World of Wristslash: Suicide Does Not Net Assets
So, you're a huge World of Warcraft fan. You just got your gnome hunter \ engineer to level 49 and you're looking to score some ore to smith back at Ironforge. But where do you get all that sweet, sweet mineral goodness? Well, don't threaten to kill yourself to one of those game masters.
A 17-year-old Ohio boy discovered the hard way that joking about suicide with a Blizzard employee is not a smart move. After threatening to off himself while probing for in game assets, the boy found himself with a mouthful of something he should not chew:
The teen was having an online conversation with a representative of Blizzard Entertainment, an online video game company, when he typed that "he was suicidal and that the game is the only thing he has to live for," according to the report.The company representative called 911.
The juvenile told police it was a joke "to try to get what he wanted for the game," according to the report. He was then handcuffed and placed in a patrol car.
Teen Makes Phony Suicide Threat to Blizzard Rep, Gets Arrested [Game Politics]
Asterick
Posted to Video Games on 2 January 2009
· Comments (12)
Other stuff like this: blizzard entertainment, jokes that are not funny, suicide, world of warcraft
that is six kinds of awesome. seriously, I hope that kid enjoys the rest of his Christmas break from the confines of a jail cell.
FABULOUS! silly little bastard.
Damn getting my hopes up.
Only another 7 million suicides and they might release Starcraft, a good trade off in my book.
Go on Warcraft fans, I suggest an overdose, take one for my present and future enjoyment.
How about a permant ban as well?
ah, the perils of in-game chat. perhaps he should have put a ; ) in there, or a "lawlz".
What if the kid wasn't joking? I know I used to play RPG's and you almost feel serious about suicide if you can't get a certain item. . . Especially if the game is your life.
I am glad the Blizzard employee did that. Especially after someone webcammed their actual suicide and no one reported it (cause they thought it was a joke), one should NEVER risk the possibility of it actually being true.
Hang on a second. He was arrested? Why on Earth did they do that? I don't know a lot about US law, but in the UK I wouldn't think the police would arrest you for something like that, unless they felt you posed a danger to yourself (which, apparently, this kid didn't) or to others.
And even if he was serious, wouldn't it be more of a matter for social services?
re: That Dude Whose Not Going To Kill Himself@gmail.net
well, if the brat actually DOES have a problem, I am pretty darn sure he'll be receiving an evaluation due to this. if he doesn't, than the little brat has learned that suicide jokes are NOT an acceptable method of trying to cheat a game.
Obviously it wasn't all that apparent.
That, or the rep didn't want to get tagged for not taking action once the kid showed up on the evening news over this.
@ Alex
He was probably arrested for his attempt to commit extortion, which is what "making a joke 'to try to get what he wanted for the game'" ends up being.
It could happen if teenagers lack parental supervision that's why I suggest that parents should join their children playing online games. What do you think? ; P And for the parents to buy wow gold for their child as a reward.
Keep in mind :: People need to be responsible for what they say and do.