Online divorcee jailed after killing virtual hubby

By joining our community you will have the ability to post topics and access other forums reserved for members. Registration is quick, simple and absolutely free. Join our community today by clicking here.

Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 4:50 pm

First we have the 89 year old granny arrested now we have a woman arrested for killing an avatar? What is this world coming to?

Quote:

Online divorcee jailed after killing virtual hubby

By MARI YAMAGUCHI, Associated Press Writer Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press Writer

TOKYO – A 43-year-old Japanese piano teacher's sudden divorce from her online husband in a virtual game world made her so angry that she logged on and killed his digital persona, police said Thursday.

The woman, who has been 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 City 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.

As in "Second Life" in the U.S., 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."

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.

___

This story corrects that the woman has been arrested on suspicion of illegal access of computer, manipulating data, instead of being charged with offenses.

Baiting Guru Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Posts: 3123

Quote:

This story corrects that the woman has been arrested on suspicion of illegal access of computer, manipulating data, instead of being charged with offenses.

I suppose that makes it all right, but if she was charged for murder Surprised

Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 5:01 pm

This lady needs to be unleashed upon the mugus.

Baiting Guru Joined: 07 Jul 2006 Posts: 5727

Will they throw her in virtual prison if convicted?

Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 5:16 pm

On a related theme.
www.radionetherlands.nl/currentaffairs/region/netherlands/081022-virtual-theft-is-real

Quote:

In a precedent-setting trial, a court in the Dutch city of Leeuwarden has ruled that stealing virtual items is theft and sentenced two teenage boys to community service.

Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 5:41 pm

Hell, I've killed a couple of avatars that I found too offensive for Eater.

Does that make me a murderer? Shocked

Baiting Guru Joined: 07 Jul 2006 Posts: 5727

^^^ Yup

Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 6:10 pm

If they put her in virtual prison she can escape then the whole internet will be looking for an escaped avatar! Laughing

I wonder if there will be a reward?

Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 7:11 pm

Yes, but a virtual one only...

Hmm, if this is true, I suppose I'm a mass murderer... come on, who hasn't created random accounts just to kill them off in amusing ways and/or to kill everyone else in sight? Good fun. Very Happy

Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 7:45 pm

*gulp...*

Does this make all site killers... cereal killers (yes the trix rabbit tastes like virtual chicken).

Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 8:43 pm

^^^^^^

They ain't takin me alive. Evil or Very Mad

Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 8:47 pm

I suppose I should have some witty anecdote or story right now but instead I shall simply state how much I hate the internet.

Trophy Videos · Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2008 11:43 pm

I'm disgusted with the the entire human species. They would even punish their own for non-real life offenses, using real life punishments. I better not kill my little toy mousey, oooo! or they will lock me in a cage....idiots.
<<

Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 11:50 am

<--Hiding from the virtual cops in his virtual hallway broom closet office.

Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2008 12:21 pm

I'm going to start a virtual people smuggling business

Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 8:27 am

Seeing as I'll never be one in real life, I'm gonna be an online Pimp. Keep your pimpin' hand strong.

Baiting Guru Joined: 11 May 2004 Posts: 2163

Mr Tambourine Man wrote:

On a related theme.
www.radionetherlands.nl/currentaffairs/region/netherlands/081022-virtual-theft-is-real

Quote:

In a precedent-setting trial, a court in the Dutch city of Leeuwarden has ruled that stealing virtual items is theft and sentenced two teenage boys to community service.

That is also because they threatened the kid in real life

Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 9:27 am

As a player of many online games, I know first hand that people do play very hard to earn some of the achievements and rewards in these games so it should be considered theft IMO, but it's not severe enough to the point to face prison terms.

Master Baiter Joined: 16 Jul 2008 Posts: 146

I can Kinda see it as distruction of property, as it is something that belonged to that person, that they invested time in, that is now gone.

Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 2:57 pm

Can't they just reload the digital person? Why not just make the character come back to life?

Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 4:29 pm

^^^Where's the Pie Maker when you need him?

(If you don't watch Pushing Daisies, you might not get the reference.)

Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 8:41 pm

Does Japan still have the death penalty?

5 years or $5000 is way too little.

Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 9:14 pm

A "Brave new world" I love the internet! But then I'm a bit strange to start with! beers!

I was talked into connecting to the internet to help in my Stroke recovery. Or so they said, they weren't trying to "gas light me were they? Confused

Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 4:39 am

This gives new meaning to the phrase, "Get a life". Laughing

Online divorcee jailed after killing virtual hubby	View next topic View previous topic