September 9, 2007
Despite an official government report absolving video games of involvement in the April massacre at Virginia Tech, far-out political figure Lyndon LaRouche and his followers continue to insist that violent games influenced killer Seung Hui Cho.A Friday post on the LaRouche website reads in part:
Six families, whose relatives were killed in the VA Tech massacre in April, have retained a law firm which previously represented the families who lost members in the 1999 Columbine shootings, reported yesterday's Washington Post...
Both Harris and Klebold were fanatical users of violent video games such as "Doom."
...The VA Tech report touches on number of issues which could come out in full, in legal proceedings. These include Cho's mental history, which was not made known to the University, and his addiction to killer video games.
GP: The LaRouche group is really working its agenda here. As previously reported on GamePolitics, there's nothing in the VA Tech report about any supposed "addiction to killer video games".
Nor does the Washington Post article referenced on the LaRouche website even mention video games. Rather, it details pending lawsuits against the University for allegedely failing to adequately safeguard the victims.
Finally, it's ironic that the LaRouche folks are even citing the WaPo as a source, since they previously implied a cover-up by the newspaper on the video game issue.
Thanks to: Longtime GP reader Soldat Louis...
Comments
Yup, I remember them appearing a few months ago. The thing is, LaRouche doesn't really care what the UK thinks of him, he already knows our opinion of him as clearly as we know his opinion of us, but the last thing in the world LaRouche wants is for the US to find out that his own Youth group is on the verge of being re-investigated for this death. A swathe of UK politicians wrote to the German government in May, iirc, requesting that the investigation be re-opened and done properly this time, when a mass of evidence that had been ignored came to light. The response was for the Schiller group to write to all 80 of those MP's urging them to withdraw those letters.
I always point people to LaRouche's claim that because the Queen knew that drug dealing was going on in her country, that she was a 'Pusher'. I think that comment in itself gives a wonderful example of how LaRouche's mind works and how he will claw at any excuse, no matter how ridiculous, to forward his ideals. He doesn't even seem to have noticed the fact that we had a Civil War a few hundred years ago and it isn't 'her' country any more ;)
Not saying that we aren't, but now it's personal.
For future grammatical correctness, I am British. So don't refer to us in 3rd person when talking to me.
~Sol~
The LaRouche group are so 'innocent' that the Schillers institute is trying to block the investigation.
Probably not as long as there are people like Jack Thompson and the LaRouche group around, but I can dream can't I?
GP: Interesting that, while Jack says he has no connection with the LaRouche folks, their views on video games - and the VA Tech case in particular - are nearly identical.
This really isn't so much an issue, as it is a complete and utter lie. Still, kudos for trying.
Also, as far as craziness goes Jack Thompson has nothing on Lyndon Larouche. He's basically the leader of some weird political cult.
Well, books and movies aren't new or sexy or scary enough to be a scapegoat and no one cares about Marylyn Manson or Eminem these days, so they are off the hook as well.
Video games are simply the most new and unknown medium to the older folks, therefore it must be bad because they didn't grow up with it.
@ Jack Thompson
Alright, if violent games caused this little percentage of kids to kill then why are all the rest of the millions of kids that play these games nonstop not killing people? And the investigators in these cases throw the violent video game excuse out as any of the cause of the killings.
Alot of the worst killings in American history including some caused by kids happened before very violent video games were available. Cant you understand Jack that the reason why these shootings are happening in schools is because parents are not taking responsibility in raising their children. Most of the worst serial killings happened several years before very violent video games because the serial killers did not get raised right and was abused by the parents and rejected by society.
Rejection and parents abusing their children is what is causing these killings, not video games as the video games have always been thrown out of cases. Parents just want to blame video games because they did not do their part as a parent and you are giving parents a safe haven when you are going against video games.
Jack, this is not about you caring for the kids, this is about you getting your fame and starting trouble because if you really cared about children then you would go after parents that do not do their job as a parent. These groups that go after video games are trouble makers that just want to make headlines. If these groups really cared about people, they would go after way more serious issues rather than show their face over video games.
You do not want to face the facts Jack.
Even one of our own forum regulars has had at least one run in with LaRouche Youth Group members. I -think- it was DemonTestament, but can't remember for certain. (It's the act I remember more than the person involved.) The LaRouches remind me of the article about the Peaceaholics' protesters at Take-Tao last year. They heavily spin their PR but when it comes to actual confrontation, it's a whole different story.
We even saw it in the forums and here when a few LaRouche Youth members popped in, spewed a few brainwashed comments, then fluttered away because they couldn't spread the brainwashing.
Nightwng2000
NW2K Software
I remember him saying that Ladou... er, LaRoucheite actually tried to provoke a fight so the kid could go "SEE!? SEE!? A GAMER HIT Me!!!!"
I can see how GP can report on JT because he is constantly babbling at Dennis and the users. However, I see no point in reporting on LaRouche. It made sense when the VT shooting was still big news, but it's been five months now. When was it decided that GP should report all anti-game sentiment, instead of just generic JT and video game legislation stories?
I'd rather read another whiny, unprofessional legal filing from JT than another story about how LaRouche and his followers think that because they disapprove of violence and video games, neither should exist.
No, he thinks the British did. Have a good look at LaRouche. He seems to think that the Brits are involved with every conspiracy ever envisioned.
Actually, I like that idea. That way he can't come back and say "wrong again knuckleheads, I never said that and you can't prove I did"
Bleh.
Anyway, LaRouche should get his head out of his ass.
The government report rejected the LaRouche cult's baseless rantings/whining.
The legal proceedings will just find more of the same.
To quote Ron White: "You can't fix stupid."
Of course he doesn't want to face the facts. Facing the facts bars him from pushing his control agenda.
http://www.rickross.com/reference/larouche/larouche54.html
Most interesting LaRouche quote....
"This concerns the causes and circumstances of the suicide by a young, emotionally troubled British national, Jeremy Duggan, who, as the official forensic evidence showed beyond doubt, threw himself repeatedly against moving automobiles on a highway near Wiesbaden."
Threw.Himself.Repeatedly......
Fishy isn't it..
You make very good points there man.
I mean, let's have a quick review.
1. They share the same viewpoint on a lot of things.
2. They refuse to accept facts from an impartial source.
3. They don't back up what they have to say with fact.
Also try the wikipedia article on La Rouche. I think it mentions their abusive brainwashing methods. Speaking of which, the La Rouche Youth are so brainwashed that you can pretty much see suds and bubbles dripping from their ears.
La Rouche and the Washington Post (and the New York Times which correctly reported his game abuse) are correct and this site, once again, is wrong. Hooah! Jack Thompson
You conveniently forget that they took that part out (wait, addiction?) because they took it from your interview on Fox 3 hours after the tragedy, and realizing that you were talking out of your ass, took it out.
You're wrong again, motard.
The Washington Post removed the reference to Counterstrike because it was unsubstantiated(a big word for LaRouche and yourself; it means it was never proven).
In fact, Cho's own mother told the Virginia Tech review panel that "none of the games that Cho played were war games or had violent themes."
Not to mention that his own roommates never saw Cho play a video game the entire time Cho was at Virginia Tech.
And again long-term effects of "violent" video games have NEVER been proven by anyone.
Practice what you preach, jabroni: Grow up and get a life. And get a new cause while you're at it, loser.
http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/results.html?st=basic&uid=&MA...
http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/results.html?st=basic&uid=&MA...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/NewsSearch?st=cho+counterstrike
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/NewsSearch?sb=-1&st=cho+counter...
Only morons who can't find the source of phrases like art being that which is beautiful or true, or don't think you can be sued for someone posting under someone else's name on your blog, or you can't be arrested for asking someone if they have a dick in their ass wouldn't be able to find the Washinton Post's voluminous (that's a big word for gamers, it means Having great volume, fullness, size, or number) coverage of Cho's playing Counter-Strike
Several Korean youths who knew Cho Seung Hui from his high school days said he was a fan of violent video games, particularly Counterstrike, a hugely popular online game published by Microsoft, in which players join terrorism or counterterrorism groups and try to shoot each other using all types of guns. –Washington Post
“When Mr. Cho entered Virginia Tech, which is crouched in the Blue Ridge Mountains of southwest Virginia, his parents drove him to school with guarded expectations. Perhaps he would no longer retreat to video games and playing basketball alone the way he did at home. Perhaps college might crack the mystery of who he was, extract him from his suffocating cocoon and make him talk.” –New York Times
Now, does that say Cho was addicted to Counterstrike? No, it doesn’t.
How sad that Thompson’s entire supposition is based on two sentences that, to put it lightly, do precious little to support his position.
Andrew Eisen
Besides, when the next comet flies by, everyone but LaRouche will commit seppuku anyway...
... and Jacko will probably try to blame that on video games too.
"In fact, the Washington Post correctly reports that Cho was addicted to Counterstrike when he came to college. The long-term deleterious (that’s a big word for gamers. it means harmful) effect of such games has been proven."
Proven? If I may ask so politely, where has it been proven? And if so, can you give us a link to the site or paper stating such claims so we can see it for our selves? I'm sure that the bulk of you would be happy enough to change our tune a little if you were to give us some hard evidence that shows how video games can have long term harmful effects on the players brain if any effects at all for that matter. But so far we have yet to see any. So a point in the right direction would be much appreciated.
Don't even bother asking, there isn't any-- because it's all been covered up by the big bad game industry.
He's a nutjob and should be treated as such, stop asking him to explain things rationally.
"i think even Jack Thompson is wise enough to not touch the LaRouche cult."
actually, that's just coincidence
Let me make this simple for you.
THE
WASHINGTON
POST
RETRACTED
THAT
STATEMENT
BECAUSE
IT
WAS
ERRONEOUS
Actually studies, many of which are seriously flawed, only prove a weak correlation.
"The long-term deleterious (that’s a big word for gamers. it means harmful) effect of such games has been proven."
Once again you have no clue to the content of any of the reports that you supposedly read. Direct harmful damage would be indicative of a direct cause and effect relationship. These studies, many of which are seriously flawed, have only pointed to a correlation, not causality. Now break out your dictionary and look up "causality" and "correlation".
So once again you are wrong. Constantly stating the same wrong opinion over and over, without backing it up will not magically make it true. So back up your shit with verifiable facts, or go the hell away.
Now I see why you pussy out of every debate you are invited to. If you can't offer a counterpoint to a bunch of internet geeks, then well....