9 year old boy commits suicide, videogames to blame....really?

[TheStickman]

Bye guys, I guess it's suicide time for me.

But really? Did they even try on this? There could be plenty of other more believable reasons for this young boy's killing himself, like bullying, shit parents. There's also television and movies too. There's too many factors to where you can walk in, say, "Violent video games did it," and walk out.

 

[Singularly Datarific]

Right, because bullying and/or his parents not caring about him TOTALLY WASN'T A FACTOR.

Also the kids would be watching less of the adult TV shows if you'd give us back cartoons like Popeye and Freakazoid instead of bullshit like Dora the Explorer and Sponge Bob.

Good point!
Kids are doing violent games because game producers have given up on clean stuff, as the predominant age of the population in in the 30's, and they primarily tend to them. As you were saying, they should do better games/shows AIMED at youths, instead of some crap pulled out just to fill the timeslot.

 

[Romblen]

Violent video games are like Fox News or George W. Bush. There will always be people that blame them for things that's not their fault.

 

[Zildjin81]

gee don't blame games , blame the media ... kids are brainwashed into thinkiing violence and disrespect are acceptable behavior

By.. the news?

 

[Wilbot666]

Ughh. It's tragic that the child did this, but this pop-psychologist wench obviously has no idea. I've been playing the Mortal Kombat series since I was 12 and it's been months since I ripped someone's spine out...

Seriously though, I can find NOTHING in that article that actually links the kid's behaviour to any videogame, much less a specific title!

Grow up, American Media!!

 

[aaronx83]

well i got my first console when i was 6 and im ok
even though i play violent videogames

 

[Mr.Something]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gl-NJlsQfGc

 

[ejb626]

Wow... they're not biased at all.

I'm serious to use someone's suicide as an oppurtunity to take a cheap-shot at video games is dispicable.

 

[DRTJR]

the kid was probably normal then the parents had nothing and started to fight and they probably blamed their poverty on him, and he gave them their wish.

i just guessing what happened on Cold hard speculation

 

[Joey245]

Maybe he was playing Sonic Unleashed?

Okay, okay, I'm kidding.

Seriously, it's the parent's fault. They just don't want to admit that they screwed up, so they blame it on violent video games. If they had just talked to the kid, found out what he was going through, and helped him through it, none of this would have happened.

But alas, that is not to be. People are idiots, end of story.

 

[Yubadias]

Of course it wasn't the PARENTS, SCHOOLS or MOVIES.

 

[almostgold]

Just like to point out that you being fine from playing video games =/= everybody alright from playing videogames. People watched Avatar and developed clinical depression because they knew Pandora wasn't real. My point is, certain people will have the weirdest things effect them, and no offense Escapists, but I'm going to trust a doctor's words over yours. Videogames are of course in no way 'to blame', as this kid obviously had severe psychological issues and those are 'to blame', but its very likely videogames were a contributing factor to his eventual suicide. Sorry to damper every ones day.

 

[Dr. Gorgenflex]

I have been playing goldeneye since I was 4. I think suicide is the most retarded thing you can do, but I guess it gets rid of retards. I am perfectly normal and have viewed it as a game for all of my life. Video games is the stupidest reason of all time.

 

[jedizero]

Just like to point out that you being fine from playing video games =/= everybody alright from playing videogames. People watched Avatar and developed clinical depression because they knew Pandora wasn't real. My point is, certain people will have the weirdest things effect them, and no offense Escapists, but I'm going to trust a doctor's words over yours. Videogames are of course in no way 'to blame', as this kid obviously had severe psychological issues and those are 'to blame', but its very likely videogames were a contributing factor to his eventual suicide. Sorry to damper every ones day.

If this is the case, then perhaps the parents should have paid more attention. Or the nurse.
Or hundreds of other people should have paid more attention.

But because of this doctor's attempt to gain attention. She's giving everyone that didn't pay attention a scapegoat. A huge one, that we can't take away because they're going to say "Nuh uh! that doctor said we didn't do anything wrong!"

Do we really want them to be able to do that?

 

[Cid Silverwing]

People just want to blame everything on videogames don't they?

How the fuck would playing games in which you kill people make you want to kill yourself?

That doctor's a goddamn retard.

This.

I'm so sick of video games being the scapegoat. Makes me wanna play more games.

 

[ImprovizoR]

It's parents fault and yes I'm serious. If the kid killed himself then clearly his parents had missed something important.