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Gamers Grapple With VA Tech Shooting

I imagine it's been a hard week for a lot of people; gamers in particular have been jumping to defend their hobby from the likes of Dr. Phil and Jack Thompson, both of whom were quick to link gaming and the tragedy in Virginia. Despite their vigor, it seems like game enthusiasts can breathe easily this week. As far as most people can tell, gaming was in no way involved. Even the mainstream media is coming to realize that gaming isn't always the right place to turn when youth violence grabs the headlines. Just the same, some activist gamers are still trying to make sure their hobby comes out of this unscathed, and at least some folks think they may be overdoing things: "While I'm all for activism for one's beliefs, I really think this may do more harm then good. As gamers, we feel a need to defend our passion, but we run the risk of ending up looking no better than those seeking to shift blame, while further disrupting the already-mourning. I say that the thing to focus on at this point is simply remembering those lost and cherishing what we still have. Now's not the time for political vendettas, and gamers need to step down and just humbly accept the fact that blame will always be shifted to the popular youth activities: be it a KISS concert, a video game, or something else."

2 of 419 comments (clear)

  1. Only old people... by hal2814 · · Score: 0, Troll

    In Korea, only old people are swayed into mass shootings by the violence they experience while playing video games.

  2. Re:Jesus is to blame! by melikamp · · Score: 0, Troll

    The society is different. 2000 years ago, an antisocial element was eliminated physically. These days, it is being excluded just as effectively by more subtle means, which nevertheless result in the expulsion from the political life. This is achieved by regarding abnormal behavior as sickness and completely discrediting one's actions and words on the account of them being seen as senseless. Since no one is out to kill them, martyrs find other ways to die.

    Jesus was a psycho in his day too. He did what he thought was right, even though he knew all too well that his actions will definitely result in torture and death. He could not have predicted the massive following, he just honestly acted on his beliefs for the sake of being true to himself (and the Father).[*] If you are, by the way, one of those people who think that Christianity effected more evil than good, if you are attributing countless murders to the people of Christian faith, you absolutely must see that Jesus and Paul were the biggest psychos in the human history. Kill me, but I do not see how their madness is at all different from that of Eric Harris, except, so far, in the scale of the consequences.

    Thank you very much, everyone. I am now officially insane...

    [*] All of you non-heretics with your all-knowing Jesus, please do not flame me. You've missed the part of the book where it says that he was fully human, with all all of the limitations that involves.