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British tabloid photographs thirteen-year-old dad playing Saint's Row II photo

The British tabloids love demonizing videogames for corrupting our youth, begging for such "sick filth" to be banned and blaming teenage crime on interactive entertainment. So, what does one British rag do? Outside of encouraging teenage pregnancy by piling attention on underaged spunk chucker Alfie Patten, The Sun also advertises underage gaming by promoting his playing of Saints Row II on the PS3.

The story of Alfie's 13-year-old fatherhood is incredibly messed up in itself, and the British press swarming around it like flies on sh*t is even more screwy. However, I'd like to focus instead on the blatant hypocrisy of the UK news media on this one. After all, it was The Sun that used Grand Theft Auto as an excuse for Ryan Chinnery's string of attempted sex attacks, and here it is, using an equally gratuitous game for an "adorable" photoshoot. Should The Sun really be encouraging such salacious entertainment for a dirty schoolboy that can't keep his little acorn winkie in his pants?

This just further reinforces my theory that no videogame could ever do as much damage to society as the news outlets that attack them. After all, I've never seen THQ or Rockstar reward teenage pregnancy with cute photoshoots and doubtless high-paying exclusive interviews. 

Well done, Sun. You have done British journalism proud. Again.








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Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize. Likes PS2, iPod Touch, Silent Hill 2, Metal Gear Solid, Dynasty Warriors 3 Meet the rest of the team



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82 comments | showing # 1 to 50
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next 50 comments

Clance's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 10:46
Clance
I've spent the best part of my weekend trying to work out how this guy isn't 8 years old.

The baby is half his size.
FalconReaper's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 10:47
FalconReaper
Wow that's some fucked up shit
VashTS's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 10:47
VashTS
LOL WUT?!
Aurain's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 10:50
Aurain
Karen Matthews invents Time Travel,
Fucks 13 year old.

Seriously though Jim, You don't need to point how shit our journalism is. Everyone already knows.
If it's got David Beckham in it, it's on the front page. Princess Di? Page 1. Immigrants? Page 1. Lily Allen? Page 1.

It's all inane dog spunk.
TorpedoTed's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 10:50
TorpedoTed
you heard the latest, it could be 2 other boys baby, so he is going for DNA tests!!
Genius's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 10:51
Genius
Is that woman his mom or the babies mom? Either way shes pretty ugly.
Tdiddy9182's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 10:51
Tdiddy9182
That is one rough looking chick.
the Golden Avatar's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 10:51
the Golden Avatar
Get this off my Destructoid.
mistic's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 10:52
mistic
that's messed up on so many levels, I feel like my head'll explode :-)
elsteveo's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 10:52
elsteveo
Next the ugly girl will show her tits.
Jim Sterling's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 10:53
Jim Sterling
"Seriously though Jim, You don't need to point how shit our journalism is. Everyone already knows."

I agree. I don't need to at all.

But I very much want to.
Mushman's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 10:57
Mushman
Good grief, that a 13 year old can be a father is messed up.

I heard of,literally, a ton 15 and 16 year old's round my end having kids, but this is a new low.

Also, yes our journalistic output and quality is fast becoming a cesspool of utter tripe. :(
Gibbo's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 10:59
Gibbo
I agree, this being on Kotaku was pointless enough. Although is it honestly surprising coming from The Scum?
Maurice Tan's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 11:00
Maurice Tan
Maybe we should just stop giving the Sun's writing attention? ;)
jellydoodle's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 11:12
jellydoodle
controllers aren't on...
SephirothX's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 11:13
SephirothX
That is seriously one ugly ass chick. I didnt think human heads were meant to be that round, not to mention she's got a serious case of the Emperor Palpatine eye-chins going on.
Themightylebeau2009's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 11:15
Themightylebeau2009
This is living?
ElToine's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 11:18
ElToine
oh Sun, you retards
Static Jak's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 11:19
Static Jak
The Sun is the lowest of newspaper crap.
Just a while back they had a story of "Aliens invading Ireland" on the FRONT PAGE.
the_real_one's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 11:20
the_real_one
actually now 8 guys are claiming to be the father
Naim Master's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 11:21
Naim Master
But they aren't real gamers , it's just part of a evil plan to blame Saints Row 2 ... (look how they hold the controller ...)
Barcode's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 11:22
Barcode
I remember reading about the boy and his g/f.

First I asked myself how he could get action years before I could, then I was glad to know I wasn't as stupid about my wang as he was. Now seeing this makes me want to barf on the media.

The kids in the picture messed up enough as it is. Does the media really need to tag the kid with video game problems? Well, it does make them money right now. MONEY!
JiR INC's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 11:22
JiR INC
another day in britian....
kaecyus's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 11:23
kaecyus
This kid doesn't know what Financial means as well. And yet he wants to 'do well in school', with kids leaving at 18 by the time he makes it? Rofl, he probably won't make it past 16, if that.
Sam Spectre's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 11:26
Sam Spectre
I'm with you Jim, news outlets are the source of a lot of problems in our society.
Aurain's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 11:29
Aurain
There are 2 other lads claiming to be the dad now btw.

They had to explain how DNA testing worked to the 13 year old one in the photo =(
falinter's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 11:29
falinter
I'm confused.
Phalanxxx's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 11:30
Phalanxxx
Does this still count to our teenage pregnancy rating? I think they might be rounding up with his age >.>
Sup3rt3d's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 11:30
Sup3rt3d
Tut tut. UK:R had this up this morning, shouldn't you credit them if you nick their stories?
Vhaius's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 11:31
Vhaius
At first I was wondering how a 13 year old got any action then saw the mother.
SakuChan's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 11:33
SakuChan
Wait, what? 13 year old father? Lol.
Jim Sterling's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 11:34
Jim Sterling
"Tut tut. UK:R had this up this morning, shouldn't you credit them if you nick their stories?"

If I actually got it off UK:R and not VG247, which I actually linked to, then you'd be right.

However I did not get off UK:R, I got it off VG247, which I actually linked to.
Monodi's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 11:37
Monodi
Must suck for him to have impreganted Uncle Fester.
elsteveo's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 11:37
elsteveo
Are people shorter over in the UK cause if that kid is 13 he needs to be checked for midgetry. Also if that is the mom it goes to show she hung out at bars.
Uzzy's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 11:39
Uzzy
I think the problem here is that you are equating the Sun with journalism, Jim. Now, if this rubbish was in a proper newspaper, like one of the British broadsheeets, then yeah, something could be said about how crap journalism is over here. But as Gibbo said, what do you expect from the Sun?
Sup3rt3d's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 11:40
Sup3rt3d
Oh, told. Sorry about that - will read more carefully in future.

However its obvious to me that the real reason is that you're BIAS against UK:R because you love Sony and want to have sex with a Killzone (moar liek GAYzone yeah?), or whatever it is the cool kids say these days
smang's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 11:40
smang
ies! the pads aren't even on!
Nathan's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 11:47
Nathan
I was really more expecting 'The Sun' to go into detail why he isn't enjoying himself, and then post him playing it on the Xbox rather excitedly. The only useful advice 'The Sun' ever gives is in the sex help bit, and even then, it's as good as a kick to the balls.
FinalFist's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 11:49
FinalFist
Christ, I didn't have my first kiss until I was 14 for fuck's sake, lol. This is seriously messed up, that kid...man...
peytonmanning's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 11:55
peytonmanning
this is pretty funny. this 13 year old gets more ass than almost everyone else on this site
DF's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 11:56
DF
Hey, at least it ain't the Daily Mail. ...*shot*

There's no way that toddler's 13 though. As someone stated, 8 is pretty damn close.

Eww.
junglistgamer's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 11:57
junglistgamer
Why are the scum so fertile? Darwin was a fraud!
oh my god bear is driving's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 11:59
oh my god bear is driving
Seen the story before and I'm still shocked. Not by the situation itself but the fact that the girl had sex with a kid who looks 8. She is fucked up. I mean did they meet on the set of Yo Gabba Gabba?
ThunderHeartXI's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 12:00
ThunderHeartXI
They can... He's mature enough to...? Oh God, I think I'm going to be sick.
Jim Sterling's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 12:04
Jim Sterling
"this is pretty funny. this 13 year old gets more ass than almost everyone else on this site"

It shouldn't count when most of the ass seems to be her face.
nailerr's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 12:10
nailerr
I like to advocate mandatory abortion wherever possible. And here? I'd pen in three.
John B's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 12:10
John B
It shouldn't count when most of the ass seems to be her face.

THAT was awesome. I'm sure that most of us were thinking a similar thing, but that was a great way to say it.
Themightylebeau2009's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 12:18
Themightylebeau2009
He also appears to have the cold, dead eyes of a killer.
Im just saying.

"It shouldn't count when most of the ass seems to be her face"
I just spat Pot Noodle all over my computer I laughed so hard.
Themightylebeau2009's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 12:34
Themightylebeau2009
Nope, as she is a minor too it doesnt count. Can say byebye to more of wages (and in turn games) because these sponges will be on so many benfits.

For extra anger consider that when she hits 16 and should decide to have that kid live with her then she will be considered his GUARDIAN thus claiming MORE in benefits.

God I hate this country sometimes.
Half left's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/16/2009 12:34
Half left
SHE LOOKS LIKE A HORSE!

Is that kid mental!?
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