May 25, 2007 -
Violent video games came in for a mention in published reports of a wild shooting spree in Pathum Thani, Thailand earlier this week.
One publication went so far as to draw parallels between Virginia Tech rampage killer Cho Seung Hui and Kiartipong Meksawat, 21, who killed three and wounded nine before being killed by police. The Nation wrote:
The most striking [thing] is that both [Cho and Kiartipong] were loners who were fascinated by weapons and firearms... Kiartipong had a collection of weapons that included several AK47 automatic rifles, ninja-style throwing stars and a samurai sword. [Police] also found a number of violent computer games and information on firearms and explosives that had been downloaded from the Internet.
...Neither young man had received much warmth or comfort from their families. They were spiritual minded. They liked violent computer games. They did not like to socialise. Most notably, they showed icy cool during their killing sprees...
For a young man with no experience of gun battles other than in video games, Kiartipong's gunfight with the police was methodical and calculated.
The incident, which was apparently not pre-planned, began when a police officer attempted to search Kiartipong after his motor scooter was confiscated. A story posted on The Teak Door indicates that the young man may have been part of a gang of motorcycle thieves.
Comments
I was gonna mention that too, but not only do we have a failure, it gets even better: They say they were both loners and at the end of the article there is this little fun piece :
A story posted on The Teak Door indicates that the young man may have been part of a gang of motorcycle thieves.
Doesn't that count as Socializing? So he wasn't socializing with the good people, where does it says he didn't have any friends?
...They liked violent computer games
DING DING DING. WE HAVE A FAILURE
Games don't help you learn to shoot, they don't account for weight recoil, changing magazines, bullet drop, proper sighting, triggerbreak or any of the other myriad factors you have to consider every time you fire a gun. To argue anything else only shows a persons bias and ignorance.
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Exactly. There was also little told of other media exposure in the case of Cho as well, both before and after he came to the US.
Also, in the final paragraph:
"For a young man with no experience of gun battles other than in video games, Kiartipong’s gunfight with the police was methodical and calculated."
The problem with this is the implication that ONLY video game playing was used to train him in the use of his weapons. While video games can simulate, to a degree, the use of various weapons, no PC or console game can prepare you for the actual use of any weapon. Handling the weapon, being able to handle how a weapon reacts when fired (a vibrating joystick/controller just doesn't do a real weapon justice), firing in certain environmental situations, factual accuracy in the use of a weapon (as opposed to mathmatical simulation accuracy), and other circumstances cannot be taught using a PC/console video game. Not to any degree that the article is claiming.
Nightwng2000
NW2K Software
Also, the dumb bitch who said "They liked violent computer games" needs to be slapped for listening to Jack Thompson. They found out later on that the VA Tech Massacre guy rarely played video games of ANY kind, if he even played them at all.
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If you're interested in getting info about the book "Blame the Game", email me at Wandererwillow@yahoo.com
Also symptoms: fascination with weapons. Not that there's anything inherently wrong with that (I've got my own interests), but antisocial + emotional problems + obsession with violence and/or weapons + violent games... I've never been good at math, but that often equals not good.
Slightly irrelevant department: the last line of the story made me want to smack the writer upside the head.