February 20, 2007 -
Based on recent Utah newspaper stories, GamePolitics has reported that Salt Lake City mall shooter Sulejman Talovic (left) did not own a video game system or PC.However, today's Deseret News features an interview with an acquaintance of Talovic, who says the troubled young man was indeed a gamer:
"Combat games, fighting games, Super Mario ... " Kadic said, recalling the types of video games they would play...
In hindsight, Kadic believes Talovic did seem to have a fascination with violent video games and movies. Although Kadic claims to have played video games in Talovic's home, police said that when they searched the home they found the family did not own a video game system, any games or a computer.
(Salt Lake City Police Chief Chris) Burbank told the Deseret Morning News that investigators have found nothing that shows violent video games were a motive...
Kadic is not convinced that violent video games and movies are solely to blame, although they may have been a factor.
Comments
Maybe it's just me. But it could be the point you're missing is that here in the US, whenever something like this happens, one of the very first things that comes to mind is that video games had something to do with it. And, of course, with video games being so popular, it's very possible the criminal in the case owns, at least, some kind of console or PC, and probably at least one violent video game for it. People see it and go on "Oh my god! IT'S THE VIOLENCE IN THAT GAME!"
Basically, it's relevance is that for once, this is, according to what the police found (or rather, lack of), there is basically, for once, they can't blame video games (unless either A. They're idiots, or B. They're attention whores), because he didn't own any. Okay, as a crude example, think of cancer. "Oh, lung cancer? Then he MUST have been a smoker," even though the fictional person never touched a cigarette in his life or been around people who smoke. Or maybe saying someone who started a fight did it because he was drunk, even though he has never had alcohol.
And really, this proves that people don't need video games to go do something like this; there are other factors, and this is something which politicians either don't seem to understand, or simply don't care, in favor of trying to get votes.
So, basically, it's revelence to video games is its lack of connection to the shooting, while in so many other cases, people make up a fictional link between media violence and crime.
Also, the key word on that article is "acquaintance", as the definition of acquaintance is "knowledge of a person acquired by a relationship less intimate than friendship", so why on earth would they take valuable evidence from someone who clearly wasn't close to the guy in the first place?
So umm? were did this friend come from? And now from a loner he has friends? umm could some one get the facts straight please.
Waitng for kncklehead to start the suing rockstar again.
Very... convenient.
nightwng2000
NW2K Software
So a kid went into a mall for a killing spree. Honestly, the only game that can be linked here is Dead Rising.
I played duck hunt when i was a kid, and I still dont have urges to go out shooting ducks (or geese though that would benefit everyone =P).
“Fascination with violent games and movies” probably covers 98% of male youth and a significant percentage of female youth. Horrific murder sprees covers approximately 0.00001% of youth.
So, there you go. "
I agree with GamerDad on this. You should see my dvd collection. I have plenty if not a huge number of kung-fu movies and "gun-fight" movies (the kind John Woo made while he was still directing in China). I have every Soul Calibur and Tekken made for the PS2 and a few Street Fighters and Mortal Kombat. I have Super Smash Bros. as well (which includes the use of baseball bats and firearms). Those games and movies appeal to a huge number of people yet few of them ever go on a killing spree.
If the kid in the article truly believes that Talovic was at least minimally influenced by those movies and games, doesn't he consider himself at risk since he shares the same "fascination"?
And some of the responses here just seem insane. I find it easier to believe that this guy has a friend who he played games with, as opposed to the idea that this was an 18-year-old kid in America who'd never played a single video game.
Or they could have just been a symptom. Next question.
I can see that some kids at least are learning their lessons from their elder lawyers and politicos, and simply playing the game of politics for personal gain.
Posting from home.
- Warren Lewis
Consumer responsibility is just as important as Corporate responsibility. So, be responsible consumers.
But, yeah, I would have to follow the police reports.
"Fascination with violent games and movies" probably covers 98% of male youth and a significant percentage of female youth. Horrific murder sprees covers approximately 0.00001% of youth.
So, there you go.
While I do agree that this is probably just one kid trying to get some media exposer, or at least acting on an old promise to this guy to blame video games if he ever did something crazy, but still, this can't be good for us from a news reporter standpoint.
You would start to think so would'nt you.
I agree, yhis is just someone trying for his 15 minutes of fame.
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