Farmville Murders

[BiscuitintheBasket]

http://www.switched.com/2010/11/17/korean-teen-kills-mom-hangs-himself-after-video-game-dispute/

Korean Teen Kills Mom, Hangs Himself After Video Game Dispute



by Amar Toor on November 17, 2010 at 11:07 AM



On Monday evening, a 15-year-old boy in South Korea got into a heated argument with his mom. The mother apparently felt that her teen was spending too much time playing online video games, and scolded him. But, instead of just storming off to his room and wallowing in teenage angst, this gamer decided to take things several tragic steps further.



According to police in the southeastern city of Busan, the boy became so infuriated with his mother that he strangled her and then hanged himself. Police official Jung Yo-il told the AP that both the teenager and his sister had been playing violent online games for two to three years -- behavior that's certainly not uncommon in a country with an estimated 2 million Internet fiends. Of course, it's hard to blame this particular tragedy on any one factor. And retroactively attempting to do so, at this point, probably won't do a lot to console his grieving family.

Woman Pleads Guilty to Killing Baby for Interrupting 'FarmVille'



by Terrence O'Brien on October 28, 2010 at 01:45 PM



After her 3-month-old son Dylan Lee Edmonson died in January, 22-year-old Alexandra Tobias was arrested. During her interrogation, Tobias told authorities that she had shaken young Dylan because he was crying while she was playing 'FarmVille' on Facebook. According to her statement to investigators, she shook the infant once, and then smoked a cigarette before returning to shake Dylan again. She said it was possible that he had hit his head as she shook him.



The Jacksonville, Florida mother had her day in court Wednesday, and pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, which could lead to life imprisonment. Prosecutor Richard Mantei, however, said that state guidelines call for a 25- to 50-year sentence.

 

[JOVE23]

I hate people.

 

[TSD]

I seriously hope they don't start blaming the video games for this. If that were the case everyone playing these games would be murdering fools.



My ex-girlfriend for sure would have been dead during my stint of playing world of warcraft were that the case. I would have said "leave me the **** alone *****! Im trying to kill this goddamn Ogre!" BAM shovel to the face.

 

[jaxhawksfan]

Jax girl: Dumb ****. "Nuff said.

 

[the canadian dream]

Video games are an easy scape goat when obviously the problems run much deeper than that in most cases.



Are violent video games bad for young minds? Maybe. Whats worse is poor parents and communities. No one ever wants to point the finger at their community or their household as being the problem. So who do you blame? Obviously you go to outside forces that don't have a voice like video games.



Perhaps a child could be desensitized or get ideas through violent games or television and movies. I don't know the answers to that and I don't think anyone does. Theres no research available that can study the individual to find out. We can make assumptions through studying a larger groups. These are just assumptions. Trying to find a correlation btw video games and violence..hmmm...don't think that's an easy task. One could be found if one wanted to scew data in their favor though. I think a lot of research engines do that myself. They want to find the correlation so they will come up with whatever research method they can use to get it.



My gutt tells me that there probably are many adverse effects of playing too many violent games when young. I certainly think children today spend way too much time playing video games and I think the real issue is they don't go outside enough to see true reality. And that's an issue of parenting.



I ramble



I hate people too

 

[BiscuitintheBasket]

I seriously hope they don't start blaming the video games for this. If that were the case everyone playing these games would be murdering fools.



My ex-girlfriend for sure would have been dead during my stint of playing world of warcraft were that the case. I would have said "leave me the **** alone *****! Im trying to kill this goddamn Ogre!" BAM shovel to the face.

I think that if there is any blame in the video game direction it would be the addiction of the game. And we can all be honest, there are some video games that can be just as, if not more addicting, that some highly addicting drugs.

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

That woman will end up killing herself in prison because she won't have her Farmville fix.

 

[jakobeast]

The government needs to step in and ban these violent, angry video games that fill the players head with horrible, ugly ideas about.....uh...farming and....uhm, wait......

 

[Rdrhwke]

The government needs to step in and ban these violent, angry video games that fill the players head with horrible, ugly ideas about.....uh...farming and....uhm, wait......

You did it now Jako. You used the B word.

 

[Tater]

You did it now Jako. You used the B word.

Not to mention the F word (farming).

How could you? Have you no morals sir?

 

[Rdrhwke]

Not to mention the F word (farming).

How could you? Have you no morals sir?

 

[TSD]

I think that if there is any blame in the video game direction it would be the addiction of the game. And we can all be honest, there are some video games that can be just as, if not more addicting, that some highly addicting drugs.

I will be completely honest, if anyone is ever thinking about playing an MMO, I will tell them point blank don't fucking do it. It appeals to certain aspects of your personality and keeps you coming back for more.



Take world of warcraft for example, 1st of all there is a social aspect to it, you do meet some pretty cool people and really get to know them, like on this message board for example, then they exploit you if you are remotely competetive, I liked to play the player vs player aspect of the game, but to get the gear required to be able to compete, you had to sink ALOT of time in the game, and it isnt just alot of time over a period of time, you need to be able to commit 5+ hours into one non-stop gaming session and even then you might not get anything and you need to do it again. I dont know what it was, but I had to keep playing the damn game, I realized it was literally an addiction and just fucking stopped, because I was literally playing ALL fucking day and night (fortunately I only had one class at the time).



Its the nature of the game, its a competition, and if you want to compete you have to be able to sink in as much time as everyone else. I cant explain to anyone why it was addictive, but it was. I literally just up and un installed the game one day and tossed the discs into the garbage and that was that. Ive never played a game like that, before or since, that had the same effect.





On another note as to violent video games making kids violent, i don't think so in the least bit. I had played every sort of violent miltary shooter before I joined the army and I dont think i was every more aprehensive and nervous then when i was first dealing with live weapons. Fucking christ the grenade training was the worst, I was shaking with that thing in my hand sitting in a concrete bunker getting ready to pull the pin and toss it over the top. Especially when you are waiting your turn and actually see the power that a grenade produces, it was a much much larger explosion than i had anticipated. Now if games had trained me to be a fearless killer, I would have handled that thing like it was second nature.

 

[supraman]

I will be completely honest, if anyone is ever thinking about playing an MMO, I will tell them point blank don't fucking do it. It appeals to certain aspects of your personality and keeps you coming back for more.



Take world of warcraft for example, 1st of all there is a social aspect to it, you do meet some pretty cool people and really get to know them, like on this message board for example, then they exploit you if you are remotely competetive, I liked to play the player vs player aspect of the game, but to get the gear required to be able to compete, you had to sink ALOT of time in the game, and it isnt just alot of time over a period of time, you need to be able to commit 5+ hours into one non-stop gaming session and even then you might not get anything and you need to do it again. I dont know what it was, but I had to keep playing the damn game, I realized it was literally an addiction and just fucking stopped, because I was literally playing ALL fucking day and night (fortunately I only had one class at the time).



Its the nature of the game, its a competition, and if you want to compete you have to be able to sink in as much time as everyone else. I cant explain to anyone why it was addictive, but it was. I literally just up and un installed the game one day and tossed the discs into the garbage and that was that. Ive never played a game like that, before or since, that had the same effect.





On another note as to violent video games making kids violent, i don't think so in the least bit. I had played every sort of violent miltary shooter before I joined the army and I dont think i was every more aprehensive and nervous then when i was first dealing with live weapons. Fucking christ the grenade training was the worst, I was shaking with that thing in my hand sitting in a concrete bunker getting ready to pull the pin and toss it over the top. Especially when you are waiting your turn and actually see the power that a grenade produces, it was a much much larger explosion than i had anticipated. Now if games had trained me to be a fearless killer, I would have handled that thing like it was second nature.

I dunno if you are enjoying the MMO and you are able to not let it control your life completely what is the harm? But I know about it being a time sink when i played I had (and still dont) no life so I would get home from work, play, go to bed, rinse repeat for 5 days, weekends, get up, play, go to bed, rinse repeat. I was also in a raiding guild and if you want to get sick of wow really fast, become a raider. We raided Tues-Wed- Thurs from 8 till 12. by Thursday around 10 I wanted to just quit the game, it was a job, I couldn't wait for Friday so i could log on and just play the game without having to go to some damn raid. Hell I used to not play on Saturdays so I didn't have to do Kara runs since i was one of the better locks in the guild and always got picked to fill a spot.



As for the violence in them, I grew up watching violent movies and playing violent games, I have yet to kill someone or beat the shit out of them but I was taught right and wrong.



I read a study a few years back that said interrupting someone playing a game does something to the brain and does make the person angry though, regardless of the game. I have no link or anything so take it however ya want

 

[TSD]

I dunno if you are enjoying the MMO and you are able to not let it control your life completely what is the harm? But I know about it being a time sink when i played I had (and still dont) no life so I would get home from work, play, go to bed, rinse repeat for 5 days, weekends, get up, play, go to bed, rinse repeat. I was also in a raiding guild and if you want to get sick of wow really fast, become a raider. We raided Tues-Wed- Thurs from 8 till 12. by Thursday around 10 I wanted to just quit the game, it was a job, I couldn't wait for Friday so i could log on and just play the game without having to go to some damn raid. Hell I used to not play on Saturdays so I didn't have to do Kara runs since i was one of the better locks in the guild and always got picked to fill a spot.



As for the violence in them, I grew up watching violent movies and playing violent games, I have yet to kill someone or beat the shit out of them but I was taught right and wrong.



I read a study a few years back that said interrupting someone playing a game does something to the brain and does make the person angry though, regardless of the game. I have no link or anything so take it however ya want

1. its sad that I know exactly what you are talking about in your first part. Dont forget the ever so lovable drama of guild politics, Im glad i never gave a shit about that stuff. People and their power trips/struggles in an online video game were rather amusing add to that the popularity contests, WoW was like fucking highschool peopel would literally treat you like shit if they didnt recognize your name, and if you talked to them about something would act like a fucking king adressing a peasant, like who do you think you are that you get to talk to me, do you know who I am! and no i didnt play on an RP server so that makes no sense.



2. Even so with your second point, I can agree, but people can get pissed off about alot of things that make no sense to get pissed off about and not strangle their mother. So while I dont disagree with you at all, taking that anger and turning into a murder are two seperate entities.

 

[supraman]

1. its sad that I know exactly what you are talking about in your first part. Dont forget the ever so lovable drama of guild politics, Im glad i never gave a shit about that stuff. People and their power trips/struggles in an online video game were rather amusing add to that the popularity contests, WoW was like fucking highschool peopel would literally treat you like shit if they didnt recognize your name, and if you talked to them about something would act like a fucking king adressing a peasant, like who do you think you are that you get to talk to me, do you know who I am! and no i didnt play on an RP server so that makes no sense.



2. Even so with your second point, I can agree, but people can get pissed off about alot of things that make no sense to get pissed off about and not strangle their mother. So while I dont disagree with you at all, taking that anger and turning into a murder are two seperate entities.

I dont play anymore, I tried to get back into it and they just made locks boring to play and I'm even more OP. But I still miss the guild comradrie. I did enjoy raiding I just didnt care for it 3 days right in a row, space it out, maybe tues - wed- fri or something. Cataclysm is trying to draw me back in and I'm ever so tempted but I don't know anyone anymore, I'm only a lvl like 74 so I'd be grinding out levels again.



I've tried to find replacement MMOs, the star Trek one was a good idea that failed. I'm looking forward to the Star Wars one but that wont be out for a bit. DC Universe looks interesting but I know nothing about it outside of it has batman and I've seen screenshots.

 

[BiscuitintheBasket]

I will be completely honest, if anyone is ever thinking about playing an MMO, I will tell them point blank don't fucking do it. It appeals to certain aspects of your personality and keeps you coming back for more.



Take world of warcraft for example, 1st of all there is a social aspect to it, you do meet some pretty cool people and really get to know them, like on this message board for example, then they exploit you if you are remotely competetive, I liked to play the player vs player aspect of the game, but to get the gear required to be able to compete, you had to sink ALOT of time in the game, and it isnt just alot of time over a period of time, you need to be able to commit 5+ hours into one non-stop gaming session and even then you might not get anything and you need to do it again. I dont know what it was, but I had to keep playing the damn game, I realized it was literally an addiction and just fucking stopped, because I was literally playing ALL fucking day and night (fortunately I only had one class at the time).



Its the nature of the game, its a competition, and if you want to compete you have to be able to sink in as much time as everyone else. I cant explain to anyone why it was addictive, but it was. I literally just up and un installed the game one day and tossed the discs into the garbage and that was that. Ive never played a game like that, before or since, that had the same effect.





On another note as to violent video games making kids violent, i don't think so in the least bit. I had played every sort of violent miltary shooter before I joined the army and I dont think i was every more aprehensive and nervous then when i was first dealing with live weapons. Fucking christ the grenade training was the worst, I was shaking with that thing in my hand sitting in a concrete bunker getting ready to pull the pin and toss it over the top. Especially when you are waiting your turn and actually see the power that a grenade produces, it was a much much larger explosion than i had anticipated. Now if games had trained me to be a fearless killer, I would have handled that thing like it was second nature.

I hear you on WOW...for me before that it was EQ, UO, and Doom. Amazing how much it consumes of your life and how much one jones's for it. Personally, I find those two articles mind-boggling, but knowing the addiction that can come, not too surprising. With EQ I had a friend who literally ruined his career, marriage, and eventually life from the lack of controlling the addiction. Has taken him 6+ years just to recover.



As far as the violence in game, I do think it impacts people to a small extent (initial desensitize, ambivalence, playful glorification, etc) , but only in extreme cases do I think it makes people become violent due to their lack of maturity (and perhaps lack of understanding reality). You are correct, when you first fire a weapon it is daunting, and quickly gets people to realize what they are playing with. One does gain respect of those things when they actually use them...including the bigger the boom.

 

[MassHavoc]

Video games are not the problem here, it could have just as easily have been anything he was addicted to, which in turn points to an underlying pre-existing problem. This is being used as a scapegoat for something that could have just as easily have happened over being served one too many cheese sandwiches. The problem is not the video game but everything that lead up to the dysfunction that the video game fed.

 

[Ymono37]

Pretty topical... and funny.

 

[Tater]

Pretty topical... and funny.

Thanks for that link, good reading.

 

[BiscuitintheBasket]

Thanks for that link, good reading.

Yea it is a good find...and quite frankly points out what many of us (including myself), would not like to believe about computers games being addictive. I have seen it ruin people's personal lives which is why I had learned to become far more casual with it.