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September 27, 2006
Speaking of Causation Problems...
“But for Posey’s use of these products. . . he would not have killed,” according to the complaint in the civil suit seeking to blame a manufacturer for the murder of a family by a son.
The "products" in question? Perhaps, oh, readily-available handguns? Medications causing psychosis? Nope. A videogame, which somehow, via use of a joystick (which, to my untrained eye, looks rather unlike a gun), "how to point and shoot a gun in a fashion making him an extraordinarily effective killer without teaching him any of the constraints or responsibilities needed to inhibit such a killing capacity."
The WSJ law blog points out that the plaintiffs' attorney, Jack Thompson, is rather prolific in suits seeking to blame media, videogames, etc., for crime.
September 27, 2006 in Products Liability | Permalink
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Comments
Perhaps Thompson is thinking that the video game taught the boy the hand-eye coordination necessary to be a good shot? In which case, I would ask, did the boy play little-league baseball? Of course, the assertion that the video game company is negligent by selling an amoral product is impressive if only for its brazenness.
Posted by: Seth | Sep 27, 2006 4:33:53 PM
