Teen who killed dad angry he couldn't use Internet

[Alex+R 0]

This is the result of people trying to be "buds" instead of parents.

LOL. A comment like this one is inevitably going to make an appearance in a thread like this. It makes zero sense (this dad doesn't seem like the buddy type, since he took away the internet, but it's not like most bad parents produce screw-loose killers), but OK.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

This is the result of people trying to be "buds" instead of parents.

It is - How do you figure that?

As rationales go - that's a pretty bad one. I was expecting "videogames/movies make people evil".

You don't shoot your dad whether he's your "bud" or "Sir". Its hardly a normal psychology.

Edited March 7, 2008 by Number 6

[DeadPoolX 9]

This is the result of people trying to be "buds" instead of parents.

It is - How do you figure that?

As rationales go - that's a pretty bad one. I was expecting "videogames/movies make people evil".

You don't shoot your dad whether he's your "bud" or "Sir". Its hardly a normal psychology.

I love that one.

I've never understood how some people think videogames can "teach" someone to be a killer. Do they really think clicking a mouse is the same as firing a gun in real life? If so, they've led a very sheltered life. And if that is the case, I should be a star athelete by now too.

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

It had to be ALOT more than just an internet issue, i hope this kid gets counceling.

i wonder what woulda happened if he was restricted to dial up only

[DeadPoolX 9]

It had to be ALOT more than just an internet issue, i hope this kid gets counceling.

i wonder what woulda happened if he was restricted to dial up only

That might've just pissed him off more. If the kid was smart, he would've "borrowed" someone's wireless connection.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

This is the result of people trying to be "buds" instead of parents.

It is - How do you figure that?

As rationales go - that's a pretty bad one. I was expecting "videogames/movies make people evil".

You don't shoot your dad whether he's your "bud" or "Sir". Its hardly a normal psychology.

I love that one.

I've never understood how some people think videogames can "teach" someone to be a killer. Do they really think clicking a mouse is the same as firing a gun in real life? If so, they've led a very sheltered life. And if that is the case, I should be a star athelete by now too.

Its a pretty old argument that goes back to (and probably before) the Victorian era - and the enactment of obscenity laws. Even Orwell had a similar argument about certain modernist literature - but they all falsely assume that people are passive individuals who can be swayed ideologically or psychologically by reading a certain book, listening to a certain kind of music, watching violent movies or playing a videogame.

Perhaps the only part of the argument that has merit is the one about becoming "desensitised to violence" - though I'm still rather sceptical about that. We can and do watch increasingly graphic and gruesome films, videogames are also a lot more graphic than they've ever been - but again there's an assumption in those arguments that people can't separate fantasy from reality. Its a far cry to go from playing Call of Duty, or Half Life to actually being on the ground in a war. I'd also hazard a guess that most people would be very shocked to see someone get hit by a car in the street - whether they play Grand Theft Auto or not.

Edited March 7, 2008 by Number 6

[sara..... 371]

Its a pretty old argument that goes back to (and probably before) the Victorian era - and the enactment of obscenity laws. Even Orwell had a similar argument about certain modernist literature - but they all falsely assume that people are passive individuals who can be swayed ideologically or psychologically by reading a certain book, listening to a certain kind of music, watching violent movies or playing a videogame.

Perhaps the only part of the argument that has merit is the one about becoming "desensitised to violence" - though I'm still rather sceptical about that. We can and do watch increasingly graphic and gruesome films, videogames are also a lot more graphic than they've ever been - but again there's an assumption in those arguments that people can't separate fantasy from reality. Its a far cry to go from playing Call of Duty, or Half Life to actually being on the ground in a war. I'd also hazard a guess that most people would be very shocked to see someone get hit by a car in the street - whether they play Grand Theft Auto or not.

im sorry i just have to give a comment on this..........

i have a nephew that has been allowed to play video games most of his life from age 2 until now age 13.......he does not connect with the real world he lives thru the games..........he has no idea how to be social.........unless it involves games.....

when the games have been taken away because of poor grades he becomes with drawn.....argumentative....angry and acts out........at times i have left their home because he is so hateful if he has no games to play......i think that being addicted to the games is as harmful as an substance abuse there is.........i think that some people become to involved in the games that they would do anything to be able to play them much like a substance abuser will do anything for their next fix because it is their world their reality

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

im sorry i just have to give a comment on this..........

i have a nephew that has been allowed to play video games most of his life from age 2 until now age 13.......he does not connect with the real world he lives thru the games..........he has no idea how to be social.........unless it involves games.....

when the games have been taken away because of poor grades he becomes with drawn.....argumentative....angry and acts out........at times i have left their home because he is so hateful if he has no games to play......i think that being addicted to the games is as harmful as an substance abuse there is.........i think that some people become to involved in the games that they would do anything to be able to play them much like a substance abuser will do anything for their next fix because it is their world their reality

Well the problem there, as always seems to have more to do with an addictive, obsessive personality rather than the content of the games. You can blame games for your nephews problem all you like, but in the end its not all that dissimilar to an alcoholic blaming a nearby liquor store for his/her drinking problem. The fault lies with the psychological flaws in the individual - IMHO.

[Niels Bohr 72]

I do want put out that each person raised will not be same as you. I played video games, and watch rated R games since I was at the age of 5. I am not a murderer, a robber, or a terrorist.

When you look at another person, do you look at them the same as you look at yourself? They are an individual. If a kid is raised, his psychology is derived mainly from his own thoughts and experiences from the influences of a combination of factors. The problem with today society is generalization. Always associating a type of behavior some thinks may impact their life into a very unproportinate way.

Raising kids is not a static choice. It's a dynamic choice. There are some stuff you may control, and some stuff you may not. You as the parents has the power to help them make choices. It's really up to the child if he accept those choices.

[sara..... 371]

im sorry i just have to give a comment on this..........

i have a nephew that has been allowed to play video games most of his life from age 2 until now age 13.......he does not connect with the real world he lives thru the games..........he has no idea how to be social.........unless it involves games.....

when the games have been taken away because of poor grades he becomes with drawn.....argumentative....angry and acts out........at times i have left their home because he is so hateful if he has no games to play......i think that being addicted to the games is as harmful as an substance abuse there is.........i think that some people become to involved in the games that they would do anything to be able to play them much like a substance abuser will do anything for their next fix because it is their world their reality

Well the problem there, as always seems to have more to do with an addictive, obsessive personality rather than the content of the games. You can blame games for your nephews problem all you like, but in the end its not all that dissimilar to an alcoholic blaming a nearby liquor store for his/her drinking problem. The fault lies with the psychological flaws in the individual - IMHO.

yes there is a lot of merit to what ur saying but the main problem is that i dont know how u would be able to know a child at such a young age if they have the psychological flaw that makes the individual subjective to this behavior.....i dont blame the games in truth i blame the parents for not sitting limits......but in the real world people tend to use what ever they can to entertain their kids with out thinking of the consequences ......in my sisters case she was just to lazy and didnt want to be bothered most parents take more care and interest in what their kids are doing.....

[greeneyedgirlfl 0]

I completely agree that the lack of limits on some children is a serious problem. I teach high school, and I see it every day. A parent who has constantly coddled his/her child, hardly said "no", set few limits, inconsistent when discipline is actually applied, wonders why his/her child is out of control in high school and defiant when the parent tries to set boundaries....

[Heracles 417]

im sorry i just have to give a comment on this..........

i have a nephew that has been allowed to play video games most of his life from age 2 until now age 13.......he does not connect with the real world he lives thru the games..........he has no idea how to be social.........unless it involves games.....

when the games have been taken away because of poor grades he becomes with drawn.....argumentative....angry and acts out........at times i have left their home because he is so hateful if he has no games to play......i think that being addicted to the games is as harmful as an substance abuse there is.........i think that some people become to involved in the games that they would do anything to be able to play them much like a substance abuser will do anything for their next fix because it is their world their reality

Well the problem there, as always seems to have more to do with an addictive, obsessive personality rather than the content of the games. You can blame games for your nephews problem all you like, but in the end its not all that dissimilar to an alcoholic blaming a nearby liquor store for his/her drinking problem. The fault lies with the psychological flaws in the individual - IMHO.

Which can be worsened through exposure to violence. There is a ton of research out their linking the negative consequences of young kids exposed to horror and violence. Why do you think England, Canada and Australia have regulated this stuff.

Ultimately it does come down to parenting or lack of. Two of my friends are serving time for armed robbery. They had good parents but the problem was that their parents let them do whatever they wanted and where more of a pal than authoritative figure. Whereas "all" of my other friends who had strong authoritative parents are doctors, lawyers, engineers business owners and generally good honest people etc.

[Niels Bohr 72]

Which can be worsened through exposure to violence. There is a ton of research out their linking the negative consequences of young kids exposed to horror and violence. Why do you think England, Canada and Australia have regulated this stuff.

Ultimately it does come down to parenting or lack of. Two of my friends are serving time for armed robbery. They had good parents but the problem was that their parents let them do whatever they wanted and where more of a pal than authoritative figure. Whereas "all" of my other friends who had strong authoritative parents are doctors, lawyers, engineers business owners and generally good honest people etc.

I do not agree. Some reports needs to be questioned that exposure to violence is the perpetrator that lead to the bad behavior. A kid needs someone to think for them, and guide them. Watching violence on TV or such and communicating with the kid about it from day one will prevent stuff like this to happen.

[Heracles 417]

I do not agree. Some reports needs to be questioned that exposure to violence is the perpetrator that lead to the bad behavior. A kid needs someone to think for them, and guide them. Watching violence on TV or such and communicating with the kid about it from day one will prevent stuff like this to happen.

Soldiers coming back from war are also a good example of this. Keep in mind they are adults.

You rarely see a kid who comes from a good honest loving family end up like this. Loving family means being involved in each others lives. Means parents setting limits for kids. Look at who kids hang out with etc. Lots of parents fail to realize that buying an ipod or other junk for their kids does not equate to being a loving parent.

Bill Cosby was on Oprah yesterday and had a lot of good points with relation to parenting. http://www2.oprah.com/tows/slide/200710/20...de=more20071017

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

im sorry i just have to give a comment on this..........

i have a nephew that has been allowed to play video games most of his life from age 2 until now age 13.......he does not connect with the real world he lives thru the games..........he has no idea how to be social.........unless it involves games.....

when the games have been taken away because of poor grades he becomes with drawn.....argumentative....angry and acts out........at times i have left their home because he is so hateful if he has no games to play......i think that being addicted to the games is as harmful as an substance abuse there is.........i think that some people become to involved in the games that they would do anything to be able to play them much like a substance abuser will do anything for their next fix because it is their world their reality

Well the problem there, as always seems to have more to do with an addictive, obsessive personality rather than the content of the games. You can blame games for your nephews problem all you like, but in the end its not all that dissimilar to an alcoholic blaming a nearby liquor store for his/her drinking problem. The fault lies with the psychological flaws in the individual - IMHO.

Which can be worsened through exposure to violence. There is a ton of research out their linking the negative consequences of young kids exposed to horror and violence. Why do you think England, Canada and Australia have regulated this stuff.

Ultimately it does come down to parenting or lack of. Two of my friends are serving time for armed robbery. They had good parents but the problem was that their parents let them do whatever they wanted and where more of a pal than authoritative figure. Whereas "all" of my other friends who had strong authoritative parents are doctors, lawyers, engineers business owners and generally good honest people etc.

Well we're not talking "exposure to violence", its exposure to depictions of violence. We have age ratings to help parents select appropriate content for their kids - but I'm not sure what else can really be done. Its not like videogames and movies can be compared to heroin - even if a few end users may fixate on it that way, as they may fixate on anything - whether it be fast food, alcohol, tobacco, gambling or what have you.