From the BBC

   
Elf defence for 'lingerie thief'

A man accused of a stealing underwear from a shop in a knifepoint raid believed he was a female elf at the time, Belfast Crown Court has heard.
Robert Boyd, 45, from Broadlands in Carrickfergus, is accused of holding up staff at the Orchid shop in Belfast disguised in a wig, hat and glasses.

He told the court he had been involved in a role-playing game at the time, and his character was an elf named Beho.

He denies robbery but says he may have blurred reality and fantasy.

He also said it "could be right" that Beho had intended to rob the shop - although he told the jury he could not remember what was going through his mind at the time.

Japanese sword

He told defence counsel Anthony Cinnamond that within his small social circle he had been participating in a game known as Shadowrun.

The game was set in the future and the assumed characters were criminals, he said.

He told the court his character was a shaman, or magical elf, who carried a small Japanese sword as a weapon.

Mr Boyd, who said he visits a psychiatrist regularly, conceded that he "seemed to have blurred that line between reality and fantasy".

"I can't believe that I personally did that... and I deeply regret that.

"If I had sought some help I would've avoided that in it's entirety."

Prosecutors claim that Mr Boyd knew "perfectly well" what he was doing on the day of the robbery and was "using this memory loss scenario to avoid answering very difficult questions".

The lab technician, from Broadlands in Carrickfergus, denies one charge of robbery.

He is accused of stealing two sets of bras, knickers, suspender belts and stockings from the shop on Lisburn Road on 14 December, 2005.

The case continues. [/COLOR]

...and this is why you should never, ever, play a Lesbian Stripper Elven Ninja.

Someone's tiny mind couldn't handle the change to fixed TNs

The sad thing is that some biblewaving assholes and Ph.Demigods who think they know how everyone shoud act, live, think, talk, enjoy themselves, etc will likely latch on this as an excuse to ban SR, and gaming by entension.

I know logic is wasted on these types, but do we call for bans on football and soccer because some stupid dicks form a mob and riot after/during games? No.

So there's zero reason to blame gaming for this twerp, but again, logic is wasted on fanatics.

I hope Mr Boyd is a lesson to criminals everywhere.  If you must break the law, find a really interesting way to do so.

Please, think of the law students.

I notice that even in the "non-RPG hating, enlightened" areas of the world, it's more important to the story that the person plays a RPG while the fact that they were under psychiatric care beforehand is a mere footnote.

Well, to be fair ... I mean ... the guy was robbing a lingerie store while he believed himself to be a mythical creature in a cyberpunk future.

If I were the reporter, I'd figure that's the bit that makes the story engaging, much more than "person who goes to therapy sessions does crazy thing."

I personally think that there are fairly few crimes related to RPGs, but I'm fine with them being reported as such in the rare instances that there is reason to draw a connection.  This does look to me like a problem that was at least structured by the way that fantasy play can do bad things to people whose mental foundations are already shaky.

Quote from: Dominus NoxSo there's zero reason to blame gaming for this twerp, but again, logic is wasted on fanatics.

Oxygen is wasted on them as well.

Quote from: TonyLBWell, to be fair ... I mean ... the guy was robbing a lingerie store while he believed himself to be a mythical creature in a cyberpunk future.

If I were the reporter, I'd figure that's the bit that makes the story engaging, much more than "person who goes to therapy sessions does crazy thing."

I personally think that there are fairly few crimes related to RPGs, but I'm fine with them being reported as such in the rare instances that there is reason to draw a connection.  This does look to me like a problem that was at least structured by the way that fantasy play can do bad things to people whose mental foundations are already shaky.

Sure, if gaming is a genuine connection, then it should be said.  However, the article is saying this:

"Gaming provokes person to violent crime!  (Previous record of insanity may be cursorily related.)"

When it should be saying:

"Being insane provokes person to violent crime.  (Previous record of playing Shadowrun may have enabled a pre-existing delusional state.)"

An elf robbing a store in Shadowrun could face prosecution and jail time, right?

Quote from: jrientsAn elf robbing a store in Shadowrun could face prosecution and jail time, right?

He's still in the game! He's still in the game!


EDIT: Are we all just a figment of his elaborate and detailed imagination - that is, he's even imagined us all into existence as role-players on an Internet forum chatting about him? Now that's immersion!

Quote from: James J SkachNow that's immersion!

Concrete proof that immersion does exist.

Quote from: Dominus NoxThe sad thing is that some biblewaving assholes and Ph.Demigods who think they know how everyone shoud act, live, think, talk, enjoy themselves, etc will likely latch on this as an excuse to ban SR, and gaming by entension.

Are you kidding?  This would be great news for Shadowrun.  Free advertising.  And it might even make the game look edgey and cool to potential new recruits.  Not to mention saucy!

!i!

Ian:  Yeah.  A lunatic who robbed a liquor store would have been ... eh.  A lunatic who robs a lingerie store?  That's marketing gold, baby!

Am I the only one slighty concerned that he was LARPing a FEMALE elf? I mean, pen and paper cross-overs are one thing but...

Um. Yeah.