Who says that video games aren't educational? Here's the story of one 6-year-old Virginia boy who took the family's sedan because he missed the school bus:
The boy, whose name wasn't released, missed the bus, took the keys to his family's 2005 Ford Taurus and drove nearly six miles toward school while his mother was asleep, police said.
He made at least two 90-degree turns, passed several cars and ran off the rural two-lane road several times before hitting an embankment and utility pole about a mile and a half from school.
The boy told police he learned to drive playing Grand Theft Auto and Monster Truck Jam video games.
"He was very intent on getting to school," said Northumberland County Sheriff Chuck Wilkins. "When he got out of the car, he started walking to school. He did not want to miss breakfast and PE."
That boy sure is motivated to go to school! http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation/AP/story/839903.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/06/AR2009010601195.html?hpid=topnews
The other story is missing such golden nuggets as:
They speculate since he was so short, he stood on the gas pedal. Zoomed by a lady who was doing 60mph
There was a court order mandating that the father not leave his two children alone with the mother. He did.
Before I even read the article, I figured the poor kid had no other way to get breakfast, and probably the only happy times he has are at school, especially in PE, where he can play with other kids.
I just hope the foster care parents actually give a damn about these poor kids.
And then I fired off before reading the other two comments...
What is this world coming too? I get nervous leaving my 13 year old daughter home alone during the day!
6 means Kindergarten in most states....
And yes, my own six year old nephew plays GTA. I don't think much of my sister over things like that either. Kid's good at it though lol.
-B.
Someone please explain to me why just anyone is allowed to procreate?
I often wonder that myself. Still, the kid might turn out ok, that's some determination he's got there.
The logic is just as strong!
LOL@ Lo6328
Cars aren't spectacularly difficult to operate if they're automatics, a few minutes figuring out which was pedal was "go" and which was "stop" is probably all he needed; if he's literate enough to play GTA, he can obviously figure out that "D" is drive and from watching his parents he could discern that the steering wheel is used to turn the car. Once again, the focus on the video game is distracting from the point of the article.
good points, the focus on video games is distracting from how terrible his mother is. but i dont think it is as simple as you are putting it. sure, he needs to be somewhat literate to find 'D' for drive and 'R' for reverse, but that doesnt mean he would understand how to navigate IN TRAFFIC. if you showed a 6 year old how to drive, would he be able to properly turn or even pass cars?