Online murder, real world consequences - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

genuinegirly · 10-23-2008, 04:30 PM

Quote:

TOKYO, Japan (AP) -- A 43-year-old Japanese woman whose sudden divorce in a virtual game world made her so angry that she killed her online husband's digital persona has been arrested on suspicion of hacking, police said Thursday.

The woman, who is jailed on suspicion of illegally accessing a computer and manipulating electronic data, used his identification and password to log onto popular interactive game "Maple Story" to carry out the virtual murder in mid-May, a police official in northern Sapporo said on condition of anonymity, citing department policy.

"I was suddenly divorced, without a word of warning. That made me so angry," the official quoted her as telling investigators and admitting the allegations.

The woman had not plotted any revenge in the real world, the official said.

She has not yet been formally charged, but if convicted could face a prison term of up to five years or a fine up to $5,000.

Players in "Maple Story" raise and manipulate digital images called "avatars" that represent themselves, while engaging in relationships, social activities and fighting against monsters and other obstacles.

The woman used login information she got from the 33-year-old office worker when their characters were happily married, and killed the character. The man complained to police when he discovered that his beloved online avatar was dead.

The woman was arrested Wednesday and was taken across the country, traveling 620 miles from her home in southern Miyazaki to be detained in Sapporo, where the man lives, the official said...

Link to full article

What do you think of this story?
Do you feel the woman's detainment is out of line?
Have you heard of things like this happening with any online worlds that you frequent?

-------------------
So vindictive! Who would take an online divorce so seriously, really?
Interesting that the woman didn't seem to realize she was doing anything wrong by accessing his account without permission.
Seems like a waste of money and resources to arrest her, but I suppose accessing someone's online account is a bit like forgery.
I hope this serves as a wake-up call.

lostgirl · 10-23-2008, 04:42 PM

Sounds like she was arrested for hacking the game and not really for the murder itself. The punishment sounds a little harsh, but then it is Japan, they seem to do that.

Siege · 10-23-2008, 05:37 PM

i wasn't even aware that you could get married in maple story.... but then again i haven't played in a looooooong time.

/threadjack

prison term of 5 years seems rather harsh.

Jozrael · 10-23-2008, 05:47 PM

I assume the penalty for hacking is the same whether it's a bank or MapleStory in Japan. Otherwise this makes little sense.

Willravel · 10-23-2008, 05:52 PM

I hope no one finds our how many Zerglings I've killed in the past 10 years. I could very easily get the death penalty.

little_tippler · 10-25-2008, 12:15 PM

This is silly? I can't think of anything clever to say.

QuasiMondo · 10-25-2008, 01:09 PM

They must never ever EVER know about the mass murder committed in Combat Arms...

Church · 10-25-2008, 06:50 PM

Wow, Maple Story? Really? Honestly?

Jozrael · 10-25-2008, 06:53 PM

WILL I forgot about your previous comment in that other game. Care to play a game of SC one day?

@Church: Asians think about videogames differently than us. Case in point: South Korea.

nomcat · 10-25-2008, 09:27 PM

Daaaaaaamn.... I've killed thousands of other characters in WoW... :P

Vigilante · 10-25-2008, 09:31 PM

This is so unimportant to me that I can't think of anything worth typing beyond this.

Bear Cub · 10-25-2008, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luciferase75

This is so unimportant to me that I can't think of anything worth typing beyond this.

Awesome.

Vigilante · 10-25-2008, 09:58 PM

LOL not trying to be rude, honestly. I probably shouldn't have said anything.

Slims · 10-25-2008, 10:01 PM

If she was playing his character, wouldn't that make it suicide?

MSD · 10-27-2008, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jozrael

@Church: Asians think about videogames differently than us. Case in point: South Korea.

In South Korea, they also believe that sleeping with a fan on will kill you.

Merlocke · 11-03-2008, 05:01 AM

yet if you're a drug dealer in Canada, it's a slap on the wrist... wtf?

10-23-2008, 05:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
Siege is a tiger Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada	i wasn't even aware that you could get married in maple story.... but then again i haven't played in a looooooong time. /threadjack prison term of 5 years seems rather harsh. __________________ "Your name's Geek? Do you know the origin of the term? A geek is someone who bites the heads off chickens at a circus. I would never let you suck my dick with a name like Geek" --Kevin Smith This part just makes my posts easier to find

10-25-2008, 12:15 PM	#6 (permalink)
little_tippler Leaning against the -Sun- Super Moderator Location: on the other side	This is silly? I can't think of anything clever to say. __________________ Whether we write or speak or do but look We are ever unapparent. What we are Cannot be transfused into word or book. Our soul from us is infinitely far. However much we give our thoughts the will To be our soul and gesture it abroad, Our hearts are incommunicable still. In what we show ourselves we are ignored. The abyss from soul to soul cannot be bridged By any skill of thought or trick of seeming. Unto our very selves we are abridged When we would utter to our thought our being. We are our dreams of ourselves, souls by gleams, And each to each other dreams of others' dreams. Fernando Pessoa, 1918

10-25-2008, 01:09 PM	#7 (permalink)
QuasiMondo Wise-ass Latino Location: Pretoria (Tshwane), RSA	They must never ever EVER know about the mass murder committed in Combat Arms... __________________ Cameron originally envisioned the Terminator as a small, unremarkable man, giving it the ability to blend in more easily. As a result, his first choice for the part was Lance Henriksen. O. J. Simpson was on the shortlist but Cameron did not think that such a nice guy could be a ruthless killer. -From the Collector's Edition DVD of The Terminator

10-25-2008, 06:50 PM	#8 (permalink)
Church Tilted F*ckhead Location: New Jersey	Wow, Maple Story? Really? Honestly? __________________ Through counter-intelligence, it should be possible to pinpoint potential trouble makers, and neutralize them.

10-25-2008, 09:31 PM	#11 (permalink)
Vigilante Broken Arrow Location: US	This is so unimportant to me that I can't think of anything worth typing beyond this. __________________ We contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle. -Winston Churchill

10-23-2008, 04:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
lostgirl lightform Location: Edge of the deep green sea	Sounds like she was arrested for hacking the game and not really for the murder itself. The punishment sounds a little harsh, but then it is Japan, they seem to do that.

10-23-2008, 05:47 PM	#4 (permalink)
Jozrael Junkie	I assume the penalty for hacking is the same whether it's a bank or MapleStory in Japan. Otherwise this makes little sense.

10-23-2008, 05:52 PM	#5 (permalink)
Willravel ... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.	I hope no one finds our how many Zerglings I've killed in the past 10 years. I could very easily get the death penalty.

10-25-2008, 06:53 PM	#9 (permalink)
Jozrael Junkie	WILL I forgot about your previous comment in that other game. Care to play a game of SC one day? @Church: Asians think about videogames differently than us. Case in point: South Korea.

10-25-2008, 09:27 PM	#10 (permalink)
nomcat Twisted Location: UK	Daaaaaaamn.... I've killed thousands of other characters in WoW... :P

10-25-2008, 09:58 PM	#13 (permalink)
Vigilante Broken Arrow Location: US	LOL not trying to be rude, honestly. I probably shouldn't have said anything. __________________ We contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle. -Winston Churchill

10-25-2008, 10:01 PM	#14 (permalink)
Slims Eccentric insomniac Location: North Carolina	If she was playing his character, wouldn't that make it suicide? __________________ "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." - Winston Churchill "All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act out their dream with open eyes, to make it possible." Seven Pillars of Wisdom, T.E. Lawrence

11-03-2008, 05:01 AM	#16 (permalink)
Merlocke Location: Canada	yet if you're a drug dealer in Canada, it's a slap on the wrist... wtf? __________________ -=[ Merlocke ]=-