WWE Issues Statement Regarding Indonesian Death

Here we go again someone else trying to blame the media for something their child has seen on TV and then imitated. My view on this is the same view i have about people trying to blame video games for anything remotely violent: you have no case! During an episode of WWE Smackdown i see at least three "Don't Try This At Home" messages and i assume the same applies everywhere else in the world. The same is true with video games, they give R/18 certificates to them for a reason. They are not suitable for people under the age of 18 due to their content but still parents purchase them for their 13/14 year old children. Then when they attempt to imitate something they have seen on the TV/game and they injure or in this case kill themselves, they automatically blame the particular TV show/game they have been viewing.

There was a case recently in the UK regarding the Rockstar North release "Manhunt" where the victims parent's immediately blamed the game for influencing their son's killer. The killer in question was 17 years old while the game has an 18 certificate. Of course being the UK, when one little thing happens suddenly every mother jumps on the bandwagon and they were protests for the game to be banned. I will not say the game is not violent, i own the game and yes there is a lot of violence in the game but that's why it has an 18 in the first place.

ELSPA released the following statement shortly after the allegations:

"We sympathise enormously with the family and parents of Stefan Pakeerah.

"However, we reject any suggestion or association between the tragic events and the sale of the video game Manhunt.

"The game in question is classified 18 by the British Board of Film Classification and therefore should not be in the possession of a juvenile.

"Simply being in someone's possession does not and should not lead to the conclusion that a game is responsible for these tragic events."

I cannot agree with their statement more, just owning the game should not allow someone to automatically point the finger at the company who made the game. I am myself studying a degree in Games Software Development at Glasgow Caledonian University so as you may have noticed when something like this occurs, i get more frustrated with society in general finding the easy way out by passing the blame to someone completely innocent because they cannot be bothered actually thinking about it. Unless i missed something while playing through Manhunt, they are no messages in the game telling you to go out and imitate the actions you perform in the game.

I am glad that WWE responded with the statement i have linked to in the heading and particularly this line:

"the chief of the Detective Bureau charged with investigating the highly suspicious nature of the child's death specifically stated in the media that the accusations of the family could not be taken at face value and that there is no reason to believe the death of this child had anything to do with watching wrestling."

Thank you.