Author's Note: Here we go again! Teenagers who police say went on a video-game-inspired late-night crime spree were arraigned Thursday after they mugged a man outside a New Hyde Park supermarket and menaced motorists in Garden City with a baseball bat, a crowbar and a broomstick, Nassau police said. The teens told detectives they were imitating the "Grand Theft Auto" video-game series where characters steal cars, beat up other characters and commit crimes, authorities said.
Police have identified at least three victims: a man they said was severely beaten during a robbery; a would-be carjacking victim; and a driver whose van was smashed with a bat. Nassau Det. Lt. Raymond Coté said there are likely more victims who were attacked. At one point during the spree, the initial group of four encountered other youths. "They realize they know them from school and they can't rob them," Coté said. "Two of them they enlist in this crime spree and now they're joining the pack. It's an angry mob of youths." The six suspects were all charged as adults.
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It's easier to blame a video game instead of the little punks taking responsibility for their own actions. Not once did I grow up and do something stupid and blame what I watched on T.V.
However, I find it is more probable that there were also other, more complex reasons for their crimes. GTA was just a contributor, the first thing on their minds. After all you don't expect a bunch of unintelligent teenagers to say "I was disenchanted with my current suburban lifestyle. The hardships and unceasing abuse caused by my genitors at a tender young age pushed me to delve into what could potentially have been a life of law-breaking."
My conclusion is, while it certainly takes many complex factors, traits and elements of emotional baggage to participate in such activities it is possible that GTA may have contributed negatively.
They are still at school, therefore they must be under 18.
The problem is not the computer games its the parents that let their CHILDREN play games and watch movies that are not suited at them!
Would they give their children hardcore porn which also carries an R18 classification? It must be said sex is far more natural than murderous rampages.
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That's a not a good theory!! I watch a lot of violent movies growing up and a lot of Benny Hill.. Not once have I picked up a gun and killed someone.. In fact I've never been arrested. I grew up with a parent who smoked, did a lot of hard core drugs, and physically abused me. Not once have a beat my children.. a good swat in the ass but never a broom stick across the back. To say it's the parents fault or even Games and Movies not suitable for children is just another excuse not to take responsibility for your own actions.
They are still at school, therefore they must be under 18.
The problem is not the computer games its the parents that let their CHILDREN play games and watch movies that are not suited at them!
Would they give their children hardcore porn which also carries an R18 classification? It must be said sex is far more natural than murderous rampages.
True they legally shouldn't have been playing but theres many under 18 that can handle this game. I remember playing vice city with friends when i was like 14 or something and it never affected us. I never have smoked or done any drug or have got in trouble with the copers.
Yes and no. Statistically, I bet you're in the minority. Generally kids that grow up in that kind of environment end up repeating their parents lives.
Many parents today just don't care what their kids get into; they stick their kids in front of the TV, video game console, or computer to babysit them instead of taking an interest in what was better for their kids. There's no real parenting today, no real discipline; no real teaching of what's right and what's wrong, or what's expected and what's not to be tolerated.
thats not gonna get you a get-out-of-jail card. what a bunch of idiot teens.
Seriously, I've played all of the GTA games, along with some of the most gory and violent games ever, and I'm only 16; and not once have I ever thought of doing a crime spree or choking someone to death with a plastic bag! I just wish the media would stop giving video games the bad publicity it doesn't deserve! Don't blame the game! Blame the idiots who commit the crimes, or blame their parents!
Just read a while ago when 16-17 yr old girl beated her sister to death with his boyfriend.. said they imitated Mortal Kombat...
It's not the video games.. it's those animals inside those unparented little beasts that need to be contained/removed from the society
If u have brains, u can think wether something is right or wrong. If not, u have lots of empty space instead and a need for violence. It doesn't matter anymore is there videogames involved or not. Something bad will happen.
This is why games have ratings, and this is what happens when parents fail at being a parent.
its the psyhco pathic muther F***ERS that comit the crime not the normal human
and about them blameing the game (if they even really got influenced by it) thats not kool giveing a kool game like that a bad name.
and its still not gonna help them get out of prison faster.
F*** THE PSHYCO WORLD
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