NOT AGAIN.... A SHAME!

[soloist]

<
>British electronics retailer Dixons removed Rockstar's controversial Manhunt game from stores following the murder of a teenage boy. Parents of the victim said that the 17 year old Warren Leblanc, who yesterday pleaded guilty to the
utal killing of 14 year old Stefan Pakeerah with a claw hammer and knife, was obsessed with Manhunt. <
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>"I think that I heard some of Warren's friends say that he was obsessed by this game. If he was obsessed by it, it could well be that boundaries for him became quite hazy," said Giselle Pakeerah, mother of the murdered boy. "I can't believe that this sort of material is allowed in a society where anarchy is not that far removed. It should not be available and it should not be available to young people." <
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>Manhunt is a game famous for its over-the-top violence, pitting players in a role of a felon who has been taken away to make cinematic kills for a deranged director. <
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>The prosecution attributed the murder motive to robbery--the teen had lured his friend to a deserted car park with the intent of robbing him to pay a drugs-related debt. However, the graphic nature of the killing has prompted speculation from the victim's parents and media that the murder was partially inspired by Manhunt. A fan of the game, Warren Leblanc admitted he beat the younger teen to death with a claw hammer and stabbed him repeatedly with a knife. "I didn't intend to kill him at first, but when I saw the blood I just let go and hit more times," he told police. If convicted, he could face life in prison. <
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>UK game publisher trade body ELSPA denied that the killing was connected to the sale of the game. "We sympathize enormously with the family and parents of Stefan Pakeerah," said the ELSPA in a statement. "However, we reject any suggestion or association between the tragic events in the Midlands and the sale of the video game Manhunt."<
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>-GP- <i></i>

[rayeanne33]

Quote:The prosecution attributed the murder motive to robbery--the teen had lured his friend to a deserted car park with the intent of robbing him to pay a drugs-related debt<
><
>Sounds like he was already way screwed up. From what I recall, drugs aren't a part of Manhunt. Gee, I dunno, maybe it was his drug addiction that caused him to murder someone. Wonder if he was high when they found him, but why bother to check that when it's obviously the work of an evil videogame. "Fate, it seems, is not without a sense of irony."<
>The Matrix<i></i>

[NOAImawario]

Sad indeed... <
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[Lagoon Bug]

I'm still convinced that it's more the person than the game. If it wasn't Manhunt, that 17 year old could have been into Slayer music or gang-themed rap music or movies like Natural Born Killers. I don't think it's the video game's fault. If it was the fault of such games, music, and movies, there would be an enormous amount of real life killings happening. <i></i>

[soloist]

Not to mention the old gangster<
>movies such as Scarface, th-<
>e Untouchables, and Carl-<
>itos Way. This is why<
>parents to be shou-<
>ld be sure of wh-<
>at they are ge-<
>tting into a-<
>nd deal w-<
>ith thei-<
>r prob-<
>lem-<
>s<
>ins-<
>tead o-<
>f expecti-<
>ng others to<
>do the job for t-<
>hem. Not to blame<
>the parents entirely, b-<
>ut they should be more inv-<
>olved with the content their ch-<
>ildren have access to. Not only tha-<
>t, but they should let them know the di-<
>fference between fantasy and reality. I play<
>plenty of violent games, but it means not that I<
>wish to engage in such activities in reality though!!<
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[Haryuu no hanekata]

Blah! Don't get me started! <
><
>I've played violent video games all my life. Even during a very bad time when my mind was crippled by grief and vengence, I never acted out a game. However, when I played Mortal Kombat, I visioned my tormentors in place of characters, which in a way helped me feel better, but I always forgot my bloody vision a few minutes later, because I felt better with the fact that I secretly got revenge against them. However, when I told this to a therapist, she freaked and wanted my games taken away, not even giving me the chance to explain that I had no desire to them act out. Thankfully, my parents knew me enough to ignore her request. <
><
>Besides, being anorexic at the time, I doubt I was strong enough to rip someone's head off with the spine still attacted. <b>Me, I'm dishonest and you can always trust a dishonest person to be dishonest. Honestly! It's the honest ones you have to look after because you never know when they are going to do something incredibly...stupid.</b><i></i>

[soloist]

At least you did not act on those thoughts,<
>Masa! Videogames can be a retreat fo-<
>r those going through difficult situ-<
>ations. I never used it as such,<
>just for entertainment mos-<
>tly. There will always be<
>violent games, movi-<
>es and music, but<
>if the person is<
>disturbed, w-<
>hy blame <
>not th-<
>e per-<
>son<
>?<
><
>(blame the psychiatric attendant...) <i></i>

[IJzebel]

I hate that crap. <
><
>We need to ban a whole range of books then too huh? I am SURE there's been a person who was crazy enough to make a Stephen King book reality. Or any thriller. It's just insane! It's the person him/herself who does this, it's not the game. If he'd wanna kill someone in a certain perculiar way, he'd have looked up some crap on internet, if the game wasn't in the store. Shortsighted is what it is. There is problem in society, but banning things isn't going to change that! As far as I'm aware I'm not specifically banned anywhere in the USA, and I'm rather depressed about it. Surely some of you guys can do something?<i></i>

[soloist]

People are always searching for<
>excuses other senses of m-<
>isdirections with which<
>to blame there issu-<
>es instead of co-<
>nfronting the-<
>m. So sad<
>I would<
>say! <i></i>

[bdunn420]

Sounds like another witchunt in gaming. 1993/1994 all over again. When we'll people realize that games/literature is not to blame, but it's the parent's who should for not teaching their children the differences between right and wrong. This problem is so old and grating. <i></i>

[Raethe Tefira]

Yeah, it's rather ridiculous. If it wasn't a video game, it would be a violent movie, or a book, or whatever. <
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>Grrr. People are stupid. It's got nothing to do with the game, only the person playing it. <
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>The World of Krynn<
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>Palanthas--The Forum<
>...<
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>Modnar Elite<
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>^^^Had to be said.<
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>If you gave me a penny for my thoughts, I'd be
oke.<
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>...If you gave me a million dollars for my thoughts...<
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>I'd STILL be
oke!<
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[KenseidenXL]

Most American parents are lazy shites who don't want to be bothered with the responsibility of raising their own damned kids, so they try to get the gov't. to do it for them. In the end, there can be only ONE!For true Dragonball fans, click the banner.(\__/)(=';'=)(")_(")Pat the Bunny!Only the
ave enter The PortalVisit Planet ZiCome to the Fuzzy Pink Board...if you dare!For J-Pop and Anime talk, come HERE<i></i>

[IJzebel]

You're hit the nail right on the head there Kenseiden. The sma egoes here and in England too. people point at the government, AND they especially point at the teachers in schools! Ludicrous. THEY need to raise their children, society has a certain responsibility, but not in this way. As far as I'm aware I'm not specifically banned anywhere in the USA, and I'm rather depressed about it. Surely some of you guys can do something?<i></i>

[soloist]

It reminds me of how parents these days tend to scold<
>teachers for disciplining their children, and yet fai-<
>l to do so themselves when the kids are wrong!!<
>They also defend the childrens wrongful acts<
>and cry ignorance. As parents, being resp-<
>onsible for your offsprings activities is<
>a priority. Once they get of age and<
>are able to move out, changes on<
>this idea can be made, but as l-<
>ong as they are still dependa-<
>nts of the earlier sense, t-<
>hey should not have so <
>much control over w-<
>hat goes on in the<
>home. That is t-<
>he parents jo-<
>b. Then ag-<
>gain, wi-<
>th the<
>job-<
>s being<
>cut these d-<
>ays, parents ar-<
>e forced to work m-<
>ore and may not be ab-<
>le to always be around to r-<
>aise the children responsibly! T-<
>he government is partially to blame<
>in situations like this. The previous sce-<
>narios fault lies with the parents themselves! <i></i>

[Raethe Tefira]

Hmm. That's a good point, Soloist... But still, when it's something like this, it's kind of ridiculous to blame anyone else. *shrug* Just my thoughts. <
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>The World of Krynn<
><
>Palanthas--The Forum<
>...<
><
>Modnar Elite<
><
>^^^Had to be said.<
><
>If you gave me a penny for my thoughts, I'd be
oke.<
><
>...If you gave me a million dollars for my thoughts...<
><
>I'd STILL be
oke!<
><
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><i></i>