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German principal: Games turn kids into homicidal maniacs photo

Last Thursday, there was yet another attempted shooting rampage in Germany. Fortunately, nobody was killed, which is of course why no major news outlet run the story. Despite the fact that no lives were lost, however, one particular German school is joining the country's pathetic anti-videogame bandwagon, declaring that his school is to be "Killergame-free."

German school principal Bernd Denning believes videogames play a major role in a child becoming a "homicidal maniac," providing violent answers to problems that kids may be having. 

Even if Killergames are not the trigger of a killing spree, Bernd Denning, principal of the Schramberg Second School said yesterday, they still take a major part in turning minors into homicidal maniacs. Even if there isn’t a monocausally relation between excessive playing of games, leading to acts of violence, it still provides a twisted frame of reference of solutions for their problems and hardships, that they learn – and may transfer to the real world under certain circumstances.

Right now, Denning and his idiot brigade are working out how to stop these games, but the message is this: "Killergames are corruptive and therefore need to be outlawed." The school doesn't want the games simply banned at their establishment, they want these kids to never play violent videogames, even at home. Denning cannot believe that there are those who want videogames accepted, stating that it's "morally desperately demanded to say no to a practice that is elementary linked to killing sprees."

Seriously. There are people out there who believe this crap.


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56 comments | showing # 1 to 50

lyfeforce's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 08:24
lyfeforce
Wait, "Killergames"? Is this phrase getting thrown around now or is it just the subject in question? Either way, yeesh.
Jim Sterling's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 08:26
Jim Sterling
lyfeforce: It's a term coined by German politicians a few years ago. They refer to any violent videogame as a "killergame."
mistic's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 08:30
mistic
I think they should adhere to the Buddhist mentality!
CtMythic's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 08:34
CtMythic
I love the way he pretty much says "I know there's no link at all with video games and violence, but I don't care because I think there is actually."

Lets see how long it is before it comes out he's been fucking kids in the changing rooms or something.
Sexualchocolate's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 08:37
Sexualchocolate
This is a bit familiar, when was it we last saw this kind of repression upon peoples rights and controlling, oppresive leadership in Germany? All under the guise of "protecting the German people" again, When was it again?

About 1945 wasn't it?
MCChampaignMillionaire's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 08:37
MCChampaignMillionaire
Oh, moment please, I will just kill this dude in Dead Space...ahh well Its a real problem here in germany, that everyone think he has got an idea of gaming even though he has never played a game...-.-
Schabracke's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 08:38
Schabracke
Well there was blood spilled, he ran in there with some molotow cocktails and an axe. One girl is still in a coma because he hit her with the axe. It is sad...

But the rest I agree with, stupid people, it is not that freaking easy. Outlaw them and it will never happen again, worked great before. Damn it.
KrazyKraut's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 08:39
KrazyKraut
lol what a stupid idiot... ppl like him have always the same profile here in germany: At least 6 Kids, No TV/Computer and catholic.
randombullseye's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 08:41
randombullseye
Armin Meiwes sure played games.
Gen Eric Gui's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 08:44
Gen Eric Gui
I heard that some famous serial killers read books. We should ban all books to make sure that never happens again.
Nic128's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 08:45
Nic128
Games don't turn people violent, stupidity does. Like me, I want to punch the guy who came up with that crap.

Ignorance, the plague.
Master Edge 3's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 08:48
Master Edge 3
This of course coming from the country with what I think is the largest porn industry in the world.. *facepalm fail*
SUPER-WEEDGAN's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 09:11
SUPER-WEEDGAN
@ lyfeforce

Killergames indeed
matrixdude171's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 09:18
matrixdude171
this is coming from the country that is genocidal and would loose big time once all their game developers leave them.
Arianol's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 09:20
Arianol
microshitting fagtards for the lose
shinryu108's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 09:21
shinryu108
Jim, I'm pretty sure you're BIASED against aging, semi-retarded Germans who hate videogames. Compare this to your Buddhist monk article. Just sayin'
SurplusGamer's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 09:23
SurplusGamer
@matrixdude The first half of your comment has actually made me permanently stupider. Thanks.
Kaspar's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 09:29
Kaspar
I think that it should be required from all would-be school shooters to write a fucking note saying "GAMES DIDN'T MAKE ME DO IT, YOU DID"...
The-Excel's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 09:32
The-Excel
German principal decries violent games.
Buddhist monk supports violent games.

The juxtaposition gave me an inner ear infection. Thanks, Destructoid.
Korolev's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 09:39
Korolev
Read this principle's comments carefully - he basically admits that yes, there is no link between games and school shootings, and that yes, the vast majority of people who play games aren't affected by the violence in any negative way, but that he still wants them banned on the premise that one game could, maybe, perhaps, influence just a little bit, even ONE child, in some way shape or form negatively.

What can you say to these people? They can't be convinced. This principle is the same sort of person who wanted to ban Lady Chatterley's Lover in England in the 1800's due to the fact that it contained a description of sex. These people want to drag us back to the 1930's. You can bet that they would also ban any films with violence in them too if they could, but of course they're smart enough to realise that that fight is over. Still, they go after video games because there's a chance they can ban them.

Reasoning with people like this principle is pointless. They know all our arguments. They even, like this guy, admit that there is no link. And yet they still want to ban.

The only cure is time. These people are almost universally old. They'll die. And then this nonsense won't be around any more. Yes, some developers will lose their jobs, some companies will fold and that's all tragic and whatnot, but like films, like TV shows and like books, this will go away.

Lady Chatterley's Lover was eventually published in England you know. There's nothing to fear.
reindall's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 09:42
reindall
He's German, he wouldn't spot a homicidal maniac even if one became the Chancellor.
jkid's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 09:46
jkid
Everytime there's a school shooting in Germany, someone there always blame it on the video games. Especially violent video games.Why can't they go after violent tv shows or movies, why it has to be video games?

Normal Germans need to stand up for themselves. And if the politicians don't listen, they need to run for office themselves.

@Korolev

The only problem is that there are always people, younger people who will accept there arguments. I don't think this will go away, this is how idea's in society perpetuate themselves because younger people can accept the elders arguments at face value.
Cowboy TTop's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 09:49
Cowboy TTop
The guys a principal, which means he old and all about keeping the children safe. Promoting stopping gamers from enjoying, what they like into their own time is treading on the freedom banner. While this principal dude is entitled to his opinion, notice that he doesn't go out of his way to ask any of his students their view on things, considering his negative view can impact their hobby. Shows how much he loves and respects his students.

Notice its these same people that believe everything Fox News tells them. To them every game is about killing, and games have nothing positive for society at all.

Perhaps Germany should control their guns a bit more, and educate in how not to misuse them better etc. Connecting with young people more too, and such problems can avoided. This principal more or less confirms the lack of connection between young and old, and until that is broken down, messed up stuff will happen.
Evilvet's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 10:09
Evilvet
yep, hitler went all genocidal because of getting teabagged in halo....er no, wait it's because he couldn't get in to ART SCHOOL. apparently rejection from stuff you like doing or have an affinity for will make you all postal. maybe this tard principal is creating tomorrow's genocidal maniac, keep an eye on the ones he kicks out of school.
GoldenGamerXero's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 10:20
GoldenGamerXero
Please tell me people aren't bringing up Hitler? The people in charge now had nothing to do with him and if you've ever been on a motorway (or whatever you call them) or a computer you're connected to the Nazis as much as anyone else.

He's correct in saying that Video games can turn a kid into a maniac but so can TV, books, music, the internet, religion and paintings. In fact any sort of expression can rot away someone's brain but so can taking it away. So if we can't live with expression and we can't live without it then we should censor all life and ban all thinking

Even if there isn’t a monocausally relation between excessive thinking and use of imagination, leading to acts of violence, it still provides a twisted frame of reference of solutions for their problems and hardships, that they learn – and may transfer to the real world under certain circumstances.

By his logic the humane thing to do is kill all humans.
PersonalGaming's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 10:34
PersonalGaming
It's just populism. No one can ban videogames. I live in Germany and give a fuck about censorship, because I import games via internet. End of story.
JT IceFire's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 10:50
JT IceFire
Video games.

Because blaming school shootings on an highly stratified, Lord-Of-The-Flies-esque social order combined with the unpredictable digressions of the human mind is just too hard, dammit.
CitizenErased's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 10:56
CitizenErased
Nazis.
Subenu's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 10:58
Subenu
How great that there are elections in germany next week.
Razzack's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 11:08
Razzack
I just saw on the news, no "killergames" where found at that guy´s home.
But why not blame them anyway.
Doos's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 11:12
Doos
Heh, bring on the posts of US superiority, even though your own country tries to do the same shit all the time.
Doos's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 11:15
Doos
*EDIT BUTTON!!* I didn't mean to imply that all residents of the US feel this way, I was just throwing it out that some people are going to say stupid things.
Cheesus's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 11:20
Cheesus
Why? Oh why was I born in this stupid country?
Germany really is a shithole for gamers.
D-503's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 11:30
D-503
Who am I gonna believe this guy or a Buddhist monk? C'mon! If I have to choose between banning video games and reaching nirvana it's not gonna be a hard pick.
Mad Doctor's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 11:39
Mad Doctor
Maybe Germany should take all the violent games and shove them into an oven, like they do with all the other things that they disagree with.
stalydan's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 11:53
stalydan
I spent four days in Berlin last year on a school trip and never once did I see a videogame with any type of violence it! It's just stupid! Why does every videogame with a gun or a blood splatter in it have to be banned or edited into a new game in Germany. And to the statement of every solution involving killing people, that's complete bollocks. Maybe if Germany would give Fallout 3 the green light, they would realise that you don't have to kill everyone to solve a problem. 50% of the time, yeah... you probably do, but there's also the option of talking things out :P
Shorty's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 11:54
Shorty
@Mad Doctor
OH NO HE DIDN'T
Drakengard's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 11:59
Drakengard
Oh, boy. Here comes the government and the crazies. Let's blame everything else except the parents, his peers, and society's inability to accept people.

I'm willing to bet that this kid was an ostracized loner with parents who didn't give a crap and had a low self esteem as a result of no one bothering to really be a friend to him.

Oh...lol...I decided to just read the actual article before posting and they say this:

Herrmann said a preliminary investigation showed the teen had no perceivable history of trouble, but students at the school described him as a loner.

Nailed it.
jonnywrigs1's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 12:00
jonnywrigs1
@mad doctor

Best comment ever.
Myrmidon16's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 12:43
Myrmidon16
i find that video games have the same effect on me. not that i want to become a homicidal maniac, but after playing harvest moon i really have the urge to start a farm.
Everyday Legend's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 13:16
Everyday Legend
What causes psychos to appear in society has more to do with oppressive/repressive societies bearing down upon its populace with the notion that they somehow know what's best for their people as a whole.

Very reich-wing thinking.
NubPhiSh's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 13:37
NubPhiSh
There was homocidal maniacs way before videogames,
ofc art is always a easyer target than politics, i think the real issue here is how a teenager got his hands on a weapon.
Seems to me that gun control is eaiser than game control ofc i am a "crazy liberal" what do i know
neoREgen's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 13:53
neoREgen
Hitler did not have video games.
If he had, at the very least he'd be a bit more lethargic.
MechaMonkey's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 14:01
MechaMonkey
In before a dozen or so Nazi... Oh, nevermind.
Xzyliac's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 14:05
Xzyliac
@Doos
I'm sure he majority of us would agree with you. We're a cynical people. Negative and self-loathing and a bit unappreciative of just how god damn good we've got it. *sigh* My wonderful stupid ass coutry.

That said somebody needs to trademark Killergames. NOW!
Linkoman's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 15:00
Linkoman
Dilbert Pricipal - leadership is nature's way of removing morons from the productive flow.
StingingVelvet's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 15:23
StingingVelvet
I'm sure it was said above, but wow... Germany blaming video games for violence? How many games existed in oh, say... 1940?
InfraredChimera's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 15:28
InfraredChimera
This just in! German officials attempting to ban reality based on the evidence that "there is too much violence in the world and obivously reality is the cause of the violence."
bustaballs's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 15:32
bustaballs
I can contest to this. I've been playing video games for 20 years and I've probably murdered around 1,000,000 people or more.
Syn's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/21/2009 15:48
Syn
It's been a couple of years since I've heard of a school shooting around here (that's not to say that there haven't been any of course) and yet, in the country with ludicrous censorship....bang.

I wonder if there's something to that.
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