Boozing 27 year-old chokes mom over WoW
by Robin Torres 
Feb 16th 2010 at 9:00AM
There are two main sources for this story: The Dreamin' Demon and The Herald Tribune, but they have slightly different versions. From what we can determine, here are the facts:
- James Swan, 27, lives at home with his mother, several small children and his grandfather in Florida.
- Around 10pm last Thursday night, Swan was drinking alcohol, playing WoW and being loud in the same bedroom as several small children.
- His mother asked him repeatedly to stop.
- Swan took his mother by the hair and threw her on the bed.
- He then took his young son or brother (here is where the stories conflict) and threw him on the bed too.
- His mother ran off to call 911.
- He ran after her, pulled the phone out of the wall and put his head into the wall.
- He then began to strangle his mother (Edited to add: She survived.)
- His grandfather, unable to stop him, got his gun and and there was a struggle.
- The grandfather shot Swan in the head. It either grazed his head or entered without exiting. (Again, conflicting reports.)
- Swan was arrested and refused treatment.
- Alcohol: It reduces your inhibitions. Now, we usually think of reducing inhibitions as in how that helps us behave in social situations, hopefully leading us to happy endings. But alcohol also reduces inhibitions to committing violence. In fact, alcohol is the catalyst for the majority of domestic violence.
- Mental health issues: We don't know why Swan is living at home. The economy is still rough and he may have fallen on hard times. Or he may have mental issues that keep him from taking care of himself. Regardless, this level of violence requires something more than just a bad temper and a couple of beers.
- Behavioral addiction: The kind of addiction that people can get to WoW or the internet is similar to a gambling addiction. And though it is not a physical addiction such as alcoholism or heroin addiction, behavioral addictions are often used as substitutes by physical addicts. Some experts say, however, that video games do affect the same pleasure areas of the brain as do alcohol and drugs. Please seek professional help if you or someone you love are showing signs of addiction, such as missing work/school to play WoW or violent tendencies when asked to stop.
[Via True Crime Report]
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, News items
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 11)
Knob Feb 16th 2010 9:06AM
I don't understand why this needs to be a story on a WoW-related site? I mean I know this is a blog site and I'm sure to get lots of "it's a blog entry, don't click on the story if you don't want to read it," but I don't understand why you need to put out this story only to say that the crime has nothing to do with WoW. Are you trying to justify that to yourself?
Hivetyrant Feb 16th 2010 9:11AM
Don't click on if you don't want to read it
Irem Feb 16th 2010 9:25AM
Some of us might want to discuss it.
And by distancing this guy's behavior from the sane playerbase, they're setting the tone of the discussion. WoW.com is a widely-read site and it's not out of line for the author, as both a writer and a player, to add a disclaimer making it clear that the jerk is the problem, not the game. I've seen plenty of comments on stories about stuff like this (not necessarily here) devolve into testimonials from people saying "This is why I left WoW! It makes you crazy and this just proves it! I was addicted and quit and you're all addicted and should quit too before it's too late!" and it goes downhill fast.
moya Feb 16th 2010 9:33AM
it's wow-related and socially topical. try and exert some semblance of willpower and force your eyeballs to look elsewhere if it doesn't interest you.
Knob Feb 16th 2010 9:44AM
I should have willpower and look elsewhere? Fascinating. So only opinions that support the article must be posted and opinions that question as to the purpose of the article when it clearly states it has nothing to do with WoW must not be? And I guess you get to decide who should post what?
Jackwraith Feb 16th 2010 9:48AM
Physician, heal thyself.
Anuillae Feb 16th 2010 9:53AM
Knob, seriously, what is it about you that every comment you make is downrated? They are all nasty, degrading, un-useful and snide remarks. Did you create this account (and name it such) just so that you could make these comments?
Glaras Feb 16th 2010 10:21AM
And Knob, consider this: when this story hits the wider press... and it *will*... news media editors will dispatch various underlings to research the story and find some "background" information to go with the facts of the story. Most, of course, will not get used, but on the chance that someone who performs such research Googles "wow", they're going to find this site.
If there hadn't been any mention of the story, it could be implied that we *all* live sheltered, secluded lives in our parents' basements or back rooms, blissfully unaware of real crimes going on in the world that involve (even if only marginally) the game that "clearly drove this disturbed man to violence" [the quote is facetious and not from any real source].
Instead, they're going to find a story that clearly shows we were aware, we do care, and we think it was literally a crime what Swan did. This is a *good* thing, Knob. And I applaud WoW.com for running the story.
Hoggersbud Feb 16th 2010 10:23AM
Or they're going to see half of the crap posted here, and come to conclusions based on that.
ZMES_Matt Feb 16th 2010 10:24AM
You could always start your own WoW-related blog, so you could then post whatver -you- wanted...of course, then you'd have no one to bitch at...
mhm Feb 16th 2010 11:12AM
Seriously though , fifth amendment " Freedom of speech ", this knob dude regardless of his ridiculous opinion deserves to have his opinion as do we all individually. My only concern is the difference between objectivity and subjectivity when you are writing a news article or anything akin to the like.
Pertaining to the article, sounds like a lot of mental health issues and not just from the son. The event seems a little misted as to how things went down, almost to cover up some faults of the grandfather and mother. Usually in these happenings there is a lot more going on then what meets the eye. God rest this young mans souls and may his family find peace.
Hades Feb 16th 2010 11:25AM
guess gramps can't hold aggro quite like he used to...
and I'm sure a shot to the leg would have done the trick, the head? really? and with kids around in the line of fire? sounds like a whole family of bad decision makers
Ghrit Feb 16th 2010 11:34AM
Heh, yeah... he needs more '+hit'
Butts Feb 16th 2010 11:38AM
I'm afraid I agree with Knobs. The image, the guy's head on an Orc body, is sort of in bad taste as well.
Mikee Feb 16th 2010 11:43AM
In the same light, why do you feel the need to comment on it? If WoW.com shouldn't post the article because it's loosely tied to WoW, aren't you following the same path by commenting on the article?
Look in the mirror, and then you'll understand why this was posted.
Because they felt like it, the same reason you replied.
(cutaia) Feb 16th 2010 11:49AM
"Seriously though , fifth amendment ' Freedom of speech '"
And if any of us were from the government and trying to stop him from posting, that would mean something.
(By the way, you're thinking of the first amendment.)
Irem Feb 16th 2010 11:59AM
"Seriously though , fifth amendment " Freedom of speech ", this knob dude regardless of his ridiculous opinion deserves to have his opinion as do we all individually."
For the eighty-nine-bazillionth time, the First Amendment means that the government cannot prosecute you for voicing an opinion. It does not grant social immunity for being an asshat. It does not mean that I can mouth off however I please and other people are oppressing me if they tell me I should shut up and stop being a jerk. That's how people learn to stop being jerks, because there is social pressure in the form of being told to can it, and no one is entitled to have their opinions given equal time or even respected just because the law says they can open their mouth and form words and not go to jail for it.
If someone is worried about having their opinions discounted, they can do what the rest of us do and provide them in a thoughtful and civil manner.
BigBadGooz Feb 16th 2010 12:06PM
Once was a murder in Sacramento area between 2 homless guys over a pack o cigarets I pose to you which is the worse addiction. Yeah drunken wow nerd rage can get ugly.
Vacasta Feb 16th 2010 12:18PM
@mhm: I assume you meant your comment in an idealic sense and not a legal one.
But just FYI to anyone that may have thought it a legal opinion, freedom of speech is in the first amendment, not the fifth (that's about freedom from self incrimination and other rights concerning the voluntariness of confessions). Also, the bill of rights concern protections from the government, not a private entity such as wow.com. Here, on this website, we are dealing solely with licensing agreements, not fundamental constitutional rights.
For those that still think the first amendment should apply (when it doesn't), then just consider the fact that if it did, the activity of downrating would be protected speech as well.
tutti Feb 16th 2010 1:58PM
"and I'm sure a shot to the leg would have done the trick, the head? really? and with kids around in the line of fire? sounds like a whole family of bad decision makers"
Two problems with that. A shot in the leg will still do pretty major damage, blood loss and infections still pose a risk to the person's life, and even if he survives that, the leg is likely to take permanent damage. Also, hitting a specific point on a moving target is bloody difficult - it's much better to aim for the center of mass, giving you a higher chance to hit something at all. Aiming at the head isn't quite a good idea either, but it's better than going for the legs.