Theft Auto' Into Real-Life Robbery Spree

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A gang of teens in love with the blood-drenched digital killfest "Grand Theft Auto IV" - in which players slaughter hundreds during endless crime sprees - copied the video game's violent hero with a two-hour campaign of real-life robbery and brutality on Long Island, cops said Thursday.

"They decided they were going to go out to commit robberies and emulate the [lead] character Nico Belic in the particularly violent video game 'Grand Theft Auto,' " said Nassau County Police Detective Lt. Raymond Cote. "These teens have difficulty separating fact from fiction, fantasy from reality . . . It was quite alarming."
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FOXNews.com - Teens Turn 'Grand Theft Auto' Into Real-Life Robbery Spree - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News
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Yet many in our society STILL beleive these kinds of "games" are acceptable and allow their kids to be exposed to and "play" them.

It's always interesting to look at the kinds of "arguments" they'll use to support their positions too

They've made a ridiculous "game" of THAT even. You cannot possibly teach mathematics (or anything else) to those who want to excuse their failures and never admit their errors. They will fight your admonitions and even denounce you with vehement and elaborate arguments providing that it is wrong to see their wrong. Such people are so well-skilled at this game they play all of their lives that we might very well be persuaded to their point of veiw.

Which leads us back to the story....

THERE OUGHTA BE A LAW!!!!!!!

Quick, someone get Tipper Gore on the case!

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"Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have... The course of history shows that as a government grows, liberty decreases."

-Thomas Jefferson

Yeah blame the games, not the people who commit the crime.

Typical liberal bullshit. People don't kill people and even guns don't kill people - video games kill people.

Of course, there may be a point here:

Wii Video Games Blamed For Rise In Effeminate Violence | The Onion - America's Finest News Source

TV Blamed For Rise In Formulaic Violence | The Onion - America's Finest News Source

__________________
"Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have... The course of history shows that as a government grows, liberty decreases."

-Thomas Jefferson

Actually, it would seem more appropriate to blame the parents of these kids for allowing them to own and engage in such "games."

And examine what it is that might have led adults to think that these kinds of "games" are a healthy thing to allow their kids to spend time with.

Oh, holy shit.

This, from the piece you linked to:

The series of attacks started at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, allegedly carried out by a gang of four teens led by 15-year-old Brandon Cruz. The youths had been sitting in Memorial Park in New Hyde Park, looking for something to do, when they allegedly decided to live out the game.

First, I don't necessarily consider four people a "gang", but so be it.

But it's four people. It's four people out of how many that play that game?

It's hardly a significant percentage, and certainly not a big enough one to demand that kids not be permitted to play these kinds of games...

Bingo - don't blame the game, blame the parents. There are plenty of parents who won't let their kids play these kinds of games until they're old enough.

Whether or not you "consider four people a "gang" has no bearing.

What I said is:

many in our society STILL beleive these kinds of "games" are acceptable and allow their kids to be exposed to and "play" them.


And:

It's always interesting to look at the kinds of "arguments" they'll use to support their positions too.

They've made a ridiculous "game" of THAT even. You cannot possibly teach mathematics (or anything else) to those who want to excuse their failures and never admit their errors. They will fight your admonitions and even denounce you with vehement and elaborate arguments providing that it is wrong to see their wrong. Such people are so well-skilled at this game they play all of their lives that we might very well be persuaded to their point of veiw.

Very much like what you seem to be doing here.

And I said:


..it would seem more appropriate to blame the parents of these kids for allowing them to own and engage in such "games."

And examine what it is that might have led adults to think that these kinds of "games" are a healthy thing to allow their kids to spend time with.
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It takes some seriously crackpot kinds of thinking and "reasoning" for an adult to come to the conclusion that it's Ok to allow their kids to play such "games."

In my opinion.

Which I formed from seeing these kinds of results.

Oh, come on. Should children and teenagers be banned from reading "violent" books, because they're not healthy? Or does it only apply to the new media? On the basis of one incident you are claiming that the peaceful majority should be banned from partaking in a healthy hobby (read "Everything Bad is Good for You" by Steven Johnson) without giving any solid evidence for the supposed detrimental effects of these games.

So there are still responsible people who are parenting.

That's nice to hear

What is disheartening is to hear stories like this and see that ....

.... well, it's nothing new really. Part of the human condition. There are idiots, crackpots and fruitloops of every stripe.

Always has(ve) been.

LOL I should probably avoid fox news for awhile. Give me a better outlook/opinion of humanity

Perhaps a better solution than overprotecting, sheltering, and pampering your children so that they're completely unprepared for life if they ever leave big momma's nest, is to raise children that won't go out and shoot or assault people, even if that totally awesome guy on the TV or the Video Game does it. Then, you don't have children unequipped for adult decision making and you don't have to act like a paranoid granny when it comes to their choice of entertainment.

If you seek to prevent your children from ever having to make moral or ethical decisions or act like adults, I'd imagine this sort of thing will just play out when they're 18 instead of 15.

__________________
"Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have... The course of history shows that as a government grows, liberty decreases."

-Thomas Jefferson

I would guess that in most of these cases (which are so rare as to not really be a major issue for society), it's not a conscious decision from these parents to allow their kids to play these games. It's more like the parents aren't paying attention, or don't give a fuck, whatever. And even the best parents have to eventually let little Johny hang out over a friends house, whose parents may be less diligent about screening their kids' games.

In the end, you just have to teach your kid right from wrong, plain and simple.

Yes but that still doesn't stop the asshole on the other side from assaulting or trying to kill your own child. Taking it hand in hand with also teaching them self defense and maybe encouraging them to get a firearm (when they're old enough) etc would help.

Now, they can act out in real life some of the exciting and fun things the've seen on Oz..........

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De duobus malis, minus est semper eligendum

I've heard some alleged reports that they read some of Thane's posts and that caused the psychotic rampage. It's just alleged and unconfirmed, unproven etc, but I'm posting it anyways.

Should Captain Trips be deprived of all human contact to prevent future crimes?

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Is our children learning? -George W. Bush

"I think—tide turning—see, as I remember—I was raised in the desert, but tides kind of—it's easy to see a tide turn—did I say those words?"—Washington, D.C., June 14, 2006

"[T]he illiteracy level of our children are appalling."—Washington, D.C., Jan. 23, 2004