Xbox 360 crime wave hits home

Hey Thanks for pointing out they were "Black", also that there gains would bring them a bounty of,"Similac. Or crack.", Maybe they were just out for Grape fanta, or Chicken.....Ya' racist PRICK...Hail Krammer.....

Yeah, this post reeks of racism.

so if he had said three white men blabla? it would be racist?

realy guys lighten up...

its a known fact that alot of crime is drug related in some way, hell alot of ppl will do anything for a quick fix.. be it steal from there own grandmother or rob a store of something.

the fact that this guy linked theft to drug abuse isnt racist and i fail to see any reason why it would be.. there are alot of ppl out there that steal to play for there habit and infact some of that cash thay make from the xbox360's will probibly goto some form of drugs no mater if the ppl were black white red green or blue.

I dont think name calling and stuff was in order here, and i wish ppl would stop crying wolf (omg a racist) at the least little things these days... i meen ffs, half the ppl that acuse ppl of being racist are infact racist themselfs and just use the term to try and get back at someone because thay cant think of any other way to do it.

OMg such racism!!11
I REALLY hope that you weren't serious about calling him racist because if you were...

Give me a break, the word "racism" is thrown around FAR too much. THEY ROBBED PEOPLE AT GUNPOINT YOU IDIOTS! Their actions just ask for the perpetuance of "racism." Thank you for including the factual information that they were black.

> this post reeks of racism.

My thoughts exactly!

If you goto the actual link of the news story http://www.wdel.com/news they have lots of news stories describing white/hispanic/black. Its a news site goddamit, they are obliged to give an accurate description of the perp, thats not racist!

Let me ask this... what purpose does this story serve? Who does this serve beyond Ken Weeks' ego? Congratulations, there was a crime in your neighborhood and you're very scared for your life.

This story is racist because:

a) it isn't newsworthy or noteworthy
b) Ken draws a direct connection between criminal behavior and the color of someone's skin
c) Providing the criminal's race does nothing more than perpetuate the idea that a person's skin color is the cause of crime.

It's not as if anyone reading this blog is going to be on the lookout for these suspects, so what purpose does their race serve? Nothing, except to support a racist joke pertaining to baby formula and smoking crack.

Hey, i used to go to the Funcoland in delaware. Damn them. Don't they know its tax free shopping!!! they could have saved money, instead they just steal....

Wow you stupid idiots. You're the one who's being racist. All he was doing was stereotyping that people who hold shops at gun point are in to drugs... which is a fair stereotype. I hate wankers like you that start screaming racism because they used the word "black". The ironic thing is, I can almost guarantee you're not black yourself.

Stereotyping != racism

You all need to take that huge chip off your shoulder. The text is a direct quite from the news site. Racist my ass!

"You all need to take that huge chip off your shoulder. The text is a direct quite from the news site. Racist my ass!"

a) What purpose does this story serve anyway?
b) It's Weeks' pathetic joke that makes this post racist.

> also that there gains would bring them a bounty of,"Similac. Or crack.", Maybe they were just out for Grape fanta, or Chicken

Oh, yeah. They totally robbed those 360s in order to donate them to the local Lion's Club.

Pssst. Here's a little secret: Criminals - especially ones who rob, at gunpoint - often times rob for drugs.

And he didn't point out they were black, he quoted the report. (See the quotes?)

I sincerely hope you don't strive for a world where news, or even police reports, will become so politically correct where you can't state their race if the assailant is any race other than white.

If anyone should be offended, it should be the Hamburglar. What did he do to deserve being posted in this newsbit? He may steal hamburgers, but never at gunpoint.

IT IS THE ARTICLE IN QUOTES THAT MENTIONS THEY ARE BLACK. NOT KEN.

"That buys alot of Similac. Or crack. Hey, if you're risking 25 to life, why not grab a Vision Camera and an extra controller on the way out?"

Okay, that's not funny. I admit I laughed, but it's still not funny... :)

You people screaming racism are hilarious. As said before it is a quote from the story posted on a news site. If it were two white guys and the story read as such there wouldn't be an issue. Let it go...

As for the saying its not "newsworthy" it is completely news worthy hence the reason its posted on an actual news site. This however is a blog and in such the poster of the blog can choose to write about whatever he/she wants. You don't like what is being blogged then don't read the blog.

OMG! PEOPLE DESCRIBING PEOPLE OMG!

Jesus sodomising Christ, get off the PC bandwagon. Especially you whities, god damn white people, they're all white! Or orange, depending on the brand of fake tan.

I'm black and it strikes me as on the line... this post is in the grey area that a videogame blog doesn't belong in.

1) why mention a person's race (for description purposes) and you don't give height, weight, age etc...

2) just because its on another site doesn't mean that it is newsworthy, I bet I could find plenty of sites that say ken's gay... doesn't make it repostable

3)the media has a certain way of labeling things according to color (anyone remember the katrina picture thing where a white family is stealing food and the caption says "they are getting what they need" and in the very same paper a black family is steal food from the very same super market and its labeled "looting"?)

No one every mentions race (seemingly) when white people steal tens of billions of dollars, enron anyone? ( not one paper wrote white guy steals millions and ruins people's futures and gets away with it.)

Also there is a huge habit of people on the inside just to blame black people when they stole it themselves (or did it themselves.... like that white lady that drowned her kids and said a black man stole her car, every black man for miles was rounded up and questioned)

I don't think that the post is meant to be racist, but it needs to be understood that perpetuating any stereotype isn't good...

where the is the outcry I want summa's head!!!!! woops

I'm a black guy and although I can't speak for everyone, I didn't think Ken was being racist. There have been recent posts involving PS3 and Xbox 360 thefts, so to follow up in that regard I believe he posted this story. And it could be that the criminals wanted to feed their family or a drug habbit, but I think it was more that likely MONEY motivated.

I will say this though, i've been on jury duty and I watch the news, and it is terribly slanted. There is no shortage white criminals, but you may not get that impression from the news. Most white crime in the city is not reported in the same manner as non-whites. For the same crime, I usually see that a non-white "suspect" will have his picture posted, a camera crew outside of his neighborhood, and the reporter usually interviews the most uneducated person they can find. For white criminals they may mention in the story s/he is white, but no photo or neighborhood visit. They aren't saying anything racist, but if 99% they show a photo or composite sketch of some black/hispanic person, it has a subliminal effect that those "types" of people may be dangerous.

-Dave

I read the post without seeing the comments and I immediately sensed some racism. Just the mention of similac or something. Sorry, I hate throwing the racist card around, but it was there.

NB, i'm ginge \o/

@17 Hahahahahah oh so true.. pasty saltine ass crackers... "Accurate description of the perps"

Because all the cops need to know is that they were black. No one needs to know exactly what they look like. Just that they were black.

If you called the men black and they were actually white, I would consider that racism. I find it funny that people of color get sick of hearing about black people committing crimes. Then they try to turn it around on white people and call us racist. I guess it equals out everything. Unreal!

first thing I thought was racism, before i even looked at the comments. Why not jut remove the post ?

Speaking of stereotypes, it reminds me of one of the funniest stereotypical moments that I have ever witnessed. While I was volunteering with a group of people to help cleanup and fix a local daycare center one of the daycare workers asked the children what they wanted for a snack. She gave them the choice of either apples or carrots. Some kids voted for apples and some for carrots, but one cute little black girl said "I want some chicken!" There were several of us volunteers who overheard this and just about died laughing. Not that this has anything to do with the story, but stereo types sometimes can be true and when they are it can be hilarious.

He can write anything he wants because this is his blog, who the hell ate you guys to tell him what he has to write.

The fact that the perpetrators were black was lifted directly from the radio report without much consideration. However, if they were described as toothless white hillbillies wearing overalls you can bet the "joke" would have been about crystal meth so forgive the stereotypical drug humor. Actually, I was robbed at gunpoint by two misguided victims of society a few years ago so that's why this story about a local crime caught my attention.

"That buys alot of Similac. Or crack."

Yeah I'm sure that was in the news report too? I'm glad Kramerism is bringing alot of the closet racist's out now, atleast now we know where those people stand.

For all you people that think this is racist can go eat a bowl of flying dicks. How can anyone be offened by this....what is with all your PC people out there that look for every instance in which racism (sp) could be implied but isn't?....

You know when you look at it, it isn't even the black OH SORRY AFRICAN AMERICAN community that get all up in arms about shit like this...untill Jessie Jackson gets involved then everyone hops on the bandwagon...but it's the white..oh wait I sliped again CACULASION (spelling eorry because i never use the word in light that i don't care if i'm PC) community that feels they need to shelter all other minorities.....

Did anyone see Ken post this in a damn KKK hood?

There are racist people out there...but they the only reasion they matter is because you make them matter because you pay attention to them....

@ ljbad4life

You hit the nail right on the head man.

the joke was in bad taste. the article brings up the issue, ken highlighted it. no, i don't think u'r racist, ken, just not very insightful. sorry u got robbed, that sucks, but u still have to tread lightly around those racially stereotypical jokes, or risk being mobbed, if only in the comments...

I think the race of the criminals should have been left out and what they were going to do with thier ill gotten gains. Three masked men robbed a Gamestop for 360s totaling up to 3,000 dollars. End of story. Unless you wanted to spark all this racism talk. Their are crimmals in every color. point is, I wish I knew them, so I could buy one for half price.

i like your site. i read it often.

this is the worst ive ever seen the site be. im not upset that you point out the blacktitude of the perps because im giving you the benefit of the doubt that you copied and pasted from a news article.

what was uncalled for was your comments

"That buys alot of Similac. Or crack."

you are directly corelating the crime with the race, and the race with a poor stereotype. you may say "stereotypes are based off of some fact" or whatever is said to validify your statement, but your site is supposed to be professional, and you need not promote such stereotypes.

in my honest opinion, this post was a little over the top, and it just shows that when its all said and done, we know which side your bread is buttered on. kinda like kramer.

A QUOTE FROM Ken Weeks:

"That buys a lot of Similac. Or crack. Hey, if you're risking 25 to life, why not grab a Vision Camera and an extra controller on the way out?"

________________________________________________

I'm a black man, and I have no problem with him stating that they were black. If that's what happens to have been their race then that's fine.

The problem I have is with the last paragraph. This is the truly racist remarks. Why was the above statement necessary?

Nice racist under tones Ken Weeks!!

First we have to put up with the poor quality of your blog posts, now you mean to tell me that we have to deal with you racist attitude?

And for anyone that can't see the racism in that last paragraph as it relates to the context of the entire post. Then you too may need to look into getting some help for you problem also. Because you probably carry a racist attitude / out look, and not even realize it.

On a lighter note anyone seen the screen shots of World War for the XBLA they look awesome!!!

P.S.

F*ck you Carnie!!

To suggest that black ppl don't get up set in regards to racist events until Jessie Jackson gets involved. Now either you're truly are a racist, or you are not even aware that the statement you make is in fact also racist!! To suggest that black ppl as a whole have no opinions of there own, and that we are ( or seem to be in you statement just cattle that just move on something when someone tells us to is extremely outrageous.

You are just the type of person that i was referring to in my original post. You're racist, ( or at the very least you make racist comments ) and you don't even realize it!

#20

Are you trying to be silly?

The race of the Enron perps wasn't pertinent because these were not subjects of potential police pursuit if spotted. They knew exactly where these people lived and could arrest them at any time if the need should arise. The issue in such cases isn't tracking down the suspect but rather building the case against them to obtain a guilty verdict in court. And since their pictures were widely published and broadcast it wasn't necessary to make note of what people could readily discern for themselves.

In the case of an armed robbery the race and any other immediately recognizable traits of the suspects is extremely pertinent. If they were all unusually tall or short, that would be equally meaningful.

The similac or crack line at the end should be taken on its own rather than arbitrarily tied to the earlier noted race of the suspects. One was part of a quoted report and the other was a comment that had no inherent racial context. People committing armed robbery to finance the purchase of either item are more characterized by stupidity than race.

Stupidity especially in this case. Video game robberies by smarter criminals tend to target games rather than consoles. The games are worth more by volume and weight while the consoles carry individual serial numbers that are easily reported to the police if stolen. So, the games are more valuable and less likely to be traced. Easy decision, if you aren't a crack-addled gun-waving fool. It's little surprise that the big hauls in video game theft tend to be the work of organized gangs stealing shipments rather armed robberies of retailers.

Big chain retailers who take in used systems can qickly check the serial number against the manufacturer's database of items reported stolen. This even applies to items stolen after sale. I know of a Toshiba laptop that was recovered over a year after its theft because the person the thief sold it to took it in for service. The service center checked the serial number as standard procedure and was informed that the unit had been reported stolen. Everything proceeded from there.

I could tell you the race of the person who stole the laptop but it wouldn't be meaningful because that wasn't a factor at the time of the theft since it was a burglary rather a confrontational robbery. It only became known after the laptop was recovered and had no value in helping the police pursue the case. See the difference?

I wasn't aware that black people are the only ones that use crack and need similac.

If the point of this post was supposed to be informative, then the author should have provided the facts without his ignorant comments. Stating the assailants' ethnicity isn't the racist part of the comment. It was the "similac and crack" comment that made it ignorant and racist.

It was in no way funny, nor was it necessary. Find someplace else to release your racist rants. We don't want it here.

I agree with Refugee. the post in the news paper wasnt racists its the commment that was mad after that is. i bought my 360 with my hard earn money and everytime i get on live some white guy is always ?ing me how i got mine. Statement like did you steal your 360 or you should have spent your welfare check on something else are said. i had a group of them call me and my roomates niggas. i am not racists but it is sad to see that it still goes on to this day. the last paragraph was out of line and i see he hasnt came on here and said he was sorry for it. did it every click in anyone head that they could have stolen the 360 to sell on ebay or to sell on the streets. its called being on your hustle. im not saying they where right for doing it but just think out side the mother fucking box. I work for eb games and are store got hit up for a bunch of shit and guess what they were white. after the store was closed they threw a big ass rock in the window ran in and got the games and left. Now i know you asking how did i know they were white. cause of the cameras in the store caught the whole thing. plus one of the boys drop his book bag in the store with his home work in it. and he wasnt selling it for drugs he was selling the games at school for money. so chew on that shit.

@30

again I wrote they only put the race not height, age, etc... I say this doesn't belong on a gaming blog site, sadly I will visit here less often... if Summa got fired for the wii bs, then ken should be put to death.

@ ken as a journalist you need to have some sort of integrity.. I guess its of to destructiod from now on

"why mention a person's race (for description purposes) and you don't give height, weight, age etc..."

When you have a gun pointed to your face while you are being robbed what are you going to notice first?

1) Color of Skin
2) Height
3) Weight
4) Age
5) Etc

You know the answer. Get over it. You have the same color skin that the perps had in this case. That doesn't make you a criminal. Relax already. The poster said they were black because they were. Guess that's all the info they had.

Wow, talk about a bunch of little babies. Number one, it's in quotes so blame the new company. He copy and pasted it. Second, because he said Similac and crack, you get up in arms. For your information, you're the stereotypical one here. You're saying are enforcing it by seeing black and say "so you said that cause they were black!"
I have firm proof (a.k.a, I live in Crackbabytown, USA.) that not only do white people do crack, but they have BABIES! Yes, this may shock you, but white people use Similac.

Now, how about you shut up with your "let's defend so we're not accused" attitude, and do something like realize that he saw that an assload of Xbox 360's were stolen. It's Xbox 360 news, and he was just sharing.

Brian, are you ever reading the post of the ppl that are objecting to the article. It's not the part of the article when he called them black. ( no one care about that ) It's the last paragraph were he states:

A QUOTE FROM Ken Weeks:

"That buys a lot of Similac. Or crack. Hey, if you're risking 25 to life, why not grab a Vision Camera and an extra controller on the way out?"

________________________________________________

That's the racist remarks that everyone is upset about.

eh, while i hate it when people are quick to shout "RACIST!!!" when they see anything non-controversial about an african-american individual, this post is a little bit misled.

why do we have to know they're black??? granted, not the poster's words, i'm badgering the quoted. while that's not necessarily racist, it more than likely has racist undertones.

and the anteceding paragraph??? granted, criminals are often found consuming illegal substances, but this is also a common stereotype of the african-american community. while he probably didn't mean for it to be racist (possibly even satirical, not sure), it still could appear that way. and let's face it: you can't get away with saying shit these days. people are way too sensitive. and i'm not blaming them; there are some real racist assholes who actually mean what they say and/or do not leave room for ambiguity. and it's a shame. people have to take everything said so seriously because people might actually be serious in saying it. so that's why i think this post should be addressed.




keep in mind i am caucasian, though that doesn't really alter my point and contradicts my first statement. regardless...

@ljbad4life

how did summa get fired??? i don't really keep up with joystiq politics at all, but i just remember that everytime he made a post everyone always commented that he was an idiot. just curious.

that enron reference was classic- they stole billions, and they never even hint at thier race- ka-pow mo'fo's, he got ya there.

we all know its all the media's fault. the fact is soem of these dumb "not down" "white boys act like they can make 'jokes' because 'its just funny'.

my thing is why dont they make those jokes in a 'black' neighborhood? they would need all the similac they can get after they get damn near beat to death.

because you will never hear from thier dumb asses again.

And for thjat jesse jackson comment, I'll ask david duke and all them crackers down south waving confederate flags if those are just 'jokes'.

the worst thing about racsim in these times is that it hides under the skin. I'd have a lot more respect for those people talking and thinking that stuff if they would say it out loud when not hiding behind thier friends.

anyone who can make jokes like that dont know the criminal nature of whites throughout world history- joke about that you uneducated morons. oh, you cant because you dont know a damn thing except the size of britney spears titties.

Hey Ken, the Willie Lynch letters were funny too right?

IDIOT. get off these here pages. now back to the games.

@jeramy
Summa got fired for hyping everyone up with supposed ground breaking news on the wii, he told everyone to stay up until midnight to get the info... but the info was only that the wii was well under production and would surpass earlier launch estimates... every post on that blog was a flame and I mean thousands of posts... so summa got canned over it...

if summa got canned over hype what does the guy get who wrote a racial slur? (not really a slur, grey area again... more like an insult mixed)

On a side note can't the people sue (that stole the stuff) sue for libel? not like they would, but if they get caught and need money for lawyers and what not, this could be an easy revenue stream..

Let me help you ALL who are missing the point as to why his comment is being deemed racist. I don't care if the article said "3 black men" did whatever. If the news article feels the need to specify the race, I don't care.

But for Ken Weeks to say that it buys a lot of similac or crack is feeding off of a stereotype. Now before you throw the tired "most crimes are drug-related" argument, let me give you a rebuttal.

What about the handful of stories we were hearing about last week overseas where truckloads of Xbox 360s were being stolen? The perps are ASSUMED to be non-black due to the location. The race wasn't specified (which is usually the case if it is a non-ethnic race) and no bloggers felt the need to bring up crack and similac at that time.

On an unrelated sidenote, I'm black....

what was uncalled for was your comments

"That buys alot of Similac. Or crack."

That above commect was the racist remark or just very poor taste. I am black and I didn't have a problem with his news update until that last part. He connected the color of their skin to drugs "that black people do" and cheap baby formula "that poor black women use". That offends me. But I guess some of you don't get it and would be the same people to defend kramer as well. Go figure!

ljbad4life, im with you great points Im black and i cant believe racism still exist. I think its mostly in the media. I was thinking the same think what did being black have to do with any of this unless your purposely making a stereotype.

yea that katrina issue F**cked my head up "WE" were looting and "they" were making provisons for their families. Yet they "all" were doing the same thing.

Definitely Racist, can't afford a $20 can of Similace if they even take care of their children. So the poster implies they will spend it on crack. Sad.