Boing Boing, a directory of Cory Doctorow, brings usnewsof a strange medical case that is sure to give Jack Thompson an ambulatory boner (the same kind that wanders the streets at night eating roosters and small dogs; see alsoChupacabra).
In 2001, the decidedly BritishJournal of the Royal Society of Medicinepublished a report centering on a young man who had been admitted to a psychiatric facility for “strange behavior”. Strangely, his strange behavior, seemed to imitate that seen in decidedly strange gameGrand Theft Auto, and, feeling this sort of thing was a tad strange, the authorities rounded him up with a modicum of under-their-breath “My word! How strange!” mutterings, and an acceptable level of monocle displacement.
Hit the jump for applicable quotes from theJournal.
A young man was admitted from prison to a psychiatric facility after reports that he had been acting in a bizarre manner. He had been arrested for stealing motor vehicles and assaults with weapons. At interview he was found to be experiencing the delusion that he was a player inside a computer game (adult-certificate game, widely available) in which points are scored for stealing cars, killing assailants and avoiding police vehicles. Psychotic symptoms had emerged slowly over two years. His family had noticed him becoming increasingly withdrawn and isolated from social activities. He developed delusions that strangers were planning to kill him and also experienced auditory hallucinations, constantly hearing an abusive and derogatory voice. Previously a computer enthusiast, he began to play computer games incessantly. He felt that the games were communicating with him via the headphones. In a complex delusional system he came to believe he was inside one of these games and had to steal a car to start scoring points. He broke into a car and drove off at speed, believing he had `invulnerable’ fuel and so could not run out of petrol. To gain points he chose to steal increasingly powerful vehicles, threatening and assaulting the owners with weapons. Later he said he would have had no regrets if he had killed someone, since this would have increased his score.
I think it’s pertinent to point out that this lad wasquiteinsane. He exhibited classic evidence of schizophrenic behavior that was merely augmented by his gaming. While I’m sure the media would spin this story in the opposite direction, rational, useful people do not start jacking cars and clubbing people with truncheons moments after booting up the PlayStation.
Besides, this is America. I don’t even know where you couldfinda truncheon around here!
