Play Stupid Games, Win Stupid Prizes By Playing Senior Assassin

Kansas teen paralyzed from waist down after being shot by girl's father following 'senior assassin' social media prank (Blaze, June 10, 2024)

The above case is as tragic an example of the admonition, "play stupid games, win stupid prizes," as I've seen over the years.

This senior assassin game encourages young people to trespass, often with toy guns which could be mistaken for real ones, while role playing killers on missions of mayhem. I see a forest of red flags warning danger about this one.

Disturbing trends in modern gaming and weak minds 

For a lifetime I've imagined myself being many things. Nearly 60 years worth of active imagination never inspired me to trespass on people's property pretending I'm on a murderous mission.

Such games don't read like "harmless fun" to reasonable readers.

Granted, I predate the internet, but it's clear disturbing trends in modern gaming have emerged where weak minds become virtually trained to role play disturbing characters while away from the console.

This virtual training prompts susceptible gamers to leap the border between fantasy and reality with disturbing consequences.
Even instances where bad intentions weren't present can still end badly.

Role players can cross paths with unaware adults, as in the Kansas case, who misperceive role play as real threats and respond accordingly.

The father who shot role playing teen was arrested and charged. Now, two families lives are altered forever.

Double down on instilling respect for boundaries in young people

I remember late 20th century concerns about board games like Dungeons and Dragons role in teen suicide and recall first generation video games being accused of glamorizing a pattern of anti social themes acted out in real life.

I close this post with my latest appeal to double down on instilling respect for boundaries in young people.

It's not the stable 1970s or 1980s anymore. High alertness about sudden assault, car jacking and home invasion make today a very bad time to creep around places playing assassin.

Let's redouble enforcing respect for boundaries-or witness more youth tragically play stupid games and win stupid prizes.

I prefer they didn't.

EVENT SECURITY PROFESSIONAL. ADVOCATE.

Nadra Enzi aka Cap Black is a philosophical protector specializing in security management beside event organizers and owners of establishments serving the general public.