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[ReBurn]

This is why Sony had to shut down PS Home. The UK was having a pearl shortage from clutching so many of them over male avatars doing the running man in the face of female avatars.

 

[Tams]

FUCK, I just played Zelda and killed a few moblins and a a Yiga ninja.

Am I going to go to jail for murder? (circle one) Y/N

 

[Tams]

I think a better takeaway from this would be to

A) set age limits for interaction in these types of games/experiences (she shouldn't be anywhere near this as a minor for instance) and
B) have better in-game methods for blocking/reporting problematic players.

I don't want to go all slippery slope defending some shitheads that were being gross here, but there should be a VERY clear line between actual crimes and "virtual" ones.

I'm all for bagging on Meta, but:

Horizon Worlds family resources

Explore resources to help create positive social experiences for your teen online and in virtual reality

familycenter.meta.com

It's the parents' fault.

 

[Go_Ly_Dow]

In the UK the cops in particular are perceived by a lot of the public to prioritise virtual crime or the infamous hate crime over tangible crime, such as assaults, drugs, theft, burglaries etc... It's also very uncommon to actually see a cop patrolling the streets, even in busy or higher risk areas. There deterrent is quite pathetic to non existent. There's a ridiculous amount of crime here that remains unsolved or the cops don't have the resources to investigate.

So I think some of the reactions in this thread comes from that. Why are they focusing resources on virtual incidents or hurt feelings compared to real world problems.

Ultimately I think it's good to investigate certain virtual incidents where you can potentially apprehend those targeting / taking advantage of minors for example and maybe this is one of them.

The issue I guess is though if virtual incidents of this nature is deemed a huge enough problem investigate then there's going to be a lot of police resources used up by it and some hold fears we'll see further deteoration in other areas. More resourcing and much more regulation is needed for starters.

 

[ComputerBlue]

The world has gone mad. Next we'll be hearing about how a bunch of cunts seeking therapy for the amount of virtual tea bagging they had to endure after being killed in Halo 2 all those years ago. This is just bananas.

I really wish I could find the articles but I can’t, years ago during what I think was e3, developers were playing a game with some journalists and one of the devs t-bagged a woman journalist and there was a huge stink about it. She felt violated or some shit and people were defending her. I want to say it was Halo 5 but my memory on it is fuzzy.

 

[Jigsaah]

2024 just started and everybody is losing their damn mind...

 

[RoboFu]

Help!! someone’s assaulting me online!!!

Nevemind it’s okay now..

 

[Alexios]

the infamous hate crime over tangible crime, such as assaults, drugs, theft, burglaries etc...

Wait, how is "hate crime" not "tangible crime"? You then mention assault as tangible crime when an assault is obviously a common form of hate crime too. A crime is characterised hate crime by the perceived motive behind it, but it still has to be a crime first and foremost, so, cops should be on it...

 

[Johnny2Bad]

She should have had a sub machine-gun cheat.

 

[Portugeezer]

 

[DragoonKain]

I used to teabag players online in Halo 2, what's the statute of limitations until I'm legally in the clear in case someone wants to press charges?

 

[FeralEcho]

All these woke lunatics that have been given a voice and power over these last 10 years are basically this right now:

 

[Icymanipulator]

This is beyond stupid.

 

[tommycronin]

 

[phaedrus]

Help!! someone’s assaulting me online!!!

Nevemind it’s okay now..

 

[Saber]

Wait, how is "hate crime" not "tangible crime"? You then mention assault as tangible crime when an assault is obviously a common form of hate crime too. A crime is characterised hate crime by the perceived motive behind it, but it still has to be a crime first and foremost, so, cops should be on it...

Hows that equals to rape? How is possible to do a sexual assault on an avatar?

 

[Alexios]

Hows that equals to rape? How is possible to do a sexual assault on an avatar?

What are you talking about, where does the post you quote mention anything else being equal to rape? It's not even about the thread's actual topic, just responding to a very particular, quoted, post, regarding hate crimes and what not so, no clue what part confused you so much.

Thread title doesn't equalize it to rape either anyway, it just says police investigate it, not what charges were pressed against the perps. And yes, adults inappropriately interacting with children should be investigated even long before it reaches the point of physically touching their genitals. Duh.

Grooming is a thing. Whether this constitutes such an attempt or simply inappropriate harassment of minors or even no crime at all because things aren't as described will have to wait for the results of said investigation.

A kid being able to go offline doesn't make everything you do or say to them as long as they're online okay and the fault of their parents alone as long as it's not actual rape, I hope you know.

 

[onnextflix5]

only the bbc would write this stuff and link it to real rape

 

[Schmendrick]

Whenever I read crazy or downright retarded nonsense like this in the 2000s I expected the story to implode the moment I ran a fact check.... Nowadays I fully expect stuff like this to actually be true before checking, go figure....

 

[Saber]

What are you talking about, where does the post you quote mention anything being equal to rape? It's not even about the thread's actual topic, just responding to a very particular, quoted, post.

Its a question for one that post here and logically assumed everyone here is in favor of what they called a situation "that mirrors a rape".

Seems most people above are fine with it as long as the person has the option to go offline since that all makes it fake, no kid has ever been traumatised, groomed or coerced to suicide or whatever else by things happening in any form other than personal interaction within the same room I guess.

Explain to me, hows that similar to rape or a crime? Does me and my brother playing Counter-Strike in our 14 years and people harassing us counts as crime?

 

[OGM_Madness]

 

[mitch1971]

I think a better takeaway from this would be to

A) set age limits for interaction in these types of games/experiences (she shouldn't be anywhere near this as a minor for instance) and
B) have better in-game methods for blocking/reporting problematic players.

I don't want to go all slippery slope defending some shitheads that were being gross here, but there should be a VERY clear line between actual crimes and "virtual" ones.

How about P A R E N T I N G?

 

[ungalo]

Thread title doesn't equalize it to rape either anyway, it just says police investigate it, not what charges were pressed against the perps. And yes, adults inappropriately interacting with children should be investigated even long before it reaches the point of physically touching their genitals. Duh.

Well just read the article, the implications are pretty easy to understand, not very subtle.

The impact of the attack on the girl's avatar was said to be heightened because of the immersive nature of the VR experience.
According to an unnamed senior officer familiar with the matter who spoke to the paper the victim, under 16 at the time, suffered psychological trauma "similar to that of someone who has been physically raped".
But in criminal law, rape and sexual assault require there to have been physical contact.
Some argue that legal changes may be necessary to ensure that those responsible for sexually motivated attacks on avatars in virtual worlds can be prosecuted and punished effectively.

 

[AGRacing]

Dudes be touching my peepee all the time in Pavlov. But everyone has a gun in that game so you’re able to deal with it.

Edit
WAIT a minute !!! I’ve been MURDERED in VR …. HUNDREDS of times!!! Often by people in the UK!! *calls lawyer*

 

[BlackTron]

I guess I should be on sex offenders list for all those times I would do thrust motions behind people in Phantasy Star Online lobbies on Dreamcast cuz I thought it was funny...

I knew I'd finally track down my abuser.

 

[Pejo]

How about P A R E N T I N G?

I completely agree at its core there are issues with the parenting, but I also remember being 15 and doing all kinds of shit my parents would hate and absolutely not want me to do. Plus you can't count on good parenting at all in 2024. These kids have been having tablets and phones shoved at them to shut them up for the last 10 years at least, since they got affordable to the masses.

 

[Saber]

Am I going to go to jail for murder? (circle one) Y/N

 

[DaciaJC]

I can understand why the girl might feel traumatized and there's no defending this sort of gross behavior, but spending time and people on an investigation sounds like a woeful misuse of police resources.

 

[majorgamer10]

This interpretation of the law can change the way the internet works entirely. The internet may develop Union Rights for streaming workers to protect them. Very exciting!

 

[Scotty W]

The real scandal is that the UK has a rape gang epidemic perpetrated by an inconvenient minority. Rather than going after that ghastly thing, they are chasing shadows.

 

[Pelta88]

Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-67865327

likening it to sexual assault.

Recalling the experience, Ms Patel told the same programme that she was "surrounded by three to four male-sounding and male-representing avatars, who started sexually harassing me in a verbal sense and then sexually assaulting my avatar".

She said they had used misogynistic language and "continued to touch my avatar in a way that can only be described as a sexual assault of my avatar".

For my non UK gaffers. The above, particularly the bolded, is a crime here. Intent will also play a huge part of the litigation.

I know people are keen to make light of the situation but that doesn't make it less of a potential crime in the UK.

 

[TheThreadsThatBindUs]

Prince Andrew is proven to be a fucking statutory rapist of teenage girls at Jeffrey Epstein's pad and the Met does fuck all.

And this is what they decide they're going after? I'm glad I left that shithole called the UK behind.

 

[TGO]

My UK brethren always ready to outdo our US siblings....

 

[Danjin44]

2024 just started.....

 

[Pejo]

For my non UK gaffers. The above, particularly the bolded, is a crime here. Intent will also play a huge part of the litigation.

I know people are keen to make light of the situation but that doesn't make it less of a potential crime in the UK.

Virtual crime shares a lot of similarities with thought crimes. I think UK already has had some cases hit the news of using words being illegal, so if I lived in the UK I'd be very worried about the precedent with this.

I don't think many people will stand up for the shitheads doing the harassing, but getting the law involved in a formal matter is a "cat out of the bag" scenario. Imagine you go on a flame rant on a message board one night when you're drunk and wake up with police at the door.

 

[Pelta88]

Virtual crime shares a lot of similarities with thought crimes. I think UK already has had some cases hit the news of using words being illegal, so if I lived in the UK I'd be very worried about the precedent with this.

I don't think many people will stand up for the shitheads doing the harassing, but getting the law involved in a formal matter is a "cat out of the bag" scenario. Imagine you go on a flame rant on a message board one night when you're drunk and wake up with police at the door.

I get that the board is US centric but our UK laws about online harassment, sexual or otherwise, are well established. Also, flame rants are not against the law, here.

 

[Pejo]

Also, flame rants are not against the law, here.

Yet...

 

[Pelta88]

Yet...

The UK government literally allocates specific time for flame rants between the two major parties. It's called "Prime Minister's questions." Where the party in power and the leader of the opposition politely insult each other under the guise of political debate. Which is broadcast live on national tv...

I think your flame rants on gaf are safe lol

 

[Pejo]

The UK government literally allocates specific time for flame rants between the two major parties. It's called "Prime Minister's questions." Where the party in power and the leader of the opposition politely insult each other under the guise of political debate. Which is broadcast live on national tv...

I think your flame rants on gaf are safe lol

Yorkshire Pudding and Soccer sucks!

Guess we'll see in the morning if you're right. Come and get me bobbies!

 

[Brigandier]

All the times people got tea bagged in Halo 2.... Damn the UK police would have been hiring new recruits weekly if it was as fucked as it is now back then.

 

[-Zelda-]

 

[Spukc]

I hope they hunt down this bigot vr pig and put him in superjail!

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

Help!! someone’s assaulting me online!!!

Nevemind it’s okay now..

you just committed self-dead.

 

[Mr Moose]

People want to be offended over any fucking thing these days, its disgusting. The police are shit in this country.

 

[Kumomeme]

meanwhile ERP'er in MMO gonna be like:

 

[Killjoy-NL]

I've always felt that VR might cause mental issues for certain people who already suffer from them, but this is unexpected. Lol

This could be a new joke for Dave Chappelle, like the one about this French actor, Jesse Smulliet.

 

[Shadowstar39]

Yeah she can remove the headset. The problem comes in with the following scenarios.

A. Whatever game or app takes video of them and puts in on the screen as their avatar (is this even possible yet). As I could see some scumbags whipping their dicks out and being perves. I don't want to see that shit and it would be sexual assault of a minor even if no touching is involved. A bunch of dudes holding their shclongs waving and thrusting at a pre-teen, sorry not sorry lock the pedos/pervs up. Like i said. All depends on if the tech is there to take video and superimpose it on their avatar.

B. These people follow her. They have her username. They can send messages, harass in different games, bully etc... She may not realize how to block.

Should the police get involved? Depends. If either one of those scenarios occurred it would be bad. First would be a sex crime and the end would be Facebook or whoever to kick the offenders off the platform following investigation.

 

[Stooky]

 

[PendekarRajawali]

Finally I can tell my friends I fucked Angela White…….in VR.

 

[IDKFA]

As a UK citizen, I can't say I'm surprised the police are investigating this.

You can be arrested and charged for posting messages online that cause offence to others. Say the wrong thing or post the wrong image and you'll be getting a visit from the police.