The Xbox arson: A lesson in sharing
by Joystiq Staff 
{ Aug 11th 2006 at 1:25PM }
It seems video games really can cause violence -- but only on the dumb, ignorant scale. Recently, a few Neanderthals in the Seattle area were so enraged with each other over an Xbox that windows were broken and fires were started because of it.Police say a 20-year-old former resident of the home in the 700 block of 20th Avenue, there as a guest, was arguing with a current resident about possession of an Xbox. The former resident then threw the console through a window and into the front yard.
Then after this rather violent altercation, the former resident marched back to the house and burned the sucker down. Yes, all this over an Xbox. Remember people, sharing is caring. There are plenty of Xbox's to go around, no need to shed blood over them.
[Thanks, Philip Palermo]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
LunarDuality @ Aug 11th 2006 1:33PM
C'mon people, let's get serious...the xbox was thrown and fires started not over ownership, but because of "pwnersh1p" because "Jimmy" was spawn camping "Timmy" in an intense bout of Halo 2.
audyboi @ Aug 11th 2006 1:33PM
jeez now jack thompson is gonna use this in every single debate.
Jay @ Aug 11th 2006 1:37PM
Anyone being put to sleep for it?
Agent MOO @ Aug 11th 2006 1:44PM
Jeez, these guys need to get with the times, when are they going to upgrade to killing each other over the XBOX360?
http://agentmoo.com
warren @ Aug 11th 2006 1:46PM
I don't see why it matters if it was an xbox. it could have been a $5,000 diamond ring (harder to throw through a window but you get the idea) and they could have still ended up with a burned down house.
crazy + crazy + ? = arson
? = xbox or other item.
quite blaming the FU^KING games
sam @ Aug 11th 2006 1:49PM
Does it seem to anyone else that a lot of these stories have to do primarily with XBox owners, and not owners of other consoles?
Mal F4cti0n @ Aug 11th 2006 1:59PM
Wonder how long it will take Jack Thompson to say, "I told you video games cause violence."
Well, people get killed over lots of property. What about car jackings. Better yet, if you get hit by a car, that'll kill you. I say we start a campaign to ban cars because they cause deaths, not too mention pollution.
Down with driving cars, up with playing video games!
Walter Lawrence @ Aug 11th 2006 2:06PM
http://myspace-026.vo.llnwd.net/00446/62/00/446460026_m.jpg
This guy does not appreciate that comment
Jason @ Aug 11th 2006 2:10PM
#5 Yes, Thats cause us xbox owners are hardcore and don't take anyones shit!
SuicideNinja @ Aug 11th 2006 2:12PM
"Does it seem to anyone else that a lot of these stories have to do primarily with XBox owners, and not owners of other consoles?"
I noticed that, too. I figure it is because everyone already has a few PS2's (working or not), so conflict doesn't happen. Besides, PS2 gaming is a practice in futility anyway.
Actually, there's probably more feeling of "involvement" with an Xbox and XBL...there's online Frag friends. Even Nintendo fans all feel like family and they seem to have a connection to the first party franchises (I love Metroid!). The PS2 on the other hand...seems self-conscious, unimportant, and quite lonely....
Yeah, I hate my PS2s. All 3 of them. I've even given a couple away before. But I'm mad my girlfriend took my Xbox.
Or the item involved in this altercation was irrelevant and the two were violent to begin with.
Nate @ Aug 11th 2006 2:14PM
Sam, you beat me to it...
Ethan Thomas @ Aug 11th 2006 2:19PM
-sam
I keep telling people, stop superjumping and modding in Halo 2. But do they listen? No. And here's the result!
*The previous statement does not imply that people who participate in online gaming, i.e. matchmaking in Halo 2 are likely to commit acts such as arson, etc. Video games do not encourage real life violence. Jack Thompson inspires real life violence as, upon hearing the B.S. inherent in each one of his statements, one may be so inclined to lift oneself off of one's posterior and insert ones fist into said party's face. That act is perfectly normal, acceptable, and actually condoned by the person making the above statement. If not for people like said Jack Thompson, the party writing all this crap would not be forced to do so out of fear of starting a anti-videogame movement by a bunch of political-jargon-spewing capitol hill idiots. Thank you*
Supra @ Aug 11th 2006 2:23PM
Goes to show that Xbox people are retards.
House @ Aug 11th 2006 2:26PM
so you mean all this time videogames don't cause violence... i thought for sure that playing a 2D shooter makes me even with the US seals, and able to handle a sniper rifle with precise skill... Jack Thompson is wrong? Violence just stems from idiocy.. nOO my world is crashing down....!
MO @ Aug 11th 2006 2:49PM
Maybe there's something to the study that says that the Xbox brand makes people distrustful.
jcmschwa @ Aug 11th 2006 2:53PM
MO, i think that's because microsoft is distrustful.
JPRacer @ Aug 11th 2006 2:53PM
1st gen Xbox are getting rare. My Xbox is modded with a big hard drive, tons of rom, media center, development bios (great to learn DirectX programming since you don't have to worry about Windows in the background) etc...
If someone steal my 360 I can get a new one at the store but my Xbox... I can't find them anywhere(new) where I live. I was looking for another one and all the big stores here don't have any remaining.
Mr. Khan @ Aug 11th 2006 4:24PM
I've said this before...
Xbox sells "the Hummer Attitude" thus it is by nature more attractive to the violent/ignorant/insecure
(This applies mostly to casual gamers who prefer Xbox, fanboys make decisions for better reasons)
Thus there is Xbox related violence, more so than on other platforms, imagine if you saw "The Super Smash Bros. Melee Murders"
Lekko @ Aug 11th 2006 6:40PM
Hey, we all sometimes get frustrated at games and throw controllers and such.. the funniest part about the story is that the guy CAME BACK LATER and burned the house down. Am I the only one that finds that hilarious?
That's like punching someone a week later for losing a game of Monopoly, but... with fire.
withoutasol @ Aug 12th 2006 4:38PM
"Does it seem to anyone else that a lot of these stories have to do primarily with XBox owners, and not owners of other consoles?"
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thats because if it were a nintendo gamecube it would probably still be working.