[Tom4784]

Noel Gallagher blames TV and video games for UK riots

Noel Gallagher has said that last week's riots across England were a result of an "age of violence".

The ex-Oasis songwriter also blamed TV and video games for the disturbances in London, Manchester, Birmingham and elsewhere.

Gallagher told Bang Showbiz: "I can't understand where their energy for these riots is coming from.

"We live in this age of violence - and I don't care what other people say - brutal TV and brutal video games are a reason for this pointless violence as well.

"The people are immune to violence, they are used to it. And if they get caught they aren't punished the right way. The prisons are already full? Then build new ones!"

He continued: "It's crazy! It's just violence for the sake of violence. The people who are at these riots aren't poor. These are kids with ******ing mobile phones and all sorts of s**t. The police and government have to take drastic measures."

Gallagher claimed that the "stupid" rioters "have no goals" and added: "There aren't any reasons! There's a guy who gets shot - a gangster if I may add that, who had a gun.

"If you live by the sword, you die by the sword! Then suddenly there are riots everywhere. There is no reason for that. It's just pointless violence of ******ing idiots."

The Pretty Green shop on King Street in central Manchester belonging to Gallagher's estranged brother and former bandmate Liam was looted on Tuesday night. A man was later sentenced to eight months in prison for the offence.

People who blame TV and games for violence in the real world are morons. Playing Grand Theft Auto doesn't mean you want to go out and bang a prostitute and then drive her off a bridge. It's like these people think violence didn't exist before the 90's. No game, film, book, music or any outside influence in the media can cause violent tendencies. The capacity for violence has to be there to begin with and saying otherwise is just vindicating criminals and giving them an excuse which is not acceptable.

People chose to go out and riot because they wanted to. They aren't some brainwashed morons incapable of independent thought that were coerced into doing it by Halo. It's just moronic and anyone who honestly believes games or films carry any influence is a simplistic fool.

[arista]

Yes he has some valid points
get him on live TV.

[MeMyselfAndI]

Why do we care what Noel Gallagher says?

How pointless, he has no facts

[Boothy]

I agree with Dezzy on this. I've been playing GTA since I was about 10 and have never felt the need to recreate what I do on there in real life.

[Livia]

I agree with the OP. Most people - however young they may be - know the difference between fantasy and reality.

[seanraff07]

I have noticed that some people who play COD almost 24/7 have a bit of an obsession with all these random guns etc, I had someone in my class last year sitting beside me who used to just sit and draw people getting stabbed/shot in the back of his jotter all the time, which I found a bit creepy. He wasn't just some daft 10 year old either, he's 17 like me and I know he lives on his Xbox.

[Ammi]

Noel Gallagher talking like an old grandma, whatever next

[InOne]

Stuff like that affect a very tiny % of people. But it's that tiny % that ruin lives.

[LeatherTrumpet]

The so-called riots (that affected a tiny part of the UK and a tiny percentage of people) were about theft not violence.

[Scarlett.]

Originally Posted by seanraff07

I have noticed that some people who play COD almost 24/7 have a bit of an obsession with all these random guns etc, I had someone in my class last year sitting beside me who used to just sit and draw people getting stabbed/shot in the back of his jotter all the time, which I found a bit creepy. He wasn't just some daft 10 year old either, he's 17 like me and I know he lives on his Xbox.

It's just a hobby, I don't see anything wrong with it. Plus I'd bet the pictures were probably based on CoD, and not on real life.

[Ammi]

Ironically, we were supposed to sympathise with the looters because they had nothing, and now we're supposed to think they all spend too much time on their X boxes - has Noel Gallagher nothing intelligent to say

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by seanraff07

I have noticed that some people who play COD almost 24/7 have a bit of an obsession with all these random guns etc, I had someone in my class last year sitting beside me who used to just sit and draw people getting stabbed/shot in the back of his jotter all the time, which I found a bit creepy. He wasn't just some daft 10 year old either, he's 17 like me and I know he lives on his Xbox.

If there is any potential for violence there though it was there long before he picked up a controller. Most people can tell the difference between fantasy and reality the ones that can't and could commit violence will have done so regardless of playing a game or not because they are ticking time bombs.

The whole idea of blaming a game for someone's actions is just a way of dodging the issues at hand.

[Livia]

I have never been tempted to Raid a real life Tomb.

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Livia

I have never been tempted to Raid a real life Tomb.

That's because you're Emma Peel, don't get you action women confused

[Stu]

What a stupid argument from Noel. Football has incited far more violence than video games ever will. Same goes for music. Point being you can't wrap culture in bubble wrap to protect a small minority of idiots from being a small minority of idiots. We'd go extra super crazy without entertaining distractions. I know I'd brain someone if I didn't have telly.