Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
This gave me a chuckle. But it's also an interesting parable for those who never take thesession.org seriously because "it's just a web site."
TOKYO – A 43-year-old Japanese woman whose sudden divorce in a virtual game world made her so angry that she killed her online husband's digital persona has been arrested on suspicion of hacking, police said Thursday.
The woman, who is jailed on suspicion of illegally accessing a computer and manipulating electronic data, used his identification and password to log onto popular interactive game "Maple Story" to carry out the virtual murder in mid-May, a police official in northern Sapporo said on condition of anonymity, citing department policy.
"I was suddenly divorced, without a word of warning. That made me so angry," the official quoted her as telling investigators and admitting the allegations.
The woman had not plotted any revenge in the real world, the official said.
She has not yet been formally charged, but if convicted could face a prison term of up to five years or a fine up to $5,000.
Players in "Maple Story" raise and manipulate digital images called "avatars" that represent themselves, while engaging in relationships, social activities and fighting against monsters and other obstacles.
The woman used login information she got from the 33-year-old office worker when their characters were happily married, and killed the character. The man complained to police when he discovered that his beloved online avatar was dead.
The woman was arrested Wednesday and was taken across the country, traveling 620 miles from her home in southern Miyazaki to be detained in Sappporo, where the man lives, the official said.
The police official said he did not know if she was married in the real world.
In recent years, virtual lives have had consequences in the real world. In August, a woman was charged in Delaware with plotting the real-life abduction of a boyfriend she met through "Second Life," another virtual interactive world.
In Tokyo, police arrested a 16-year-old boy on charges of swindling virtual currency worth $360,000 in an interactive role playing game by manipulating another player's portfolio using a stolen ID and password.
Virtual games are popular in Japan, and "Second Life" has drawn a fair number of Japanese participants. They rank third by nationality among users, after Americans and Brazilians.
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
It's almost scary how seriously some people take their online lives. A long time ago I used to play EverQuest and a friend of mine in the game was "married" to a female character. And I mean they were serious about it, had a virtual wedding, it was no joke.
About three years into their "marriage" people started adding voice chat to the game so people could talk to each other instead of just typing. It was fun to hear the voices of people you'd previously only known through text chat, but my friend's "wife" was the only one who refused to use the voice chat, no matter how much my friend pleaded.
Turned out there was a reason. She had a secret that "her" voice would give away. That's right, for years this guy had been in a gay marriage and didn't even know it.
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
Well, it's not like people use "digital personas" on this website... Oh wait...
Actually, your point is well taken, Will, and I've made the same point a number of times (as have other people). There are real people behind the usernames on this site. Even people that try to stay anonymous are generally found out, so hiding behind the anonymity of a username on this site is not a good excuse for being rude, obnoxious, or overly confrontational.
People who are vociferous arguers on this site might not realize that it can damage their reputation in the session scene in real life.
And conversely, this site can be a wonderful resource for making good and true friends in real life.
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
Zina, woman from the past. I haven't seen her post in ages. But back to the orignal post. Anyone read Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson? Sounds like virtual life mimics book life.
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
Un-freakin' real.
I can only imagine what some folks must think of ME. LOL I might annoy some folks on occasion but at least I don't hide. There are some personas here that truly are obnoxious just because it's fun for them. But I never name names, do I, llig?
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
Hey Fishmonger, there's a difference between people who argue for argument's sake (wind-up artists, etc), and then there's people like llig, who may come across gruff, but pretty much always have an interesting point of view, and are willing to stick by what they say. Don't confuse the two
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
I_Fel, funny that you should mention Snow Crash (we had a buddy in Gainesville named D[avid] Eivett -- the more illuminated residents of our floor called him Da5id ). Because when I read the story this morning, it reminded me rather of Phil Dick's notion of precrime.... but not far off in Stephenson's world either!
Fair play to the media for putting a nice sensational zing on the story.. because she's basically in trouble for something closer to identity theft or trespassing. But who'd be interested in that? I'm waiting for a repeat performance in America: "Jealous wife kills husband's third-level Ogre Mage in World of Warcraft"...
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
And theSession differs... how...? A bunch of anonymous individuals distributed over the surface of a planet join and contribute to a virtual community, purportedly with a common interest. Over years of posting, these individual "constructs" post helpful information, philosophical ramblings, and... opinions, which are taken VERY seriously by other members, particularly If said opinions might be counter-intuitive to others' thinking. Next thing you know... sniping, carping, whinging, cavilling, and... worse, indictments in CAPITAL LETTERS. I'm keeping my secret password close to my chest... because one never knows.... and, for the most part, we don't know each other other than by "type"... and I wouldn't want to stereotype any of you. If you exist.
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
Heh, what's been fun for me, since signing on here in 2001, is meeting a bunch of other members in meat space and finding our that they're all pretty much as they seem onlne. And they've become good, even great, friends. People I get together with fairly often in spite of geographic distance.
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
The big difference here is things like Second Life and WoW allow people to escape their reality and not think about it, while message boards allow like-minded folk, or at least people with common interests, to discuss reality.
...and like I told Reverend Colorado there, Montana Will, you should come to Florida some snowy, freezing winter for a break. Seriously. You people like that stuff? [shudder]
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
"People who are vociferous arguers on this site might not realize that it can damage their reputation in the session scene in real life."
Reputation? What reputation?
Actually, I suspect that whatever reputation I did have has already been damaged so badly that it can't be fixed.
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
If I'm not mistaken there have been college courses dealing with the psychology of soap operas--meaning why a LOT of people believe soap opera drama is "reality." I'm not making this up.
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
It is wierd and scary. But then again harmless, at this stage, anyway, as we perceive it. He might think we would be a bunch of wierdo geeks blowing down flutes and scraping across fiddles etc to play a bunch of forgotten 200 year old tunes nobody else could give a toss about, and then coming on here and violently disagreeing with one another about their settings, so each to their own. Although I'd rather do that than his obsession. It's all down to how each individual perceives the world. So thus I maintain, MY perception is that this site is "only a website", but I have no qualms that someone else may perceive this or other websites as central to their existence. Or rather I wouldn't wish to judge or castigate someone elses perception of reality.
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
heh, pretty funny article - as are the 7 pages of comments. But KML is right, many people think we're a bit strange and addicted. For instance, how many of you have more than one instrument? More than three? More than 5? I think I have bought 14 banjos over the past 5 years. (Fortunately, I have sold most of them, and only have 3 at the moment... one of which was bought to be fixed up for a friend...) And I have two mandolins, a bouzouki, and a tenor guitar... (The difference here may be that I only play one at a time, of course...)
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
The really, really sad part about that WoW guy is that the game is designed so that you have to seek out other players and work together to win the big fights.
This guy went through all of that trouble and expense not just to play the game...he did it to play the game ALONE. He has 36 accounts so he can do everything by himself and not have to interact with anyone else in the game.
It would be like learning multiple instruments and using a multi-track recorder to play sessions at home alone, to avoid having to interact with other people.
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
Just a thought, Marklar. While I agree that isolating oneself seems counterproductive (and perhaps even "sad"), some people are simply wired that way. Some people on the autism spectrum, for one example, may be most comfortable--and may actually learn a lot about social norms--from the multi-role playing aspect of running 36 accounts.
On the other hand, my own son's sociability soars when he's online. It's gratifying that he can team play with people around the world and excel at it, though the same interaction is typically more of a struggle in meat space. Yet it's clear that the virtual socializing has greatly improved his real world people skills and comfort level.
Perhaps the guy with 36 accounts is easing his way into society in a way that suits him best. Or maybe he's serial killing cannibal. Who knows. Let's bear in mind that we're not all wired the same, and that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
Please, anything to spare *me* from having to rattle the musical typewriter.....
AND anything to get you out to our sessions. You ARE missed! We had a great session last night--two young step dancers prodding us on through every slip jig we know. And then a couple of hours of just three melody players easing through the tunes with a gentle guitar and goat bleating. You would've enjoyed it, no end. And Deb bought the rounds.
No, you need to stay serious in your studies. But make time for us whenever you can. Seriously.
Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
This gave me a chuckle. But it's also an interesting parable for those who never take thesession.org seriously because "it's just a web site."
TOKYO – A 43-year-old Japanese woman whose sudden divorce in a virtual game world made her so angry that she killed her online husband's digital persona has been arrested on suspicion of hacking, police said Thursday.
The woman, who is jailed on suspicion of illegally accessing a computer and manipulating electronic data, used his identification and password to log onto popular interactive game "Maple Story" to carry out the virtual murder in mid-May, a police official in northern Sapporo said on condition of anonymity, citing department policy.
"I was suddenly divorced, without a word of warning. That made me so angry," the official quoted her as telling investigators and admitting the allegations.
The woman had not plotted any revenge in the real world, the official said.
She has not yet been formally charged, but if convicted could face a prison term of up to five years or a fine up to $5,000.
Players in "Maple Story" raise and manipulate digital images called "avatars" that represent themselves, while engaging in relationships, social activities and fighting against monsters and other obstacles.
The woman used login information she got from the 33-year-old office worker when their characters were happily married, and killed the character. The man complained to police when he discovered that his beloved online avatar was dead.
The woman was arrested Wednesday and was taken across the country, traveling 620 miles from her home in southern Miyazaki to be detained in Sappporo, where the man lives, the official said.
The police official said he did not know if she was married in the real world.
In recent years, virtual lives have had consequences in the real world. In August, a woman was charged in Delaware with plotting the real-life abduction of a boyfriend she met through "Second Life," another virtual interactive world.
In Tokyo, police arrested a 16-year-old boy on charges of swindling virtual currency worth $360,000 in an interactive role playing game by manipulating another player's portfolio using a stolen ID and password.
Virtual games are popular in Japan, and "Second Life" has drawn a fair number of Japanese participants. They rank third by nationality among users, after Americans and Brazilians.
# Posted on October 23rd 2008 by Will Harmon
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
Wow.. I don't think I have words for this...
# Posted on October 23rd 2008 by JosephC
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
ha funny i just got done reading that artical about thirty secs ago ha
# Posted on October 23rd 2008 by irishflute93
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
It's almost scary how seriously some people take their online lives. A long time ago I used to play EverQuest and a friend of mine in the game was "married" to a female character. And I mean they were serious about it, had a virtual wedding, it was no joke.
About three years into their "marriage" people started adding voice chat to the game so people could talk to each other instead of just typing. It was fun to hear the voices of people you'd previously only known through text chat, but my friend's "wife" was the only one who refused to use the voice chat, no matter how much my friend pleaded.
Turned out there was a reason. She had a secret that "her" voice would give away. That's right, for years this guy had been in a gay marriage and didn't even know it.
# Posted on October 23rd 2008 by Marklar
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
Well, it's not like people use "digital personas" on this website... Oh wait...
Actually, your point is well taken, Will, and I've made the same point a number of times (as have other people). There are real people behind the usernames on this site. Even people that try to stay anonymous are generally found out, so hiding behind the anonymity of a username on this site is not a good excuse for being rude, obnoxious, or overly confrontational.
People who are vociferous arguers on this site might not realize that it can damage their reputation in the session scene in real life.
And conversely, this site can be a wonderful resource for making good and true friends in real life.
# Posted on October 23rd 2008 by Reverend
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
Oh, and Will, please tell me that you're not actually a woman in RL!
# Posted on October 23rd 2008 by Reverend
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
maybe "Willma"?
# Posted on October 23rd 2008 by skin&bow
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
Well, I know Zina has been courted quite a few times on this site.
# Posted on October 23rd 2008 by slainte
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
Zina, woman from the past. I haven't seen her post in ages. But back to the orignal post. Anyone read Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson? Sounds like virtual life mimics book life.
# Posted on October 23rd 2008 by I_Fel
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
Un-freakin' real.
I can only imagine what some folks must think of ME. LOL I might annoy some folks on occasion but at least I don't hide. There are some personas here that truly are obnoxious just because it's fun for them. But I never name names, do I, llig?
# Posted on October 23rd 2008 by Fishmonger
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
Heh, Rev, by now, I would've thought that you'd be flirting if I looked remotely anything at all like a woman in RL....
The beard always gives me away (and before you all start in, yes, I'm aware of the double entendre here).
# Posted on October 23rd 2008 by Will Harmon
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
You have to wait till real sh!t happens in your life, then you realise it IS just a website.
# Posted on October 23rd 2008 by Rudall the time
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
Hey Fishmonger, there's a difference between people who argue for argument's sake (wind-up artists, etc), and then there's people like llig, who may come across gruff, but pretty much always have an interesting point of view, and are willing to stick by what they say. Don't confuse the two
# Posted on October 23rd 2008 by Reverend
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
It happens in the UK too:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/3074811/Internet-gamer-may-have-been-murdered-by-fellow-gamer.html
# Posted on October 23rd 2008 by bowburner
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
I_Fel, funny that you should mention Snow Crash (we had a buddy in Gainesville named D[avid] Eivett -- the more illuminated residents of our floor called him Da5id
). Because when I read the story this morning, it reminded me rather of Phil Dick's notion of precrime.... but not far off in Stephenson's world either!
Fair play to the media for putting a nice sensational zing on the story.. because she's basically in trouble for something closer to identity theft or trespassing. But who'd be interested in that? I'm waiting for a repeat performance in America: "Jealous wife kills husband's third-level Ogre Mage in World of Warcraft"...
# Posted on October 23rd 2008 by gravelwalks
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
And theSession differs... how...? A bunch of anonymous individuals distributed over the surface of a planet join and contribute to a virtual community, purportedly with a common interest. Over years of posting, these individual "constructs" post helpful information, philosophical ramblings, and... opinions, which are taken VERY seriously by other members, particularly If said opinions might be counter-intuitive to others' thinking. Next thing you know... sniping, carping, whinging, cavilling, and... worse, indictments in CAPITAL LETTERS. I'm keeping my secret password close to my chest... because one never knows.... and, for the most part, we don't know each other other than by "type"... and I wouldn't want to stereotype any of you. If you exist.
# Posted on October 23rd 2008 by drone
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
Heh, what's been fun for me, since signing on here in 2001, is meeting a bunch of other members in meat space and finding our that they're all pretty much as they seem onlne. And they've become good, even great, friends. People I get together with fairly often in spite of geographic distance.
# Posted on October 23rd 2008 by Will Harmon
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
The big difference here is things like Second Life and WoW allow people to escape their reality and not think about it, while message boards allow like-minded folk, or at least people with common interests, to discuss reality.
...and like I told Reverend Colorado there, Montana Will, you should come to Florida some snowy, freezing winter for a break. Seriously. You people like that stuff? [shudder]
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
"People who are vociferous arguers on this site might not realize that it can damage their reputation in the session scene in real life."
Reputation? What reputation?
Actually, I suspect that whatever reputation I did have has already been damaged so badly that it can't be fixed.
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by fauxcelt
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
no one needs to be fixed. We are all gimpy one way or another.
Keep Playing!
;)
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Ben Steen
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
If I'm not mistaken there have been college courses dealing with the psychology of soap operas--meaning why a LOT of people believe soap opera drama is "reality." I'm not making this up.
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by GDub
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
Online obsessiveness and geekiness is portrayed here:
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?p=14923042&highlight=WoW+account#post14923042
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by D.J.F.
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
Wow - that's .... scary. Probably the computer equivalent of multitracking yourself or something!
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Mark Harmer
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
It is wierd and scary. But then again harmless, at this stage, anyway, as we perceive it. He might think we would be a bunch of wierdo geeks blowing down flutes and scraping across fiddles etc to play a bunch of forgotten 200 year old tunes nobody else could give a toss about, and then coming on here and violently disagreeing with one another about their settings, so each to their own. Although I'd rather do that than his obsession. It's all down to how each individual perceives the world. So thus I maintain, MY perception is that this site is "only a website", but I have no qualms that someone else may perceive this or other websites as central to their existence. Or rather I wouldn't wish to judge or castigate someone elses perception of reality.
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Rudall the time
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
heh, pretty funny article - as are the 7 pages of comments. But KML is right, many people think we're a bit strange and addicted. For instance, how many of you have more than one instrument? More than three? More than 5? I think I have bought 14 banjos over the past 5 years. (Fortunately, I have sold most of them, and only have 3 at the moment... one of which was bought to be fixed up for a friend...) And I have two mandolins, a bouzouki, and a tenor guitar... (The difference here may be that I only play one at a time, of course...)
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Reverend
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
So Revered, how many avatars do you have?
Point being, is a virtual obsession any less real than a meat space obsession? Discuss.
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Will Harmon
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
What did that used to call that Tab . . .
Windowpane?
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Ben Steen
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
Freudian slip there, calling Reverend "Revered."
I genuflect to your awesomeness, your reverence.
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Will Harmon
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
The really, really sad part about that WoW guy is that the game is designed so that you have to seek out other players and work together to win the big fights.
This guy went through all of that trouble and expense not just to play the game...he did it to play the game ALONE. He has 36 accounts so he can do everything by himself and not have to interact with anyone else in the game.
It would be like learning multiple instruments and using a multi-track recorder to play sessions at home alone, to avoid having to interact with other people.
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Marklar
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
Just a thought, Marklar. While I agree that isolating oneself seems counterproductive (and perhaps even "sad"), some people are simply wired that way. Some people on the autism spectrum, for one example, may be most comfortable--and may actually learn a lot about social norms--from the multi-role playing aspect of running 36 accounts.
On the other hand, my own son's sociability soars when he's online. It's gratifying that he can team play with people around the world and excel at it, though the same interaction is typically more of a struggle in meat space. Yet it's clear that the virtual socializing has greatly improved his real world people skills and comfort level.
Perhaps the guy with 36 accounts is easing his way into society in a way that suits him best. Or maybe he's serial killing cannibal. Who knows. Let's bear in mind that we're not all wired the same, and that's not necessarily a bad thing.
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Will Harmon
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
(Not that I'm condoning serial cannibalism, or even singular cannibalism, eh?
)
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Will Harmon
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
>> I genuflect to your awesomeness, your reverence.
Either my awesomeness, or my impressive collection of banjos... Haven't figured out which yet
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Reverend
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
Maybe it's just the height difference.
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Will Harmon
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
I'm still waiting for my free banjo Rev.
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by polkageist
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
silver bow, you have have mine. The banjo's free, but it comes with mandatory purchase of a $400 case....
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by Will Harmon
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
have have have have
)
"you can have mine"
(for $400 and removal of the case from my house.
# Posted on October 25th 2008 by Will Harmon
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
But Will, I don't have 400$. ;) And are you really sure you want me to have a case? That's like, an invitation to bring the thing out in public.....
# Posted on October 25th 2008 by polkageist
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
Please, anything to spare *me* from having to rattle the musical typewriter.....
AND anything to get you out to our sessions. You ARE missed! We had a great session last night--two young step dancers prodding us on through every slip jig we know. And then a couple of hours of just three melody players easing through the tunes with a gentle guitar and goat bleating. You would've enjoyed it, no end. And Deb bought the rounds.
No, you need to stay serious in your studies. But make time for us whenever you can. Seriously.
# Posted on October 25th 2008 by Will Harmon
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
Meanwhile you can borrow the banjo.....
# Posted on October 25th 2008 by Will Harmon
Re: Online divorcee jailed after "killing" virtual hubby
but does borrowing the banjo mean the case comes with the borrowed banjo, or when borrowing said typewriter, soes one need to provide one's own case?
Or is there a leasing ability for the case?
# Posted on November 3rd 2008 by Pádraig