So last Thursday an 8 year old kid was playing Grand Theft Auto IV when he suddenly decided to stop playing, pick up a gun and shoot his grandmother in the head.
Naturally the media had an orgasm. They could blame the video game, again.
Let's look at the situation again, ignoring the whole 'violent video games lead to violent behaviour debate'.
An 8 year old kid was playing Grand Theft Auto IV
An 8 year old kid was playing a game that's quite clearly made for adults. That's like putting a cat in charge of a 747. The cat will sit and look at the instruments but it won't understand what the hell is going on. Naturally, the cat is likely to be confused.
But more importantly, who is the idiot who put a cat in charge of a 747.
And even more importantly, who is the irresponsible parent/guardian who gave a child a game that was not meant for children.
He picks up a gun
A child has easy access to a device that has been used for many centuries in the slaughter of humans for political and religious motives.
Why? Why did he have access to it? Who's the idiot who doesn't know the fundamental law in owning a firearm that you do not keep it in reach of children. Do we seriously need to put one of those retarded labels on all guns from now on? Is that what this incident is telling us?
Also, who keeps a loaded gun in their house? That's pretty much just stating that you expect to shoot something or someone some day soon.
Also, why was the kid not being supervised while all this is happening.
And shot his grandmother in the head
OK, so is somewhat more tragic.
But I'm curious to know. How does a kid who has only (apparently) seen guns in a video game suddenly know how to both fire a gun and aim it at an object as small as a persona head. Unless he was at point blank range this was one hell of a lucky shot for a first-timer.
Playing Grand Theft Auto does not automatically make you a better gunman. If it did, the US Army would have bought out Rockstar years ago.
The kid must have had prior shooting experience.
Otherwise, as I said, this was one hell of a lucky shot.
So is the game to blame?
Abso-fucking-lutely not.
If games were as violence-inducing as people claim them to be, the whole of the US would be in a state of anarchy not unlike Syria or Egypt. It'll be like 'The Crazies' (lets say the remake version).
And if the kid did want to shoot someone because of the game? Well it's not the game's fault.
GTA is a violent game, sure, but it's also a richly-satirical world full of exploration and intrigue. The violence is only a minor aspect of it and yet they clearly state "For Adults Only".
If the brakes on your car fail, do you blame the guy who sold you the brakes or the entire Ford Motor Company?
