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'Grand Theft Auto' Makers Blamed For Triple Killing

Posted on 09/29/2006 9:14:45 AM PDT by steve-b

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Family members of three people slain by a 14-year-old on newsman Sam Donaldson's New Mexico ranch sued the makers of the video game "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City" on Monday, claiming the crimes would not have occurred had the teenager never played the violent game.

The $600 million lawsuit names several companies and Cody Posey, who it alleges played the game "obsessively" for several months before he shot his father, stepmother and stepsister in July 2004....

The games and others in the "Grand Theft Auto" series depict police killings and other acts of violence. The lawsuit calls various editions of the game "virtual reality murder simulators."

"But for Posey's use of these products ... he would not have killed," the lawsuit claims.

The game trained him "how to point and shoot a gun in a fashion making him an extraordinarily effective killer without teaching him any of the constraints or responsibilities needed to inhibit such a killing capacity," according to the suit.

According to the suit, plaintiffs' lawyer Jack Thompson was told by a sheriff's deputy that the game and a Sony PlayStation 2 were found at the ranch....


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Technical; US: New Mexico
KEYWORDS: grandtheftauto; jackthompson; videogames
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1 posted on 09/29/2006 9:14:46 AM PDT by steve-b
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To: steve-b

Oh boy. Jack Thompson alert.

}:-)4


2 posted on 09/29/2006 9:15:48 AM PDT by Moose4 (They caught me white and nerdy.)
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To: steve-b

Hey, Jack! Pick me for the jury!


3 posted on 09/29/2006 9:17:14 AM PDT by Dog Gone
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To: steve-b

I played alot of Mortal Kombat when i was a kid but i never became the kung fu master i wanted to be.


4 posted on 09/29/2006 9:17:19 AM PDT by TexasDontPlay
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To: steve-b

Posey killed because he had an extremely abusive family.

I know because Slaughter Ranch is on the same road as my familys and my family knew him.


5 posted on 09/29/2006 9:17:27 AM PDT by Ainast
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To: steve-b

If the murder weapon had been an anvil or a ball peen hammer they'd be suing MGM for The Three Stooges.


6 posted on 09/29/2006 9:18:04 AM PDT by Sax
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To: steve-b

Whoooooooooooooosh!!

That's the sound of personal responsibility flying out the window...sheesh.


7 posted on 09/29/2006 9:18:21 AM PDT by pillut48 (CJ in TX (Bible Thumper and Proud!))
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To: steve-b

Shakespeare was right. And he gets right-er every day.


8 posted on 09/29/2006 9:19:01 AM PDT by Wolfie
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To: steve-b

Well, I blame Henry Waxman for the killings.


9 posted on 09/29/2006 9:21:44 AM PDT by Sloth ('It Takes A Village' is problematic when you're raising your child in Sodom.)
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To: Sloth

I blame Clinton.


10 posted on 09/29/2006 9:22:05 AM PDT by steve-b (The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule.)
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To: steve-b

I see the search for "the deepest pocket" has ended.


11 posted on 09/29/2006 9:22:05 AM PDT by PBRSTREETGANG
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To: steve-b
So according to these people every person playing Half-Life, Battlefield 1942 or Unreal Tournament 2004 is a killer just waiting to happen?

Please.

12 posted on 09/29/2006 9:22:55 AM PDT by Centurion2000 ("Be polite and courteous, but have a plan to KILL everybody you meet.")
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Comment #13 Removed by Moderator

To: steve-b
"But for Posey's use of these products ... he would not have killed,"

But for Posey's psychotic nature and/or the abusive environment he was in, these products would have simply been harmless fun.

14 posted on 09/29/2006 9:23:27 AM PDT by antiRepublicrat
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To: Centurion2000

I blame the makers of "Whack-A-Mole."


15 posted on 09/29/2006 9:23:39 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: Centurion2000

man, I must be a ticking timebomb then. I'm playing America's Army as I type this. (stupid sniper got me :-( )


16 posted on 09/29/2006 9:24:13 AM PDT by Ainast
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To: steve-b

Find the deep pockets, I guess.


17 posted on 09/29/2006 9:24:27 AM PDT by Lunatic Fringe (Fiscal Conservative, Social Moderate. Understand?)
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To: Centurion2000

I've been jumping on mushrooms and grabbing at stars a lot lately.

Too much Mario?


18 posted on 09/29/2006 9:26:07 AM PDT by antiRepublicrat
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To: TexasDontPlay

I blame Pac-Man for my compulsive eating disorder.

;)


19 posted on 09/29/2006 9:27:22 AM PDT by DemforBush
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To: antiRepublicrat
I've been jumping on mushrooms and grabbing at stars a lot lately.

Too much Mario?

Watch some Japanese late night game shows if you want to see how well Mario would do in real life.

20 posted on 09/29/2006 9:28:26 AM PDT by Centurion2000 ("Be polite and courteous, but have a plan to KILL everybody you meet.")
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To: antiRepublicrat
Just stay away from this game.
It'll turn you into a diabetic.
21 posted on 09/29/2006 9:31:09 AM PDT by BykrBayb (Be careful what you ask for, and even more careful what you demand. Þ)
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To: DemforBush

I sued Vivid Video for my carpal tunnel disorder.


22 posted on 09/29/2006 9:32:07 AM PDT by BurbankKarl
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To: steve-b

So if I play Monopoly obsessively will I get rich in later life?


23 posted on 09/29/2006 9:32:37 AM PDT by Mr. Blonde (You know, Happy Time Harry, just being around you kinda makes me want to die.)
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To: Mr. Blonde

I call B.S. on this, too. Blaming video games is nonsense.

BUT. First person shooters DO have an effect, known to any police officer or soldier that has done "siloutte" training.

Studies in WWII found that most soldiers hesitated that crucial second before firing their weapon, and so never really hit anyone --- a natural hesitation about killing people.

Silloutte trainng --- firing automoatically at human forms popping up --- removed this hesitation, to some degree.

New Army studies have shown that new soldier that have played lots of First Person Shooter games COME INTO the Army WITHOUT the hesitation.

In short, FPS DO remove that hesitation.

ALL THAT said, nothing in FPS makes someone go shoot people.

BUT they do make them better shooters, if they do make that decision.


24 posted on 09/29/2006 9:37:22 AM PDT by MeanWestTexan (Kol Hakavod Lezahal)
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To: steve-b

A shakedown is never pretty.


25 posted on 09/29/2006 9:37:28 AM PDT by finnman69 (cum puella incedit minore medio corpore sub quo manifestu s globus, inflammare animos)
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To: antiRepublicrat

"I've been jumping on mushrooms and grabbing at stars a lot lately. Too much Mario?"

Too much pot.


26 posted on 09/29/2006 9:38:09 AM PDT by MeanWestTexan (Kol Hakavod Lezahal)
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To: steve-b

So, would the ACLU sue gamemakers for spreading pornography or selfishness among our youth?

Whatever became of Leisure Suit Larry?


27 posted on 09/29/2006 9:38:47 AM PDT by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: Mr. Blonde

If you sue them for lost time.


28 posted on 09/29/2006 9:39:55 AM PDT by Ainast
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To: steve-b
Wow... What did people use as an excuse for mass murder BEFORE video games were invented?

I'm sorry for these peoples loss, but toss this case out of court with prejudice.

29 posted on 09/29/2006 9:40:24 AM PDT by Dead Corpse (Quam terribilis est haec hora)
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To: MeanWestTexan
Too much pot.

:^)

30 posted on 09/29/2006 9:40:27 AM PDT by antiRepublicrat
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To: steve-b

It's like blaming a fork for causing Rosie O'Donnell to be fat.


31 posted on 09/29/2006 9:40:55 AM PDT by skikvt (Hummina Hummina Hummina....)
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To: Dead Corpse
What did people use as an excuse for mass murder BEFORE video games were invented?

The Devil made them do it. But then you can't sue the Devil.

32 posted on 09/29/2006 9:41:20 AM PDT by antiRepublicrat
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To: Dead Corpse

There was no mass murder, everyone was packing.


33 posted on 09/29/2006 9:41:37 AM PDT by Ainast
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To: Cicero

"Whatever became of Leisure Suit Larry?"

He was elected president, but was impeached for lying under oath.


34 posted on 09/29/2006 9:42:09 AM PDT by MeanWestTexan (Kol Hakavod Lezahal)
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I'm just waiting for one of these "lawsuits" to actually win in court (they haven't yet I don't think). It will happen sooner or later if you get a dumb enough jury that doesn't understand personal responsibility.


35 posted on 09/29/2006 9:42:54 AM PDT by Domandred
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To: antiRepublicrat
But then you can't sue the Devil.

Lawyers would never sue the Devil. It's called "Professional Courtesy."

36 posted on 09/29/2006 9:43:35 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: steve-b
Beevis and Butthead made him do it!!

If he didn't have a PS2 on which to PLAY violent games all day long every day, he wouldn't have been playing Grand Theft Auto, now would he. If the kid's PARENTS had instilled a sense of right and wrong in him, he COULD have his PS2 but either wouldn't play such a game or would simply know that video games do not equal real life.

37 posted on 09/29/2006 9:43:59 AM PDT by cake_crumb (One presidential visit to Baghdad is worth 1000 pathetic declarations of defeat from the left)
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To: antiRepublicrat

Give them time. Let the lawyers know that Lucifer has more money than Jehova and they'll be lining up at the Gates of Hades with their lawsuites....


38 posted on 09/29/2006 9:44:46 AM PDT by Dead Corpse (Quam terribilis est haec hora)
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To: BurbankKarl

Good one...


39 posted on 09/29/2006 9:46:56 AM PDT by Codeflier (Implement Loser Pays)
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To: Ainast
I must be a ticking timebomb then. I'm playing America's Army as I type this.

Obviously, you're going to turn into a right-wing fascist Bushbot who wants to kill brown people and steal their oil.

40 posted on 09/29/2006 9:58:36 AM PDT by steve-b (The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule.)
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To: pillut48

No the sound of millions of dollars pouring from the company!


41 posted on 09/29/2006 10:02:17 AM PDT by thebaron512
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To: MeanWestTexan

I would not consider GTA3, Vice city, or GTA SA a FPS, since it is more of a rear view and does not have the feel of let's say F.E.A.R. or Half-life even if you put the camera in FPV.


42 posted on 09/29/2006 10:05:35 AM PDT by thebaron512
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To: steve-b
How many deaths can be attributed to this guy?

...or "Jackass" episodes?

43 posted on 09/29/2006 10:06:56 AM PDT by TexasCajun
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To: Cicero

"Whatever became of Leisure Suit Larry?"

He came out with a college campus game a few years back. Speaking of which, i should play that one again now that I updated my video card. ;)


44 posted on 09/29/2006 10:08:16 AM PDT by tfecw (It's for the children)
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To: steve-b

And the parents who were shot and killed never saw anything wrong with thier child pretending to shoot and kill people everyday 'obsessively'?

What is up with parental responsibility?


45 posted on 09/29/2006 10:08:42 AM PDT by sandbar
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To: Centurion2000
So according to these people every person playing Half-Life, Battlefield 1942 or Unreal Tournament 2004 is a killer just waiting to happen?

Well, Half-Life will make some decent alien killers and BF1942 might make some talented Nazi/Imperial Japanese Army killers.

46 posted on 09/29/2006 10:09:01 AM PDT by EricT. (The Democrats have decided it will either be a Democrat led America, or no America at all.)
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To: antiRepublicrat

>>>I've been jumping on mushrooms and grabbing at stars a lot lately.

Too much Mario?>>>

Yeah, I walk around saying 'ooga booga' all day and will soon be fired for my unprofessional outbursts. Maybe I should sue the makers of Crash Bandicoot.


47 posted on 09/29/2006 10:09:54 AM PDT by sandbar
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To: MeanWestTexan

>>>In short, FPS DO remove that hesitation. >>>

I'd say it took more than 1 second (the hesitation speed) to kill three people.


48 posted on 09/29/2006 10:11:01 AM PDT by sandbar
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To: TexasDontPlay
I played hours and hours of Dungeons and Dragons, but I do not haunt the steam tunnels of major univerisities playing a grotesque simulation of real combat. Likewise, I have never gotten to time travel, I have never slain a Cylon, and I own no rubber Vulcan ears.

My condolences to the parents, but this kid was nuts because of physical brain deformity or outside mental pressure, and was not made crazy by a video game, although placing the blame for the horrible incident on a computer game rather than their own failure to notice the kids tendencies and get him counceling. If he was playing the game so much, that behavior should have been a trigger that they should at least explore any anger issues he might have had. The fact that he shot family and not random strangers (as you would in the game, incidentally) makes me think that there are more issues to this than just gaming.

Is the game violent, on the order of the horrible "Going Postal"? Yes. Would I allow the game in my house? For me, certainly not. Is it my job to be aware of what my teen is involved in, to the point of knowing if my kid is dangerous in any way? You bet!

Game over. Sad, but not the fault of the programmers, even if they should have higher values than to make such a game. I would be willing to wager that said perp had violent DVD's, enjoyed slasher movies, and other violent fare. The gaming was probably only part of the whole.

49 posted on 09/29/2006 10:11:12 AM PDT by 50sDad (ST3d: Real Star Trek 3d Chess: http://my.ohio.voyager.net/~abartmes/tactical.htm)
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To: antiRepublicrat

>>>The Devil made them do it. But then you can't sue the Devil.>>>

Well, you CAN, but it's hard to get a case in against the President of the United States. ;o)


50 posted on 09/29/2006 10:12:06 AM PDT by sandbar
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