Thai Official: Prosecute Game Makers for Copycat Violence

There won't be any extradition. The companies will be convicted without having to be present. Then they will be fined. The Thia government is doing this for money. They'll shout and holler and stamp their feet. But at most all they can do is put trade restrictions on american goods until we pay their blackmail money.

The real problem here is the lack of personal responsibility. With all the bad press about "oh noes, everyone who plays gta will kill exactly 13.275 prostitutes", criminals are given a pretty easy scapegoat. It gives them the option of claiming "I didn't do it, GTA made me, I'm totally innocent, so put Take-Two in jail instead". And people like JT who blame video games for all the ills of society (even the ones that predate any sort of electronic entertainment whatsoever) are just encouraging this nonsense. They're giving criminals a way to excuse their behavior and take attention away from the crime by shifting the blame to those with deeper pockets.

Video games can influence behavior but it is up to the individual on how much influence a game has one him or her.  If a person is particularly weak willed then a video game will have a stronger influence on him or her, but is that the fault of the developer or publisher?  No, it is not.  Each individual needs to take personal responsibility for his or her own actions.  The Monkey See-Monkey Do behavior is not a defense.  This murderer chose to be a murderer.  Was his actions influenced by GTA4, possibly, but that does not make GTA4 nor its developers and publishers responsible because the murderer chose to be influenced by GTA4 in such a manner.

Also on the issue of minors, I do agree, and I think we all do agree on this, that games like GTA4 should not be played by minors.  However these types of games are not marketed for minors, and the developers and publishers, along with the ESRB have clearly marked these types of games with a Mature rating so that those who purchase such games know that the game is not intended for minors.  If a parent or sales clerk sell or buy the game for a minor the sales clerk and/or parent is responsible for they chose to act in such a manner.  It is not the fault of developers nor publishers that these games get into the hands of minors, but those who sell and purchase them for children. 

What Jack Thompson and similar folks fail is that they do not take into account of personal responsibility.  We are sentient beings and we choose what has influence on us and what does not.  We have a personal responsibility and accountability for our own actions.  GTA4 and other violent games do not create murderers.  Murderers create themselves.

You know it's articles like this that make me want to get every gamer in the world to buy a crate of kewpie dolls. Every time we see someone acting this stupid each of us would send that person 1 kewpie doll with our regards. I wonder how long it would take these people to a) get the point and b) realize they are (at least in america) alienating an actual constituency.

Interesting to note, if we are allowed to hold an organisation responsible for what common gossip, rumour and scaremongering claim is true, and if that organisation can automatically be assumed to be deliberately supporting anything that occurs on their watch, even if it is only gossip..

I am so calling for the extradition of Thailands' politicians for being part of a vast Pedophilia ring in that case.

Nothing is going to come of this, its a big waste of time. Jack you're a pathetic loser who does not know anything about law. If there is a God you are going to Hell when you die. Yeah that about sums it up.

While the Thai government is proposing ridiculous legislation, I'd like to throw in my two cents:

I firmly believe that ridiculous legislation should be detered by gunshots to the head. Any politico or legislator who either creates or endorses such legislation shall be shot...in the head. That oughta teach these idiot politicos.

Anyone wonder why the Thai government chooses to focus on video game legislation instead of...you know...the rampant child prostitution in their country. (Looks at one hand, and then the other) Child prositution, violent video games, child prostitution, violent video games...

Jack, do you live in Thailand? Do you even know one person (and have met them physically, not in some article in TIME)? Besides this specific legislation, what can possibly interest you in Thailand? Do you believe that they might magically allow you to keep your bar license if you sing in tune with their song? If you actually care about the PEOPLE in Thailand, I'd highly suggest looking elsewhere because I highly doubt that violent video game legislation is on the top of the list of things that the people in Thailand need. A more transparent government seems and detering unnecessary legislation take priority here.

So then if someone in another country copycats the killings in Thailand, could Thailand be prosecuted?

Just about sums up the intelligence of Thailands' beaurocracy if you ask me. Not that they hadn't demonstrated that admirably with their initial reaction to the reports.

Have they not proved it wasn't the games fault yet?  Geez.  Get on that proof.  The game did dick all.  I saw violence in many forms growing up, and if I did something wrong or hurt another no one would say it was the games or media I am seeing or playing (besides Thompson) they would blame ME!

The Kid got in the car!

The Kid killed the guy!

The Kid tried to drive away!

Rockstar games didn't to those things.   Quit being retards and focus on the task at hand.

*spits out coffee*

Hahahaha, are they serious?  Really?  Do they think they can actually prosecute Rockstar or T2? 

None of them are going to be extradited to Thailand.  So long as none of the employees take a vacation over to that country, there's nothing the government can do.  This smells of just a PR move and an attempt to get attention.

It's pretty sad that people have become so, well, f'n stupid that they shift the blame to the companies instead of having the individual be held responsible.  In fact the word "responsible" itself is a dirty word in today's world.

heres a point that is pure EPIC WIN

how about the killer sue the Thai government for not 'acting more responsibly' and allowing the game to be sold in the first place. Cant have it both ways. Either ALL who helped provide the game (including the Tahi government) get sued, or nobody does. you cant selectively choose.