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EVERY violent rampage ever is linked to videogames now! photo

I really don't want to take the easy route and make Nazi comparisons to modern day German officials, but their desire to ban certain forms of media really make Godwin's Law difficult to resist. The recent school shooting has prompted a wave of knee-jerking across Germany, and the latest idiocy comes from a news source that has boldly claimed that EVERY MURDER SPREE IN THE WORLD is connected to games. Wow, how about that for hyperbole?

"It is known that in every situation in which a violent rampage (Amoklauf) has occurred, the perpetrator has had a remarked addiction to so-called killergames," lies the report, which goes on to cite comments from Heini Schmitt, head of the Hessen German Police Union. 

Even though Schmitt himself admits there is no proof that these ridiculously labeled "killergames" cause violence, he still thinks they should all go away. "The world would be no poorer if there were no more killergames," he claims, stating that even though proof doesn't exist, their role in violent rampage attacks should not be discounted. 

I think now that someone has gone ahead and basically claimed that EVERY form of violence in the history of ever can be attributed to gaming, the news media has hit a new low. FOX News has its work cut out for it if wants to top something as ridiculous and demented as that little theory. 

Seriously, these people whine that too many youngsters "regularly and addictively escape into a virtual world." Can you really blame them when the real world is full of so many stupid dickheads?








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50 comments | showing # 1 to 50
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ThunderHeartXI's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/22/2009 15:04
ThunderHeartXI
But what was in Ted Bundy's Xbox?
PrinnyMedic's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/22/2009 15:06
PrinnyMedic
Shit like this makes me think sometimes where gonna evolve back into monkeys or devolve that's better
wanderingpixel's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/22/2009 15:12
wanderingpixel
YES!!!! This proves my therory that Hitler's reign of terror was due to a life of depression, after a bad game of pinball.
InfraredChimera's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/22/2009 15:13
InfraredChimera
So "killergames" explains why that kid hit his mom with a taco and not antisocial behavior or some other problem in the persons head.
Topher Cantler's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/22/2009 15:14
Topher Cantler
I've been trying to tell you people, it's the Fisher-Price Western Town playset.
Qraze's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/22/2009 15:15
Qraze
the taliban trains with with video games. the charles manson murders were fueled by pong. the 9/11 were addicted to ff11. the columbine killings were orchestrated in hyrule. every shuttle disaster was caused by people playing tetris. the st.valentines day massacre was inspired by kz2. the normandy beach invasion was a ut3 mod.
Chronic Logic's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/22/2009 15:16
Chronic Logic
Think about it, how many nazis have we killed in video games? Billions? Trillions perhaps? The German government must be pretty pissed off that we're killing their fellow country men. So to make sure that no more nazi die a needless death, they ban violent video games especially games with nazis in them under the pretense of protecting the children. Also didn't I say that video games are officially stated under German law "to be children's toys"?
2bad4u's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/22/2009 15:16
2bad4u
I like how they automatically discount the possibility that those who are ALREADY PREDISPOSED to violence just happen to play violent videogames on the side as well. As in, they were already violent people who could easily go on a "violent rampage", it just so happens that they played GTA in their spare time and it didn't actually DRIVE them to commit their crimes.

I mean, I like music and play my guitar from time to time, so I play Guitar Hero. Does Guitar Hero drive me to start up a band and become a rock star? No. It's just that my interest in music/guitar and videogames happen to both be represented in GH. Do you have to be really into music or guitar to like Guitar Hero? No. Just like you don't have to want to commit murder to play games in which you kill people. So why do people who commit acts of violence and play violent games automatically have to be inspired to commit their crimes by the game?

Also,
"Can you really blame them when the real world is full of so many stupid dickheads?"
I find that sentence to be full of win.
Darren Nakamura's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/22/2009 15:27
Darren Nakamura
Ugh. I guess at the very least, most of us can be happy that we don't live in Germany. Sorry, Fana7ic.
PrinnyMedic's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/22/2009 15:32
PrinnyMedic
Yeah fuck Germany !!!! bunch of Jew killing fucks
Fanatism's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/22/2009 15:34
Fanatism
I'm one of those who likes to create stuff, so I usually get quite influenced by media of all kind - be it food, painting, music, whatever.

Then we have to consider that there are violent retard frog/monkeys around that likes to destroy stuff, so they get influenced by violence.

Violence in general could surely be an inspiring moment for some, but then again that's why they're retard frog/monkeys.
Chilly's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/22/2009 15:34
Chilly
Next thing you know, a builder may start throwing bricks off of a roof because he played to much tetris.
RonBurgandy2010's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/22/2009 15:35
RonBurgandy2010
I heard games have also been linked to AIDS and cerebral palsy.
PySk's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/22/2009 15:36
PySk
Technically, a "Amoklauf" is the German word for "school shooting" or the like and not EVERY violent rampage, but still this "theory" is bullshit!
Davram's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/22/2009 15:37
Davram
Don't think these people quite understand that it's video games that have probably kept the majority of psychopaths from doing violent things. A few just couldn't be sated by virtual violence, so chose real violence. For those, it was only a matter of time anyway, and really you could probably thank video games for staving off the mayhem as long as it did.

But scapegoats are fun too.
Jim Sterling's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/22/2009 15:38
Jim Sterling
"But what was in Ted Bundy's Xbox?"

I'm going to answer that very question in an upcoming feature. Stay tuned to Dtoid this evening! :-)
ParaParaKing's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/22/2009 15:38
ParaParaKing
You have no idea, what kind of bullshit is going down in German news media at the moment.

Earlier this week a politician from southern Germany put videogames on the same level as child porn. And everybody just nodded their heads. It's scary.
Syn's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/22/2009 15:39
Syn
Even though Schmitt himself admits there is no proof that these ridiculously labeled "stupidpeople" cause violence, he still thinks they should all go away. "The world would be no poorer if there were no more stupidpeople," he claims, stating that even though proof doesn't exist, their role in violent rampage attacks should not be discounted.


WHUT, mine is better.
hitnrun's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/22/2009 15:50
hitnrun
1) Most teenagers play videogames.
2) Teenagers are responsible for 100% of incidents of teenage violence.
3) Ergo, videogames cause violence.
AgentMOO's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/22/2009 15:58
AgentMOO
Little known fact: It was not actually a dog that told David Berkowitz to go on a shooting spree. His delusions of being Son of Sam were whispered into his ear by an Atari Pong machine.
DF's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/22/2009 16:04
DF
This is bad already, but what happens if bigger nations like...say, America gets wind of this, sees it as a good thing?

I mean, it doesn't seem likely (I hope) but it would be the complete obliteration of the gaming industry as a whole.
Monodi's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/22/2009 16:34
Monodi
Cain and Abel = Videogames
Escape from Egypt = Videogames
The Caesar's Betrayal = Videogames
Roman Empire = Videogames
Crusades = Videogames
Byzantine Empire = Videogames
European conquest in America = Videogames
Napoleonic Supremacy = Videogames
Russian Revolution = Videogames
Abraham Lincoln's Assassination = Videogames
Ku Klux Klan = Videogames
Jack the Ripper = Videogames
Franz Ferdinand's Assassination = Videogames
Nazi Supremacy = Videogames
Pearl Harbor = Videogames
JFK = Videogames
Racist Raids = Videogames
Vietnam = Videogames
The Zodiac = Videogames
RiotMonster's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/22/2009 16:37
RiotMonster
Videogames raped me and stole my baby.
Tet's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/22/2009 16:37
Tet
Genghis Khan rode out of the steppes with his horde of Mongol warriors and his modded PSP. It's true, check your history books.
Grimhound's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/22/2009 16:50
Grimhound
"I'm going to answer that very question in an upcoming feature. Stay tuned to Dtoid this evening! :-)"

You need to attain a lip caterpillar for that sort of thing.
LaurencD's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/22/2009 16:55
LaurencD
We have proof that this is wrong, lots and lots of people have got Wii Fit and are they any thinner? NO, video games have no effect on life. Anyway where are films in all this, I know more about guns from films than i do games, is that skapegoat a bit old and mangy?
Mr Wrighty 987's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/22/2009 16:59
Mr Wrighty 987
I do hired hits because of videogames
Keyter's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/22/2009 17:05
Keyter
My grandma told me a horrible story. When she was young a little boy was horribly burned by two other boys in her neighborhood. He had 90% of his skin burned. So naturally I asked her what videogame he played back in 1947.
Velt's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/22/2009 17:16
Velt
If I was in a debate about this subject and an individual tells me that so called "fact", I would be speechless.
dgschrei's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/22/2009 17:28
dgschrei
In his defense I think he's talking about the three rampages we had in Germany, and they were all linked to violent videogames in some way. So that is correct. But other than that, fuck him! Those fools all sound like those really stupid redneck Americans wiht their saying: "Guns don't kill people, people kill people!" Just in their case it's "Guns don't kill people, videogames kill people."
How is that for an idea you stupid moron? If we take away his gun, he can't possibly shoot someone. I think I'm going to revolutionize crime prevention. I need to get a patent on this as quickly as possible.
TheTaj's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/22/2009 17:58
TheTaj
I'm going to kill a bunch of Germans in CoD just to spite these people.
B-Radicate's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/22/2009 18:04
B-Radicate
Stupid people like that make me feel better about myself.
Sam Spectre's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/22/2009 18:25
Sam Spectre
I bet it would be fun to be German...NOT.
kavorka's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/22/2009 18:29
kavorka
Come now, let's not get all sensational. That's just what they want us to do (and it sure makes for fun journalism, doesn't it Jim? :D). Fools will always be entitled to their opinions, you just have to be smart enough to weed out the ones that matter or have relevancy. Some "German news source" doesn't exactly equate to "credible line of reasoning that should be respected and reacted to". Mr. O'reily counts as an "American News Source", and I wouldn't put any eggs in his basket for the biggest mansion in mansion-land.
Excel-2011's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/22/2009 18:50
Excel-2011
A study published in the American Journal of Human Genetics estimates that 8% of Asian men in 2006 are descendants of Genghis Khan, one of the most violent men in history. Cool!
Excel-2011's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/22/2009 18:52
Excel-2011
By which I mean, the results of the study were published in 2006.
morbid-82-'s Avatar - Comment posted on 03/22/2009 18:52
morbid-82-
wait, I thought gangsta rap was to blame
eternalplayer2345's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/22/2009 19:22
eternalplayer2345
No wonder I rape women and kill everyone I come across
Spectreman's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/22/2009 19:33
Spectreman
* Never lost two world wars.
Joanna Mueller's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/22/2009 20:43
Joanna Mueller
Nein! Just nein.
ninjikiran's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/22/2009 20:47
ninjikiran
saying that everyone that commits a violent killing spree plays games is as easy as saying they also watch tv, have read books, and eaten red meat. But you don't see anyone going after the cows, or the TV or the books now do you.

I mean even though cows farts are killing the world, one methane explosion at a time ;). (before anyone thinks i'm talking bad about it, viva la beef!)
motti's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2009 00:11
motti
It all makes sense now. So Ned Kelly didn't become a highwayman because he was abused for being irish, it was because he played GTAIV!
PrinceofCannedPeaches's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2009 00:14
PrinceofCannedPeaches
Just to send the whole thing right to Godwin's Law...

Let's not forget that in the 1940's a certain dude thought the world would "be no poorer" if there were no Jews, either. Good show.
Korolev's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2009 01:44
Korolev
The reason why people blame videogames for violence is twofold:

1) Some people want to hang on to the old "blank slate" idea of human development - this is the idea that no one is born with "tendencies". The "blank slate" model has been shot down by neurologists and behavioral scientists, but that doesn't stop its defenders. The "blank slate" people think that it must be video-games, because no person EVER could POSSIBLY be born with violent tendencies..... right?
2) People don't want to blame themselves. Even though people can be born with violent tendencies (like that freak who did the school-shootings in Germany), it's usually society that pushes them over the edge. But rather than admit that the schools, parents, government institutions and the culture in general has failed, they just blame video-games.

Well, this sort of thing seems to work. If I ever go into politics, I will seek to blame EVERYTHING on video-games, not just violence. Let me demonstrate:

1) Bad Economy? Well, it's because people play JRPG's and think that money comes from monster corpses. Video-games have SYSTEMATICALLY programmed people to ignore financial regulations and risk management. Damn you Final Fantasy!

2) Bad Health? It's those damn video-games AGAIN! Videogames teach people that health can be regenerated with time, and since the populace is apparently so stupid they can't differentiate between a video game and reality, no one consults doctors or buys health insurance! It's not because it's way too expensive, it's because people are IDIOTS, right? Right?

3) Overweight? Video games made you fat because you played them. In fact, they made you fat even if you DIDN'T play them. That's how evil they are

4) Your political party didn't win? Video games obviously prevented them from voting, because as we all know, people are too stupid to stop playing, ever, right?. Obvious!

5) Grass on the lawn looks bad? Video-games did it.... somehow..... oh wait, the boy who would normally mow your lawn for slave wages is busy playing video games.

You see?
mistic's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2009 02:01
mistic
since about 90% of youngsters today play games, its an easy connection to make if one of the 90% goes on a rampage...
Rosseh's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2009 05:59
Rosseh
Sounds like a competition! Grab a pen, paper, photoshop or whatever and draw your chosen criminal and their own game of choice!
Here's some suggestions:

Hitler - Space Invaders
Mussolini - Nintendogs/Age of Empires
Stalin - Gears of war
Charles Manson - Singstar
Ted Bundy - Leisure Suit Larry

GO! GO! GO!
bluerahjah's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2009 08:37
bluerahjah
I think the bigger issue here is that the head of the Police Union's name is Heini.
The Prodigal Son's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2009 09:01
The Prodigal Son
You guys may not realize this, but even WWII was started because of videogames...
Holyetheline's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2009 12:43
Holyetheline
Or so it would seem...
soulmonarch's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/23/2009 14:46
soulmonarch
You know that whole "Cain and Able" thing?

Yup... videogames. (Sorry. I mean "killergames.")
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