According to a recent Newsday article, a group of bored teenage boys ages 14-18 stayed out at all hours of the night committing violent crimes for fun. They robbed and beat a man, carjacked a BMW and drove around smashing other vehicles with a bat, crowbar and broomstick. When they were finally arrested, these teens blamed the video game Grand Theft Auto IV for their actions.

At first glance, you might feel sorry for these kids. These young, innocent teens are trying to find their way through a harsh and unforgiving world. What’s more, their ethics are manipulated and corrupted by media and entertainment companies as well as peer pressure. (Stephen Attard, 18, police mug shot)

But then you have to wonder, what kind of parents permit their kids to roam the streets at all hours of the night? Who’s providing them with a moral compass that guides them as to what’s right and wrong? And since when are characters in ESRB Mature rated video game considered role models?

Parents and the media are now quick to point the finger at Rockstar Games for influencing these young impressionable minds. There’s no doubt that video games can be great training devices to learn a new skill. But blaming video games or movies for encouraging immature minds to commit crimes is ridiculous. These entertainment properties offer a variety of views on life. If these kids believed that Grand Theft Auto IV presented a world where crime pays, then they weren’t paying close attention.

Technorati Tags: Grand Theft Auto IV, Stephen Attard, Rockstar Games

Filed under: Personal Opinions, Technology