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Playing GTA On Phone Leads To Bomb Threat?

SteelGator writes "You're playing a relaxing game of Grand Theft Auto with a friend's child. You're also on the phone with a co-worker who's at a restaurant. As a warning to the child, you say "There's a bomb in the building. Everyone needs to get out!" Your co-worker thinks it's a real bomb threat. Uh oh!" While awaiting trial, perhaps this guy could check out a new screenshot from GTA: San Andreas, showing lead character Carl Johnson (extravagant rumors claim to be voiced by 50 Cent?) "outside the Los Santos convention center, which bears more than a passing resemblance to the home of E3."

25 of 75 comments (clear)

  1. oy vey by susehat · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Once again, Evidence that you should not do stuff like that. At the very least, cover the phone's mouthpiece before you do that. Fecking idiots.

  2. Stupid is... by jbarr · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...as stupid does.

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  3. Why him? by bnewendorp · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Are the prosecuting the person who took him seriously also? You'd think that the person on the phone at the restaurant would have said something like "Are you talking to me?" or "How do you know?"

  4. I was shot 5000000000 times... by gl4ss · · Score: 3, Funny

    .. Then I woke up at the hospital and started the mission from scratch!

    .

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    world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
  5. Sigh... by Schezar · · Score: 4, Interesting

    How could something this -dumb- happen? Seriously, I'm baffled. Wouldn't the conversation have gone something along the lines of:

    Bob: blah blah blah.
    Steve: blah blah blah there's a bomb in the building.
    Bob: Blah.. What?
    Steve: Oh, just talking to my kid.
    Bob: Ahh.. Anyway, blah blah blah...

    They don't give us enough information, but judging from that fact that two intelligent, rational people would have had a conversation similar to the above, I can't but determine that at least one of the people involved was indeed a complete moron. A tool, if you will. One of the parties involved had to have overreacted in the extreme. There was absolutely no possible excuse for this getting out of hand, and one of both of these gentlemen are asshats of the highest (lowest?) calibre.

    Sorry, I'm just really -really- tired of people being dumb. It's been a long day, and it isn't even lunchtime yet.

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    1. Re:Sigh... by GigsVT · · Score: 4, Insightful

      They said they used caller ID to trace the call... Apparently the coworker didn't know he was talking to the other guy, which indicates someone just called, said the crap and hung up.

      It sounds to me more like this guy tried to play a prank on his coworker, got in serious shit over it, and then made up this stupid excuse.

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    2. Re:Sigh... by sckeener · · Score: 4, Funny

      It could be worse. He could be charged for murder after using this.

      --
      "Only one thing, is impossible for god: to find any sense in any copyright law on the planet." Mark Twain
    3. Re:Sigh... by GeckoX · · Score: 2, Funny

      I always suspected, but now I have proof!
      You'll find your pink slip on your desk in the morning.

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    4. Re:Sigh... by anon*127.0.0.1 · · Score: 2, Informative

      Yep, there are two bombing missions in GTA that I can think of. One has you driving a garbage truck rigged with a bomb, the other has you stealing a police car and getting it rigged with a bomb. In both missions, you have to park the vehicle and then get away before it goes boom.

      Vice City also has a couple of bombing missions, so they could have been playing that.

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    5. Re:Sigh... by WormholeFiend · · Score: 2, Funny

      isnt there a Dilbert strip in which our hero uses a phone inside an airplane and says "Hi Jack!"

  6. Knee-Jerk Reactions? by Analise · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Seems like it was a bit stupid on the guy playing the game's part when you see what happened to him, but, I'm sure he had no reason to think he would be misinterpreted when he said that. Kinda scary how a relatively innocent comment can be taken so seriously by people. Makes me worry one day that I'll say something about "Augh, so-and-so drives me nuts, I could just kill him/her!" and be hauled up by the police for making a threat on their life. When, you know, I wasn't. Not really. Seems it all could've been avoided. Though am I the only one who finds it kind of odd that the guy's friend disconnected his phone? I mean, would he really have had to worry about getting tons of calls about it?

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  7. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  8. Re:A Bomb? I don't remeber a Bomb by GigsVT · · Score: 4, Informative

    I've played both GTA and Vice City on the PS2 and I can't think of scene where a bomb was in a building I was in and had to maneuver out of...

    What about the RC helicopter mission where you set bombs and then get out before they blow?

    Or the place right after you "KILL ALL THE HAITIANS".. you set bombs there and then must get out before they blow (which is tricky because the way you came in is blocked).

    --
    I've had enough abrasive sigs. Kittens are cute and fuzzy.
  9. Re:A Bomb? I don't remeber a Bomb by sckeener · · Score: 3, Funny

    What about the RC helicopter mission where you set bombs and then get out before they blow?

    Or the place right after you "KILL ALL THE HAITIANS".. you set bombs there and then must get out before they blow (which is tricky because the way you came in is blocked).


    I do not think I would need to be told about bombs if I was the one that planted them.

    --
    "Only one thing, is impossible for god: to find any sense in any copyright law on the planet." Mark Twain
  10. If they used Caller ID to find out who called.... by csumk · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Then the co-worker mustn't have know who the call was from, so the guy must have phoned up, said stupid bomb statement and then one of them must have hung up.

    And anyhow, what's he doing letting a child play GTA3?

  11. Let me be the first to say by Discoflamingo13 · · Score: 4, Funny
  12. Er.. yeah right. by AzraelKans · · Score: 3, Informative

    The guy did it on purpose and now he is trying to blame a game. There are no bombs in buildings in GTA (3) or GTA(4 Vice city) and you play alone so "everyone needs to get out" makes no sense. (maybe they were playing rainbow six?).

    Anyway (unless he actually shouted it out) that was a private conversation no one needed to eavesdrop to, they could be talking about a movie or anything else. If I was this guy lawyer he wouldnt pay a cent, and I would probably sue whoever DID spread the panic (who is a paranoid idiot by the way).

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    1. Re:Er.. yeah right. by Coltman · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Why is everyone on this Alone thing. Haven't you ever just sat and watched a kid play and gave hints to them? I usually call that playing with them. And there a few bombs in buildings in GTA VC. One in the mall, one using the RC Helicopter.

      Perhaps the guy was sitting with the kid 'Watching' him play and somehow hit the speed dial (yes ppl do that with work numbers) accidentally (because the phone was on the chair and he was kinda sitting on it) and then yelled 'Bomb in the building.Everyone get out!hahaha', then realized that the phone was there, realized it was on and hung it up (what the hell I didn't phone anyone why is this on?).

      And there it is a reasonable explanation!

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  13. A little wierd... by kabocox · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The friend could not be reached for comment Tuesday because his phone has been disconnected, and BellSouth has no new listing for him.

    I wouldn't call the co-worker "a friend" if he gets me arrested. Sounds like he is hiding out now so no one can ask him why he over reacted and got some arrested.

  14. Re:A Bomb? I don't remeber a Bomb by AzraelKans · · Score: 4, Interesting

    What about the RC helicopter mission where you set bombs and then get out before they blow? Or the place right after you "KILL ALL THE HAITIANS".. you set bombs there and then must get out before they blow (which is tricky because the way you came in is blocked).
    So... what would be the point of saying "theres a bomb in the building!" you placed the bomb yourself so you are pretty much aware of it. Also "everyone needs to get out" most of the time you are alone in GTA who exactly is "everybody?".

    The guy pulled a prank and now he is blaming "GTA" about it like everyone else.

    Headline of the future: "A guy gets cancer in his finger WHILE playing GTA!"

    Now, that would have gotten more laughs from me and the guy arrested (sooner) just imagine if he had explained someone how to play manhunt over the phone.

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  15. The story was vague, but here's what I think. by Bistronaut · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Here's a possible (and I think most likely) situation for you:

    Person "A" is playing some game with his cell phone in his pocket and has forgotten to lock the key pad. He accidentally dials person "B" while he's talking about bombs or something in his video game. Person "B" doesn't realize what happened and makes a fuss. The cops get called in and track down person "A". Felony charges ensue.

    If that was the case, then I don't think a crime actually occured - if anything, person "B" or the restaurant manager are at fault. Did they actually talk to the guy on the phone? Did they try to call him back? I would have looked for a bit more confirmation before I called the cops and evacuated the restuarant.

    1. Re:The story was vague, but here's what I think. by Aerion · · Score: 3, Interesting

      It's much safer to evacuate first and ask questions later than to ask questions now and maybe be dead soon.

      If a guy's holding a gun to your head and making demands, you follow his orders. You don't call his bluff and ask him if his gun is loaded. ... Unless you have a death wish, anyway.

  16. I predict the future by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    In no less than 2 years, games.slashdot will consist of a news post, followed by moderated posts conisting only of the dates of PA comics (we'll be too lazy to link). We'll all laugh, and then distribute karma appropriately.

  17. Don't Talk about BOMs, Either by jazman_777 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Bills of Materials, BOMs, should never be discussed in airports, either.

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  18. Re:WTF? by KirkH · · Score: 2, Informative

    They made a comic about "American McGee's Strawberry Shortcake" and American Greetings threatened to sue since they hold the copyright to said Miss Shortcake.

    They took down the comic to avoid a fight, but continued to ridicule AG from thereafter. If you Google for Penny Arcade and Strawberry Shortcake, you can probably find the original comic since some fans managed to save it before it was taken down.