Examiner
It seems that it has happened once again, a sad attempt of the media trying to pinpoint video games as a culprit of violent acts. Today's news story comes in the form of a verbal argument that escalated into a physical attack between two friends. Luckily for news reporters, this verbal argument began as the two individuals were speaking to each other, in an open chat room, using their Xbox 360s.
As the Sacramento CBS local news reporter introduces the story with the following quote, “a story of online gaming gone wrong,” I guess the reporter felt that this was a fitting headline considering the two individuals weren't engaging in any online gameplay. The actual facts of the story are completely irrelevant to what CBS is trying to deliver to their audience.
The victim of the stabbing, of whom received 22 stab wounds, directly tells the reporter that they were simply talking to each other over the headset, in a non-related video game conversation. The stab victim states that the attacker was a family friend. Speaking to each other in an Xbox live chat room, which is the equivalent of speaking to someone over the phone, the two individuals began to engage in an argument due to a “continued feud with one another.” This argument then escalated, as the suspect showed up to his house, wielding a knife and a gun.
With these facts in place, it seems inconclusive to paint the involvement of the Xbox 360 as having a massive impact on this violent outbreak. Nevertheless, throughout the entire duration of the report, it seems that CBS wants the audience to focus on the topic of video game violence.
I guess it just boils down to one factor, that being the better headline. “Stabbing Outbreak Over an Escalated Argument with a Family Friend.” Or, “Video Game Violence Escalates: Xbox-Live Chat Sends Teen into a Violent Stabbing Attack.”
http://www.examiner.com/article/cbs-falsely-accuses-video-games-oakley-stabbing
