In Real Life

Here We Go Again: 7-Year-Old Drives Car; GTA Blamed

6:00AM August 2, 2009 | Owen Good

In Utah last Sunday, young Preston Scarborough took the family sedan for a spin. Instant media sensation, of course. A Fox News anchor was bold enough to ask did teh Grand Theft Auto do it?

In the video, which you may see here, Klint Anderson, a spokesman for the Weber County Sheriff’s Office, mentioned that Preston’s dad took away a driving video game, which is a good detail, fine. But the anchor smells the blood in the water. “Ahhh, ahh, something like a Grand Theft Auto? Something like that?” Objection! Leading the witness!

To be fair, Anderson didn’t take the bait. “I have no idea,” he said, “I didn’t ask the father what game it was but some of those video games are pretty realistic.”

Someone needs to tell Hairspray that if a child was playing an M-rated game, in Utah, this kid would probably be in custody of child protective services, not going on the Today Show. But then, it’s just not as fun to blame Gran Turismo,

Did 7-year-old Learn to Drive From Video Games? [GamePolitics]

Comments

  • Ashley Niland-Rowe

    August 2, 2009 at 1:13 PM

    To be fair the tone of the video certainly isn’t inflammatory. It’s an understandable comment by the anchor and she definitely doesn’t get up in arms about it all. We have to be careful not to push too hard the other way either.

  • Daniel

    August 2, 2009 at 2:48 PM

    It’s funny how this crap always happens in the US of A isn’t it?! Maybe it’s called bad parenting…

  • nicholas

    August 2, 2009 at 4:59 PM

    Because all video car games show you opening the door, inserting the keys, turning the keys, changing to Drive, know that right is foward and left is brake.
    If anything, its the parents fault for driving infront of kids

  • Joshy206

    August 2, 2009 at 6:46 PM

    Maybe the kid was just playing crappy parents/stupid journalists in The Sims?

    Or playing a stolen copy of Dante’s Inferno, considering his dislike for Church.

    …
    …
    Or maybe he just started listening to Rihanna’s “Shut Up and Drive” once his game was taken away.

  • DansDans

    August 3, 2009 at 9:56 AM

    Gold comment. This one has my vote

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