MW2 linked to airport bombing in Russia
Remember in Modern Warfare 2, that level called ‘No Russian’? You play as a suicide bomber who walked into a Russian airport and blew the place sky high? No? Me neither, it never happened. However the Russian Media have seen it fit to name Infinity Ward’s smash hit first person shooter as a potential ‘inspiration’ behind the suicide bombing that took place in Moscow’s Domodedovo airport leaving numerous passengers dead or seriously injured.
In face of such a horrific and sad event the good people of Fox are again on the bandwagon to trivialise the tragedy by throwing in the tedious effects of videogame violence arguement into the mix. Walid Phares, the terrorism analyst for Fox News has gone as far to suggest that the game and others like it have potential been used as training tool for the extremist to sharpen their skills.
“The issue is we need to know if terrorists or extremists are using these videos or DVDs or games to basically apply the model,”
“I think those who have been radicalised already – that is supposed in this case jihadists, Al-Qaeda or other kind – they look at the games and say these games will serve them to train.”
The Russian edition of Modern Warfare 2 does not actually contain the offending level, after the strength of opinion in Russia suggested that the game would fare better without it’s inclusion. At present authorities suspect that the attacks are to be credited to a band of Islamist militants from the North Caucasus region of Russia, and have rather bashfully come out to say that security at the airport was far from adequate, claiming that some of the security equipment installed in the facility such as the body scanners did not work.
The idea that a first person shooter, that requires you to push the left trigger to deploy a small explosive device would in any way be a helpful training tool to would-be-terrorist is a ludicrous idea at best. One has to wonder whether the ‘experts’ behind these comments should perhaps be focuses their energies a little more on the bigger picture such as exactly how and why a massacre on this scale has been allowed to happen, not to mention the various political and social tensions that provide a perfect breeding ground for extremism to cultivate, and ask the questions about what we can change in the future.
World peace and the hope of a future where gender, race, religion or political ethos simply do not matter within an accepting and peaceful society are at the moment are distant pipe dream. But while extremist around the world, such as those suspected in this case are blowing themselves and innocent bystanders to kingdom come over a matter of appeasing God, do we really need to start hearing that among the paradise and 72 virgins promised to these misguided people, that they are now doing it in the name of getting a free copy of Call of Duty in hereafter? The world is sad enough.
Source: Eurogamer
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There’s no sense in looking for logic where there is none – because they CAN’T be any logic in a plan that ends in mass murders.
Sadly, it seems more and more inevitable that crime ends attributable to video games, much like the ridiculous ‘video nasties’ debate in the 80s/90s.
I think it’s mostly a matter of it’s easier to blame a problem on something like video games, and brush the issue off the table by saying “He was crazy and played too many video games.” Than accepting a larger problem behind it all, and having to actually address it. Which is an unfortunate take to it all, because I believe it’s such indifference and inaction that has caused the world to be in such a sorry state in the first place. As well as how these sorts of horrific attacks continue to happen across the world. But I agree with Vikki, there’s no sense in trying to find the logic in a completely illogical statement/viewpoint.
This is what me and Jen said too, Lyn. It’s such a typical knee-jerk reaction to a horrific event, when most likely they’re just so astounded that an atrocity of this magnitude has happened in their country that they’re desperate to justify it somehow without accepting any sort of responsibility.
There’s always blame. In the past, in these sorts of events it’s generally been blamed on a musician – like Marilyn Manson in the wake of the Columbine massacre – but things have moved on, though I don’t think we’re going to see any less of this passing of the buck happening.
You have a valid point – look at the AZ kid, while he was no doubt a little off, every little thing someone has done that doesn’t fit our view of ‘normal’ or that may seem socially questionable instantly equates to a 20/20 vision of the persons ‘troubled past’. And it plays in to the hands of law makers, politicians, and other talking heads like the idiots on FOX when they search for something to blame.