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Barrie Teen runs away, parents blame Video Games (pg. 18)
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| English Rachel |
| quote: | Originally posted by teufel-man
My point is, the kid really liked the game because it is A)fun and B) very competitive.... and these factors may have caused the game to be 'addictive'.
However, I totally disagree with (but still respect) your point about the game giving him 'grandiose survival expecations'. My theory is: they took away the game which he was obsessed with, he made an emotionally charged decision to run away into the woods, and once his emotions cooled down he probably realised 'oh , I dont know how to find my way back', and they he died due to exposure/starvation/whatever.
It wasnt that he would rather die than not play the game, or that he felt he could survive in the woods due to what he learned from playing call of duty 4. He just made a stupid, emotionally charged decision, which resulted in the most unfortunate consequence.
I feel terrible for this kid and the parents, I just dont think it is right to say that the video game itself was a significant factor in his death. The video game could have easily been any other child's toy... |
Ok, I totally understand your perspective and please don't take my comments about survival too literally, I just wanted you to open your mind to the possibility that the game had more to do with it than you initially said (nothing, could have been a bike).
I, personally, get somwehat scared when I think of all of the connections these minors can make. I am half heartedly playing a game called Knighthood on Facebook and to be honest, even that takes more time up than I should allow it to so I can absolutely see why a game with realistic graphics and real people playing the characters next to you can get under your skin (if you know what I mean).
I had done all of your list by the time I was 15, I was also an army cadet and we shot real SA80s both with live ammo on ranges, blanks on exercise and laser rifles in training ranges complete with real video when you shot people. If I did that 5, 6, 7, 8, hours per day, it would have made me crazy too. IMO there is a fine line between actual and perceived reality when you are in the midst of something like this.... |
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| English Rachel |
| quote: | Originally posted by StereoPrincess
there has to be more to this story. |
I really hope that it doesn't transpire that he had a massive blow out with his dad and his dad killed him.... |
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| Rodrico |
| quote: | Originally posted by English Rachel
I really hope that it doesn't transpire that he had a massive blow out with his dad and his dad killed him.... |
This is what my initial thought came to be, because I dont care how addictive a game is. How dramatic are you to go die alone in a field an hour away from home because your parents took away your xbox.
What bothers me, is that people are quick to judge and put fault somewhere else when clearly this started within the family itself, and the xbox was only a catalyst for the events to unfold. The problem here is that too many people want to talk about the issue without thinkin over the facts at hand. Addiction may not be healthy, but id rather be a video game addict, then a heroin addict, or cigarette addict, or a shopping addict. What should only be noted is that, there must of been problems at home for such a drastic and tragic event to occur, something beyond what we can read in the newspaper. And lastly, stop saying game ratings had some cause in this, its about as stupid as blaming his bike for breaking down in the forest. |
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| Intangible |
| quote: | Originally posted by Rodrico
What should only be noted is that, there must of been problems at home for such a drastic and tragic event to occur, something beyond what we can read in the newspaper. |
My thoughts EXACTLY |
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| Abercrombie |
| quote: | Originally posted by teufel-man
The video game could have easily been any other child's toy... |
A Mature 17+ game is not a child's toy.
I find the long autopsy wait disturbing. To add to the other hypotheses in the last 2 pages...
They are waiting for an autopsy to confirm and ID.
His clothes were on the body.
Parents have already seen the body.
Police said foul play is not suspected already.
Why are we waiting for the autopsy?
I have a feeling that it's been a long time since he ran away from home, he passed away a few days after he ran away, leaving over 10 days lifeless in the woods. I sadly imagine the lack of ability of visual identification is due to wildlife. |
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| Orko |
| quote: | Originally posted by Abercrombie
Why are we waiting for the autopsy? |
You have to have personnel on hand to do an autopsy. I know a Toronto Coroner, he said it even takes a few days here in Toronto with a few working different shifts. I do not know how many deaths/homicides occur in Barrie, but I am assuming it is very low. They could merely be waiting to get all the required resources. |
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| Abercrombie |
| quote: | Originally posted by Orko
You have to have personnel on hand to do an autopsy. I know a Toronto Coroner, he said it even takes a few days here in Toronto with a few working different shifts. I do not know how many deaths/homicides occur in Barrie, but I am assuming it is very low. They could merely be waiting to get all the required resources. |
For cause of death, I understand... but to ID the body? |
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| Orko |
Well that is exactly it, you asked about an autopsy, and that is what is taking so long. I'm sure they are just doing it all together, and want to get everything straight before they say anything. This was a huge thing for that area, so they may just be taking their feelings into account.
False positives would be even more heart breaking. |
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| Yohan |
| yeah. probably just ensuring that the Is are dotted and Ts are crossed |
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| English Rachel |
| quote: | Originally posted by Rodrico
This is what my initial thought came to be, because I dont care how addictive a game is. How dramatic are you to go die alone in a field an hour away from home because your parents took away your xbox.
What bothers me, is that people are quick to judge and put fault somewhere else when clearly this started within the family itself, and the xbox was only a catalyst for the events to unfold. The problem here is that too many people want to talk about the issue without thinkin over the facts at hand. Addiction may not be healthy, but id rather be a video game addict, then a heroin addict, or cigarette addict, or a shopping addict. What should only be noted is that, there must of been problems at home for such a drastic and tragic event to occur, something beyond what we can read in the newspaper. And lastly, stop saying game ratings had some cause in this, its about as stupid as blaming his bike for breaking down in the forest. |
I wasn't judging, if that was aimed at me. I am merely discussing the fact that I believe those types of games are more detrimental to young minds than an adult would understand.
| quote: | Originally posted by Abercrombie
A Mature 17+ game is not a child's toy.
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Exactly |
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| Dr. DAS |
| quote: | Originally posted by English Rachel
I was also an army cadet and we shot real SA80s both with live ammo on ranges, blanks on exercise and laser rifles in training ranges complete with real video when you shot people. If I did that 5, 6, 7, 8, hours per day, it would have made me crazy too. IMO there is a fine line between actual and perceived reality when you are in the midst of something like this.... |
I joined the cadets at 12, and the Canadian Army at 15. While everyone else was playing war games on thier PS2 or Xbox, I was throwing live grenades, firing live assault weapons and machine guns and rappelling out of a helicopter. That being the case, I was still enthralled by my video games when I got home.
No offence, but if the kid ran away over having his Xbox taken away, he parents are most likely pussies. Pussies breed pussies, and when they said he had to turn off his game, the kid probably threw a fit and stormed out like a drama queen. Anyone who thinks that having to turn off your game to spend time with your family over the holidays is the worst thing that could happen to them, was not raised properly IMO.
Poor parenting caused this - not violent video games, not the game rating system, not a demand to turn off the game - but years of poor parenting. This kid was either spoiled or his parents were quakers or both. If I had stormed out on my family at Thanksgiving when I was 15, you can bet your ass my dad would have chased me out the door and taught me some f*cking manners.
Kids these days, they say...I say, 'Parents these days'. There is a parenting coach named Allyson Schafer (sp?) who hits it right on the head. Most parents these days remember how hard-assed thier folks were and, in a vain attempt not to repeat the parenting style they were subject to....threats, etc - we have now ended up at the polar opposite, where kids are spoiled, parents resist confrontation and as a result, children think the own/understand/control the world. |
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| teufel-man |
| quote: | Originally posted by Rodrico
And lastly, stop saying game ratings had some cause in this, its about as stupid as blaming his bike for breaking down in the forest. |
Seriously! If this kid was obsessed with Zelda or super mario brothers, its not like he woulda only ran away for 2 hours instead or something!
It really makes me angry how people are saying that the violent nature of this video game somehow made this kid more likely to run away and eventually die (which is obviously extremely unfortunate). |
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