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su·i·cide Audio pronunciation of "suicide" ( P ) Pronunciation Key (s-sd)
<font size=8>n.</font>

1. The act or an instance of intentionally killing oneself.
2. The destruction or ruin of one's own interests: It is professional suicide to involve oneself in illegal practices.
3. One who commits suicide.

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I see the verb part, but most of them say noun.

Eh, it can probably be interpreted both ways.
Only grammar nazis would complain. =P
I'd say both are right.

But we're getting off topic. <_<

Some kid dies and you guys are debating the definition of suicide?

Oh dear. =/

Well, this thread looks too angsty and long for me to read it all, but it boils down to this in my mind: If it's a person who plays Runescape, nothing can suprise me.

Here's the Jack Thompson perspective (and the one I tend to believe in): Runescape is one of hte only places where the most jack[stuff]-brained moron (not that this kid was one; it's just highly likely) can be "on top" simply by sheer volume of time spent in the game. A person with no other assets, aspirations, or happiness can, by simply devoting himself entirely to the game, build wealth, however meaningless. You know these people - they are the epitome of the word "loser". So, say somebody invests their whole life and self-worth in their online character. If the online character is suddenly gone (friend changed the password just to be funny, say), the real-life person becomes acutely aware of his worthlessness. His options seem pretty clear to me.

Of course, I don't mean to condemn video games. I condemn complulsive video-gamers, which abound in inane games like Runescape that exist only to entrap such individuals. Runescape is to compulsive gamers as a Vegas casino is to compulsive gamblers.


EDIT: Check out [link]
Poor guy. He's exactly the compulsive gamer type I'm talking about.

I'm certain you could replace Runescape with any other MMORPG and your statement wouldn't be any different. :P

I don't see how you can come to that assumption PirateHead, let's say this kid has a bad life, the internet has become the place he turns to. Games are his only friend because maybe he just doesn't fit in with others. So he comes online and spends his time in runescape, in runescape he is the boss, the king, a place he can be happy at and pass the time. Now, one day all this is taken away from him, he's got nothing left. How would you feel?

How is that not exactly the same thing I wrote?

• Game sabre wrote:
  

  let's say this kid has a bad life, the internet has become the place he turns to. So he comes online and spends his time in runescape, in runescape he is the boss, the king, a place he can be happy at and pass the time.

  
  PirateHead wrote:
  

  A person with no other assets, aspirations, or happiness can, by simply devoting himself entirely to the game, build wealth, however meaningless.

• Game sabre wrote:
  

  Games are his only friend because maybe he just doesn't fit in with others.

  
  PirateHead wrote:
  

  You know these people - they are the epitome of the word "loser".

• Game sabre wrote:
  

  Now, one day all this is taken away from him, he's got nothing left. How would you feel?

  
  PirateHead wrote:
  

  So, say somebody invests their whole life and self-worth in their online character. If the online character is suddenly gone (friend changed the password just to be funny, say), the real-life person becomes acutely aware of his worthlessness.

Game sabre wrote:

I don't see how you can come to that assumption PirateHead

Anything you still can't see? Maybe you should turn your monitor contrast up, or open your eyes.

Just that from my perspective it seems as though you have a negative view towards what he did, or what his life was like as if it was his fault.

Hey, Alathon, you're preaching to the choir here. I am a pretty responsible gamer and poker player, and I also admit to having been on some major gaming binges - I've spent weeks in a row playing video games in the past.

We both know there's a different between "healthy", "fun" gaming and the sort that destroys lives and families. If you don't think the poker table has ever ruined somebody's entire world, you're naive. When I play poker, I have $X I'm going to spend. I've decided to spend that much money, period. Sort of like going to a theme part that charges $50 to enter. I'm paying for the fun, and if I walk away with money it's all the more fun. I know people for whom the experience is entirely different. They'll bring loads of money, and play until it's all gone or everybody else is done playing. It gets really, really bad when the person starts betting things other than money - his property, his investments, etc. That's not fun gaming - that's gaming compulsion. That is, as you say, sickness, not the norm.

All MMORPGs are somewhat guilty of facilitating compulsive gaming. That's part of the allure, that's what keeps you playing, that's fun. Runescape is, in my opinion, worse than most. It doesn't have "a few" timesinks. It is timesinks. The post wasn't meant to be a condemnation of MMORPGs, or even of just Runescape. I'm just saying that the kid may have been a compulsive gamer whose game life was worth far more than his self worth.

Alathon wrote:

I'd class *very* few games if ANY online game where 'wealth' of some sort is built up as based on anything outside of time. In fact, I can't think of a single one. Know any, off-hand?

Nope. That's a twofold game element, though. It's fun for most gamers, and it's dangerous for compulsive gamers.


Here's where the Jack Thompson thing comes in again: Casinos are recognised as dangerous, unfair, and exploitive. However, adults are free to squander or spend their money any way that they like. Video games, however, are often not played by adults. This story equates, to me, a 14-year-old who lost everything on a hand of poker and killed himself. And having known somebody was in that exact situation, I have no lack of sympthy for people like that.

I just want to put this story in a different context.