@Vanessa

That is the main concern regarding Video games, not that Games 'make' people do it, but that regular access to violent images makes a child choose to use a violent act first, since they are so often exposed to it. I'll agree to a concern on my own part, certainly dialogue from movies is emulated a lot, often without knowledge of it's context, but then, it can also be argued that many a parent has been caught out because their child also emulates them.

The problem is, there's no real way to answer the question, that is what the whole debate thrives on, in a way. Had the argument taken place over a bike, the story would have raised nothing more than sympathy. After all, one of the most famous Brother kills Brother stories is in the Bible itself, if mindsets bought in by a single outside influence, rather than a conglomeration of them, then it could just as easily be said that the Cain and Abel story subconciously inspired him to do it.

I don't think that violent games and films will 'force' someone to commit a violent act, that's why I'm so strongly against these stupid lawsuits, and I do think that wrapping children up in cotton wool is a dangerous way to raise them. However, I also think that parenting should be playing a more active role, I don't blame parents, I blame the demands they are under. Have you noticed, for example, how people are far keener to suggest the government regulate the distribution of media than suggest any way in which a parent could spend more time with their child, the one way in which we could return to the 'old days' and actually do some good, in my opinon. A lot of children feel like they are a 'distraction' to their own parents, who seem to rarely have the time for them. This is because it is the truth. Divorce rates are soaring, Domestic Violence is still common, and a lot of it can be traced back to the fact that couples simply don't have the time to spend on each other or their child, there is constant stress and precious little quality time.

Personally, I think it's that which needs to change, I'll admit to being an Englishman looking in, but to me it doesn't seem that society needs to ask the Government to regulate it, I live in a society in which that happens, it doesn't help, we have a real problem with stabbings in London at the moment, in my area alone 4 teenagers have died in the last 2 months. It's not the Media, it's the attitude in general that needs to change.

John Bruce "Jack" Thompson,
Yeah! That's right! We need to protect kids from this stuff! I mean, they get so hooked and end up not caring about Human life! Sticking there noses into this stuff for thousands and thousands and thousands of hours! This stuff desensitizes and mentally molests both children and adults alike!

We need to create legislation to protect kids from this stuff! Keep kids away from these obscene materials!

First, we'll ban kids from attending organized religious services! Then we'll demand the building be moved away from places like schools! Then we'll require religious materials to be viewable only by adults! Then...

What?

Oh, my bad! I thought you meant protect kids from religious bigotries and violent materials. The kind of stuff that created Osama Bin Lauden, Fred Phelps, Eric Rudolph, your own church (as noted by your own comments in favor of bigotry and hate, and this guy:
http://scienceblogs.com/dispatches/2007/07/god_told_me_to_kill_gays.php

I mean, clearly, religious beliefs of bigotry and hate lead to violence and murder. So we need to protect kids from this filth, right? I mean, you DO want to protect kids, don't ya?

(This has been an angry bugger production. See previous post in this article and prior posts on such issues for actual personal stance on the issue.)

Nightwng2000
NW2K Software

I've heard of so many other cases. One of which will ring in my head was when a kid attacked another with a weapon over a bad trade with Pokemon Cards. Now, they are CARDS and not video games.

So the point is that this happens all the time, and it doesn't just happen with video games. It's more of an issue of how long this has happened (Brother doesn't let the younger one have his turn) and anything of the sort. Maybe it was media violence that supported the kid to do the action. Maybe it was the lack of parenting that caused the kid to think he was able to do it. We don't know for sure...

While there's no doubt that this kid had some serious issues - he did after all stab his brother to death over whose turn it was to play a game - people seem to be missing the point.

Those who are anti-gaming will be arguing that years of playing video games was the thing that messed this kid up in the first place. They will argue that years of playing video games have screwed with his moral compass and de-sensitised him to violence so much so that he was capable of doing this thing.

It's not enough to simply say that he was messed up and that games aren't to blame. What if a small percentage of individuals are prone to being adversely affected by games and that it is their gaming that has pushed them over the edge. How do we as a gaming community respond to this?

@FatherTime
Calm down, I was being partially facetious with the second controller thing, as I would bet the others were, as well. Saying Jack has blood on his hands is ridiculous, probably them just venting at the inevitable news reporting we're bound to hear in the near future. Take a deep breath and count to ten.

I just hope that the idiots from those groups do not use this to mess with manhunt 2 even more. It was great news recently that Take Two said that they are going ahead and doing whatever it takes to release manhunt 2. There is no evidence in this case and almost every other case that had to do with a video game that the video game was totally the case of the killings. Those idiots in those groups that do not have anything better to do for society uses events that do not have total evidence that video games are the cause of the killing. These groups need to let us have our rights to play whatever we want.

Also to everyone who says a second controller would've prevented this, how do you know they weren't playing a game that was single player only, like god of war?

Speaking of which now that they haven't released the name of the game which game will they blame for the salughter well to find out we'll have to play a game of
WHEEL
OF
SCAPEGOATS!

That's right it's the wheel of scapegoats, where we take a humongus wheel full of the most violent games to figure out which one is to blame. Our contestant today is, why look it's our returning champion jack thompson who previously hit counter strike after the virginia tech massacre, how'd that work out for you jack?"
"Not so good his roommate told everyone that he didn't play videogames and no one bought the story."
"Ouch, do you think you will do better this time."
"Of course I will, he's a 12 year old boy and if they weren't playing the game nobody would have been killed."
"What if it turns out to be an E game?"
"I'll just wave my hand in front of the cops and say 'these are not the games you're looking for.'"
"Will that work?"
"Yeah I saw it in a movie."
" Well ok Jack you know what to do."
"Come on grand theft auto, grand theft auto"

"It landed on the mystery game Jack, you know what that means."
"Actually I don't you never explained it to me."
"Every game we put a random violent game under the mystery spot, let's see what it is this time."
"And the mystery game is . . . CLUE! based off the board game."
"My god you're right it all makes perfect, in every game of clue they always simulate a murder, making it a MURDER SIMULATOR, because he couldn't get a turn he acted out what he saw in the game and stabbed his brother with a knife. Then he ran outside and yelled I stabbed my brother with a steak knife in the living room, why because in clue you win the game if you find out who killed him even if it turns out to be you. He thought that since he won the game nothing would happen to him. That's how the clue game CORRUPTED HIS MIND. I even saw the game being marketed to children. Who knows how many people have been stabbed shot strangled and bludgeoned with a lead pipe because of it. I'm going to make sure that Parker brothers goes done in flames like the godless freaks they are."
"Well there you have it they were playing Clue anyone saying anything to the contrary has been bribed, thank you for joining us."

ok how does Jack thompson have blood on his hands? Was he the one who picked up the knife and stabbed the 16 year old? No. Was he in the area at the time, this happened? Probably not (I say probably because he could've been in philly for all i know). Could he have prevented this from happening? Again probably not. Could his scapegoating have possibly caused this murder? Not unless the 13 year thought that he could blame games before commiting the murder and that doesn't seem likely. Jack and his ilk do not have blood on their hands over this. Also Jack and his ilk did not make videogames the new scapegoat all by themselves (I'm pretty sure of it).

Something I would like to note in this is the lack of information given in this report. It would appear there are two witnesses to this the mother and the 13 year old, however neither of them have made any statements at all about the event, it is only alleged that video games are involved in this. The fact that the report said it was a video game murder is a very premptive (SP) statement where for all we know other factors probably were in effect, and also there is a chance that video games played a very minor role in this. I think it is really too early to make any opinion on this situation when the only facts given to the public is that a 13 year old killed his 16 year old brother.

I can smell Jack Thompson complaining

Sakimori, that would be the best ammunition against JT and politicians if that were true.

Then again, we don't know a lot about the situation, so we'll wait till more reports come in. And, inevitably, what JT has to say.

@Razer

Yes, but what you and other seem to be missing here is that was he able to think his actions through and understand the actions consequences for him and the victim.

I'm sorry, but you can't know his state of mind. You can't know what he was thinking, I am try to err on the side of caution before I condemn him.

Jacko there is a troll. Don't feed it.
On topic: Video games are now ubiquitous. Violence and strange cases are more sensationalized now then ever before. Video games are currently easily scapegoated targets. Did people blame unrequited love for the astronaut would-be-kidnapping? This stuff sucks, and I hope public perception changes, but I'm not holding my breath.

A second controller (as stated above) would have gone a long way, as well as better parenting.

1. That's not Jack, it's a troll.
2. @ Brokenscope: I know what you're getting at, but c'mon, how deranged do you have to be to stab your brother over this!? I don't care how pissed he is; but don't take this as I believe he shouldn't get help.

News flash everyone, Wii Tennis is trying to kill your kids.

It would be first-degree then, since he only wanted to kill him when he lost and had to give up the controller. Geez, this is the first time I've posted on this site, even though I've read this place for a year.

I'm gonna say he got past the IP ban again.

On a note related to the story, is first-degree murder the most serious type of murder, or is third-degree?

1st degree murder is premeditated murder with full knowledge of the results of the act. Alternate names: Malice murder, Capital murder, premeditated murder.

3rd degree can almost be stated as accidental murder, however there is at times rather blurry line between between 3rd degree murder and manslaughter.

aaand there he is. We were having such a good time speculating how the media keeps blowing these things out of proportions, and then our buddy Jack shows up.

...

Did they even say what game it was? How can anyone say it was violent if they didn't say what game it was.

How dare you say we have blood on our hands. your the one who blamed vt massicare on counter strike before anyone knew who the killer was. Oh and play counter strike and half life 2 and don't murder people.

WOW! What a concept. Violent video games affecting the behavior of minors! Who could imagine such a thing???!!!

Blood is on the hands of many of you here, because you have done as much as you could to beat down this tragic fact and the results of such obscurantism.

The good guys are winning this culture war battle, and that ain't anybody here at this site, save yours truly.

Jack Thompson

@JACK THOMPSON, ATTORNEY

Firstly, turn off the caps lock, secondly,

English, can you read it!?!?

However, Lansdowne Police Chief Daniel Kortan seemed to rule out any game inspiration in the grisly, tragic events:

I don’t believe the actual game itself was the cause of it. I don’t believe they were acting out in any way or mimicking anything in a video game. I believe it was actual use of the game and whose turn it was.

@Malovolent

Just in case your not being sarcastic.

Okay when you accidentally kill someone with your car one day, or if you ever do anything that might be construed as negligent I hope they lock you the fuck up. I mean you did that by accident, imagine what you might do if you do it on purpose.

I hope they try this kid as an adult. I would hope they lock him away forever. If at 13 he can do that and even think that...what do you think he'll be doing in 10-15 years...its not gonne steak knives...i'd say samurai swords and katanas!! rapiers or broadswords! but yeah...this kid was a nut job before the Doc dropped him on his head at birth...lock him up or give him the death penalty so my taxes don't go to him...one less perp my taxes gives life to. Or wait...i need a new garage! the GOV can use my taxes to employ him to build me a new garage!! under one condition...i get to watch him like a hawk with my shotgun....

"I don’t believe the actual game itself was the cause of it."

Hmm, this statement won't be ignored by others, however, the won't don't will somehow be omitted

I guess this mus be the "sleeper cell" training Ladou... I mean, Larouche talks about endlessly

omfg.....after watching the video.....he ran out crying and stuff, saying he stabbed his brother....
How can any reasonable jury member or judge charge him as an adult for that? Let alone with 1st degree murder....that alone is, IMO, alot more pressing of an issure than the fact that it was a video game

I really don't think they should charge him as an adult....
I mean, maybe with some counseling and professional help, maybe we don't have to screw HIS life over for the rest of his life too.
And I also don't think what he did was 1st degree murder, he's just a child for god's sake, and now he has to live with the fact that he killed his own brother for the rest of his life? Doesn't that seem like almost enough of a punishment?

A 2nd controller could have prevented this :(

@Brokenscope
I don't want to argue with you, but the kid is 13. If you don't know the heart keeps you alive by 13, you have problems. He seems to have mental issues if he stabs his brother over whose turn it is.

And what is with the news always choosing the worst headlines? Video Game Murder? What about: Sibling Murder; Child Killed By Brother

wow, it's been about 3 hours and no Jack Thompson mass email. Either he doesn't think it's worth it, or people are actually listening to what the police said about this being a fight over a game, rather than a copycat killing, and are sending Jack's emails straight to junk, where they belong.

@Soga

I'm sorry but Unless they can prove that the kid had thought or made the statement "I'm going to kill him next time" its not premeditated murder. Premeditated indicates planning, if he had the steak Knife hidden under his shirt for just such an occasion, I could understand 1st degree.

If he had marked several veins or arteries in an anatomy book and made a general attempt at hitting a major artery that might indicate he had planned it. I haven't watched the video but from my understanding of the article, this kid got pissed went and grabbed a knife then stabbed his brother in the easiest part to stab, the chest.

A 13 year old might understand how much damage a knife can do, he might not understand the true effects of the damage, there is a very good chance he has no clue how quickly someone can bleed out and die from a knife wound.

I doubt this was premeditated. This was a crime done in short term anger without a thought for the results. 2nd degree at best. This kid needs hella counseling way more than he needs jail time, not to say that jail time isn't completely appropriate.

they could've been fighting over a [insert name of popular toy for boys]. i bet anything it would have led to the same outcome.

Cue Jack Thompson in 3..2..1..

"I don’t believe the actual game itself was the cause of it."

And yes, despite the police clearly saying this, this statement will be ignored by the anti-video game people.

If they're stabbing each other, their's a deeper problem than the fact that they were playing a game...

Reminds me when I was little and Super Smash Bros. came out for the 64 me and my sister nearly had a fist fight because I kept knocking her off the top platform when the acid rose on Zebes.

@xzero87:

"I’m sure we’ll hear outcries from the usual groups about how the violence that occurred was “learned” from the game"

Yeah, I'm sure JT will be out in force claiming some game or another taught him exactly *where* to stab in order to kill his brother...

"As far as the 1st-degree murder charge, I’m no legal expert, but I would think this is 2nd-degree, seeing as 1st requires premeditation. Also, if he knows what he did was wrong and shows remorse, charging him as an adult is just ridiculous."

1st or 2nd degree statutes vary from state to state. Some only require an especially heinous act to be considered 1st degree, regardless of whether it was premeditated for not. As for the whole being charged as an adult thing, the reason you listed would be exactly *why* he was charged as an adult.

Kids don't have a fully developed moral compass or comprehension of consequences yet. Rather like those who are found "guilty by reason of mental disease or defect", they don't understand that what they did was wrong or were incapable or forseeing the consequences.

If the younger brother *knew* what he was doing was wrong, and felt great remorse that stemmed from knowledge of the consequences of his actions (as opposed to just being a reaction to parental disappointment) then it shows that he knew what he was doing when he stabbed his brother. If he honestly had no concept of what was going to happen though (ie- He thought it would be like a movie or something), then that's different...

Wait what the Fuck?

1st degree murder? Was it fucking premeditated? Was there even conscious thought of the consequences? Did he stab him repeatedly? Did he proceed to beat the lifeless body? Did he beat him to the ground then kill him? Did he slit his throat then gloat as he died? Was there anykind of planning of the killing?

Where the fuck did all the qualifications go for first degree murder? Isn't there supposed to be a incredibly violent , heinous, cruel or premeditated component to first degree murder?

What the fuck?

I don't care about the games right now as much as I care about where the fuck the justice system went? Where the hell is this DA, where is he/she and what the hell is he/she thinking?

You know, it's probably just a dispute over who owned a video game. It could be over whose...hell I don't know, calculator it was. It could be completely unrelated to games.

And cue Jack Thompson!

I will laugh if the game they were fighting over turns out to be something rated "E".

On a serious note:
This kid muct have some serious anger management problems. My brother and I are the same age gap (about 3 years) and he has chased me around with a knife before. My parents were there to stop him, and they got him some professional help. Where were the parents on this one? There are always signs of anger control issues.

A lot has been happening lately in regards to video games and criminal acts.

This one seems to be a kid who has problems dealing with rule violations as noted at the end of the article.

Either it's a kid who thinks he's above the rules or a kid who thinks "follow the rules as I see them... or else". Hmmmm......

Nightwng2000
NW2K Software

Temporary Insanity brought on by Brain-Training undergone for 13 years of being raised by video games. Not Guilty!

Where is the flaw here?

Games will, Jack Thompson won't.

And yes, this is the type of event that Thompson prostitutes himself for.

Of course it will jb, pointing that out is just redundant at this point (no offense).

"I don’t believe the actual game itself was the cause of it."

I bet anything this statement will be completely ignored.

This will cause video games to have even more politicians looking down on them.

Bet that this gets blamed on Manhunt2, even though it's not even out?

That kid has some serious anger control issues, and needs therapy, NOW.

Sad story, but way to screw up your whole life kid.

I'll have to comment seeing as we have managed to oust either, A- Jack Thompson, himself, or B- A troll pretending to be JT.

Authorties seem to steer clear of placing actual blame on the game itself for good reason, because there isn't any blame to be placed. To me it simply appears to be a bout of sibling rivalry gone horribly awry.

@ Jack Thompson

Your comments appear to be incredibly ignorant, as is to be expected. Have a good time praying on the dead, necrovore.

-Auto

Sad to hear this happened.

Logic says the next step would be to see what kind of mental state the 13 year old, was and is in.

Reality says, lets blame it on the video games. JTs appearence already seems to scream that this is the direction its going to go in.

Based on what is probably going to happen(sadly reality wins over logic here), I think that it would be actually in a better if the game was an M-rated one vs something that was rated E. Think about the opposition we're against in this whole "video game culture war". We got guys like JT on their frontlines that will latch onto any minor thing that goes happens. If the game that was being disputed over, you can probably bet one of the opposition is going to say "E Rated games are now Murder Simulators too now" or something like that vs If the game was M-rated, the whole violent game debate goes nowhere

Sorry for the double post, but funny you should mention the seven deadly sins, since he committed one of them (wrath) in a very err extreme fashion.

I hope the Judge will do something about this. I suggest that killer should be executed!

@Gameboy

I don't feel bad for the kid either. I'm not saying he should not be punished. But even a half decent lawyer could get the charges reduced or possibly even thrown out.

[...] In a sad piece of news - a 13-year-old boy stabbed his older brother in the chest, fatally killing him (redundant wording…). This came after an argument between the two brothers during an “unspecified video game”. The 13-year-old allegedly stabbed his older brother twice with a steak knife. The blade pierced 16-year-old Anwan Ricks in the heart and lung… Police believe the stabbing occurred during a dispute over a video game that became physical. [...]

sounds like a case of blind rage, it can happen, so now what?
Anymore info on this mess?

Brokenscope Says:

July 17th, 2007 at 3:49 pm
@Malovolent

Just in case your not being sarcastic.

Okay when you accidentally kill someone with your car one day, or if you ever do anything that might be construed as negligent I hope they lock you the fuck up. I mean you did that by accident, imagine what you might do if you do it on purpose.


You're comparing an accident to a cold blood murder? You fail the comparison. They have teams to survey the area of the accident and to interview both parties to determine if it was an accident or if it was done intentfully. There was a recent crash killing 4 teenagers who were under 18 and what happened? Kids were drunk and a semi driver hit them head on because the kids swurved into on coming traffic...do you think the semi driver was locked up?? not at all but he has to live with the fact that he hit and killed 4 drunken minors...I wouldn't hold it against him if he dropped it and forgot about the kids and killing them...they were drunk and driving they deserved it.

For all of the people that are so worried about the video game being taken away from you, I will confirm that the video game was not the factor in the death of the 16 year old. And for all you who are keeping positive in this I appreciate it very much. The mother was home when this terrible incident occured. If you do not know the facts than do not comment. Thanks to anyone who acknowledges the fact that this is a family tragedy and not a video game punishment for the world. Some people can be so cold and ignorant but no one is exempt from what happened here, meaning it can happen to anyone. Have a heart and for the lawyer who sounds like an inch size penis head----Yes his mother was home at the time this happened and yes my son has a good lawyer. YES I AM THE MOTHER OF BOTH BOYS!!!!---and you will respect them both!!!!!!

GP: we have no way to verify if this is a genuine post. But if so, ma'am you have our greatest sympathy. I can't imagine what you have gone through. I hope you and your family can find peace.