A story receiving widespread media play this morning details the arrest of a 19-year-old Thai man who allegedly robbed and murdered a Bangkok cab driver. According to police sources, Polwat Chino told investigators he was re-enacting a scene from Grand Theft Auto IV.
Reuters reports that GTA IV has been removed from retail shelves and arcades (we're assuming that in Thailand players can play console games for a fee). From the article:
Police in Bangkok said that the youth "had wanted to find out if it was as easy in real life to rob a taxi as it was in the game."
...Chino, described by his parents as polite and diligent... had paid to play the game at a local shop in Bangkok, and said he had needed more cash to continue playing it and that the taxi driver looked like an easy target.
GP: So, was he re-enacting a scene from the game or just looking for someone to rob? Reuters continues:
A senior official at Thailand's Culture Ministry, which has been pursuing tougher regulation of violent games such as Grand Theft Auto, said the murder was a wake-up call for authorities, and urged parents to take note of what their children were playing.
"This time-bomb has already exploded and the situation could get worse," the official was quoted as saying. "Today it is a cab driver but tomorrow it could be a video game shop owner." Thai authorities have been pushing for a rating system on video games, as well as restrictions on how long youths can spend playing games in video arcades.
GP: Given the Thai government's history of censorship, this case will likely not receive the type of media scrutiny and follow-up that it deserves. Not to rush to judgment, but the situation as described in the news report (including the very convenient photo at left of the suspect re-enacting his crime for police) couldn't be more perfect for a government seeking a justification for a video game crackdown.
We also note that the suspect, who reportedly stabbed the victim 10 times, is wearing what appears to be a very clean white shirt (i.e., no blood). Stab someone ten times from arm's length and closer and you're going to get blood on your clothing. And yes, he could have changed clothes, but we don't really know.
Comments
Re: Report: Thai Teen Robs, Kills Cabbie in Effort to Recreate
About as much as you can trust information from any government, I reckon.
Re: Report: Thai Teen Robs, Kills Cabbie in Effort to Recreate
No, some are definitely better than others. Thailand's does not fall on the "better than" part of the scale at the moment.
-Gray17
Re: Report: Thai Teen Robs, Kills Cabbie in Effort to Recreate
AND ... as far as I know, Thailand's government has never lied to its citizens to get their support in invading Iraq. Or Afghanistan. And that's just the recent stuff.
Get off your high horse, mate. They're all as bad as each other.
V
Re: Report: Thai Teen Robs, Kills Cabbie in Effort to Recreate
Thailand's government hasn't done those particular things, as it's only been around for a year or so at this point. It has however, continued the local tradition of heavy censorship. In short if they had, they'd step on the press to keep anyone from hearing about it. Meanwhile the US government can't do much to keep the press from talking about what it's done.
So no I'm not on a high horse, the fact of the matter is they aren't all equally bad. For an additional example, the US has a fine tradition of elections changing who holds the reigns of power. Thailand has a fine tradition of coup d'états changing who holds the reigns of power. I dare say the former is a vast improvement over the later.
-Gray17
Re: Report: Thai Teen Robs, Kills Cabbie in Effort to Recreate
My point is that almost everyone on here follows media opinion religiously and rarely bother to think for themselves :)
Re: Report: Thai Teen Robs, Kills Cabbie in Effort to Recreate
No, plenty of people here ignore media opinion and think for themselves. Really at this point it seems like you're just trolling.
-Gray17
Re: Report: Thai Teen Robs, Kills Cabbie in Effort to Recreate
If it's easier for you to write me off as a troll, go right ahead. It's still a free world.
Re: Report: Thai Teen Robs, Kills Cabbie in Effort to Recreate
Yeah ... except the leader of the people isn't voted in by the people. You may think they are, but they aren't. See "Electoral College". Also George Bush v. Al Gore and Florida.
One other thing - given the bell curve of IQ in a society (more unintelligent people than intelligent), is choosing a leader based on largest number of votes really such a good idea?
Re: Report: Thai Teen Robs, Kills Cabbie in Effort to Recreate
Do you know how the bell curve works? Better yet, do you know what a Standard Deviation is? If you don't then you don't know what you're talking about. The "bell curve" ( which should be called a "normal distribution"), in regards to IQ (which only is a CORRELATIONAL indicator of school performance, not intelligence btw), by its very nature exists on the fact that 68% of the population is within one standard deviation (15 points) of each other. So the average persons iq will more than not be somewhere within 85-115. Approximately 97.25% of the population will be within 70-130, and 99.25% will be within 55-145.
Realistically, the profoundly retarded are less likely to vote than the profoundly intelligent. Let's not forget those who are unmotivated to vote and assume the correlation between motivation and intelligence holds true. This would mean the average IQ would probably be somewhere around 105-110. This is all speculation mind you, but I just felt it needed to be pointed out.
I know, I know, not relevant to the story. I just hate seeing ignorance here when it can be helped. ;)
Re: Report: Thai Teen Robs, Kills Cabbie in Effort to Recreate
Thanks for the info ... although, if I may, I would like to rephrase my point:
Most people are not informed. About a great many things. Most people don't give a shit, either, yet they have the same equal say in society's direction as someone like me, who is arguably more informed and passionate.
That's not to say that I'm right, but rather that I'm making an effort.
Re: Report: Thai Teen Robs, Kills Cabbie in Effort to Recreate
That the Electoral College is outdated and needs reform - occasionally causing someone to just barely lose the popular vote, but win the electoral vote - isn't the same as the leader not being voted in by the people. The leader not being voted in by the people is something along the lines of say... the military taking over and appointing the head of government.
And as much as we may dislike it, Bush did beat Gore in Florida back in 2000. Even though the courts cut things short at the time, all the recounts still have Gore coming up loser.
-Gray17
Re: Report: Thai Teen Robs, Kills Cabbie in Effort to Recreate
Good point. Although - what if the military turns out to be right?
Would you support a government elected by more enlightened people (don't get me wrong; I am not saying that the military was right - this is just a thought experiment) if it meant giving up your vote?
Re: Report: Thai Teen Robs, Kills Cabbie in Effort to Recreate
Yeah, but I wonder how you'd feel about Thailand's government if you were banged up in Gitmo ...
Re: Report: Thai Teen Robs, Kills Cabbie in Effort to Recreate
Actually, that comment raised my eyebrows too Dennis. Any police officer worth his or her salt would know to take clothing as evidence especially if it has blood splatter on it. they are hardly going to "recreate the crime" with him wearing the bloody shirt for all to see now are they? That's just common sense.
Re: Report: Thai Teen Robs, Kills Cabbie in Effort to Recreate
To be fair, he does have a point about it being a somewhat conspiracy theorist example. It'd makes sense that they'd get him cleaned up before having him do something for them. If nothing else it'd make sense to take his clothes as evidence. Since you can't really having him reenact the crime for the cameras while buttnaked it kinda obligates them to give him clean clothes.
Still, it's not like that makes the rest of the story unsuspect.
-Gray17
Re: Report: Thai Teen Robs, Kills Cabbie in Effort to Recreate
We're talking about a country that had it's military overrun every TV station in the land in order to prevent "negative opinion polls"; what do you expect?
Re: Report: Thai Teen Robs, Kills Cabbie in Effort to Recreate
But this just makes Video Games look bad. "Oh GTA made me do it". Do these people really think that statement will actually get them a free pass out of jail? Its just used loosely as an excuse to try and get a lesser charge or insanity plea, meanwhile making games look bad. Getting real old and frustrating.
Re: Report: Thai Teen Robs, Kills Cabbie in Effort to Recreate
I wouldn't say Jack Thompson wouldn't grab this quicker than a fat bitch seeing a candy bar on the sidewalk. After all, let's not forget he's constantly used Germany shooters to back his arguement and game bans in Australia without the knowledge of why games were banned there in many a Fox News interview. He's paying very close attention to this and I bet you, GP will receive an email before the end of the day.
Re: Report: Thai Teen Robs, Kills Cabbie in Effort to Recreate
Would you mind not calling women "bitches" on GamePolitics?
Or, let's put it this way. Don't call women bitches on GamePolitics.
Re: Report: Thai Teen Robs, Kills Cabbie in Effort to Recreate
I... I... I'm flabberghasted. I wasn't making an all encompassing statement to females in general but in my personal experience, the larger a person gets, the angrier and hungrier they get. Comedy ensues, we have a giggle over a pint and all that.
I do have to say this response is fairly shocking to me, especially after being called everything under the sun with enough F-Bombs to make Dennis Leary say, "Would you stop with the cussing, already?" I mean, hell, I figured after the crap I ate in one of the Pegi stories, nothing was taboo anymore and I could lovingly suggest someone _______ their ______ with a _______ and ________ scrubbing_______ big tobacco _______ muppets _______ and broomsticks, and I would get nary a nudge nor tickle. Apparently there is a line.
*makes note*
Re: Report: Thai Teen Robs, Kills Cabbie in Effort to Recreate
This isn't /b/.
Re: Report: Thai Teen Robs, Kills Cabbie in Effort to Recreate
You sure? The comments have been heading that way for a little while now.
Re: Report: Thai Teen Robs, Kills Cabbie in Effort to Recreate
No, I'm pretty sure it's /vg/ or maybe /u/.
Re: Report: Thai Teen Robs, Kills Cabbie in Effort to Recreate
Rules one and two dicks
Re: Rules one and two dicks
Fuck you.
Re: Rules one and two dicks
Oh, and fuck the rules, too. We are NOT Anonymous. If Anonymous attempts to invade, well, we can always sick Jack on them.
They cannot hide.
We are among them.
They will expect us.
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I AM CONDEMNED TO HAUNT THE DREAMS OF JACK THOMPSON UNTIL HIS CRUSADE AGAINST VIDEO GAMES ENDS.
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I AM DOOMED TO HAUNT JACK THOMPSON'S DREAMS UNTIL HIS CRUSADE AGAINST VIDEO GAMES ENDS.
Re: Report: Thai Teen Robs, Kills Cabbie in Effort to Recreate
W00T! At last, a First Reply! (Do it, EZK. I fucking DARE you.
) Anyway, to business.
"But this just makes Video Games look bad."
I bet you five Jack Thompson will be all over this like a hooker on a client.
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I AM CONDEMNED TO HAUNT THE DREAMS OF JACK THOMPSON UNTIL HIS CRUSADE AGAINST VIDEO GAMES ENDS.
EZK: Yeah, if you want to be this pathetic, go for it.
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I AM DOOMED TO HAUNT JACK THOMPSON'S DREAMS UNTIL HIS CRUSADE AGAINST VIDEO GAMES ENDS.
Re: Report: Thai Teen Robs, Kills Cabbie in Effort to Recreate
I'd take that bet. No offense to him, but I don't think he cares about Thailand.
Bigger fish to fry, and all that.
---
"I'm busting chops today. You can ask anyone."
Re: Report: Thai Teen Robs, Kills Cabbie in Effort to Recreate
He probably figures they're going to hell anyways for not being a Baptist, whether those danged vidyagames are available or not.
Re: Report: Thai Teen Robs, Kills Cabbie in Effort to Recreate
Yeah, he has a comment, not much of one, but he does have one...
http://jaablog.jaablaw.com/2008/08/01/media-81.aspx
Re: Report: Thai Teen Robs, Kills Cabbie in Effort to Recreate
Re: Report: Thai Teen Robs, Kills Cabbie in Effort to Recreate
Even if it was banned, you can still get a pirated one straight off big IT shopping centers at a lower price, essentially making the ban rather useless...
Re: Report: Thai Teen Robs, Kills Cabbie in Effort to Recreate
He wanted to know how easy it was to rob a taxi driver? Well now he knows.
This is a very sad case with no good news. A man is dead becuase of another person's lack of respect and inability to value life, and while justice maybe served, it's probably going make things just slightly more repressive.