Grand Theft Auto stimulated crime inspires Thai Teen to rob, kill taxi driver
by White-haired Journalist
W-h J: I fear that this time, the game might have played a part.
Clarifications:
Sumodownload has always been on the skeptical side when it comes to game related murders. However, after reading the reports from a reliable gaming blog, as to my judgment at least, this story is not as crystal clear as before where it’s easy to draw the line between fact and opinion: not when the means, medium and motive of the crime are all present in the game.
A 19-year-old Thai Teen was arrested when he robbed and killed a taxi driver. Now, this seems like a simple story to tell and end with our “don’t-blame-the game” stamp. But with the criminal admitting that he did it to test whether it’s easy to rob a taxi “just like in the game,” it’s quite hard not to say the game didn’t play a part of it. After all, one cannot separate his influences from himself.
Stories like these are always complex and one shouldn’t really pinpoint the cause of a crime to something or someone solely. There’s always a factor (often multiple) as to why someone did something and this story is no different. My view is that the game influenced the teen’s mind but it shouldn’t be the only one receiving sharp-tongued criticisms. C’mon, why are games only blamed when something bad happens but aren’t praised by critics when they did something remarkable? Like this one:
“Video game helps young cancer patients with treatment”
Going back to the story - This event shouldn’t be taken lightly. Not when one already asserted that he did a crime by mimicking the game play of GTA, with the intent of “just testing it.” Before, it was hilarious when people blamed Robocop or the Ninja Turtles when a kid seriously hurts an adult. Because when you think of it, both shows are teaching children (and the young at heart) to fight evil. If a kid does something violent because he/she did not see what the show is trying to voice out, it’s the fault of bad parenting (or other factors). GTA’s case is different: it caters entertainment when you appreciate the scriptwriter’s brilliant workmanship or other game play aspects that one personally appreciates. Other than that, it’s not a very good example to teach your kids the meaning of justice.
The murder story:
Polwat Chino, the Thai Teen in the story, was playing GTA in an arcade shop. He ran out of money but wanted to continue playing. What he did was to look for an easy target and saw that the small, little old man driving a cab seems to be the perfect prey to execute his plan.
His intention was just to rob the old man but things got messy when the latter fought back. Despondently, the old man was no match for Chino and was killed by multiple stabbings.
When police arrested Chino, the latter admitted to the crime and told them that he “had wanted to find out if it was as easy in real life to rob a taxi as it was in the game.” He even re-enacted how he did it for the police. (See article photo)
GTA got even deeper into hot water when reports say that the teen had always been known as polite and very nice, even getting the “dek dee” (good child) award at school. His friends also admitted that his personality changed, leading to the finger pointing of some people towards the game.
As of August 5, 2008, Thailand bans the game from being sold, online or offline, in their country.
W-h J: Let’s put it this way – There are two types of games: GTA and other games. GTA is a complicated one and it’s always under heavy fire because of its game play aspect. Before, I made an article between the words “violence and fight” where I pointed out that the two had very, very different meanings. GTA may have “fight” values but because of the freedom the game gives a player, it can clearly teach you what violence really is. My stand is, it’s true the game can influence someone, but it shouldn’t be blamed entirely. Ever. Why? Because not everyone turns into a killer after playing it. What’s wrong though is to turn a blind eye and say that the game has nothing to do with it COMPLETELY. After all, we are the by-products of our environment and influences. The game may not be at fault per se because one freely picked it up, but still, I think we should really take into consideration when we say “freedom of speech.” After all, too much freedom is dire.
If people ask why most of my dishes are Italian, I’d say it’s because I’m influenced by Mario Batali. If people asked a notorious criminal why most of his killings were random shooting of people in the streets, I’m quite sure he was influenced by someone or something.
(Source: GamePolitics)