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R.I.P. Brandon Crisp
Microsoft has been active in the boy's search by offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the boy as well as cooperating with police who sought IP addresses in order to learn the identities of those who played the video game with Brandon. The game merchant, Future Shop, canceled its Gears of War 2 launch event in Toronto and Vancouver out of respect for the Crisp family. I must say that I'm surprised by these moves. I remember the story in 2002 of Shawn Woolley, a 21 year old player of EverQuest, that committed suicide during a play session. Sony Online Entertainment refused to cooperate with his mother whom wished to learn of the details of taking his own life. She believed events in the game with other players led to his own self demise. I'm glad companies are now taking a more involved effort towards these mournful events.
Years ago, I too witnessed the impact of online gaming addiction. A former roommate of mine, a college graduate from an Ivy league school, dived deeply into it so far, he began coming in to his place of employment late or calling in sick, spending 3 day benders of online play, stacking pizza boxes up to 4 feet tall all over his room and forgoing any attempts at personal hygiene. After being fired, his mother, who was across the country, began to mail him a check to cover his share of the rent and utilities along with his internet fees and game account costs. When he was in the mood to speak with me, his entire input towards any conversation revolved completely around the game. The manner in which he spoke was startling, as he believed he was his character. The level of delusion was chilling, as I had never met anyone who believed themselves to be a person of fiction to such a stunning degree.
I had made multiple attempts at reasoning with him about his addiction along with involving the rental management company that oversaw our apartment complex to give him an ultimatum: Get help or get out. Sadly, he chose to remain at his computer playing instead of listening to the threats of eviction. We were left with no choice, so I moved out, and they evicted him. Don't think for one moment that I just kicked a guy out with nothing to fall back on. He owned a working, legal automobile. He had friends in the area. He also had an invitation to return home. While his family possessed a small fortune, he became homeless after a few days at a motel. He was eventually arrested for breaking into a computer store after hours...yes, to play the game.
While incarcerated, a jailhouse therapist recognized that he was suffering underlying issues that were never diagnosed. With this recommendation, he plead guilty by reason of insanity through a deal with the county district attorney. He was committed to a psychiatric facility. While there, he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder along with other physical ailments. As I said, he was literally living off pizza, even though I cooked often and offered him some of my cuisine. He was quite malnourished and suffering vitamin deficiencies. After a full year of treatment, he was deemed fit to return to society. His first stop was to see me and to apologize for the burden he was. Of course, I accepted and wished him well. He returned to his hometown with his mother to start anew. Last I heard, he was doing quite well.
The reason I share this story with all of you, besides the obvious words of warning, is that I strongly feel that the situation surrounding Brandon Crisp is not a simple case of online gaming addiction. Even my own mother suffers from internet addiction. She too is bipolar. I'm not claiming that bipolar disorder is the sole underlying cause of internet addiction, but most cases that I have personally encountered over the years have been in relation to forms of depression. Even I myself, at one point back after graduating from high school, was so addicted to gaming, that I lost a decent job, a girlfriend and a few friends. I mistakenly curbed my depression with the grand distraction that gaming provides. I now realize and have adhered to the advice for years that gaming should never be played when one is experiencing depression. It is a genuine and serious problem. Depression must be engaged with family, friends and professionals as soon as possible.
It's easier to blame video games for society's ills. We've seen it linked to runaways, neglecting children and even murder. The games weren't the cause, not by a long shot. Gaming is just the latest media, as we've seen books, motion pictures and music blamed for casualties and fatalities for years. Why are we still forced to hear so-called experts and spokespeople blast games so readily and without full acknowledgment of the facts involved? The answer is simple. The truth is complex and ugly and sad. There were preexisting conditions, whether identified or not, in each of these cases. There's never a easy answer regarding the death of a child. It's my sincere hope to see these incidents addressed more accordingly. The game companies are beginning to come on board, so why aren't we seeing these experts act with much more composure instead of seemingly vying to have their name in some news article? Some did take the position of hypothesizing depression, but most are just readily blaming a video game or the parents without pause.
I do not believe that the parents detected their son's true issues. While I give my deepest condolences to both Mr. and Mrs. Crisp, they were ignorant to their son's possible mental afflictions. I am not saying that the blame is theirs. If Brandon's death is indeed a homicide, then someone may be held responsible soon. If they continue to solely blame video games after burying their son, then I will change my mind about them. Microsoft, Activision, Infinity Ward nor any game company killed Brandon Crisp. If anyone dares to claim anything to the contrary, then I implore you to realize that they are nothing more than an opportunistic jackass. Fortunately, Jack Thompson was disbarred.
If any parents out there truly want to take a worthy lesson from this tragedy, then please, for the sake of your children, take the following words into account: Depression harms your children more than games. Focus on the real problem.