energy swords

Bhav, this link is for you. Beat the energy sword addiction. It will do good for you in the long run. =P

On a slightly different topic, I was reading in Hyper that once again, people are blaming violent actions in society on the loveable violent videogames. This is one of many things that sickens me- people making ignorant remarks that a violent videogame is the source of all evil. Apparently, in Sydney, a "Counter-Strike Shooting" took place where a man was shot by two young men dressed in camouflage outfits, and I quote from Hyper who is mocking the Crown Prosecutor, James Bennet, ""Obviously" inspired by the game Counter-Strike, as no military in the world has ever heard of fatigues or balaclavas before" This is fucking stupid. There are plenty of other reasons why a man could be shot by other people in army fatigues. Let's see... the killing could be inspired by a novel, tv show, news report, movie, or videogame. It could also be inspired by the fact that the victim had done something to the killers (is inspired an appropriate word?). Why did they wear army fatigues? Could it be that they are war junkies? Or perhaps they thought the camouflage would let them get to the victim undetected, or perhaps it would have made a good disguise- no one would recognise them out of their costume. And my final point, why the hell did that prosecutor blame it on CS? Actually, I'm happy that he's blaming that bloody game, but why is he blaming it on that specific game? There's plenty of other games that involve killing innocent people, and not so innocent people as well, as well as other games involving guns and army fatigues. Don't forget the other forms of media that also contain these elements. To be a little more personal, CS has made me do one negative thing- "STOP PLAYING BLOODY CS AND TRY SOMETHING ELSE!!!" *smashes fists on table*

If prosecutors are going to blame crimes on videogames, I dare someone to put on hmm... a tutu, and rob a bank, do a few shootings and commit other serious crimes. That means they'll have to say "Ballet has inspired this person to steal, kill, and cause massive amounts of damage to public property."

Actually, I don't think I made my point clear. Gripe number 1: Someone blamed a killing on a videogame. Gripe number 2: Counter-Strike was accused as the main culprit because army fatigues were used.
Reasoning for GN1: There are plenty of other reasons why someone kills someone else. Hence blaming it on videogames is stupid.
Reasoning for GN2: Think about it, it's such a stupid accusation. Even if we did consider CS as the source of inspiration for killing, why would they shoot an unarmed civillian? The CTs are not supposed to shoot the hostages, they are supposed to rescue them. The Ts on the other hand have to guard them til the end of the round. There's nothing in the game that says gun down an unarmed man. No one is unarmed in CS, except for the hostages, and they are not meant to be killed.
Conclusion: Don't blame crimes on videogames, unless the suspect pleads guilty that that is the cause, because it is silly. Blame crimes on angst originating from society's poor treatment towards the perpetrator.


On another note. Damn you Peiran! You just had to save yourself $80 and copy Halo 2. Pay for the bloody game dammit. Bungie's staff have families to feed you know. Not to mention the sales could help increase Xbox's market share, which means more and better games for you (to pirate =P).