The other side of a disturbed teen's tale
by Ross Miller 
{ Feb 22nd 2007 at 2:00AM }
Yesterday we reported on a CNN article that surfaced recently where a teenager cited video games as inspiration for the "sport killing" of a homeless man. The piece riled up Mike "Gabe" Krahulik, whose rant places much of the blame on the parents.In a rare opportunity, the stepmother of one of the children involved in the death wrote a long and compelling letter describing her relation with the perpetrators. The writing presents a powerful, impassioned perspective on raising demonic children. "The kid knows full well that by equating what he's done to a video game," she said, "that he will generate controversy and media coverage." As Gabe points out (and we will affirm), she's right.
The news will get out, whether or not the gaming media covers it (a fact Doug Lowenstein fails to understand). Gaming is the new controversial medium -- just look at how much the mainstream media has attached itself to whether or not a Utah killer possessed or played video games of any sort. It's up to the media of all forms to tackle the issue responsibly and put the issue in perspective -- that the kid was demonic and psychotic -- but we expect some outlets will go for the hysterical approach.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Loque @ Feb 22nd 2007 2:19AM
Bout time this got posted.
Rubang B @ Feb 22nd 2007 2:48AM
Having read yesterday's post here at Joystiq and reading the entire CNN article, the kid NEVER ONCE CITED VIDEO GAMES AS THE INSPIRATION. Sorry about the caps. He mentioned video games once, saying that when he killed the guy, it felt like a video game. He never said he played a lot of games or anything. Most of the article was about how teens have been killing the homeless more recently since those Bumfights DVDs came out, but thankfully the people responsible for those DVDs are already in jail.
Antonio @ Feb 22nd 2007 2:57AM
Wow, first time reading that story. That kid was seriously fucked up.
NoHitHair @ Feb 22nd 2007 2:58AM
Ross Miller:
Well said. Very well said.
http://blog.myspace.com/nohithair
Judd @ Feb 22nd 2007 3:06AM
Agreeing with Rubang B. I read the article and I didn't find any mention of "video games me do it".
On that note, I'd like to say I am really sick of gaming sites like Joystiq and Penny Arcade constantly fishing for video game violence articles. Mainstream media trying to find a connection between a violent act and video games, is no worse than video game media trying to find vague references of video games being blamed for violent acts.
If there is a major issue going through Congress about video game legislation then by all means blog about it. But if there is a non-story than don't make one up.
Besides I always feel like even if it is a major event, posting it on gamer sites is just preaching to the choir. Gaming blog says "It's not true that vodep games cause violence", and commenters agree. Why doesn't someone write one of these articles for CNN? You know, make a point to those who don't generally see that side of the argument. Yes, I know that gaming does not cause violence and so does everybody else who visits this site.
Judd @ Feb 22nd 2007 3:13AM
Last paragraph, 3rd line, first word "video" not "vodep".
Judd @ Feb 22nd 2007 3:14AM
Last paragraph, 3rd line, 1st word "video" not "vodep".
fawazr @ Feb 22nd 2007 3:51AM
I agree with Judd and Rubang. If anyone is guilty of sensationalizing the video game slant on these two stories, it's the gaming press, not the mainstream press.
I'll go a step further and say that the gaming press has been overly zealous in it's coverage and defense of violent video games. From my perspective, it nearly borders on lobbying.
Slavi @ Feb 22nd 2007 4:41AM
I was 14 yrs old (20 yrs ago) when I got my first Commodore 64 and discovered the world of video games. Since then, I have killed (on the screen) hundreds of monsters, orcs, enemy soldiers, gangsters and destroyed as many cars, tanks, airplanes, buildings, spaceships and planets. It was all very blood and loud and some of the scenes were looking very real.
But I have never ever thought of going out on the street to put into practice what I've learned through video gaming.
I was given a right education by my parents when I was a kid, they thought me what is good and what is bad, thought me to respect other people and the importance of human life.
So I believe that it's all about the education, not about video games.
Violent video games probably can trigger a violent reaction, but only in a person which allready lacks proper moral values and behavioral brakes. These values had to be imprinted by his parents and by the society, so ultimately they have the biggest part of a guilt when things like that happen.
Reapz @ Feb 22nd 2007 4:50AM
This kid was the load that his mother should have swallowed.
ss @ Feb 22nd 2007 5:42AM
Holy fuck, man!
That mail Gabe received is mind boggling.
As a father of a 2 yo myself i completely understood Gabe's stance on the previous post. But to actually hear from the step-mother what a fucked up kid that was is just astonishing.
ElectronicTalking @ Feb 22nd 2007 5:48AM
@2,5,8
"Ihrcke told police that killing "the bum" reminded him of playing a violent video game, a police report shows."
Straight from the CNN article. It's not blaming games but it sure as hell is comparing the real life murder of a person to a video game thus creating the attention and controversy the kid craves. Just little things like this do become ammunition for anti-games groups and the sensationalist media.
I wouldn't be surprised to see someone (like Jack) latch on and say 'Games have become such realistic "murder-simulators" that children can no longer tell the difference between killing someone for real and killing someone within a game'. This is probably why the gaming-press has gone on the defensive rather quickly.
NintendoFanbot @ Feb 22nd 2007 7:10AM
I don't see the problem with Lowenstein's standpoint. THERE IS a difference between whether or not the general media covers a story vs. the gaming press: the general media represents the opinions of people that aren't familiar with the product or the industry and the well-versed media that should be responsible for representing the opinion of regular gamers and developers.
The first thing that 'outsiders' will look at when judging the game industry is the professionals. In the case where the most 'professional' level is in question (like a developer Ex: Rockstar), they turn to the secondary insight to the industry (Ex: gaming media) to see how the industry replies to their own negative exposure. To see if they handle it or not.
The gaming media often fires back with 'games don't make people crazy' and that defense is enough for gamers and people who know better, but the argument has to be better for people not as familiar to general attitudes about games and especially the games in question.
Truthfully, the 'media = mere messenger' statement is bullcrap. There's a responsibility to represent gaming in a responsible (good as well as bad exposure) while staying connected with the reader.
If I had a hand in the situation, the first person I'd want to deal with is JT. Have him for a series of 2-hour correspondences over a few weeks, inquiring first-hand his rationale for crusading the games industry. It would only prove a point if JT probably couldn't come up with enough arguments for ONE discussion.
We don't need to discredit anyone intentionally, if we have a better case it will be revealed in time with effort.
Sadly, lawsuit-happy people will continue to strike from their hidden bases. If the media (of all varietys) would take more time to shine on the context of the situation rather than the actions themselves despite sentationalism maybe the public will come to respect the field.
And I don't mean providing vague reasons as to why Lowenstein's wrong in his assessment in the linked Joystiq article. Even if he 'ranted on his way out' it should still apply.
While not really a news-outlet, PA's article was really personal and something very insightful.
Jake @ Feb 22nd 2007 9:02AM
Yeah, it is kinda funny how an obviously completely phsychotic and demonic freak like that kid says "what, it's just like a video game." and people run with it. Words from his mouth should carry very little weight. He should be thrown directly into a prison where he can get a little of his own medicine.
Tony @ Feb 22nd 2007 9:20AM
I don't think this site understands Lowenstein's root point whatsoever. There's a difference between reporting on NEWS and giving an obviously delusional, completely ego-centric man who has been barred from official courts continued and consistent coverage and blurbs for the smallest, most unimportant of issues only to respond with kneejerk "games are not bad!" reactions.
The difference is that Thompson got his point out months, if not years ago. He has nothing more to say and to continue to give him a pedestal to scream atop of is not helping anyone. The mainstream media has long since stopped paying attention to him, lawyers want him out of the bar, etc etc etc.
How that's similar to a step parent of one of the accused stepping out and actually saying something about the lifestyle and motivations of someone involved in a real crime I have no idea.
I don't get why this keeps getting brought up.
Apreche @ Feb 22nd 2007 10:21AM
I posted this at Kotaku, but I'll post it here also.
My house-mate and I read this letter twice. The main problem seems to be that there was nothing this poor family could do to help their child. At first, we agreed that there was no option. We were saddened by the sorry state of a world where no amount of effort or money can solve such a terrible problem. This is truly a horrible turn of events. People need to pay attention to what happened here, and learn a lesson from it.
Now, being the geeks we are we began to try to think of a solution. In all seriousness, if we were the parents what would we do? I don't want this to sound insulting or arrogant, but we actually came up with what we believe is a real answer. There is actually a way to deal with problem kids like this, or at least free the parents from their nightmare.
I'm being completely serious when I say this kid should have been sent away to either a military academy or boarding school. We did some research on it, and while there are fewer schools like this than there used to be, they do still exist. I'm not going to ask why these parents didn't take this option, that doesn't matter now. What I am going say is that people who are currently in similarly drastic situations should consider taking these drastic measures. It's certainly preferable to the alternative of murder and jail.
Vision67 @ Feb 22nd 2007 10:43AM
In the case of extreme 'demonic' kids, I'd agree with Apreche as the last resort. That kid was just screwed up, and no amount of help from talking was going to break him. Solitary confinement? Nope, being grounded for weeks and months didn't leave so much as a dent in his personality. Maybe having a first sergeant yell at him for days on end, eventually would have broken this kid and his 'if i don't win I'll make sure that you lose even more' attitude.
But yeah, not that that matters for that kid now, but its certainly something to think about when the child is so far out there that all the consoling in the world will do nothing.
a @ Feb 22nd 2007 10:52AM
I usually don't comment on these stories. Here's the deal with this, video games and violent ones, played by certain individuals may have a slight chance of "pushing them over the edge". The thing is, its not the video games fault, they might have gone nuts without it, or maybe by reading something, or watching something on TV.
This has happened historically before with books, writing. catcher in the rye for example (see controversy section).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Catcher_in_the_Rye
wb @ Feb 22nd 2007 11:39AM
"one of the children involved in the death?"
Heart disease is a cause of "death." When people are a cause of death, we call it "a murder." Is a little clarity too much to ask for?
otisgibbon @ Feb 22nd 2007 3:27PM
I read the Penny arcade article yesterday. I think this kid was a psychopath plain and simple his mental problems are no ones fault. The people who are to blame for not stopping him are the social workers and police. The kid claimed to be abused and the social workers took his side over the parents. The parents begged to have him thrown in jail and the police just ignored them. Hopefully this kid spends a very long time in prison.
joetron2030 @ Feb 22nd 2007 3:54PM
@apreche:
Military/boarding schools might be an option but at what cost? And who bears the cost if the family can't afford it? They do not come free. And, they are still much like any other school, a student can still be expelled. They are not jails.
From reading the letter to Gabe by the stepmother, I got the impression that this child was "lost" a LONG time ago (due to whatever reasons or circumstances). The fact that the authorities who could have done something were essentially manipulated by this kid with his lies didn't help either.
In the end, I don't know what more could have been done. Maybe the kid will "wake up" in prison. Though, I have my doubts. From what little I've gathered from reading what's been provided, my guess is he'll join a gang in prison and continue on his merry, destructive way.
I feel for the kid's family. I don't know what I'd do if either of my kids were like this.
The Boo @ Feb 22nd 2007 5:57PM
Please people, can't we leave the Duke out of this? To shamelessly slap his picture on an article that he had nothing to do with is uncalled for. He's had enough bad press during his life time. Just let him rest in peace.
Grant @ Feb 23rd 2007 11:31AM
it's like i said when they first meantioned this story, some people just suck, obviously this kid fit the profile.
and by even meantioning anything about video games, he's attacking our hobby on purpose, what a disgrace for a human being.
Goldspire @ Feb 23rd 2007 1:46AM
"some" outlets (Fox News)
JM @ Feb 23rd 2007 4:36PM
Rather than military school, is it still possible to commit someone who is dangerous and mentally ill as this guy obviously is? Or do you pretty much have to wait for them to off a bum?
Also, what about the boyfriend of the mother who did time because the kid planted a gun? I wonder if he got let off?