Prosecuters Blame World of Warcraft for Norway Shootings

bertzie · 06-09-2012, 04:22 AM

Quote:

Anders Breivik, the right-wing extremist who has confessed to killing 77 people during a murder spree in Norway last summer, played the violent computer game World of Warcraft nearly seven hours a day for several consecutive months before his attack, prosecutors say.

Breivik, 33, already known to have a long history with the online role-playing game, was particularly absorbed by it between November 2010 and February 2011, when he played for an average of 6 hours and 50 minutes per day, according to prosecutors.

The new evidence in Breivik's ongoing trial was presented in an Oslo court on Wednesday. When asked about his interest in the game by a prosecutor, Breivik angrily dismissed the idea that playing World of Warcraft had any connection to his attacks, according to media reports.

"It is not relevant to this case whatsoever," Breivik said, getting so upset that he threatened to turn off his microphone, according to Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang.

Somewhere in Florida Jack Thompson is messing his jimmies.

Prosecutors: Norway Killer Anders Breivik Played World of Warcraft 7 Hours Per Day - ABC News

NeoConMan · 06-09-2012, 04:33 AM

Breivik played for an average of 6 hours and 50 minutes per day?
You see NOTHING alarming about that?

Symptom or cause - I dunno - but it's damned sure worth mentioning.

(Especially if it in any way increases the likelihood he'll get the death penalty.)

.

bertzie · 06-09-2012, 04:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeoConMan

Breivik played for an average of 6 hours and 50 minutes per day?
You see NOTHING alarming about that?

Symptom or cause - I dunno - but it's damned sure worth mentioning.

(Especially if it in any way increases the likelihood he'll get the death penalty.)

.

Nothing what so ever. There's tens of thousands of people that play video games that much and never go on a shooting rampage. While it may say something about his personality, it's no more to blame for the shooting than what kind of car he drives, or what shoes he wears.

Caoimhin · 06-09-2012, 07:00 AM

I played DOOM back when it was big and I've never even handled anything other than a BB gun.

MineGoesTo11 · 06-09-2012, 07:29 AM

MenaceMartin · 06-09-2012, 07:30 AM

It's too easy to blame games for this kind of thing. It's pretty pathetic if you ask me.

6stringelectric · 06-09-2012, 07:45 AM

Why would the prosecutors be making excuses for the guy anyway?

Their job is simply to prove that he commited the crime - and since he confessed, that should be pretty easy...

Roberteaux · 06-09-2012, 07:50 AM

Eh, I used to play Tomb Raider for several hours a day, blowing hell out of everybody and everything that popped up as a target, and sometimes even shooting friendlies (which would turn them against you) just to make the game tougher and more interesting.

But all my IRL shooting takes place on a rifle range, and I'm not at all interested in plugging anybody unless it is crystal-clear to me that I absolutely HAVE to do so. The aftermath of even a righteous shooting is not the sort of thing that anybody with a lick of sense would ever wish to be subjected to.

I think that really, the deal is just that the guy is a psychopath-- period-- and that his ideations would have been evil, no matter what he did in his spare time. Seems to me that the prosecutor simply needs to come up with a motive that a jury of average people will understand a bit more readily than just the blanket statement that the dude was a homicidal maniac. While this would be sufficient for those who have actually dealt with murderous people, the average public member is usually lucky enough to never meet one in their life, and so sometimes prosecutors throw in a little bit of extra fudge just to give the jurors some idea of where the killer might have been coming from.

--R

northernguitarguy · 06-09-2012, 08:00 AM

It makes perfect sense, just like how I blame Cheetos for my chronic masturbation

northernguitarguy · 06-09-2012, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeoConMan

Breivik played for an average of 6 hours and 50 minutes per day?
You see NOTHING alarming about that?

Symptom or cause - I dunno - but it's damned sure worth mentioning.

(Especially if it in any way increases the likelihood he'll get the death penalty.)

.

No death penalty in Europe, even for trash like this killer

Fardwark · 06-09-2012, 08:03 AM

Those dicks are showboating & basking in their 15 minutes. It's not as if they have to pull out all the stops to convict this scum bag.

As for it getting the death penalty. Deaths to good for him.

MenaceMartin · 06-09-2012, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeoConMan

Breivik played for an average of 6 hours and 50 minutes per day?

To be honest, i see no issue with that. That's the going rate for gamers, especially WOW gamers.

Rich · 06-09-2012, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeoConMan

Breivik played for an average of 6 hours and 50 minutes per day?
You see NOTHING alarming about that?

Symptom or cause - I dunno - but it's damned sure worth mentioning.

(Especially if it in any way increases the likelihood he'll get the death penalty.)

He's an amateur. When I was out of work for six months during the dot com bust, I spent AT LEAST 12 hours per day playing a similar online game. Ten years and several other online games later and I still haven't harmed anyone, though I have become fatter.

bertzie · 06-09-2012, 08:07 AM

For bout 3 months after I graduated highschool I was pulling 12s on WoW as well. Though I'm not sure if that helps or hurts my argument.

Neofelis Nebulosa · 06-09-2012, 08:29 AM

Sounds legit

jcsk8 · 06-09-2012, 08:33 AM

In my opinion games don't influence normal people. But cand do on speficif cases of disturbed people.

Fardwark · 06-09-2012, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcsk8

In my opinion games don't influence normal people. But cand do on speficif cases of disturbed people.

Spreading butter on toast could influence a disturbed person.

Sinmastah · 06-09-2012, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6stringelectric

Why would the prosecutors be making excuses for the guy anyway?

Their job is simply to prove that he commited the crime - and since he confessed, that should be pretty easy...

Could be an insanity plea, or he didn't have any choice to commit the crimes due to excessive WoW.

Same kind of idea, if a man watches rape porn constantly, and then rapes women. He could claim he was "brainwashed" and had no choice. It's stupid sure, but I'm sure in some case, it has gotten someone off free.

Roberteaux · 06-09-2012, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sinmastah

Could be an insanity plea, or he didn't have any choice to commit the crimes due to excessive WoW.

Same kind of idea, if a man watches rape porn constantly, and then rapes women. He could claim he was "brainwashed" and had no choice. It's stupid sure, but I'm sure in some case, it has gotten someone off free.

My bet would be that this guy ain't goin' free, no matter what. Could be, however, that instead of being stuck in a prison, he would be instead sent to a psychiatric lockup.

If the Norwegian psych institutes are at all like the ones in Florida, the dude would probably prefer prison.

--R

Slashperryburst · 06-09-2012, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MenaceMartin

To be honest, i see no issue with that. That's the going rate for gamers, especially WOW gamers.

I have no shame in admitting that I'm a gamer, and when I've had nothing else to do I've had gaming sessions that eclipse that. In the past few years, I've started getting into RPG's but I wouldn't touch an online game with a ten foot barge pole. They just look amazing, hence I'm avoiding playing them altogether.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich

He's an amateur. When I was out of work for six months during the dot com bust, I spent AT LEAST 12 hours per day playing a similar online game. Ten years and several other online games later and I still haven't harmed anyone, though I have become fatter.

Don't feel too bad. It could be worse.

northernguitarguy · 06-09-2012, 08:49 AM

Kids better not play football either, look what it did to Michael Vick

Penn & Teller BS: Video Games pt 1/3 - YouTube

Penn & Teller BS: Video Games pt 2/3 - YouTube

Penn & Teller BS: Video Games pt 3/3 - YouTube

Ratstar · 06-09-2012, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by northernguitarguy

It makes perfect sense, just like how I blame Cheetos for my chronic masturbation

GIFSoup

MineGoesTo11 · 06-09-2012, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by northernguitarguy

It makes perfect sense, just like how I blame Cheetos for my chronic masturbation

SteveGangi · 06-09-2012, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MineGoesTo11

You beat me to it!

Quote:

Originally Posted by northernguitarguy

Kids better not play football either, look what it did to Michael Vick

Don't you play no foosball. It's the devil!

Meh. I guess I'm a gamer, and I still manage to have a life and not go on any killing sprees.

Roberteaux · 06-09-2012, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by northernguitarguy

It makes perfect sense, just like how I blame Cheetos for my chronic masturbation

Well, dang! That's how they hit me, too!

Thought I was the only one...

--R

coldsteal2 · 06-09-2012, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fardwark

Spreading butter on toast could influence a disturbed person.

especialy if the toast is burnt, and makes that
scratchy sound

Joeydego · 06-09-2012, 09:34 PM

I saw a TV special on these extreme WOW people. They get their meth, junk food and a piss can and go on WOW binges for DAYS at a time.

Skintaster · 06-09-2012, 09:35 PM

There's never been any credible link between the violent actions of psychotic people and violence in games or movies... Or comics... Or anything.

While playing a game or devoting hours out of each day to ANYTHING "might" indicate a person is slowly retreating from the realities of everyday life, it's not necessarily (Or usually) an indicator of serious mental problems.

northernguitarguy · 06-09-2012, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roberteaux

Well, dang! That's how they hit me, too!

Thought I was the only one...

--R

They call me Orange Hand

coldsteal2 · 06-09-2012, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skintaster

There's never been any credible link between the violent actions of psychotic people and violence in games or movies... Or comics... Or anything.

While playing a game or devoting hours out of each day to ANYTHING "might" indicate a person is slowly retreating from the realities of everyday life, it's not necessarily (Or usually) an indicator of serious mental problems.

I worry more about people walking the streets lost in thier
handheld iPhones, totally oblivious to the world around
them, those people worry me.

06-09-2012, 04:33 AM	#2 (permalink)
NeoConMan Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Deserts of Arizona - in a post-American world Posts: 11,981 Thanks: 571 Thanked 465 Times in 173 Posts	Re: Prosecuters Blame World of Warcraft for Norwat Shootings Breivik played for an average of 6 hours and 50 minutes per day? You see NOTHING alarming about that? Symptom or cause - I dunno - but it's damned sure worth mentioning. (Especially if it in any way increases the likelihood he'll get the death penalty.) . __________________ . "Let the American youth never forget, that they possess a noble inheritance, bought by the toils, and sufferings, and blood of their ancestors; and capacity, if wisely improved, and faithfully guarded, of transmitting to their latest posterity all the substantial blessings of life, the peaceful enjoyment of liberty, property, religion, and independence." --Joseph Story GEAR pics - click here .

06-09-2012, 07:00 AM	#4 (permalink)
Caoimhin Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 5,043 Thanks: 16 Thanked 61 Times in 27 Posts	Re: Prosecuters Blame World of Warcraft for Norway Shootings I played DOOM back when it was big and I've never even handled anything other than a BB gun. SteveGangi likes this.

06-09-2012, 07:29 AM	#5 (permalink)
MineGoesTo11 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 10,912 Thanks: 22 Thanked 173 Times in 82 Posts	Re: Prosecuters Blame World of Warcraft for Norway Shootings nicolasrivera, Rich, SteveGangi and 2 others like this.

06-09-2012, 07:30 AM	#6 (permalink)
MenaceMartin Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Glasgow, Scotland, UK. Posts: 6,971 Thanks: 151 Thanked 83 Times in 25 Posts	Re: Prosecuters Blame World of Warcraft for Norway Shootings It's too easy to blame games for this kind of thing. It's pretty pathetic if you ask me. Rich, Skintaster, SteveGangi and 2 others like this. __________________ Facebook - F*ck Yeah! Molecules. Check them out!!!

06-09-2012, 07:45 AM	#7 (permalink)
6stringelectric Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Northern Illinois USA Posts: 149 Thanks: 8 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Prosecuters Blame World of Warcraft for Norway Shootings Why would the prosecutors be making excuses for the guy anyway? Their job is simply to prove that he commited the crime - and since he confessed, that should be pretty easy...

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06-09-2012, 07:50 AM	#8 (permalink)
Roberteaux Hapless Yeoman Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Deland, Florida Posts: 8,327 Thanks: 875 Thanked 984 Times in 84 Posts	Re: Prosecuters Blame World of Warcraft for Norway Shootings Eh, I used to play Tomb Raider for several hours a day, blowing hell out of everybody and everything that popped up as a target, and sometimes even shooting friendlies (which would turn them against you) just to make the game tougher and more interesting. But all my IRL shooting takes place on a rifle range, and I'm not at all interested in plugging anybody unless it is crystal-clear to me that I absolutely HAVE to do so. The aftermath of even a righteous shooting is not the sort of thing that anybody with a lick of sense would ever wish to be subjected to. I think that really, the deal is just that the guy is a psychopath-- period-- and that his ideations would have been evil, no matter what he did in his spare time. Seems to me that the prosecutor simply needs to come up with a motive that a jury of average people will understand a bit more readily than just the blanket statement that the dude was a homicidal maniac. While this would be sufficient for those who have actually dealt with murderous people, the average public member is usually lucky enough to never meet one in their life, and so sometimes prosecutors throw in a little bit of extra fudge just to give the jurors some idea of where the killer might have been coming from. --R Skintaster and SteveGangi like this.

06-09-2012, 08:00 AM	#9 (permalink)
northernguitarguy Bartlett Retrospec Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: North of Toronto Posts: 7,788 Thanks: 174 Thanked 260 Times in 86 Posts	Re: Prosecuters Blame World of Warcraft for Norway Shootings It makes perfect sense, just like how I blame Cheetos for my chronic masturbation Joeydego, Rich, kmk108 and 7 others like this. __________________ 2012 Gibson Les Paul Junior Special P90 * 2010 Epiphone '57 Les Paul Junior Reissue * 2008 Yamaha RBX374 * 1993 Yamaha FG 411 VS * 1989 Yamaha Pacifica w/TexMex * 1980 Kasuga 'Northern' Custom * 1979 Yamaha SG700 Amplifier: TraynorYCV50 Blue https://soundcloud.com/northernguitarguy/funky-mama-rhythm-section Free your mind, and your ass will follow-George Clinton

06-09-2012, 08:03 AM	#11 (permalink)
Fardwark Reprobate Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Scotland Posts: 4,514 Thanks: 106 Thanked 34 Times in 10 Posts	Re: Prosecuters Blame World of Warcraft for Norway Shootings Those dicks are showboating & basking in their 15 minutes. It's not as if they have to pull out all the stops to convict this scum bag. As for it getting the death penalty. Deaths to good for him. Rich, SteveGangi and Roberteaux like this.

06-09-2012, 08:07 AM	#14 (permalink)
bertzie Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 16,430 Thanks: 3 Thanked 231 Times in 84 Posts	Re: Prosecuters Blame World of Warcraft for Norway Shootings For bout 3 months after I graduated highschool I was pulling 12s on WoW as well. Though I'm not sure if that helps or hurts my argument. Rich, Skintaster and SteveGangi like this.

06-09-2012, 08:29 AM	#15 (permalink)
Neofelis Nebulosa Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Buckeye Nation Posts: 726 Thanks: 20 Thanked 4 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Prosecuters Blame World of Warcraft for Norway Shootings Sounds legit __________________ Aka-Clouded Leopard http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/c...faces?siteId=3

06-09-2012, 08:33 AM	#16 (permalink)
jcsk8 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Brazil Posts: 1,802 Thanks: 176 Thanked 21 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Prosecuters Blame World of Warcraft for Norway Shootings In my opinion games don't influence normal people. But cand do on speficif cases of disturbed people. __________________ Profile pic not me. Just a beauty view

06-09-2012, 09:34 PM	#27 (permalink)
Joeydego V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: NY NY Posts: 15,229 Thanks: 208 Thanked 734 Times in 173 Posts	Re: Prosecuters Blame World of Warcraft for Norway Shootings I saw a TV special on these extreme WOW people. They get their meth, junk food and a piss can and go on WOW binges for DAYS at a time. Rich likes this.

06-09-2012, 09:35 PM	#28 (permalink)
Skintaster Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Austin Texas Posts: 17,622 Thanks: 1,180 Thanked 1,059 Times in 326 Posts	Re: Prosecuters Blame World of Warcraft for Norway Shootings There's never been any credible link between the violent actions of psychotic people and violence in games or movies... Or comics... Or anything. While playing a game or devoting hours out of each day to ANYTHING "might" indicate a person is slowly retreating from the realities of everyday life, it's not necessarily (Or usually) an indicator of serious mental problems. Rich and SteveGangi like this. __________________ 2010 Gibson Les Paul Traditional Pro (Gold top) 2008 Gibson Les Paul Studio (Alpine white) 1989 Ibanez RG 550 1978 Ibanez Iceman 1983 Kramer Pacer Imperial 1983 Kramer Baretta 1984 Kramer Baretta 1985 Kramer Baretta 1987 Kramer Baretta 2009 Charvel So-Cal Pro Mod 1986 Charvel Model 2

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