This is vaguely reminiscent of the issue that Judas Priest and Ozzy Osbourne had with parents claiming their kids committed suicide because of what the lyrics say in the songs. Both were taken to court, neither were ever proven. Basically because the children who committed suicide were known to have f*cked up family lives and mental problems to begin with. The music was no more to blame than the musicians. The parents were just looking for a scapegoat.

Now as I see it, Sony does put a label on the game saying that it does contain graphically violent content and some mature situations. Sony cannot be held liable for anything that happens. I've just recently noticed they also started labelling it that it may cause epileptic seizures.

Now I have been playing Everquest for over a year. And consequently enough, it's helped me more than hindered me. I started playing at a down point in my life when I didn't have a social life, when I never left my apartment, and I really had nothing to do except sit and watch TV all day. I craved social interaction, and for a guy that lived way out in the boonies with no transportation, Everquest was a god-send. the people at work turned me on to it strictly for those reasons. It became my social life when I needed one.

Now things are different. I get out more, I have a social life, and I've turned a few other people on to the game. I don't play nearly as much as I used to, but I still enjoy the game for its interaction - it's still "new" to me.

So if anyone commits suicide, it has nothing to do with the game, it's cause they already had some mental problems and inside turmoil that they were harboring even before EverQuest came along. That's what I believe. And again, I think it's just the parents looking for a scapegoat. My parents know I play EverQuest. Albeit, they think I play it too much, but because I am the one paying for it, they don't try to stop me.

and that's that.

Wulfric

----- Original Message -----

From: Vash The Stampede

To: EverQuest@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Friday, October 25, 2002 3:56 PM

Subject: [EverQuest] Re: The News

BAH! tell your parents to shut up, 48 hours just played on the bad news about the game, if that were true then they would also play on Ultima Online and Ashron's call 1 and 2 and also Dark Age of Camelot. They just played on that story because more people that I know play Everquest than any other online game, people who have quit EQ has come back because it is by far that I heard of the superior of the breed of online games. BAH!!! Listen to the REAL news like CNN and stuff, don't listen to 48 hours or talk shows, they only want ratings, tell your Parents that if they got a problem with EQ talk to me I'll knock some sense into them! I've been playing for 2 years, my cousin's been playing since it game out along with his friends and they're fine. yeah There are obsessed people out there but that's for all the games not just EQ. I mean there are stalkers out there also. jeezuz, and if they talk to me about the game tell them to email me or shut up about giveing you crap about EQ. Same goes for anyone else who has this problem, tell your parents to get over it, if they KNOW you and they should, then there is no problems unless you've done that kind of stupid stuff before (suicide), I mean as you all probally heard about EQ that guy who commited suicide had a mentel condition, hopefully none of you have that problem, and if you do, just be safe ^_^. --- In EverQuest@y..., "Thunder Cat" <Thunder_Cat_4283@h...> wrote: > Has anyone heard the news lately about EverQuest? They said that millions of > people play this game daily, and there have been many suicides brought on by > it. They also said people become obsessed and make the game their > life...they don't get jobs or do anything else, just play all the time. My > parents are now concerned and told me as soon as they see any signs that I > am going to kill myself, they are taking the game away. I can't believe > that...the game is fun, yeah, but to end your life over it? Come on. > > _________________________________________________________________ > Get a speedy connection with MSN Broadband. Join now! > http://resourcecenter.msn.com/access/plans/freeactivation.asp

Visit the EverQuest homepage at http://www.everquest.com

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.