Jack Thompson Blames VA Shooting on Games

[elprincipe]

diamuerto said:
It is just absolutely horrible what happened today and it still has not sunk in for me yet. Exact details and names haven't even been released yet and this guy is trying to throw blame around already. It's the worst shooting in U.S. history and he is targeting video games of all things. No one said the shooter was a student, but I think the problem is deeper than just a violent video game. This guy is truly pathetic. I feel sorry for all those who died in todays massacre. Things like this shouldn't happen.

I live in Virginia and have a friend who goes to Virginia Tech and yes, JT is a scumbag. But it's nothing new; he "predicts" that every person who does this sort of thing is "obsessed" with violent games. Of course, we only hear back on it when his prediction has any degree of truth to it (oh my God, they played DOOM a few times!) and not when he's completely wrong.

Although games may set some people off, surely they are not the root of the problem for the vast majority. I'm sure violent movies and music lyrics set certain people off as well, but nobody sane is calling for those to be banned. Certain people have these sorts of mental problems. But consider the crime rate in Japan, where games are more popular than in the U.S. Then consider the crime rate in the U.S. rose dramatically before video games became available to consumers, then dropped significantly during the 1990s when the game market expanded by leaps and bounds.

EDIT: I would also advise against viewing any Michael Moore "documentary" unless doing so with a VERY critical eye.  I won't say more as that would probably hijack this thread, but that needed to be said.