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Prisoners in the UK provided with PlayStation 2 consoles

1:29 PM on 07.26.2007, Jim Sterling 71 comments

Prisoners in the UK provided with PlayStation 2 consoles photo
     PlayStation 2
The Labour government has today revealed that 120 PlayStation 2 consoles have been installed in prisons for young offenders, an installation process that has cost the country £15,000. Those who commit crimes in our 'glorious' nation can now look forward to getting in a few free rounds of Devil May Cry instead of actually being, you know, punished for their crimes.

Instead of games machines going to orphanages, hospitals and other places that actually deserve them, it is the criminal element of this country that once again gets preferential treatment for no discernable reason other than there's always some bleeding heart out there that thinks the scum of society need to be pampered and not disciplined. I'll remember that next time I spend my own, hard earned money on a console. I'll be sure to remember that some crackhead is playing his for nothing, and that the taxes of decent people are funding him.

This is easily among the most stupid, counter-productive and disgusting things the British government has done. As Tory spokesman Nick Herbet said, "We need to be focussing on getting young offenders back into the world of work, not allowing them to play computer games." Also, isn't it funny that a country that bans violent videogames and demonizes them as corrupting influences is actually providing prisoners with them? There is something seriously messed up with this ridiculous country.

[Thanks to Joe. Via MCV.]


Next page: More United Kingdom stories




OutrageousToob's Avatar
OutrageousToob at 07/26/2007 13:32
I'm glad I don't live there. How can you stand it with all the funky teeth, crumpets, and tea? *shudder*
gamesronlygames's Avatar
gamesronlygames at 07/26/2007 13:33
Based upon your insights on all things Sony,esp Ps3, I would think you of all people Mr. Sterling would think having to play a Sony console is the worst punishment imaginable. LOL All in good sport...cheers
Nyteshade's Avatar
Nyteshade at 07/26/2007 13:34
Oh my god... I'm going to go rob a British bank!

Free food, free room-and-board, all sorts free time, no 9-5 job, AND PLAYSTATION 2!!!

How can you go wrong?!?!
Jim Sterling's Avatar
Jim Sterling at 07/26/2007 13:34
I don't hate Sony. The PS2 is the best console on the market, which makes this so rubbish.
Bioautographical's Avatar
Bioautographical at 07/26/2007 13:36
I have varying levels of scorn for the government tit's ever-shifting forms, but this bullshit tops the list as the most inane. I can somewhat see - if still not agree with - the need for welfare, especially if one's taxes are still being stolen in broad daylight to pay for all of it.

But videogames to criminals? I wonder what supporters of the Video Recordings Act/Public Order Act have to say about putting a supposedly "violent medium" into the hands of people who certainly don't need further violent influences.

Twats.
RICHARD BLOCKER's Avatar
RICHARD BLOCKER at 07/26/2007 13:38
I submit to the board that Sterling is a Sony basher.
Aurikill's Avatar
Aurikill at 07/26/2007 13:39
They have to play SNES with a controller in their mouths, during raystorms - See the brazilian fried guy post and you'll understand. :-)
Bioautographical's Avatar
Bioautographical at 07/26/2007 13:39
@RICHARD BLOCKER

Trust me, I'm trying to woo him out with promises of big bouncy American chesticles, straight teeth, and being on the correct side of global imperialism.
Jim Sterling's Avatar
Jim Sterling at 07/26/2007 13:40
Moar big bouncy American chesticles.
Bioautographical's Avatar
Bioautographical at 07/26/2007 13:44
We have Tay Zonday too.

ALL UR ZONDAYS ARE BELONG TO AMERIKKKAS!!!11
SpiderChrist's Avatar
SpiderChrist at 07/26/2007 13:44
it's all part of the bigger picture. this way, when those scum are let out and re-offend, and most of them will because prison=criminal contacts=more crimes, they can blame it on the video games they were allowed play.

pf course they wont listen when we say, "Hey! You gave 'em those games"
RICHARD BLOCKER's Avatar
RICHARD BLOCKER at 07/26/2007 13:45
You can come to sunny Florida and crash on my couch, Sterling. I will even pull up a chair and watch you while you sleep. Don't worry, I wont bother you, I have night-vision goggles. You'll never know I'm there.
SpiderChrist's Avatar
SpiderChrist at 07/26/2007 13:47
Britain needs you now Jim, more than ever.
Sterling for Prime Minister/Queen
Snaileb 's Avatar
Snaileb at 07/26/2007 13:51
"Also, isn't it funny that a country that bans violent videogames and demonizes them as corrupting influences is actually providing prisoners with them? There is something seriously messed up with this ridiculous country."


^ Explains alot about BBC, or maybe not a whole lot.

Jim! Ya cunting fuck, YOU'RE BRILLIANT!

Sharpless's Avatar
Sharpless at 07/26/2007 13:51
Now that we have Zonday, no country can fucking touch us. EAT SHIT, EUROPE.

Oh shit, I'm half-English. I only have half-a-Zonday. :'(
Nyteshade's Avatar
Nyteshade at 07/26/2007 13:52
NO STERLING! Don't do it, don't come to Florida!

Worst state EVER!

It's too hot 80% of the year, too sunny the entire year, SO MANY old people you always smell em (it's called God's Waiting Room for a reason), traffic is ridiculous, and even when traffic isn't bad, you still gotta watch out for the old people that can't SEE!

My friend got his brand-new S2000 (he's a mechanic, big $$$ here) totaled by a guy born in....

1908!!!!

Yes, the guy was ONE MONTH from turning 100, was almost totally blind, couldn't see over the steering wheel, and was still driving... Stay far away!
Lord_Satorious's Avatar
Lord_Satorious at 07/26/2007 13:53
For all you know, the prisoners are forced to play Barbie Horse Adventure, that'll reform them.
RICHARD BLOCKER's Avatar
RICHARD BLOCKER at 07/26/2007 13:55
Come to Florida Sterling.


Aurikill's Avatar
Aurikill at 07/26/2007 13:55
Or turn them into homicidal machines of doom. Barbie is one of the horsemen of apocalypse, as you should know...
SpiderChrist's Avatar
SpiderChrist at 07/26/2007 13:58
He's right y'know, Death, Pestilence, Famine and Barbie!
Crunshii's Avatar
Crunshii at 07/26/2007 13:59
well thats 80% of FL Jim, Miami is the 20% where old people have been beaten brutally & forced to move out, ask how Niero got his nice apt. :P
Snaileb 's Avatar
Snaileb at 07/26/2007 14:00
Florida sux. I live near Tampa. It sux.
gamesronlygames's Avatar
gamesronlygames at 07/26/2007 14:02
No rubbish , just a ribbing-Sony torture!-with good behaviour they can play an xbox360
RICHARD BLOCKER's Avatar
RICHARD BLOCKER at 07/26/2007 14:06
Uh wait....Was Jim Sterling a great big fat person?


Shenocide's Avatar
Shenocide at 07/26/2007 14:09
Meh. Florida isn't bad. Miami is gay though...
Jim Sterling's Avatar
Jim Sterling at 07/26/2007 14:09
Blocker wins. Silence of the Lambs <3
gamesronlygames's Avatar
gamesronlygames at 07/26/2007 14:12
I think parliament has been snacking on too much SPOTTED DICK. First they took guns from the bobbies, now this.
I agree about the ps2 Mr. Sterling. I also seem to remember similar spinning from ps1 flatearthers and others towards the newly launched ps2."no software,etc.-too expensive" It was quite dreadful. But look at it now. The ps3 is following the same trends and will take ps2's spot as the best of all time. Spotted dick anyone?
Jim Sterling's Avatar
Jim Sterling at 07/26/2007 14:17
Spotted dick, because it is penis SEE!?
linuxguy's Avatar
linuxguy at 07/26/2007 14:18
they should give them virtual boys
gamesronlygames's Avatar
gamesronlygames at 07/26/2007 14:19
douchee, I mean touche!
xenon's Avatar
xenon at 07/26/2007 14:20
"This is easily among the most stupid, counter-productive
and disgusting things the British government has done."

Last time I checked the British government, led by the head of the Labour Party, was actively partecipating in several wars around the world as a wardog attached to the leash of capitalist America. I tend to believe this goes a bit beyond providing some entertainment to jail prisoners.
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kittridge at 07/26/2007 14:22
I heard that the most popular name for newborn males in England is Mohammed now.. is this the truth, Jim Sterling? If so, you need to give up your quest for correcting the corrupt and get to makin babies!!!1
Jim Sterling's Avatar
Jim Sterling at 07/26/2007 14:24
Xenon:

I said "among," I didn't say it was the only or the worst.
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us</a><br/>
kittridge at 07/26/2007 14:24
@xenon

You're probably right guy. Rest assured, George W Bush is to blame!
linuxguy's Avatar
linuxguy at 07/26/2007 14:25
kittridge:so what?
Jim Sterling's Avatar
Jim Sterling at 07/26/2007 14:27
Oh, and don't use "capitalist" as if it's a bad thing, ya damn pinko commie!
gamesronlygames's Avatar
gamesronlygames at 07/26/2007 14:28
Bloody liberal bastion over there. Between the extremist Muslims and liberal socialists the UK will soon be swallowed by the EU.
Jim Sterling's Avatar
Jim Sterling at 07/26/2007 14:34
I seriously can't wait to get off this island.
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kittridge at 07/26/2007 14:43
@Linuxguy

So what to what? I'm confused. George Bush is screwing with my mind! Damn America, with their glitzy celebrity and assinine leaders, always trying to control my thoughts! OMG!
gamesronlygames's Avatar
gamesronlygames at 07/26/2007 14:44
Are you a native or a transplant? At least you can watch Spooks and Midsomer Murders if youre into that. Cheers
linuxguy's Avatar
linuxguy at 07/26/2007 14:49
kittridge:about the mohammad thing
Reeper's Avatar
Reeper at 07/26/2007 14:50
A real punishment would've been to give them a ps3. Or maybe a Jaguar.

And I thought video games were the reason they got in jail in the first place?
RICHARD BLOCKER's Avatar
RICHARD BLOCKER at 07/26/2007 14:54
George W. Bush wore a cowboy costume, complete with hat and fake guns untill the age of sixteen.

He used to torture/kill small animals as an adolescent

He ran numerous businesses that were given to him into the ground

He deserted his duty as a n.g. airman, then had daddy use his connections to get him off the hook

He called the U.s> constitution a "goddamn piece of paper".

He signed an executive order allowing him to sieze all assets of anyone he deamed to be counterproductive to the war effort.

These are all verifiable facts. Thats whats wrong with Dubya.
Pyramid Head's Avatar
Pyramid Head at 07/26/2007 15:06
Well, our prisons are overcrowded so if we give them Manhunt (a.k.a. Murder Sim Alpha) then the problems solved.
Magesx's Avatar
Magesx at 07/26/2007 15:10
Guys, I also heard that George Bush eats kittens.

This is a verifiable fact. Thats whats wrong with Dubya
0bshaky's Avatar
0bshaky at 07/26/2007 16:14
Dear Jim Sterling:

You are wrong. Remember that also people in prison who don't deserve to be there. Life as it is not fair to a great deal of people and you very well know that money is the one that ultimately speaks and buy your freedom, health, commodities and a great chunk of your happiness.

While robbery, murder, rape, corruption among others are obviously true crimes, the process of discerning who is guilty or innocent is not. There are a LOT of people serving time just because life have fucked them over. Not having a chance in this image driven world can get you to do the wrong things very quickly. Maybe your parents showed you what was good and wrong but I can assure you there are a LOT of people who don't have such luck.

Theres also people that really regret of the stuff they did and can reform themselves for the better. Theres a difference between murder and homicide you know. Can you blame a person of stealing food if he was hungry and had no money? I can recall a case where a man stole like $2 from a store and served 20 years in prison. Too bad he was black and the lawyer the county provided was a known racist.

Im really glad this prison is giving PS2s to inmates that they believe deserve them by either good behavior or give great services to other inmates or the prison itself. I think prison administration know who deserves a ps2 and who doesn't.

I come from a poor neighborhood and have seen many many good folk going to prison and serve 5, 10 even 25 years for stuff like defending their wifes/girlfriends/little brothers, deal with racist and bully police officers, stealing medicine for a sick relative, and many others.

Remember this is a fucked up government with a money driven society and is very well bound to have a lot on injustice within it, just don't say that if someone is in prison is because they really deserve it.

I really hope you and your loved ones don't get caught at wrong place at the wrong time not to mention to have the balls it takes to deal with a LOT of shit in life that can get you with very ease inside a prison block. I'm sure you would want a PS2 too.
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kittridge at 07/26/2007 16:35
@Linuxguy

Ohhhh. So what about the Mohammed thing? Well it's crucial because its a known fact that Mohammed doesn't like video games, so when thousands of mini Mohammeds grow up and some end up in prison, what are they gonna do for entertainment? I don't know if I'll be able to sleep at night knowing that thousands of Mohammeds are being tortured with Barbie Horse Adventures on PS2s. Thus, we need rabble rousers like Jim to procreate so that those PS2s aren't used for torture. Get it? Ehh. George Bush..
TheRob91's Avatar
TheRob91 at 07/26/2007 16:36
This is just sad, though I would like to see a list of games, or is it just a joke? Will there is a PS2 but no game, or maybe hundreds of games but no controller? That would be pretty funny.

On a side note, Florida is the only state I have been in(and Ive been to a few) where it can be 90-100 degrees, sun glaring down beating you into submission WHILE there is a torrential downpour. You would think a torrential downpour would need clouds, but somehow in the crazy land of Florida god has made an exception. I always found it funny that its called "The Sunshine State", yet it rains almost every fucking day and has Hurricanes up the ass.
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