Gamer Killed For Virtual Property

The BBC has the story of a young Chinese man who was slain over a virtual property dispute. His killer has been sentenced to life imprisonment. The Guardian Gamesblog has a deeper look at the situation with Terra Novan Ren Reynolds. From the article: "We're becoming a service property marketplace. Is this as good as a manufacturing economy? It doesn't have the moral solidity in a way. You can kind of see that shift in ethical terms. People would think that stealing an album in a shop is immoral, but stealing an mp3 isn't. The idea of property has become more intangible."

who needs a plea bargain?

[supersocialist]

I imagine killing a man over an imaginary object makes the insanity plea a little easier.

Re:Sad, but . .

[RealityMogul]

Obviously his other issue was playing too much GTA... err wait... I mean Doom. No wait, that's not it either.

What game is the root of all evil nowadays?

I'll call my congressman and ask him.

the problem...

[ultramk]

what pisses me off about all the coverage of this that I've read...

I can't find ANYONE who'll say what the stats are on the damn sword. This is obviously the most critical bit of information about the story, and no one will report it.

1h? 2h? +9 for ogres? What?? GAH!

Obviously, there are some circumstances where such a killing would be perfectly understandable. Without the stats, how will we ever know?

m-

Album vs. mp3

[NetCynicism]

People would think that stealing an album in a shop is immoral, but stealing an mp3 isn't.

That's because stealing an album in a shop is immoral, but stealing an mp3 isn't. An album is a physical good; if I steal it from you you can no longer use it. An mp3 is what economists call a non-rival good; if I 'steal' it from you you may never notice and have not been harmed in any way, unless of course you believe in Marx's labor theory of value.

That last gives rise to my personal IP motto - 'intellectual property is Communism.'

pants

[Flunitrazepam]

"My son was only 26 when he died. He was sleeping when Qiu broke into his home. He was barely able to put his pants on before Qiu stabbed him," said his father, Zhu Huimin.

Well, thank god I sleep with my pants ON

Other Interesting Details

[popo]

The article failed to mention that Qiu Chengwei scored a +5 critical hit when he stabbed Mr. Zhu in the chest.

It should also be mentioned that while Mr. Zhu's death was of course due to stabbing -- other factors included his low armor class and a failed saving throw.

Rumours are currently spreading that Mr. Chengwei was wearing +3 boots of stealth when he broke into Mr. Zhu's apartment giving him a distinct melee advantage.

Re:Notion of Ownership?

[Beyond_GoodandEvil]

...We smoke'um Peace Pipe.

You insensitive clod! My grandmother died of lung cancer. No I will sue you and your casino owning relatives for introducing tobacco to the europeans.