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Norwegian Retailer Indefinitely Bans 'Violent Video Games,' Even Though No One Asked

Coop Norway takes 51 games off shelves, including Modern Warfare and World of Warcraft.

Ever since it came to light that Anders Behring Breivik, the psychotic killer who murdered more than 70 innocent people in Norway last week, happened to have a penchant for video games--chief among them World of Warcraft and Modern Warfare 2, which he ludicrously claimed helped "train" him for the attack--the games press has been on perpetual night watch for the first sign of some kind of knee-jerk legislative attack on video games. Let's face it: we've been conditioned to react with defensive aplomb every time someone thinks video games are to blame for anything. I suppose we can all thank the Jack Thompsons, Keith Vazs, and Fox News' of the world for our constant, Pavlovian "Come at me, bro!" reactions to these sorts of things.

Violence! Sort of! I guess...
Violence! Sort of! I guess...

Thankfully, despite a bit of blowhard lobbying from reactionary political groups, no governments have made any significant moves to try and curtail violent game sales to those who are of the proper age to purchase them. However, that hasn't stopped one retailer in Norway from pulling 51 'violent' titles from their store shelves, including all Call of Duty titles still in circulation, Homefront, Counter-Strike Source, and World of Warcraft.

Coop Norway's decision to remove the games was purely at the behest of the company itself, and done in "consideration for those affected" by the attacks, according to an interview with a company spokesman in the Norwegian newspaper Rogalands Avis (as reported by VG24/7).

"The decision to remove the games was made around the time we realised the scope of the attack," he said. "Others are better suited than us to point to the negative effects of games like these. At the moment it's [appropriate] for us to take them down. I wouldn't be surprised if others do the same."

While this company's decision to do what it feels is respectful to the victims and their families is entirely within their rights, the fact that a title as generally benign as World of Warcraft is being pulled off shelves solely because of Brevik's apparent fondness for it strikes as a slightly reactionary measure. World of Warcraft currently commands a T-rating on North America's ESRB scale, as well as a 12 rating on Europe's PEGI ratings board.

Still, Coop Norway seems resolute in their desire to keep these games off shelves for the foreseeable future.

"We have to think very carefully about when to bring these goods back. The economy involved is of no importance."
Alex Navarro on Google+

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Slydotcom

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Edited By Slydotcom

Now they are blaming everyone.. Musicians,Gamedevelopers and today they blamed on Lukas Moodysson a director... Jack Thompson must be so happy right now.. that m.th.r f...er

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fisk0

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Edited By fisk0  Moderator

@spoilars said:

I'll just get in line with the other Norwegians on here in saying that I don't know anyone that has ever bought a game at a Coop store. Platekompaniet is another story, but as previously stated, it's one of the most expensive stores to buy games at in this country. A new PS3 game will easily set you back $100. This is clearly a knee jerk reaction, and I think (hope) that it won't persist or spread to any other outlets.

This might already have been quoted, but another national electronics retailer, Spaceworld, put out a statement in an interview with the NTB linked to this story in which they stated that "We can not see any connection between the tragedy which has occurred and the fact that we sell video games. We have never seen any research concluding that a video game alone has led to events such as this"

I must say I've bought plenty of games from the low price bin at my local Coop Forum store (their Supermarket chain previously known as Obs). Their selection of new releases is usually very small and ridiculously expensive though.

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Nictel

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Edited By Nictel

I heard he liked guns as well which, coincidentally, he used to actually KILL these people. How about we ban those?

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JohnPaulVann

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This is the only respectful course of action. I'd like to see retailers across the world do the same in a show of solidarity. I know I'm done playing violent video games. 

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Elsolar

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The stupidest thing about this is that MW2 would make a terrible, terrible war training simulator. Seriously, that game is so arcady and unrealistic that any success he had as a murderer was probably in spiteof playing it. I wonder if he tried to quickscope any of the kids he killed. Was he using Stopping Power or Cold Blooded? And banning World of Warcraft? Because he used it to "cover up the time he spent plotting"? Clearly this means that Wow is a dangerous game that shouldn't be sold to people. Yeah, that makes sense. Absolutely no gross logical inconsistencies to see here. And here I thought we had reached the point that everyone understood that video games aren't dangerous. Now this stupid crap happens and we're back to square one. Unbelievable.

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valrog

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Edited By valrog

Wow at all the people supporting this. Instead of trying to focus on things like making firearms harder to acquire, you go and stop playing violent video games (Which World of Warcraft hardly fits in here).
 
GUNS CAN BE EASILY PURCHASED, BUT AS LONG AS THEY CAN'T BUY VIDEOGAMES, IT'S ALL GOOD, AMIRIGHT?

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SupberUber

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Nice to see that Coop chooses to completely ignore the main message from our prime minister.

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Majkiboy

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Edited By Majkiboy

Actually, there is history of these crazy reactionary decisions in Scandinavia. When Power Rangers were popular in scandinavia, and a kid pushed another kid of a cliff (or something) and the kid said that he had watched Power Rangers, Power Rangers was banned for all eternity in Sweden and Norway (don't know about Denmark though). 
 
Also, Swedish media coverage regarding this recent insane mofo has been pathetic. I hope our neighbours are doing better on that front. For instance, media is comparing the killings and bombings to 9/11, and not the Oklahoma bombings, which is a much more appropriate comparison.
 
♥ All my though goes to the victims!

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Knight244

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I'm sorry if I was too scathing in my responses last night.  I simply think that violent video games encourage those who are steeped in rage to become more deeply mired in it, and I believe it is a gross error in judgment to think that angry video games do not play a role in keeping angry people angry.  Those who stay to the judgment that violent games are completely innocent seem to me to be those that profess a love for the same questionable games.  I mean am I completely wrong here?
 
I mean there are good video games that aren't violent.  Is the misanthropic violence really necessary to make a good video game?

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Solemn

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Edited By Solemn
So the sociopath says he loved first person shooters and that the games drove him to commit this massacre.
 
Have we not fucking heard that before?
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GioVANNI

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@Knight244 said:
I'm sorry if I was too scathing in my responses last night.  I simply think that violent video games encourage those who are steeped in rage to become more deeply mired in it, and I believe it is a gross error in judgment to think that angry video games do not play a role in keeping angry people angry.  Those who stay to the judgment that violent games are completely innocent seem to me to be those that profess a love for the same questionable games.  I mean am I completely wrong here? I mean there are good video games that aren't violent.  Is the misanthropic violence really necessary to make a good video game?
There's still no evidence to suggest that violent video games cause violence in people.
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ltcoljaxson

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Edited By ltcoljaxson

Better take down all the violent movies and books too, oh wait - you went bankrupt?

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Knight244

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@gale said:
@Knight244:  He may not have been a real Christian, but was he a True Scotsman?
 
If someone insists that you are allied with and responsible for the actions of one psychopath because of a few shared beliefs, they're idiots who are just looking for someone to blame. However, you don't get to define what another person's religion is. You get to define what your beliefs are, and that's it. You don't have to agree with anyone else - you don't even have to respect anyone else - but you don't get to decide what someone gets to call themselves. Nor do you get to make whatever blind assertions you want about other people's reasons, feelings, and beliefs, when your only evidence is your complete inability to understand the concept of other people not having exactly the same thought processes that you do.
 
Also, it's a huge leap to assume that Swervinmonkeyz was making some sweeping indictment of everything to do with Christianity. That his extremist political and religious ideology would have a far greater influence on his politically and religiously motivated attack than some fucking videogame is a perfectly salient point to make, a fact that's apparently sailed right over your head, if your bizarre No Russian non-sequitur is anything to go by.   I don't especially care to take lessons in scientific methodology from someone who doesn't even understand what other people are. Have a go at forming a coherent argument before you try schooling people on what real science is. You'll look like less of an idiot that way.   Well. Then again. It's not magic. I'm not sure there's anything in the world that could make you look like less of an idiot at this point. But oh well. Couldn't hurt to try, I suppose.
What qualities does a true Scotsman possess?  Is it simply to be born in Scotland or does a true Scotsman possess a certain virtue of character?
 
I never tried to define another's religion.  I know the definition of my religion and that definition doesn't include mass murder.  I did not claim that I get to decide what others call themselves.  
 
Really, is it a huge leap to assume that someone would blame religion in the political climate we all inhabit in this day and age.  The Catholic Church gets blamed when someone burns their toast so I don't think I'm making a crazy leap here.  I agree, his belief system was the major contributor in what he acted out, but that doesn't exonerate the video games he chose to play from all guilt.
 
Congratulations you know how to use cursy words and you speak very well but I'm tempted to think that it's all just very clever rhetoric to dismiss my positions.  For example, calling my allusion to No Russian bizarre is stretching it.  That level is pretty much exactly what the man acted out in real life.   This is the example he was shown by a well respected wealthy business corporation that employs supposedly mature adults who chose to sell to the public for profit a game with a level that rewards the player for acting out wanton mass murder.  No one down at KillerHighScore Corp. seems to think murder has any real moral weight so why should anyone who buys the game?  Am I completely wrong here or might there just maybe be a tiny bit of sanity in here somewhere?  I mean I love video games and I even like some shooters but that level in Modern Warfare 2 is despicable. 
 
My science lectures are free to the public and no one loses any points for not attending.  All magic shows follow the lectures and there is a small fee to attend.  My arguments have been coherent you big idiot head idiot dummy.  Couldn't hurt to try stupid head.
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thebigJ_A

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@Knight244 said:

@gale said:
@Knight244: He may not have been a real Christian, but was he a True Scotsman?

If someone insists that you are allied with and responsible for the actions of one psychopath because of a few shared beliefs, they're idiots who are just looking for someone to blame. However, you don't get to define what another person's religion is. You get to define what your beliefs are, and that's it. You don't have to agree with anyone else - you don't even have to respect anyone else - but you don't get to decide what someone gets to call themselves. Nor do you get to make whatever blind assertions you want about other people's reasons, feelings, and beliefs, when your only evidence is your complete inability to understand the concept of other people not having exactly the same thought processes that you do.

Also, it's a huge leap to assume that Swervinmonkeyz was making some sweeping indictment of everything to do with Christianity. That his extremist political and religious ideology would have a far greater influence on his politically and religiously motivated attack than some fucking videogame is a perfectly salient point to make, a fact that's apparently sailed right over your head, if your bizarre No Russian non-sequitur is anything to go by. I don't especially care to take lessons in scientific methodology from someone who doesn't even understand what other people are. Have a go at forming a coherent argument before you try schooling people on what real science is. You'll look like less of an idiot that way. Well. Then again. It's not magic. I'm not sure there's anything in the world that could make you look like less of an idiot at this point. But oh well. Couldn't hurt to try, I suppose.
What qualities does a true Scotsman possess? Is it simply to be born in Scotland or does a true Scotsman possess a certain virtue of character?

Really, dude? At least follow the link and find out what the No True Scotsman Fallacy is. The fact that you asked those questions means you missed the point entirely.

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Knight244

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@thebigJ_A said:

@Knight244 said:

@gale said:

@Knight244: He may not have been a real Christian, but was he a True Scotsman?

If someone insists that you are allied with and responsible for the actions of one psychopath because of a few shared beliefs, they're idiots who are just looking for someone to blame. However, you don't get to define what another person's religion is. You get to define what your beliefs are, and that's it. You don't have to agree with anyone else - you don't even have to respect anyone else - but you don't get to decide what someone gets to call themselves. Nor do you get to make whatever blind assertions you want about other people's reasons, feelings, and beliefs, when your only evidence is your complete inability to understand the concept of other people not having exactly the same thought processes that you do.

Also, it's a huge leap to assume that Swervinmonkeyz was making some sweeping indictment of everything to do with Christianity. That his extremist political and religious ideology would have a far greater influence on his politically and religiously motivated attack than some fucking videogame is a perfectly salient point to make, a fact that's apparently sailed right over your head, if your bizarre No Russian non-sequitur is anything to go by. I don't especially care to take lessons in scientific methodology from someone who doesn't even understand what other people are. Have a go at forming a coherent argument before you try schooling people on what real science is. You'll look like less of an idiot that way. Well. Then again. It's not magic. I'm not sure there's anything in the world that could make you look like less of an idiot at this point. But oh well. Couldn't hurt to try, I suppose.
What qualities does a true Scotsman possess? Is it simply to be born in Scotland or does a true Scotsman possess a certain virtue of character?

Really, dude? At least follow the link and find out what the No True Scotsman Fallacy is. The fact that you asked those questions means you missed the point entirely.

I don't think I did miss the point but correct me if I'm wrong.  We're discussing the essence of what a man is and what certain types of men are?  Is he a Scotsman because he's born in Scotland or is a Scotsman because he possesses virtue A, B, or C?  Is he a true gamer because he has a simple love for the pleasures of video games or is he a true gamer because he lives for the day when he will be able to murder the whole planet?  Is he a Christian because he believes in the dignity of the Virgin Mary or is he a Christian because he believes in the virtue of shooting holes in his fellow man?  Is he a being possessing a soul or is he solely flesh and blood?   I don't think I missed the point.  I did follow the link and what I found there is an unsatisfying answer to the question "who is a true Scotsman?"  So is a true Scotsman simply a man born in Scotland or are there certain intangible qualities that make a man a true Scotsman?
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Edited By Meowshi
@Knight244 said:
@thebigJ_A said:

@Knight244 said:

@gale said:

@Knight244: He may not have been a real Christian, but was he a True Scotsman?

If someone insists that you are allied with and responsible for the actions of one psychopath because of a few shared beliefs, they're idiots who are just looking for someone to blame. However, you don't get to define what another person's religion is. You get to define what your beliefs are, and that's it. You don't have to agree with anyone else - you don't even have to respect anyone else - but you don't get to decide what someone gets to call themselves. Nor do you get to make whatever blind assertions you want about other people's reasons, feelings, and beliefs, when your only evidence is your complete inability to understand the concept of other people not having exactly the same thought processes that you do.

Also, it's a huge leap to assume that Swervinmonkeyz was making some sweeping indictment of everything to do with Christianity. That his extremist political and religious ideology would have a far greater influence on his politically and religiously motivated attack than some fucking videogame is a perfectly salient point to make, a fact that's apparently sailed right over your head, if your bizarre No Russian non-sequitur is anything to go by. I don't especially care to take lessons in scientific methodology from someone who doesn't even understand what other people are. Have a go at forming a coherent argument before you try schooling people on what real science is. You'll look like less of an idiot that way. Well. Then again. It's not magic. I'm not sure there's anything in the world that could make you look like less of an idiot at this point. But oh well. Couldn't hurt to try, I suppose.
What qualities does a true Scotsman possess? Is it simply to be born in Scotland or does a true Scotsman possess a certain virtue of character?

Really, dude? At least follow the link and find out what the No True Scotsman Fallacy is. The fact that you asked those questions means you missed the point entirely.

I don't think I did miss the point but correct me if I'm wrong.  We're discussing the essence of what a man is and what certain types of men are?  Is he a Scotsman because he's born in Scotland or is a Scotsman because he possesses virtue A, B, or C?  Is he a true gamer because he has a simple love for the pleasures of video games or is he a true gamer because he lives for the day when he will be able to murder the whole planet?  Is he a Christian because he believes in the dignity of the Virgin Mary or is he a Christian because he believes in the virtue of shooting holes in his fellow man?  Is he a being possessing a soul or is he solely flesh and blood?   I don't think I missed the point.  I did follow the link and what I found there is an unsatisfying answer to the question "who is a true Scotsman?"  So is a true Scotsman simply a man born in Scotland or are there certain intangible qualities that make a man a true Scotsman?
Look, I flunked out of university, but even I know you're not supposed to be focusing on the name of the fallacy, rather than the fallacy itself.  Stop blathering on about Scotland.  That has nothing to do with anything.  You should be arguing against the fallacy itself.   
  
The fallacy of course being: 

" No True Scotsman   is a   logical fallacy   by which an individual attempts to avoid being associated with an unpleasant act by asserting that no   true   member of the group they belong to would do such a thing. Instead of acknowledging that some members of a group have undesirable characteristics, the fallacy tries to redefine the group to exclude them."   
 
Personally, it's just always annoyed me when people go decide that they have the divine authority to decide who is and isn't a "real Christian", as if they are the fucking internet Pope.  
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Knight244

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@Meowshi said:
@Knight244 said:
@thebigJ_A said:

@Knight244 said:

@gale said:

@Knight244: He may not have been a real Christian, but was he a True Scotsman?

If someone insists that you are allied with and responsible for the actions of one psychopath because of a few shared beliefs, they're idiots who are just looking for someone to blame. However, you don't get to define what another person's religion is. You get to define what your beliefs are, and that's it. You don't have to agree with anyone else - you don't even have to respect anyone else - but you don't get to decide what someone gets to call themselves. Nor do you get to make whatever blind assertions you want about other people's reasons, feelings, and beliefs, when your only evidence is your complete inability to understand the concept of other people not having exactly the same thought processes that you do.

Also, it's a huge leap to assume that Swervinmonkeyz was making some sweeping indictment of everything to do with Christianity. That his extremist political and religious ideology would have a far greater influence on his politically and religiously motivated attack than some fucking videogame is a perfectly salient point to make, a fact that's apparently sailed right over your head, if your bizarre No Russian non-sequitur is anything to go by. I don't especially care to take lessons in scientific methodology from someone who doesn't even understand what other people are. Have a go at forming a coherent argument before you try schooling people on what real science is. You'll look like less of an idiot that way. Well. Then again. It's not magic. I'm not sure there's anything in the world that could make you look like less of an idiot at this point. But oh well. Couldn't hurt to try, I suppose.
What qualities does a true Scotsman possess? Is it simply to be born in Scotland or does a true Scotsman possess a certain virtue of character?

Really, dude? At least follow the link and find out what the No True Scotsman Fallacy is. The fact that you asked those questions means you missed the point entirely.

I don't think I did miss the point but correct me if I'm wrong.  We're discussing the essence of what a man is and what certain types of men are?  Is he a Scotsman because he's born in Scotland or is a Scotsman because he possesses virtue A, B, or C?  Is he a true gamer because he has a simple love for the pleasures of video games or is he a true gamer because he lives for the day when he will be able to murder the whole planet?  Is he a Christian because he believes in the dignity of the Virgin Mary or is he a Christian because he believes in the virtue of shooting holes in his fellow man?  Is he a being possessing a soul or is he solely flesh and blood?   I don't think I missed the point.  I did follow the link and what I found there is an unsatisfying answer to the question "who is a true Scotsman?"  So is a true Scotsman simply a man born in Scotland or are there certain intangible qualities that make a man a true Scotsman?
Look, I flunked out of university, but even I know you're not supposed to be focusing on the name of the fallacy, rather than the fallacy itself.  Stop blathering on about Scotland.  That has nothing to do with anything.  You should be arguing against the fallacy itself.   
  
The fallacy of course being: 

" No True Scotsman   is a   logical fallacy   by which an individual attempts to avoid being associated with an unpleasant act by asserting that no   true   member of the group they belong to would do such a thing. Instead of acknowledging that some members of a group have undesirable characteristics, the fallacy tries to redefine the group to exclude them."    Personally, it's just always annoyed me when people go decide that they have the divine authority to decide who is and isn't a "real Christian", as if they are the fucking internet Pope.  
I'll do you one better, I dropped out of university, and I know that this is just confused philosophy because an individual has every right to avoid being associated with an unpleasant act by asserting that no true member of the group they belong to would do such a thing if--God forbid--no true member of the group they belong to would do such a thing.  Where's the falsehood in that?  I mean is not the whole discussion here centered around what a true gamer would or would not do and are not most trying to distance themselves from the lunatic by saying, "...but a true gamer would never do such a thing?"  If all are responding in such a manner to defend the beloved pastime of playing video games, is it not reasonable to expect that an individual would have a desire to defend the belief system around which his or her whole life revolves?  
 
Do some dishonestly redefine the group to exclude undesirables?  Do men lie?  Yes they do, but some men just honestly define the group and understand the boundaries by which some are included and others are excluded.
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THIS JUST IN: Breivik drank water! Police believe this liquid allowed him to live long enough to commit his atrocities! Politicians around the world have gathered to discuss exactly what dangers this clear substance poses for modern day society! Dr Ballsforbrains says "Well, it's very clear that water played a huge role in Breivik's life, the substance being around and indeed, within Breivik both during the planning phase of his crime and during the crime itself."

A police officer, who wishes to remain anonymous, has stated "It's clear from examining the glassware in Breivik's house that, not only was he a regular water drinker, but that he had, hours before the attacks, consumed some sort of liquid that contained water within it".

Sociologist Paul Fuckwit has also chimed in on the use of water: "I think it's very clear that water has played a massive role in the major crimes of the 21st Century. Hitler, Pol Pot, Stalin and even Mao all drank water." Asked if video games could have played a role in the atrocity, Even Dr. Fuckwit was quick to point out that "Hitler and the SS didn't have video games and look at how they turned out. No, I think the one and only link is water. Has to be water."

But not all are so quick to point the blame at this slippery substance. British Lord Asshat is pushing for a review into the portrayal of farmers in the media! "It is clear", says Lord Asshat, "that Breivik was the owner of a food growing business which he used as a cover to obtain the fertilizer necessary for creating his bomb. Have we uncovered a new radical farmist ideology bent on the destruction of modern day society?"

Asked whether or not Racist ideology, far-right politics or radical, fundamentalist Christianity could have possibly played a role in motivating Breivik, well known Moron Bill O' Reilly was quick to point out "But I'm a racist, far right, Christian fundamentalist who secretly wishes for the explusion of all Muslims! So that can't possibly be the cause". When shown Breivik's 1500 word Fundamentalist Christian, Templar inspired, Racist-drivel of a manifesto, Mr. O' Reilly made a sad puppy dog face and said "But I can't read!"

Trevor Cocksucker, head of the Australian Christian Lobby, has called for water to be banned. Despite acknowledging that perhaps "billions of ordinary citizens drink water" without feeling the need to go on a homicidal spree, he said "If banning water prevents even one person ever 20 years from committing an atrocity, it's worth it". Mr. Cocksucker is also considering a ban on "humanity itself", stating that banning humanity would definitively stop all crimes from ever occurring, ever. "It might be harsh, but that might be the price we pay for a 100% completely crime free society", which, he believes "is totally possible because I'm an idiot who has never read a single history book in my entire life".

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anzejk

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@Korolev said:

THIS JUST IN: Breivik drank water! Police believe this liquid allowed him to live long enough to commit his atrocities! Politicians around the world have gathered to discuss exactly what dangers this clear substance poses for modern day society! Dr Ballsforbrains says "Well, it's very clear that water played a huge role in Breivik's life, the substance being around and indeed, within Breivik both during the planning phase of his crime and during the crime itself."

A police officer, who wishes to remain anonymous, has stated "It's clear from examining the glassware in Breivik's house that, not only was he a regular water drinker, but that he had, hours before the attacks, consumed some sort of liquid that contained water within it".

Sociologist Paul Fuckwit has also chimed in on the use of water: "I think it's very clear that water has played a massive role in the major crimes of the 21st Century. Hitler, Pol Pot, Stalin and even Mao all drank water." Asked if video games could have played a role in the atrocity, Even Dr. Fuckwit was quick to point out that "Hitler and the SS didn't have video games and look at how they turned out. No, I think the one and only link is water. Has to be water."

But not all are so quick to point the blame at this slippery substance. British Lord Asshat is pushing for a review into the portrayal of farmers in the media! "It is clear", says Lord Asshat, "that Breivik was the owner of a food growing business which he used as a cover to obtain the fertilizer necessary for creating his bomb. Have we uncovered a new radical farmist ideology bent on the destruction of modern day society?"

Asked whether or not Racist ideology, far-right politics or radical, fundamentalist Christianity could have possibly played a role in motivating Breivik, well known Moron Bill O' Reilly was quick to point out "But I'm a racist, far right, Christian fundamentalist who secretly wishes for the explusion of all Muslims! So that can't possibly be the cause". When shown Breivik's 1500 word Fundamentalist Christian, Templar inspired, Racist-drivel of a manifesto, Mr. O' Reilly made a sad puppy dog face and said "But I can't read!"

Trevor Cocksucker, head of the Australian Christian Lobby, has called for water to be banned. Despite acknowledging that perhaps "billions of ordinary citizens drink water" without feeling the need to go on a homicidal spree, he said "If banning water prevents even one person ever 20 years from committing an atrocity, it's worth it". Mr. Cocksucker is also considering a ban on "humanity itself", stating that banning humanity would definitively stop all crimes from ever occurring, ever. "It might be harsh, but that might be the price we pay for a 100% completely crime free society", which, he believes "is totally possible because I'm an idiot who has never read a single history book in my entire life".

LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL! That was  fucking poetry, man. :D:D:D I almost shit my pants reading this.:D:D:D Fucking A! :D:D:D
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John1912

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@Knight244:  "...but a true gamer would never do such a thing?"  
 
I doubt anyone stated a gamer would never do such a thing.  He played games, he did it.  If there were no games would he have still done it?  All answers point to yes.  Therefore the gaming is incidental, and irrelevant is the point that is being made.  If a person wants to do something, there is little anyone can do.  Maybe you should worry more about what kind of reading material can easily be obtained at any local library, the internet, gun classes, hunting, joining the army for training, paintball, or thinking.    
 
Or maybe we should look into banning religion?  His prob was over religion.  Maybe if we remove religion we will have one less boundary over which to segregate ourselves into hateful and mistrusting groups.  Religion has been the root cause of infinitely more deaths and suffering then video games will ever allegedly cause.
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BBQBram

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Immediately we look around desperate to point fingers at whatever in sight. Better to just realize that guy was fucked up. If WoW had that effect on you we'd be in a worldwide civil riot right now.

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Jonathan

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@CosmicQueso said:

Sure, because this is a rational response. Nice job Norway.

It's one store that decided to do this, not the country of Norway. There's no legislation involved.
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Shimakaze

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@Knight244 said:

What qualities does a true Scotsman possess? Is it simply to be born in Scotland or does a true Scotsman possess a certain virtue of character? I never tried to define another's religion. I know the definition of my religion and that definition doesn't include mass murder. I did not claim that I get to decide what others call themselves. Really, is it a huge leap to assume that someone would blame religion in the political climate we all inhabit in this day and age. The Catholic Church gets blamed when someone burns their toast so I don't think I'm making a crazy leap here. I agree, his belief system was the major contributor in what he acted out, but that doesn't exonerate the video games he chose to play from all guilt. Congratulations you know how to use cursy words and you speak very well but I'm tempted to think that it's all just very clever rhetoric to dismiss my positions. For example, calling my allusion to No Russian bizarre is stretching it. That level is pretty much exactly what the man acted out in real life. This is the example he was shown by a well respected wealthy business corporation that employs supposedly mature adults who chose to sell to the public for profit a game with a level that rewards the player for acting out wanton mass murder. No one down at KillerHighScore Corp. seems to think murder has any real moral weight so why should anyone who buys the game? Am I completely wrong here or might there just maybe be a tiny bit of sanity in here somewhere? I mean I love video games and I even like some shooters but that level in Modern Warfare 2 is despicable. My science lectures are free to the public and no one loses any points for not attending. All magic shows follow the lectures and there is a small fee to attend. My arguments have been coherent you big idiot head idiot dummy. Couldn't hurt to try stupid head.

The issue here is the belief that the games caused him to do it. That's easy to disprove since millions have played the same games without committing murder. And if it in some way pushed him further in that direction is impossible to say for sure, but you have to remember that this is a guy that had this mindset for years before those games existed. More importantly, he was a member of a gun club and had a lot of experience using firearms, which is far beyond anything a simple game could teach.

The biggest problem with your argument though is that by that logic anything that helped him would have to take an equal share of the blame, but the one who you should blame is him.

I know the definition of my religion and that definition doesn't include mass murder.

You need a history lesson.

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Acedia

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I find it sad that corporations (media, retail ...) abuse tragedies like these for personal gain. No one cares about the facts, it's all about controversy and free misguided moral advertising for the sake of commerce.

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I you want to (possibly) help us Norwegians, you can click on the link "Rogalands Avis", then locate the poll on the right side. The poll reads as follows "Is it right to take violent video games off shelves?". You, as a good gamer, should pick the "Nei" (no) answer. Thank You!

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lethalki11ler

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@Korolev: I rarely read walls of text but am glad I read yours :P
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Knight244

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@Shimakaze said:
I know the definition of my religion and that definition doesn't include mass murder.

You need a history lesson.

Please enlighten me so I can prove you wrong professor. 
 
@John1912 said:
Maybe if we remove religion we will have one less boundary over which to segregate ourselves into hateful and mistrusting groups.  Religion has been the root cause of infinitely more deaths and suffering then video games will ever allegedly cause.
Oh I assure you that people will have no trouble creating all sorts of hateful and mistrusting groups without the aid of a professed religious ideology.   Just ask the National Socialists and the Communists.  It turns out that men just love to hate and mistrust and they really don't need any religious ideology to do it.  Of course if they so desire they can create an infinite amount of false religious ideologies to provide icing for their hate mistrust cakes and lo and behold the world is filled with false religious ideology too. 
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Karmann

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yeah....good luck with that....

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valrog

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@Korolev said:

THIS JUST IN: Breivik drank water! Police believe this liquid allowed him to live long enough to commit his atrocities! Politicians around the world have gathered to discuss exactly what dangers this clear substance poses for modern day society! Dr Ballsforbrains says "Well, it's very clear that water played a huge role in Breivik's life, the substance being around and indeed, within Breivik both during the planning phase of his crime and during the crime itself."

A police officer, who wishes to remain anonymous, has stated "It's clear from examining the glassware in Breivik's house that, not only was he a regular water drinker, but that he had, hours before the attacks, consumed some sort of liquid that contained water within it".

Sociologist Paul Fuckwit has also chimed in on the use of water: "I think it's very clear that water has played a massive role in the major crimes of the 21st Century. Hitler, Pol Pot, Stalin and even Mao all drank water." Asked if video games could have played a role in the atrocity, Even Dr. Fuckwit was quick to point out that "Hitler and the SS didn't have video games and look at how they turned out. No, I think the one and only link is water. Has to be water."

But not all are so quick to point the blame at this slippery substance. British Lord Asshat is pushing for a review into the portrayal of farmers in the media! "It is clear", says Lord Asshat, "that Breivik was the owner of a food growing business which he used as a cover to obtain the fertilizer necessary for creating his bomb. Have we uncovered a new radical farmist ideology bent on the destruction of modern day society?"

Asked whether or not Racist ideology, far-right politics or radical, fundamentalist Christianity could have possibly played a role in motivating Breivik, well known Moron Bill O' Reilly was quick to point out "But I'm a racist, far right, Christian fundamentalist who secretly wishes for the explusion of all Muslims! So that can't possibly be the cause". When shown Breivik's 1500 word Fundamentalist Christian, Templar inspired, Racist-drivel of a manifesto, Mr. O' Reilly made a sad puppy dog face and said "But I can't read!"

Trevor Cocksucker, head of the Australian Christian Lobby, has called for water to be banned. Despite acknowledging that perhaps "billions of ordinary citizens drink water" without feeling the need to go on a homicidal spree, he said "If banning water prevents even one person ever 20 years from committing an atrocity, it's worth it". Mr. Cocksucker is also considering a ban on "humanity itself", stating that banning humanity would definitively stop all crimes from ever occurring, ever. "It might be harsh, but that might be the price we pay for a 100% completely crime free society", which, he believes "is totally possible because I'm an idiot who has never read a single history book in my entire life".

You sir, are a gentleman and a scholar.
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retsub101

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Guess who's going out of business!

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sickVisionz

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Are they the only games retailer in Norway?  If so, that sucks.  If not, who cares?  They just gave the entire market to their competition.  They must have a magic business model that says removing revenue will increase profit.

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JojoTheSlayer

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@retsub101 said:
Guess who's going out of business!
COOP sells mainly food smart ass.
I think this is just a PR stunt to get news attention.
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generalmolotov

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The problem here lies in the act itself, and the influence Coop has on Norwegian commercial culture. As in, they are in the lead in doing something retarded, that others may very well follow. Infact, they already have. Platekompaniet (a music/game/video store, one of the largest in the country) are also doing this(for the Norwegians out there: http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article4188155.ece). However they have not said which games they will remove, only that they will remove violent games from their stores. I work in a Coop store (not of the kind that sells any relevant games, we only have some old dusty copies of shait PS2, that no one will ever buy) but I do not feel like coming into work tomorrow. I know that no one in my store has anyhing to do with this, and that my boss is not to blame at all. But wearing clothes with the logo on, and working in a coop store, being a face to this...it kind of disgusts me. 

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TEHMAXXORZ

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Can't say this surprised me, but it seems a little silly. We have no solid evidence that a video-game caused, or ever caused, this violent event.

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Sam3R

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@TEHMAXXORZ said:
Can't say this surprised me, but it seems a little silly. We have no solid evidence that a video-game caused, or ever caused, this violent event.
yes, he him self the one did that mess actually sayed that he did use some games to practis with!
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Simplexity

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@Sam3R: dunno if you are trolling but, you really believe a guy who killed 77 innocent people?

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@Knight244 said:

Please enlighten me so I can prove you wrong professor.

You can't honestly be saying you have never heard of any mass murders being done in the name of christianity? I guess all of them just "pretended" they were Christian? Oh wait, if it weren't for them Christianity wouldn't have existed today.

@John1912 said:
Maybe if we remove religion we will have one less boundary over which to segregate ourselves into hateful and mistrusting groups. Religion has been the root cause of infinitely more deaths and suffering then video games will ever allegedly cause.
Oh I assure you that people will have no trouble creating all sorts of hateful and mistrusting groups without the aid of a professed religious ideology. Just ask the National Socialists and the Communists. It turns out that men just love to hate and mistrust and they really don't need any religious ideology to do it. Of course if they so desire they can create an infinite amount of false religious ideologies to provide icing for their hate mistrust cakes and lo and behold the world is filled with false religious ideology too.

I love the self centered idea that your religion is truth and all others and false religions filled with liars. We all know there's only one TRUE religion, now bow down before Odin!

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SatelliteOfLove

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Oh look, the willfully ignorant are restaging their hair-pulling catfights here, too.

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well isn't that typical. the games industry is once again to blame. could it just be the fact that the murdering bastard may actually have been a psycho before these games came out? the worlds media fails to see all of the facts and highlights what seems to be a plausible excuse to blame a medium which apparently creates nut case's. it's fucking stupid, and i'm willing to bet the news wont dive in to more depths about what is mentally wrong with the guy, cause that would ruin their credibility for blaming video games. i feel absolutely heart broken for those people who were killed the other week, after i heard of this i knew that the games industry was going to take a beating. why? i hear you ask. cause it's the easiest target, police search the guys house and they find games such as those mentioned and they assume it was the games fault. talk about false assumption or a lack of real police work on to why the guy snapped. it's just biased new's that wants to spread fear in to others. 

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Knight244

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@Shimakaze said:

@Knight244 said:

Please enlighten me so I can prove you wrong professor.

You can't honestly be saying you have never heard of any mass murders being done in the name of christianity? I guess all of them just "pretended" they were Christian? Oh wait, if it weren't for them Christianity wouldn't have existed today.

@John1912 said:
Maybe if we remove religion we will have one less boundary over which to segregate ourselves into hateful and mistrusting groups. Religion has been the root cause of infinitely more deaths and suffering then video games will ever allegedly cause.
Oh I assure you that people will have no trouble creating all sorts of hateful and mistrusting groups without the aid of a professed religious ideology. Just ask the National Socialists and the Communists. It turns out that men just love to hate and mistrust and they really don't need any religious ideology to do it. Of course if they so desire they can create an infinite amount of false religious ideologies to provide icing for their hate mistrust cakes and lo and behold the world is filled with false religious ideology too.

I love the self centered idea that your religion is truth and all others and false religions filled with liars. We all know there's only one TRUE religion, now bow down before Odin!

Yeah, I also heard that the roman emperor Nero said that Christians burned down Rome and guess what he lied.  Let me get this straight then, so what you're saying is that 12 poor men, one a humble fisherman, mass murdered their way to making Christendom the force it was for 2000 years.  I assume of course you believe that they took their example from Jesus who mass murdered His way off of the cross he was being crucified upon by the cruel powerful Roman empire and cruel hypocritical Jewish religious elite so that he could nuke all of Jerusalem in an effort to give birth to his unrelenting unstobbable Christian empire of total domination and uppercuts for everyone?  Of course, what better way to do it then to give yourself up completely to a cruel tormenting death upon a cross. 
 
And of course you wouldn't be implying that your liberal philosophy isn't the truth and all others are false philosophies and religions that are filled with liars?  It's not you right, that's just the truth?
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Knutsi

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@TheVampireBoy: @TheVampireBoy said:

 ... i'm willing to bet the news wont dive in to more depths about what is mentally wrong with the guy, cause that would ruin their credibility for blaming video games. i feel absolutely heart broken for those people who were killed the other week, after i heard of this i knew that the games industry was going to take a beating. why? i hear you ask. cause it's the easiest target, police search the guys house and they find games such as those mentioned and they assume it was the games fault. talk about false assumption or a lack of real police work on to why the guy snapped. it's just biased new's that wants to spread fear in to others. 

As far as I know the police has not even once mentioned video games, and in the debate over here it seems most people are dismissing the very few voices who bring up the fact that this man played video games - even non-gamers seem to agree games are not to blame. 
As far as games go, this won't change anything, other than maybe reinforce the age-limits.  It's just a weird reaction from a company. Don't panic.
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Knutsi

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I find there to be amazing parallels between how games are sometimes targeted for actions of crazy people that happened to play them, and how Muslims end up being attacked for the actions of a few. While it might be that games and religion reinforce some people's disposition towards atrocities, its crazy to blame things on them to the degree people do at times when you consider how many peaceful people there are for each terrorist.
 
That said.. violence in games and films is one thing, admiring it in real life another.

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CosmicQueso

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@Jonathan said:

@CosmicQueso said:

Sure, because this is a rational response. Nice job Norway.

It's one store that decided to do this, not the country of Norway. There's no legislation involved.

Yes, the article mentions that. Still... GG Norway. Swedish retailers would never do this.

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Esten

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@Twilight said:

Just wanna say, no Norwegian gamer will be affected by this. Nobody buys games from a COOP store. Seriously, nobody. And only their largest stores even have games available. Most of them dont. I know the Americans aren't aware of this which is why it's been getting coverage. But this will not affect Norwegian gamers one bit. Not at all.
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ashriels

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Been alive long enough to know this ban won't last very long.

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Cook66

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Coop is like Norways walmart. No one cares about what they sell, no one buys games from them either. There is no reason to feel sorry Norwegians over this as it is one retailer not everyone. They feel the need to be retarded and if I did buy games from them I'd never do so again, but since I don't then whatever.

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swervinmonkeyz

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 @Knight244 said:
@Swervinmonkeyz said:

Anyone gonna mention the guy was a right-wing, Christian fanatic? No? WELL HE WAS. 

Yeah, because all good Christians know that Jesus taught specifically that they days would arrive when Modern Warfare 2 would be released on store shelves and that he could only wish He would be there to see that sweet day when all the true Christians of the world would take up their sweet graphically simulated guns and shoot the hell out of lots of graphically simulated people waiting patiently and innocently to board their graphically simulated planes.  I think that comes from the book of St. John.  I think that's how you get to heaven.  But that is simply besides the point, I mean can there be fun without games that have levels where you get to murder innocents?   You don't think so good sir. 
I was thinking more about the religious and conservative media that are ironically pointing their fingers at video games. Also, notice I used the word fanatic. That implies the guy is bat-shit loco and does not represent the typical Christian. I happen to know some Christians and they aren't even that homicidal!  Oh wait should I put in "/sarcasm" since you obviously missed it the first time :P 
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Shimakaze

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@Knight244said:

Yeah, I also heard that the roman emperor Nero said that Christians burned down Rome and guess what he lied.

I wasn't even talking about Rome. I was talking about the crusades, the inquisitions, the witch burnings, the spreading of Christianity at sword point as a "join or die" rule.

Let me get this straight then, so what you're saying is that 12 poor men, one a humble fisherman, mass murdered their way to making Christendom the force it was for 2000 years. I assume of course you believe that they took their example from Jesus who mass murdered His way off of the cross he was being crucified upon by the cruel powerful Roman empire and cruel hypocritical Jewish religious elite so that he could nuke all of Jerusalem in an effort to give birth to his unrelenting unstobbable Christian empire of total domination and uppercuts for everyone? Of course, what better way to do it then to give yourself up completely to a cruel tormenting death upon a cross.

Your... "extrapolation" of what you think I said is... disturbing. You seem to have issues. You said Christianity has never been involved with mass murder, I disagreed. I never said anything about the religious figures themselves, although God did kill a LOT of people in the bible.

And of course you wouldn't be implying that your liberal philosophy isn't the truth and all others are false philosophies and religions that are filled with liars? It's not you right, that's just the truth?

Fair point, except I never implied that my stance, beliefs or philosophies were truth. Just that I was unsettled by your (and others') unwavering belief that they are the true chosen ones and everyone else are liars.

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BasketSnake

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Mentally unstable those norwegians.

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Anyone who thinks playing World of Warcraft is related to any sort of modern combat--and can be used to train for such a thing--is a complete and utter self-righteous moron who lacks the intelligence to live.