Dark Knight Inspires Copycat Crimes, Over-reactions

CptSternn · 08-17-2008, 06:24 AM

http://io9.com/5037573/dark-knight-i...over+reactions

It's taken four weeks, but it's finally happened - Fans of The Dark Knight have started to take some of the Joker's methods into the real world, and are paying the price. But, considering what was actually done in the Joker's name, the price being paid may be far too high.

According to the Roanoke Times, two teenagers from Pembroke, VA, have been arrested and admitted to creating "a series of playing cards that were defaced with threatening writing and left at stores in Christiansburg and Pearisburg — a gesture police said the teens admitted had been inspired by this summer's Batman movie, 'The Dark Knight.'" However, what police are charging them with seems more than slightly excessive: conspiracy to commit an act of terrorism.

Don't get me wrong; I'm sure that the cards were upsetting to those that found them (even though all they apparently said was "Joker"), and I agree that they should be charged with something for placing them. But conspiracy to commit an act of terrorism? Really?

The Roanoke Times story makes it fairly clear that the two 18-year-olds, Justin Colby Dirico and Bryan Eugene Stafford, are much more aimless Dark Knight fans than terrorists:

The teenagers "were real remorseful. They said they never had any intentions of harming anybody," [Police Chief JC] Martin said after talking with them. He said it appeared to be "a prank that kind of got out of hand."

In The Dark Knight, authorities and moviemakers alike are quick to label the Joker a terrorist, but he does much more than leave playing cards for people to find. Is this just a case of real life dumbly following art?

CptSternn · 08-17-2008, 06:32 AM

Heh - I have said in many a thread that the cops in Virginia have feck all to do and spend their days arresting average citizens for no good reason other than to bring funds into the state coffers.

This, is yet another prime example. I mean, forget about the police raiding the Abercrombie/Fitch store because the top part of a mans butt cheek was showing in an ad on a poster (an ad that was put in magazines across America), this takes it up a notch. (*See previous thread on this)

Arresting teens who left Joker cards at various places (i.e. park benches, drink machines at the mall, etc.).

They hunted the teens down and are now charging them as terrorists.

I wonder if they used satellites and phone taps to hunt down these hardened criminals?

You may ask yourself, are the cops in Virginia so out of touch they have no idea about the new Dark Knight film? The short answer is yes.
They really are that feckin thick.

Or was it like a cop found the second card and was like 'men, the Joker is loose in PEMBROKE VIRGINIA and its up to us to stop him before he feckin frees the Penguin!'

Feckin' eejits sure.

x-deviant-x · 08-17-2008, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CptSternn

Or was it like a cop found the second card and was like 'men, the Joker is loose in PEMBROKE VIRGINIA and its up to us to stop him before he feckin frees the Penguin!'

Feckin' eejits sure.

This part is probably closer to the truth.

The sad thing is, this is perfect ammo for the fundees to use for why we shouldn't have violence in films or video games.

Joker_in_the_Pack · 08-18-2008, 02:17 PM

... *facepalm*

... just... I mean...

*facepalm*

Saya · 08-18-2008, 09:13 PM

Sweet jesus. Really?

In solidarity with the boys I have taken to leaving cryptic riddles around town sealed in green envelopes.

Solumina · 08-18-2008, 10:58 PM

First of all I just want to say that you really should avoid throwing all Va cops into the same category, some of our police forces are top notch, some not so much, but they are all done county to county so the state has little to nothing to do with the local police force (and both this and the poster thing were done local, not state police...that and the poster thing was done because of the number of complaints that were received about the poster, Va Beach is just weird like that) and saying that Va cops are shit is insulting to both the good local precincts as well as to the state troopers.

That being said wtfuck? A defaced deck of card is considered to be a conspiracy to commit an act of terrorism? There has got to be something more to it than this.

DementiaNocturne · 08-18-2008, 11:06 PM

Can we vote them out of the species? Is there a form for that?

Saya · 08-18-2008, 11:20 PM

No, you'll have to file a bug report with God.

Sir_Vex · 08-19-2008, 08:42 PM

I agree with Solumina. To place all VA police in the same category is a bit extreme. No matter where you go, there will be dirty, out of touch, or otherwise excessive police.

As for the charging of the young men, while "conspiracy to commit an act of terrorism" is more than extreme, I do think they need to be dealt with swiftly. It's a bit like shouting, "fire" in a crowded room at this time.

NightmareInShiningArmour · 08-19-2008, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saya

No, you'll have to file a bug report with God.

What if you're an Atheist?

I was so badly expecting copycat crimes like this. Except more of the knife in mouth "Why so serious?" facepaint kind of things.

metum_capere · 08-22-2008, 02:15 PM

our tax dollars hard at work, yet again. seriously, these kids have nothing else to do anymore! Everytime a kid starts to have some fun, some lame old adult has to ruin it by calling the fuzz.
i remember when i was a teenager, they closed the parks and removed the basketball hoops because too much gang violence was taking place in parks. then they banned cruising, and closed down the parking lots where the teens hung out. sakteboarding was criminalized, and all thats left for kids to do it fuck, drink, and get high. and rob old ladies.

DementiaNocturne · 08-23-2008, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by metum_capere

our tax dollars hard at work, yet again. seriously, these kids have nothing else to do anymore! Everytime a kid starts to have some fun, some lame old adult has to ruin it by calling the fuzz.
i remember when i was a teenager, they closed the parks and removed the basketball hoops because too much gang violence was taking place in parks. then they banned cruising, and closed down the parking lots where the teens hung out. sakteboarding was criminalized, and all thats left for kids to do it fuck, drink, and get high. and rob old ladies.

Sounds quite a bit like this shit-hole. -_-''