Stop It! Daily Mail Now Blames Grand Theft Auto for Riots
Picks up on story that even the Evening Standard forgot
Yesterday the London Evening Standard used one quote from one police constable to blame Grand Theft Auto for the London riots. Today, despite the Standard retracting its line, the Daily Mail is running with it.
In a report today (last updated at 11:47am as I write this) the Mail reports:
"GRAND THEFT AUTO BLAMED
"A policeman said last night that children involved in the rioting and stealing were inspired by violent video game Grand Theft Auto.
"The hugely popular computer game, which should not be played or bought by anyone under 18, is popular among teenagers, with many having the game given to them by their parents.
"In Tottenham, the scene of the first riots on Saturday night, a police officer said: ‘These are bad people who did this. Kids are out of control.
"‘When I was young it was all Pacman and board games. Now they’re playing Grand Theft Auto and want to live it for themselves.’
"The game, which is made by Edinburgh-based firm Rockstar North, has been criticised for depicting carjackings, drive-by shootings and prostitution. It has also been accused of encouraging juvenile crime in Britain.
"Players are expected to commit crimes and build up their power in a fictional city, through selling drugs and killing rival gangsters.
"There have been fears that some gamers may try to recreate scenes from the games for real."
Of course, it refuses to print - or simply does not have the evidence to support - any such fears coming from the mouths, pens or keyboards of anybody at all.
Read the whole thing via Istyosty.
In a report today (last updated at 11:47am as I write this) the Mail reports:
"GRAND THEFT AUTO BLAMED
"A policeman said last night that children involved in the rioting and stealing were inspired by violent video game Grand Theft Auto.
"The hugely popular computer game, which should not be played or bought by anyone under 18, is popular among teenagers, with many having the game given to them by their parents.
"In Tottenham, the scene of the first riots on Saturday night, a police officer said: ‘These are bad people who did this. Kids are out of control.
"‘When I was young it was all Pacman and board games. Now they’re playing Grand Theft Auto and want to live it for themselves.’
"The game, which is made by Edinburgh-based firm Rockstar North, has been criticised for depicting carjackings, drive-by shootings and prostitution. It has also been accused of encouraging juvenile crime in Britain.
"Players are expected to commit crimes and build up their power in a fictional city, through selling drugs and killing rival gangsters.
"There have been fears that some gamers may try to recreate scenes from the games for real."
Of course, it refuses to print - or simply does not have the evidence to support - any such fears coming from the mouths, pens or keyboards of anybody at all.
Read the whole thing via Istyosty.
Games:
Grand Theft Auto IV
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Comments
Laura Perry 9 Aug 2011 11:19
1/8
Yes that's it blame the games again! How about people stop writing such utter crap and get the army in. This is coming from a 19 year old gamer.
Cfan 9 Aug 2011 12:35
2/8
Unfortunately, Until there's a new form of media (holograms?) games are always going to get the blame.
I personally lay the blame on the last 20 years of government.
I personally lay the blame on the last 20 years of government.
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Ryan550 9 Aug 2011 14:58
3/8
GTA is once again being used by the media to sell some papers to the ignorant and the stupid...
I can picture it now... some little old woman talking to her friend about the riots "Its horrible isnt it? its those damn video games! that.. grand theft what-ya-may-call-it is what makes those youngsters act like this! ..kids were not like this when i was young!"
The Riots are awful and is a absolute nightmare for many at the moment but the likes of Daily Mail needs to go die because its sad (at best) to think that if they cant think of a better headline... just lie and make one up!
I can picture it now... some little old woman talking to her friend about the riots "Its horrible isnt it? its those damn video games! that.. grand theft what-ya-may-call-it is what makes those youngsters act like this! ..kids were not like this when i was young!"
The Riots are awful and is a absolute nightmare for many at the moment but the likes of Daily Mail needs to go die because its sad (at best) to think that if they cant think of a better headline... just lie and make one up!
DoctorDee 9 Aug 2011 15:22
4/8
But if we don't blame GTA, what can we blame?
I mean people should be in the streets rioting about the collapse of capitalism, and the fact that corporations the rich who run them won't let the government balance the deficit by taxing them (like we used to do) and would prefer instead that we pay workers less, and do away with free schooling, and social healthcare instead.
Executive Salaries have gone from 40 times their employee average in 1980 to over 300 times the employee average. The rich are s**tting all over the rest of us and people are rioting for why, exactly?
I mean people should be in the streets rioting about the collapse of capitalism, and the fact that corporations the rich who run them won't let the government balance the deficit by taxing them (like we used to do) and would prefer instead that we pay workers less, and do away with free schooling, and social healthcare instead.
Executive Salaries have gone from 40 times their employee average in 1980 to over 300 times the employee average. The rich are s**tting all over the rest of us and people are rioting for why, exactly?
Ryan550 9 Aug 2011 15:46
5/8
@DoctorDee
I agree.. people say they want respect but allow the rich and the government to treat them like animals and digits on a screen and when they finally stand up they show the darkest, most evil side that they have to offer and forget what they "should" be standing for.
If the rioters had any ground to stand on in terms of "this is against the government" then they destroyed their "point" by attacking and burning peoples house's and looting laptops and PS3's..
so to answer your question.. "Why exactly?" Greed and unfortunately the evil side of humanity.. for example I cant say I am fighting for the people if I stab someone, help them up and then rob them now can I?
Still... on point though... RockStar is probably getting so terribly bored by how the media attacks them...
I agree.. people say they want respect but allow the rich and the government to treat them like animals and digits on a screen and when they finally stand up they show the darkest, most evil side that they have to offer and forget what they "should" be standing for.
If the rioters had any ground to stand on in terms of "this is against the government" then they destroyed their "point" by attacking and burning peoples house's and looting laptops and PS3's..
so to answer your question.. "Why exactly?" Greed and unfortunately the evil side of humanity.. for example I cant say I am fighting for the people if I stab someone, help them up and then rob them now can I?
Still... on point though... RockStar is probably getting so terribly bored by how the media attacks them...
wavtor 9 Aug 2011 19:56
6/8
how can they blame GTA for a start no one is robbing banks and driving about like nutters in cars plus i doubt hookers are working during riots but the biggist reason they cant blame GTA is no one remembers the game nevermind plays it still teenagers dont play games over 3 months old nevermind over a year old@Laura_Perry
Ryan550 9 Aug 2011 22:10
7/8
@wavtor
Nobody remembers GTA let alone plays it? are you serious? If there is any game out there that people will play on and off (especially way over a period of 3 months) is GTA.. You can cause havok almost as soon as the game starts anytime..
teenagers do not play games over 3 months old?....that's admirable if you broke into every teenager's parent's house and monitored how long each teenager will play a game for..
otherwise its (which we all know) is bullshit....
Nobody remembers GTA let alone plays it? are you serious? If there is any game out there that people will play on and off (especially way over a period of 3 months) is GTA.. You can cause havok almost as soon as the game starts anytime..
teenagers do not play games over 3 months old?....that's admirable if you broke into every teenager's parent's house and monitored how long each teenager will play a game for..
otherwise its (which we all know) is bullshit....
captainpugwash 10 Aug 2011 12:43
8/8
They forgot to mention Saints row 1 and 2 and the upcoming Saints row the third that the papers and media have forgot to blame. Saints row's publishers should be suing the media and demand that they should also be associated with the riots