Fox News Expert Links Connecticut Shooting To Violent Video Games

Kotaku - We have yet to hear all the details on today's horrific shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, which claimed the lives of 27 people this morning. News is still trickling in as we learn about what happened, how it happened, and why it happened.

[dedicatedtogamers]

Another horrible shooting, and another news outlet/politican/special-inter est group trying to pin it on videogames. What's new?

My heart goes out to those families affected. Shame on Fox and other outlets for being so stupid as to blame it on videogames instead of the person. Gee, could it be because we've been closing sanitariums/asylums across the country? Could it be because the cost of prescription psychiatric pills has skyrocketed? Could it be because - despite the millions we give them - public schools have woefully inadequate security measures? Nope, it can't be ANY of THOSE reasons. Must be them durn Quake III players.

[Nitrowolf2]

Um they never actually said it was because of gaming, the guy was only saying how society is degrading our feelings towards violence, which is actually something I agree. He uses TV, Facebook, and Gaming as examples towards those who are more vulnerable to it (in other words, mentally unstable). He's more linking it to the available violence in our media, not just gaming.

Looking at all those comments on Kotaku (even this above) kind of shows that people are missing this guys point. I'm not saying that gaming is the reason for the shooting is either is he, like I said above, it's about how the media has made people think less about violence, hence why we are seeing this happen more often.

I don't like Fox news, but I can't help but feel that Kotaku is placing the blame more than they are. Would have been better with "Fox News Expert Links Connecticut Shooting To Violent Media" cause thats what he's doing. The guy did pretty much say that this guy had mental issues (him stating vulnerable to violent).

The guy isn't wrong, I mean look at all the cussing, threats, videos, on TV, Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, ect.

Like I said, it's more Kotaku than Fox

[Soldierone]

You can't blame Kotaku either (personally don't like either source). Look at the track record of Fox. They are the ones that constantly try to blame video games. So this one time they have a solid point, of course people are looking through it and going "well they always blame video games." They lost credibility on speaking about the issue.

Plus like my comment states below, its nice of him to blame every medium besides the one he works for.

[thorstein]

(I didn't hit your disagree button.) But if you are right then all FBI reports on willful homicide, forcible rape, robbery, burglary, aggravated assault, larceny over $50, motor vehicle theft, and arson would show an upward trend.

It is a fact that the FBI reports that all index crimes (those mentioned above) are actually on the decline. They have been declining for almost 35 years. So, while violence in our media may desensitize us, it certainly doesn't "make" us more violent. Canadians watch the same media we do in the states. They have more guns per person than we do in the states. Yet their gun homicide rate doesn't even compare. (And I don't want to hear the normal arguments.) Canada has a higher unemployment rate, many minorities, and large cities (Toronto has 5 Million) Toronto had 48 homicides. Detroit (population 900,000) had 344.

So, no it isn't guns. Serial killers don't often use guns. It isn't violent media.

It is the way we raise our boys. I don't know why other countries get it right and we don't. But I know our populace is ruled through fear.

[Enemy]

It's the exposure to what our new standards for entertainment have become. Video games are the last thing I'd blame as they're obviously created by sane individuals.

Note: I've never heard of a violent games developer going on a killing spree.

Based on what we watch on TV, read on Facebook, things we joke about- any outsider could very easily conclude that we're okay with murder and rape, pointing at our "entertainment" and education as evidence.

[Nitrowolf2]

Looking at the comments below, most people just came in here simply because of the title.

@Soldierone

Sorry if I made it seem like I was putting a whole blame on them, what I meant is that Kotaku is blowing the video game proportion up a lot more this time than Fox is. Yes, it's only a matter of time before we get a news outlet with Video game and shooting in the same headlines again, but ffs don't (Kotaku) take something out of context. It's all what they do anyway. FOX is a terrible news channel to, but still.

@
thorstein

Was only merely posting the comment so people don't come in and jump on it like they are already doing.

Crime is much lower though I think (well you supplied the facts). Canada is a perfect example, but in truth Humans are just violent people through history. Before guns we had weapons such as knives, swords, anything melee related. Before that we used our fists. I wonder why Canada has such low rates, it's very surprising.

@
Enemy
exact point what the FOX guy was making. He wasn't putting a blame on anything specifically, just as a whole.

Anyway, my prayers go out to all the families. No one should ever have to face something so horrifying.

[DragonKnight]

@thorstein: I live in Toronto, and I don't think that we have more guns per person than the U.S. I could be wrong but I'd be interested in knowing where you got that information from.

@Nitrowolf: The answer to your question stems from cultural differences. Canada is a nation that is known for being relaxed and polite. We enjoy comedy and have (had anyway until it was copied) the largest Comedy Festival in the world every summer, and some of the world's most talented comedians are Canadian. We enjoy a lot of time spent together, and we have a lot of natural locations for things like fishing, camping, etc.. There are many things that both the U.S. and the Canadian peoples enjoy and share in common, but the difference is that we place emphasis on things like Comedy and socializing and raising our kids to be polite and respectful of everyone.

It also has a lot to do with our founding. Canada didn't have to fight for our independence, we simply asked for it and received it. We don't use most of our funds towards military efforts, but that doesn't mean our money isn't squandered. Lol.

I guess what it boils down to is what our country was built upon emphasizing being different than what the U.S. was built on emphasizing.

I hope my post didn't come off as arrogant or insulting in any way, I wasn't trying to make it that way and was genuinely trying to perhaps give a bit of insight as a Canadian myself.

[Awesome_Gamer]

"Kotaku, Fox News"

Stopped reading there...

[TheFirstClassic]

Yeah the guy in the video is saying that it is possible that these sort of things can trigger an event like this one in people who are disturbed. Main word there being disturbed.

I don't like Fox News either but we shouldn't put blame on them when they don't really deserve it, they've become a huge target for this kind of thing. It's mostly their own fault, but people go overboard.

And @Soldierone you can blame Kotaku, any rational person would understand that the man isn't saying anything that crazy, but apparently Kotaku can't see that. They have to grasp at nonsense to make news, as per usual.

[Ranma1]

America as a society needs to sort its murder rate out.

In Switzerland they have higher gun ownership than americans (i think its 100% their, it is illegal i believe NOT to have a gun), but they are not given bullets.

Yet they dont have such Zeal to murder as American's do it seems.

I think the problem is glorification of war and guns in America

[thebudgetgamer]

There's only eight million people in Switzerland compared to almost three hundred and fifty million in the U.S.A.

I agree that stuff like this is tragic but that's a really bad comparison.

[thorstein]

@budget (Toronto has 5 Million people) Toronto had 48 homicides. Detroit (population 900,000) had 344.

@Ran You are not correct. The problem with us is that A) We are raising our boys incorrectly (elsewise women would be doing these crimes at the same rate) and B) We are a country ruled by FEAR.

[Dasteru]

I wonder if these retards... err excuse me "Experts" realise that people have been killing people since long before TVs even existed, let alone video games.

This is simply another example of people looking for a scape goat, trying to find something other than people to blame for everything bad that happens.

Watch next they will end up finding an atari in the suspects parents friends brothers crawl space and will call it undeniable proof.

[Mounce]

Fox News . . . 'EXPERT' LOL

Fox News implying they have Experts, XDDD

It's like bending and manipulating words to try to self-glorify their own incompetence and hide it behind magical-competence.

Fox News Genius of mind and power links Connecticut shooting to magical rainbow pixie dust, bath salts, masturbation and Violent Video Games - Also, he's employee of the month here so his word is credible.

[ninavoljic]

It's not the games, it's not even about the internet but it's all about how the gunner was built, his psychology and his parents who failed to see how he's becoming.

Lastly, I blame the gun laws on USA as well. Yes, a grocery that lets you buy shotgun and a pistol for deer hunting? C'mon.

[iamnsuperman]

I have plugged this on another story but it is even more relevant here. The media really isn't helping and is almost glamorising it. Gun control is needed but a rethink about media coverage as well
http://www.youtube.com/watc...

[modesign]

people that watch fox news should of traded places with the children killed.

[KangarooSam]

How did I know I was gonna see this today.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

I think Kotaku is missing the point of the commentary. I didn't find the speaker to be singling out video games at all. In fact like @Nitrowolf2 above...I think he makes a very valid point about the lack of human sensitivity that is being created via many of our media forms these days.

[majiebeast]

"Fox News Expert"

...

[Breadcrab]

I reckon it's not terribly hard to be an expert in that area.

[CYBERHATER]

Figures. FOX News is always wrong about something.

[MadMax]

Yea, i guess thats why theyre number 1 in the ratings. Dont be such a sheep!

[dktxx2]

irony...

[Soldierone]

Why do they HAVE to dive into this right now? Honestly?

This is why I don't watch the news. You can't push the blame for "lack of sensitivity" and "access to violence" on other mediums, when YOUR medium (News) does the exact same thing. You can't watch news without negative stories following negative stories, and once in a blue moon they will report something positive. Then a few days later make that positive story negative. Gangham Style, couldn't leave it alone, had to turn it into "well he is an American hating person!!" The cop that donated shoes, couldn't leave it alone, had to turn it into "He sold them!"

Blame video games all you want, but there are channels on my TV right now that run 24/7 negative stories. Constantly telling me how bad the world sucks out there, and hardly ever telling me "hey its actually a great place"

But thats the world we live in, its ALWAYS someone elses fault. Never your own.

[AnotherProGamer]

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

its actually more the news media fault ironically

the person was thinking no one care about me and fox news, who glorify the killers in the guise of "explaining" them, talks about mass murders for weeks so he wanted them to talk about him for weeks.

[iamnsuperman]

I totally agree. The thing is a lot of these situations are about attention. The media then gives them attention. In a way it is a win for the shooter. He/she knows the more he/she kills the more it will be talked about and the greater the chance of going down n history (becoming in a way immortal and infamous)

[Speed-Racer]

I KNEW this was going to happen. Was just waiting to see how long before someone decided to ride this train and blame video games.

[tachy0n]

a friend of mine told me univision appears to be on the same train also, its hilarious...

a man in florida dressed in black carrying a shotgun walking around a high school was arrested a few hours ago, he was probably going to do the same thing like in Connecticut...

just watch how the US govt will use this shooting to disarm the people in the US, people will become severely pissed if the constitution gets changed a bit and people will start a civil war...

[PersonaCat]

I JUST posted in another article about how it was a matter of time until they start blaming games. Our news media needs some restructuring. I would love to watch or read news that doesn't have some sort of agenda and just does what they are suppose to do, deliver unbiased news.

[JD_Shadow]

They needed Shepard Smith telling them to "Get off it! Get off it! GET OFF IT!"

[mistajeff]

What a great way to memorialize the victims, exploit the tragedy for your own self-righteous political bullshit.

[KangarooSam]

Seriously. Now all we're gonna see for the next month is Obama pushing for God damn gun control.

[Conzul]

Indeed, shootings like this are arguments for security personnel to be instated in schools, not for our nation to sell it's soul out of (possibly legitimate) fear.

[Patrick]

Disagree if you want but I say either have armed security guards in schools or train and arm teachers. I have 2 elementary school aged children and I would feel much better if both their teachers were packing. Both my wife and I carry as do most my friends and family members. If most everyone carried, less of this would happen. Gun laws only prevent law abiding citizens from protecting themselves. Criminals will break the law no matter how many laws you make, cause they are criminals.

[MadMax]

Its definately a more violent and confusing time, than when most of us grew up during the 80s. Technology could play a big part in it. One blogger can say whatever he likes. You are going to hold the whole of Fox news responsible for talking to different people and getting their opinions?

Lol, look at both sides of the spectrum, at least they will put both sides on Fox, unlike Msnbc, who only hates and bashes on one side all the time. Im sure they will be saying this nutty kid was part of the tea party or didnt vote for Obama next!!!

Lol, comon people open your eyes. Ive been a gamer for 30 years and you dont see me getting offended by one persons opinion. Thats what makes this country great! We have the right to state our opinion.

Also, if i can remember correctly wasnt it Hillary Clinton and many other liberals who wanted to ban games awhile back? Dont be so narrow minded guys, shows your ignorance as gamers!

[MooseWI]

You're kidding, right?

[pompombrum]

Anybody who personally links the shooting to video games needs to be named, shamed and then hanged. It tells you just how low people are prepared to stoop if they will use such a tragedy to push their own agenda.

[Max-Zorin]

Fox is just as stupid as Jack Thompson.

[phantomexe]

Fox news is a joke. So maney lies not just about games.

[TXIDarkAvenger]

LOL, blaming it on Mass Effect because he liked it on Facebook? Turns out that wasn't the guy but millions were fooled and its so stupid to link games to this event.

[StreetsofRage]

It's Fox News! Don't waste your time on them.

[BizDaWolf]

My heart goes out to those families affected BUT they can't not blame us gamers everytime something goes wrong in the world fox news is a joke I remember they said the wii controller cause kids 6-14 to act violate

[BlaqMagiq24]

This seems to happen with EVERY shooting. Nothing new.

Also R.I.P. Newtown shooting victims

[bocajbee]

He was blaming Social Media as a whole.

'Maybe games could be part of this'

But I agree.

FAUUUX NERRRS

[xBigxBossx]

Kotaku trying to get hits.... Pathetic. I can't believe what happened today. As a father it breaks m heart. My only wish is that the coward didn't take his own life, I wish he could suffer for what he did. Those poor children probably couldn't even comprehend what wa happening. RIP and love to all the families. And oh yea typical kotaku.

[sovietsoldier]

Mario made me do it, honest!

[Nunchez]

I was just waiting for a stupid ass comment from Fox and they never fail me. So then they're saying all these people here on n4g and other gaming sites are murderers? So dumb.

[WeAreLegion]

Can we PLEASE stop singling out FOX News? NBC had a report about this just a couple of weeks ago...and I didn't see an article about that one.

As a moderate, if find it a little unsettling that most people trash FOX, but don't comment on CBS, NBC, ABC, and CNN all being liberally biased.

[phantomexe]

Yea but nbc said all forms of entertainment, fox news only points out video games. When it comes to fox news they don't take hell because there the extreme right wing of the gop party. They take hell because they never tell the full story and they lie alot. They all lie but fox likes a good conspiracy.

[vlonjati77]

I stopped watching news long time ago.its just a propaganda anyway.I just watch discovery channel and movies .I immigrated to Canada 7 years ago,but im so glad I didnt go to USA(no offence fellow americans).Life is so much better here(I have friends and cousins living in USA).I have kids myself and I really feel bad for the victims and their families.Call me a dictator or what you want,but people that do stuff like this(wheather intentionaly or mental) should get hanged,exterminated from this world.And before any of you saying every human being have rights,then you should hope that doesnt happen to your kid then you would understand.lots of dollars are spent for the prisioners for all their years in prision,and in case any of you didnt know the prisioners have better food and health coverage then the free people .anyway

[TheDivine]

Its a complex issue with many simptoms but the root cause is lack of God. Up until the 50's or so America was still on the whole a God knowing and fearing country. Then the free love sex and drugs of the 60's hit, abortions became prevelant, families degraded up until now where the norm is a single mom in an apt paid for by the govt. Kids are tought there is no God in school and encouraged to fool around with same sex kids. Homosexuality is encouraged where rightousness is discouraged. Couple that with the explosion of media (yes violent movies, games, music exc). These people have issues before said movie but that scene of murder and gorifying it inspires some people who are already broken. Parents cant actually parent anymore because spanking your child is illegal and will land you in jail. This lack of rules and the like is creating a generation of whiny entitled kids who wont work for anything and cant cope with the real world. Theres no personal responsibility and accountability. Theres many things adding to it all but the fact is we turned from God and America went to the pits. This wont get better. Its already been written folks. From here on out its wars, violence, natural disasters, ecenomic turmoil exc. Best get your house in order and spread the word so that when your time comes your not SOL.

[ShaunCameron]

The same God-fearing country that prospered from the exploitation and mistreatment of Blacks, and the theft of resources from Native Indians and other races?

<Up until the 50's or so America was still on the whole a God knowing and fearing country.>

The rest? Agreed. You forgot to mention feminism.

[RuperttheBear]

'Fox News Expert Links Connecticut Shooting To Violent Video Games'

They always do though. Whenever some psycho shoots a load of people they always find a connection to games.

[e-p-ayeaH]

all states need the same policies US is one country after all.