Cat Killed, Court Bans Video Games

[QueenB]

Just been reading this on GamePolitics and it's sick but, is this just another example of video gaming being fingered as a reason why some kids do some stupid/bad/evil things?

The Edmonton Journal reports that a pair of Canadian teenagers have been barred from playing violent video games after they pleaded guilty to killing a family cat by placing it in a microwave.

The boys, now 16, were placed on probation for one year, must perform 100 hours of community service, will see a therapist, can't stay out later than 9 p.m. and must pay $250 in restitution. The grisly killing of the elderly cat named Princess followed a Christmas holiday break-in and vandalism rampage at a local home.

GP: Clearly, these are troubled kids. But what did video games have to do with it? Why the game ban? That's not so clear:

According to court ordered psychological assessments, video games were not found to have directly encouraged the boys' actions. But barring their access to such games was nonetheless a recommendation put forward in the assessments. It was also suggested that the teens' cellphone access be limited to work and calls to family. But youth court Judge Shauna Miller said that condition would have served no purpose.

Two more suspects have declined to plead guilty and have trials pending.

So, take away their video games and they'll be fine?

Do you think video games could seriously contribute to such a sickening act?

[Kev]

No. I think someone this sick is going to be sick regardless of the music they listen to, the movies they watch or the games they play.

[Bex]

Nope, I don't think video games could contribute to such a sickening act. I also agree with you Kevin, they're going to be sick regardless of music/movies/games.

I'm not sure which is sicker though, that there's sick people like that, or that there's probably a flash game on the internet somewhere that let's you do that. I know of one that lets you do it to a hamster Not sure which is more sick, the people who create games like that, or play them, or who can actually do that. Equal I think.

[Rose]

I don't think it's computer games' fault if people do things like that either! There was another story of some woman putting her baby in the microwave which is even more disgusting and that's nothing to do with computer games, point is this things happen anyway!