Violent Video Games "Warped" the Dark Knight Rises Killer

[ShadowsofHope]

*Yawn*

Disappointing, but I totally called it walking up to my local theater to see the movie after discussing this with my parents earlier.

..Yep.

 

[FalloutJack]

What? Again?

It wasn't true when I was just a boy reading about Mortal Kombat. It wasn't true the too-fucking-many times since then. Why would anyone keep trying when it's still not true?

It's not true because you can't make it happen!

Every study on video games - provided the data hasn't been skewed (like in Luxembourg) - is largly inconclusive on the matter. You can make excitement, you can make adrenaline, you can even make them angry...but it hasn't made them go on a rampage. That horse can see the water fine. He just won't drink.

The people who commit crimes (especially violence) that would indicate some connection to a game are either {A} going out and doing it because they have a mental issue that had them screwed up from the get-go or are {B} lying, like the jerk who claimed to use video games to learn how to fire a gun. Laugh riot, that. It's as equally stupid to say that because he likes hot dogs and ate a hot dog before committing murder that hot dogs are to blame.

No, he's just a frigging lunatic. Who else would travel out in the dead of night just to ruin someone's movie time with a hail of gunfire? What was the point? Do they even bother with them now or is it House of Leaves where you have to figure that shit out yourself?

 

[DudeistBelieve]

What? Again?

It wasn't true when I was just a boy reading about Mortal Kombat. It wasn't true the too-fucking-many times since then. Why would anyone keep trying when it's still not true?

It's not true because you can't make it happen!

Every study on video games - provided the data hasn't been skewed (like in Luxembourg) - is largly inconclusive on the matter. You can make excitement, you can make adrenaline, you can even make them angry...but it hasn't made them go on a rampage. That horse can see the water fine. He just won't drink.

The people who commit crimes (especially violence) that would indicate some connection to a game are either {A} going out and doing it because they have a mental issue that had them screwed up from the get-go or are {B} lying, like the jerk who claimed to use video games to learn how to fire a gun. Laugh riot, that. It's as equally stupid to say that because he likes hot dogs and ate a hot dog before committing murder that hot dogs are to blame.

No, he's just a frigging lunatic. Who else would travel out in the dead of night just to ruin someone's movie time with a hail of gunfire? What was the point? Do they even bother with them now or is it House of Leaves where you have to figure that shit out yourself?

Well there is a correlation between mass killers enjoying violent media, but it's akin to saying heart disease people eat a lot of fast food. Does eating a lot of fast food guarantee someone a heart attack? No, but it's certainly a risk factor.

 

[FalloutJack]

Well there is a correlation between mass killers enjoying violent media, but it's akin to saying heart disease people eat a lot of fast food. Does eating a lot of fast food guarantee someone a heart attack? No, but it's certainly a risk factor.

That's where the inconclusive part comes in. You have the close-but-not-really part there, but the thing they're mistaking is that it's not because of the violent video games making violent people. It's just that people who are prone to violence like the video games that have violence in them. The violence was always there. The game didn't magically make it appear. That is why in the years of this dragging on and on, in and out, it never comes to fruition.

 

[Doclector]

That's it. They crossed the fucking line here. I could accept the columbine killers were big doom fans, a complete idiot could thnk that it's connected. I could accept that maybe the norway shooter convinced himself that Call of duty was good target practice, as the guy could probably convince himself that the clouds are inhabited by purple clones of 80s metal bands.

This? This is fucking wrong. They've taken a completely unrelated tragedy and connected it to videogames, just for their damn agenda. This isn't just lies against videogames, this is an insult to the people affected. This cannot be allowed, they have to be punished for this, fined, fired, imprisoned, whatever, this shit cannot be tolerated. It's lies, blatant lies, and I can't believe we've gotten to the point where a newspaper can do that and expect to get away with it not just like they did nothing wrong, but like nothing happened at all.

Honestly, I don't know what I would've done without violent videogames. I'm a fairly aggressive person, and repeatedly, the world gives me reason to think I'm on my damn own, that violence is the only option. That's when I play some videogames and calm down, what the hell would happen if I didn't have that? I'm not fit enough to do an aggressive sport and I've never been, will never be, good at sports. Some poor bank clerk, one of my teachers doing something stupid, some random guy in the street who picked the wrong day to be an asshole, somebody would eventually get it, all if I didn't have that outlet.

These fuckers know nothing. Nothing at all, they're blatantly lying, and the public's gonna eat it the hell up. I'm out, I'm gonna go play halo or something.

 

[Thaluikhain]

That's where the inconclusive part comes in. You have the close-but-not-really part there, but the thing they're mistaking is that it's not because of the violent video games making violent people. It's just that people who are prone to violence like the video games that have violence in them. The violence was always there. The game didn't magically make it appear. That is why in the years of this dragging on and on, in and out, it never comes to fruition.

I don't buy that some people are just naturally violent. There has to be environmental factors. Now, saying that cultural elements like videogames are responsible for this or that is nonsense, but they can be a factor, surely.

 

[Relish in Chaos]

Wait, so a guy calling himself ?The Joker?, supposedly dressed as Bane?and video games are your go-to scapegoat? Seriously, The Sun? I thought better of you.

Oh wait. No, I didn?t. Fuck you.

The worst thing is that people still buy this shit and believe it.

 

[Killspre]

This is beyond retarded. The fact is he was doing this because of a movie the 2 games listed aren't even batman related. This guy obviously had a few marbles loose so no I'm not blaming the movies either, but really how far will people stretch to say video games cause all problems.

 

[SaunaKalja]

I think Betteridge's law of headlines [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betteridge%27s_Law_of_Headlines] applies here, once again.

 

[Adeptus Aspartem]

But seriously.. LoL sounds reasonable. Some teams just .. ARGH!

 

[Anti Nudist Cupcake]

I really don't get some reporters. I think the reporter had no other idea on how to get the paper sold/interesting.

I'd like to point out the extent at which people's stupidity would go to blame video games.

"He watched batman, killed a cinema full of people watching batman, and called himself the joker"

"ah, so the batman films encouraged him?"

"no"

"well what did?"

"world of warcraft"

Spoiler

 

[CrazyJew]

See, here's the problem with gun laws. I can see hunting rifles being legal for people with hunting licenses. I can see revolvers and even some low power semi-auto handguns being legal for self defense. But when you legalize semi-automatic rifles you basically let civilians outgun the average security guard. Have you ever walked in the streets, seen a guy with ar-15 and thought to yourself: "Yeah, that's a valid choice for self defense".

 

[Sincendiary]

This sounds like blaming bowling for the Columbine shooting and it'll only be taken seriously by idiots. However idiots are very loud and most people don't bother to learn the whole of any issue.

Legalise assault rifles warped american citizens.

Seriously handguns is one thing, but why the hell are ASSULT RIFLES legal? Citizens won't be carrying those around in self defence

Assault rifles are only legal in the US if they have been registered before May 1986. They are very hard to come buy.

The AR-15 is not an assault rifle. The "AR" doesn't stand for "assault rifle", it stands for Armalite, the company that makes them.

This is an AR15, the sort of rifle that was used.

This is an assault rifle, specifically a M16A4

They are very different.

Both could be classed as assault rifles*. Both are gas-operated, both use the standard nato 5.56 round. Both, when sold to the public, are limited to semi-auto and limited magazine capacity.

The fact that the AR-15 is billed as a sporting rifle doesn't alter the similarities between the two. I've seen both hung on a wall in a gun shop in New Zealand, and they even had similar price tags!

What confuses me though is that if you want to shoot a deer, why not use a 5.56mm firing weapon that's far more suited to the job, such as a Swedish Mauser 5.56 bolt-action with a decent scope?

*Yes, the M16 has a fire-select switch. But I wasn't aware that non-military peeps were allowed fully automatic weapons.

I am with you on not using an AR-15 for deer, I would prefer to use a larger round, they can bleed out for a long time (which doesn't sound like any fun for the deer), you have to walk a long way to chase it down if your shot is off, and you might even lose the bugger putting it through a lot for nothing. It's definitely accurate enough to be up for the job and scopes can be mounted on them easily. It is, however, my favorite coyote hunting weapon.

It also happens to be my home defense weapon and if you learn a little about ballistics and choose appropriate ammunition you'll find it's ideal for such a purpose.

The term assault rifle is rather a misnomer. Basically in legal terms in the United States it means the gun looks scary.

"Semi-automatic rifles able to accept detachable magazines and two or more of the following:
Folding or telescoping stock
Pistol grip
Bayonet mount
Flash suppressor, or threaded barrel designed to accommodate one
Grenade launcher (more precisely, a muzzle device which enables the launching or firing of rifle grenades, though this applies only to muzzle mounted grenade launchers and not those which are mounted externally)"
It's a wikipedia quote but it's largely accurate.

Not much of this actually makes it deadlier, in fact none of it does, it just looks like a military weapon that possesses automatic fire.

However when you question the average military personnel about what they consider an assault weapon they're generally thinking of a squad automatic weapon m249/m240b. Basically something that fires full auto and has belt fed ammunition designed to produce cover fire for small unit tactics or hold a position. It's also black and scary looking so those who don't know anything about weaponry are easily persuaded that other weapons are also these weapons.

Now yes, as an American citizen you can own one of these weapons however you have to register with the ATF at rather exorbitant costs and can be prosecuted for moving without notifying them of your address change.

 

[Lil_Rimmy]

JESUS BLOODY CHRIST.

I read the title and I now want to murder anyone who was even related to writing it.

"THAT'S BECAUSE OF VIDE-"
Sorry folks, had to kill that person. Anyway, just because a VIOLENT person plays VIOLENT games, DOES NOT mean the games caused it. Think about it. I like Space Marines. I like playing games with Space Marines in them.

Violent people like violence. They like games with violence in them. This means VIOLENT people are drawn to VIOLENT games.

And also... Since when in the hell was World of Warcraft violent? All I remember was flashy cartoon colours!

 

[Radoh]

Why must the media hate video games so much? It's getting out of hand the number of times video games are blamed for influencing awful crimes

They don't hate video games, but since there are next to no politicians lobbying for them and because it's the most recent Bug-Bear of the community, (Violent TV, MTV, Rock and Roll, TV in general, Radio etc...) spreading these claims is the quickest way to sell newspapers.

OT: Surprise surprise.
Now we wait for people to definitively prove that that is not the case and then be ignored, after that we are going to get some eyewitness testimony on some network's payroll to say that he yelled "For the Horde!" before doing the shooting.

 

[Vault101]

I honestly thought that were going or blame some scene, villan or "Idea" from dark knight rises but THIS? I mean are you fucking kidding me?

 

[ObsidianJones_v1legacy]

Someone tell me if this hero played video games [http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/07/21/12875584-shooting-survivor-boyfriend-took-a-bullet-for-me?lite]

"Jon just took a bullet for me," Young, a 21-year-old who recently became a certified veterinarian technician, told TODAY.
The couple, dating since October, according to Young, had been surprised to be able to get tickets on the day of the popular movie?s premiere.

When the alleged assailant, James Eagan Holmes, began his attack on the crowd, Blunk, who Young said had some military experience, knew what was going on, Young said.
"He knew and threw me on the ground, and was like, 'We have to get down and stay down,'" she told NBC News.

 

[MelasZepheos_v1legacy]

Wow.

Just...

Topaz Fushions avatar wow.

And the fact that as he opened fire into the crowd he was shouting 'I am the Joker' an actual villain from the actual movie franchise he was actually shooting up a premiere of is no never mind to the journalists?

Although I suppose calling for the ban on all movies forever because this guy identified with a movie villain is an unpopular opinion.

 

[TheDoctor455]

Why must the media hate video games so much? It's getting out of hand the number of times video games are blamed for influencing awful crimes

Yes... all they ever seem to do anymore is take some supposedly hot-button non-sequitor aspect of a person's life and blow it completely out of proportion.

I could just as easily write a bogus article on the same topic claiming that the university he went to 'warped' him, and therefore parents should be on guard about sending their kids to said university.

And I went to the same university as that guy. So therefore, I myself am "at risk" if one follows such a ludicrous train of "logic."

Oh, I never met the guy while I was there. I was an English major, and he was apparently studying neurosurgery.

And seriously... WoW? League of Legends?

Nice to see they're branching away from the usual... GTA or Counterstrike bullshit, but seriously?

Problem is though... I expect we'll be seeing this sort of thing (regardless of whatever they blame it on next week) for a long time. Unless of course, as a culture, we STOP looking for SIMPLE explanations to these kinds of massacres. But I'd wager that Hogwarts turning out to be a real school where one can get a degree in magic being MUCH more likely than society fixing any of its glaring problems anytime soon.

 

[Evil Alpaca]

The papers and media want something to blame. If there is some root or cause, then this isn't just a random tragedy brought on by a deranged individual, its a series of identifiable steps that can be prevented.

This is why video games, comic books, tea party movement (ABC blamed it on them cause one of them shared the same name), or anything else will become of the "cause" of the shooter. If there is a cause, then this can be prevented. If you just blame it on the individual, that means that it could happen again.