Teenage Hoodlums Terrorize Streets Like They're in GTA

plower glove | June 26, 2008 | News | Company Misc

Troubled youths are committing crimes imitating the protagonist in Grand Theft Auto, most recently in Nassau County. Once again we address whether it's the media that impacts society or vice versa. When everyone learn video games are not reality?

So does media imitate society, or does society imitate media? Since both are extensions of human nature, the answer can only be both. But as a video game, GTA is just a simulation - a make-believe world where you have no consequences for shooting peoples' heads off or cutting up cops with chainsaws while stoned off your ass.

These troubled teens have learned the hard way that reality doesn't translate well from video games and that they can't get away with everything.

Interestingly, this appears to be a microcosm which mirrors the fate of the makers of Grand Theft Auto.

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0 thumbs!
Jak66 | June 27, 2008

What a bunch of stupid pieces of useless trash. They should better the world and commit suicide
1 thumbs!
HisServant77 | June 27, 2008

I know I'm in the minority here with these thoughts, but honestly the media DOES affect society. Of course, Society then in turn affects the Media . . . a snowball effect in a way. Like it or not, but the media can desensitize people's perspective on certain things such as crime and violence. Even those who do understand it's just a game/movie. . . Look at it long enough, and it become less and less shocking, and indifference can set in.

In this case, I don't know, I feel like maybe the teens purposely imitated it, because people were worried about it happening. Need to grow up!
-1 thumbs!
chautemoc | June 27, 2008

Someone really needs to interview people like this and ask them if they would've done it if it wasn't for video games, or movies, or whatever. I certainly believe so, but you know, people seem to need confirmation on this.
- 0 thumbs!
  HisServant77 | June 27, 2008
  
  Yes, it's sadly true. Some, many, don't need the games/movies/etc to . . . influence them to do those things Some do, some don't. In this case, I think they didn't need it. It seemed like they would've caused trouble regardless
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kik36 | June 27, 2008

They definitely were going out of their way to cause trouble and would have done so regardless.....however, I'm sure they were getting a big kick out of acting like they were in GTA. It happens, kids (and adults) imitate shit all of the time they see on TV, movies, or video games.

Don't believe me? Ever remember watching wrestling or a kung-fu flick when you were a kid and immediately wanting to do those moves on your siblings? LMFAO man those were the days!!! ^.^
0 thumbs!
Final Blade | June 27, 2008

_{funny thing is I live near Nassau and I haven't heard of this til this article.}
0 thumbs!
Zeek | July 02, 2008

why do people most likely the media and government are so fast to blame GTA games for random violence? There are tons of movies that are worse than GTA.