Should video game makers be held responsible for actions copied from their games? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian · 11-27-2003, 01:47 AM

A while back two teenagers copied from a Grand Theft Auto game and went on a shooting spree killing two people. Now the families of the victims are suing Rockstar Entertainment because they felt the games' content inspired them to commit the murders and that they should be held responsible for the actions.

Here's what I think. Video games are made for people to play them. That's how they are intended to be used. Video game publishers, makers, and other parties who put video games out into the market don't intend for people to use them as a how-to training book to commit crimes. Same thing would go with the people who write novels and people who make movies. If it was a game or a computer program that was an instructional guide on how to kill people or commit criminal acts then that would be crossing the line. If something like that happened (And I highly doubt that would happen) here's how I would see it. If a company intentionally creates a program to aid and abbet crimes and they know that people will use it for that purpose, then they should be held responsible. But this is not the case with the Grand Theft Auto series.

What do you think?

Janice · 11-27-2003, 01:56 AM

I agree. It would take a deranged mind in the first place to go on these murderous sprees. With or without a video game, it's only a matter of time for the sickos.

~*Hannah_Lee*~ · 11-27-2003, 02:03 AM

I feel parents should have more blame placed on them. They should read the labels and ratings on games before buying them for their kids. They should also be teaching their kids enough moral values so that they can determine whats right and wrong, and what's fiction and reality. As for older people, like Janice said...if someone is in that poor of mental shape anything could cause this behavior. Regardless of whatever game they played, people like that are bound to snap any minute.

webuster · 11-28-2003, 03:01 PM

I agree- I'm sick of people blaming other things like films/games when their kid kills someone. Like that 'Matrix Defense' thing- a film doesn't make you kill someone. A movie doesn't give someone the want to kill- the person always has it in them, the film may influence HOW they kill, but not why.

PZelda · 11-28-2003, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ~*Hannah_Lee*~
I feel parents should have more blame placed on them. They should read the labels and ratings on games before buying them for their kids. They should also be teaching their kids enough moral values so that they can determine whats right and wrong, and what's fiction and reality. As for older people, like Janice said...if someone is in that poor of mental shape anything could cause this behavior. Regardless of whatever game they played, people like that are bound to snap any minute.

I agree with your post. Spinning off from your post, the problem those days is the parents buy kids' love with money, and that is not what's supposed to happen. "I'll buy you a candy bar if you can behave" - that's not how you do it. The parents need to be a lot more strict, and I'm not seeing that happen.

AKA · 11-28-2003, 03:57 PM

All I know is that I played a lot of Super Mario 3 as a kid, and I never once stomped on a turtle.

Mijada · 11-28-2003, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by PZelda: VICKI!!
The parents need to be a lot more strict, and I'm not seeing that happen.

I agree with that and it's too bad. I think parents are afraid to discipline their children. You can't even give your kid a spanking these days without being hauled off to jail. Another thing is parents have to work so much now that they really don't have the time or make the time to teach their kids good values. I'm not saying it is all the parents fault it's just that with rising costs of living it is nearly impossible to live on just one income. Kids also need better father figures in their lives too. I know so many kids who don't even know their dads.

The Modfather · 11-28-2003, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AKA
All I know is that I played a lot of Super Mario 3 as a kid, and I never once stomped on a turtle.

LOL

D-Dey · 11-28-2003, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AKA
All I know is that I played a lot of Super Mario 3 as a kid, and I never once stomped on a turtle.

Reminds me of a joke Jay Leno once told: "I never put my feet throught the floor of a car just because Fred Flintstone taught me to do it."

...or something like that.

¤I Love Clay Aiken¤ · 11-28-2003, 05:04 PM

No. Media (music, TV, games, movies) is not an excuse for bad parenting.

Nanny Fine · 11-28-2003, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mijada
Kids also need better father figures in their lives too. I know so many kids who don't even know their dads.

That's not always the fault of the mother. My daughters "father" (and I really hesitate to use that term because the only thing he ever did was...well you know...) knows where we live, where I work, how to get a hold of us, where my child goes to school and he wants nothing to do with her/us. When I refused to "do away with the problem" he said he wasn't going to be handcuffed to a child he did not want for the rest of his life.

He's never been around, he's never seen her, he's made no effort.

Video game makers can't MAKE a child do bad things. I'm doing just fine with my own daughter and she's not influenced by games, video's, TV...other than occasionally thinking she's Spongebob Squarepants

Mijada · 11-28-2003, 05:24 PM

Oh I'm sorry. I never meant to say it is the moms fault. It is definitely the fathers fault. I grew up without a full time father so I know how it is. It's just makes me mad seeing so many kids go through their childhoods with no dad around.

Nanny Fine · 11-28-2003, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mijada
Oh I'm sorry. I never meant to say it is the moms fault. It is definitely the fathers fault. I grew up without a full time father so I know how it is. It's just makes me mad seeing so many kids go through their childhoods with no dad around.

Or you could think about how good the kids can turn out by having a mom who is both a mom AND a dad.

I still say I should get Fathers Day cards too

Mijada · 11-28-2003, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Nanny Fine
Or you could think about how good the kids can turn out by having a mom who is both a mom AND a dad.

I still say I should get Fathers Day cards too

Yeah, That's very true but in my case it still sucked not having a dad around when I needed help building things for Science class or when stuff needed fixing around the house. My mom wasn't able to do a lot of these things herself.

MandieR1980 · 11-28-2003, 05:43 PM

no people should be smart enough to know better

11-27-2003, 01:47 AM	#1
Brian Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Jun 23, 2001 Posts: 20,451	Should video game makers be held responsible for actions copied from their games? A while back two teenagers copied from a Grand Theft Auto game and went on a shooting spree killing two people. Now the families of the victims are suing Rockstar Entertainment because they felt the games' content inspired them to commit the murders and that they should be held responsible for the actions. Here's what I think. Video games are made for people to play them. That's how they are intended to be used. Video game publishers, makers, and other parties who put video games out into the market don't intend for people to use them as a how-to training book to commit crimes. Same thing would go with the people who write novels and people who make movies. If it was a game or a computer program that was an instructional guide on how to kill people or commit criminal acts then that would be crossing the line. If something like that happened (And I highly doubt that would happen) here's how I would see it. If a company intentionally creates a program to aid and abbet crimes and they know that people will use it for that purpose, then they should be held responsible. But this is not the case with the Grand Theft Auto series. What do you think?

11-27-2003, 02:03 AM	#3
~Hannah_Lee~ Let's dance in style Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 09, 2002 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,358	I feel parents should have more blame placed on them. They should read the labels and ratings on games before buying them for their kids. They should also be teaching their kids enough moral values so that they can determine whats right and wrong, and what's fiction and reality. As for older people, like Janice said...if someone is in that poor of mental shape anything could cause this behavior. Regardless of whatever game they played, people like that are bound to snap any minute.
	__________________ Some are like water, some are like the heat Some are a melody and some are the beat. Sooner or later they all will be gone. Why don't they stay young? It's so hard to get old without a cause. I don't want to perish like a fleeing horse. Youth is like diamonds in the sun, And diamonds are forever. Forever young, I want to be forever young. Do you really want to live forever?

11-28-2003, 05:04 PM	#10
¤I Love Clay Aiken¤ MISS APRIL Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 19, 2001 Location: Parsonsfield ME Shaws - Screwing my way up the employment ladder! Posts: 68,780	No. Media (music, TV, games, movies) is not an excuse for bad parenting.
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11-28-2003, 05:43 PM	#15
MandieR1980 Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 03, 2001 Location: East Taunton, Massachusetts Posts: 2,635	no no people should be smart enough to know better
	__________________ Mandie myspace.com/mlr930

11-27-2003, 01:56 AM	#2
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	I agree. It would take a deranged mind in the first place to go on these murderous sprees. With or without a video game, it's only a matter of time for the sickos.

11-28-2003, 03:01 PM	#4
webuster Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 26, 2002 Posts: 2,150	I agree- I'm sick of people blaming other things like films/games when their kid kills someone. Like that 'Matrix Defense' thing- a film doesn't make you kill someone. A movie doesn't give someone the want to kill- the person always has it in them, the film may influence HOW they kill, but not why.

11-28-2003, 03:57 PM	#6
AKA Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 17, 2001 Posts: 15,746	All I know is that I played a lot of Super Mario 3 as a kid, and I never once stomped on a turtle.

11-28-2003, 05:24 PM	#12
Mijada Spencers mom Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 02, 2001 Location: eastern US Posts: 4,093	Oh I'm sorry. I never meant to say it is the moms fault. It is definitely the fathers fault. I grew up without a full time father so I know how it is. It's just makes me mad seeing so many kids go through their childhoods with no dad around.