Review author details all in the second part of our ‘Industry vs. Byron’ feature
Dr Tanya Byron has spoken of her ‘difficult’ meeting with notoriously anti-violent games MP Keith Vaz.
The private meeting, which took place as Dr. Byron gathered evidence for her Review, was also attended by Giselle Pakeerah – the mother of murdered Leicester schoolboy Stefan and a constituent of Mr. Vaz.
Vaz continues to connect Stefan Pakeerah’s tragic murder with the influence of Rockstar video game Manhunt – despite detectives that investigated the 2004 case categorically rejecting the link.
When asked by ELSPA director general Paul Jackson about Keith Vaz’s appraisal of the Byron Review – which the MP said shows a clear link between games and violence – Byron said:
“It was a difficult meeting that had to be handled sensitively and carefully. It was, after all, the mother of a child who had been murdered.
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"I felt it was an important meeting, as I know Mr. Vaz has many criticisms of the games industry - and these are often reported widely and can be quite damaging for the industry. I talked to him about my positive experience of the industry – and my experience of ELSPA members in this room.
"I think different people will pick up different elements of the report and that’s fine – I’ve been surprised that it’s met so many needs for so many people. But my biggest fear is that it will be used for currency – whether that’s political or currency within the industry. I don’t want that to happen...
"... it’s not as simple as violent games making people violent. I’ve never said that, and would be sure to disagree with anyone who inferred that from the Review."
Click here to read the full exchange between Dr. Tanya Byron and ELSPA's Paul Jackson.
Comments
Well....
...the guy is called 'Vaz' no wonder he's so angry! I bet she wishes she never started this, she's in over her head, the utter moron.
Hmmm
Keith Vaz is nothing more than an ambulance chasing, media attention seeking whore who is using the games industry as a tool to further his own career. Why anyone connected to the industry would give Vaz the time of day, thus allowing him to vent his delusions and propaganda onto the british public, is utterly beyond me.
One other thing, why is Mrs Pakeerah involved? There was never and ever was any link to video games and her sons murder, so what part does she have to play this? Drugs was the cause of her sons death, drugs that had she been a better parent he wouldn't of been involved in.
Re: Hmmm
Keith Vaz is the UK equivalent of the US (ex) legal beagle Jack Thompson, although in the US at least he's been found out.
What depresses me is that after Mr.Vaz made those rediculous allegations at parlement, I emailed him saying how factually incorrect he was, even going to the point of attaching the court summary showing that the Judge had refused to link the murder with a computer game, especially as the game was only ever found in the posession of the victim.
Anyway to cut this story short, do you think I ever got a reply, fat chance. Even the House of Commons email reply told me to contact him. LOL
Re: Hmmm
@1 shhh! She reads her own press.
There might be time for a 'Vaz' character hidden in some game yet...
Re: Hmmm
ELSPA and Vaz should both bugger off to corporate LA-LA land where they belong...
Re: Hmmm
UK does not like niche media or give full free expression.
Re: Hmmm
Byron, out of two I'd give her one.
Re: Hmmm
i'd have to agree with Dave. Vaz is the UK equivalent of Thompson. I found it quite funny how Thompson has to now put in a good word about Rockstar (the games developer who made GTA and Manhunt series) and has to be on "his best behaviour". I hope the same thing happens to Vaz. it would be so funny. All these people getting involved in trying to ban violent games from the games industry without neccessary proof or knowing what they are getting themselves in for. this stuff is way beyond them - they should keep the mushters shut. what they fail to realise is that these games sell. i have just got GTA IV, I'm 26 and I'm not going to run out and copy a scene in the game -i'm not that stupid. but i agree that parents should take more responsibility for what material their kids watch or play. however it is argued that most people see games as a way of escaping reality - not re-inacting them and almost all people know right from wrong. the fact remains you cannot blame a game for inspiring someone with the motive to kill. a person is responsible for their own actions. not a game.
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