Barrie teen runs away from home, parents blame online games
by Xav de Matos 
{ Oct 24th 2008 at 9:15AM }
According to earlier reports, Brandon told his parents he would run away if his system was not returned and, in an effort to "call his bluff," his father helped the teen pack his belongings. Brandon's parents now fear that he has been "lured by gamers" through the Xbox Live gaming service, "It could be organized crime or someone involved in Internet gambling. Pedophiles can stalk kids through these games," Brandon's father told The Star.
While it's easy to argue how Xbox Live is being misrepresented in this situation the fact remains that Brandon, who purchased Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare -- an M Rated title intended for gamers 17 and above -- with his own Christmas money, is still missing and his family is completely distraught. We hope for his safe return home.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
offday @ Oct 24th 2008 9:23AM
So his dad packed his own bag for him to run away, but now it's the Xbox's fault.
It'd be a nice change to see some parents say, "Ok we screwed as up parents." Instead of always blaming those horrible, horrible games.
vahdyx @ Oct 24th 2008 10:27AM
reminds me of a family guys episode, peter said the exact same thing. He said something like, "being good parents by controlling your kids so they aren't subjected to the shows they hate, instead of blaming the shows themselves"
That's not a quote word for word, but, yeah.
Anyway that photo looks so fake! They look like bad parents anyway, they look like they're faking! Look at his expression, and look at the mother! she looks like a crack addict!
ryan @ Oct 24th 2008 11:38AM
"I'm running away from home I hate you!"
"Oh yeah, here's your bags, I packed em for ya last night! And another thing, meet Henry, he'll be your pedophile captor for the evening! I hope you two have a good life!" *door slams*
Doug @ Oct 24th 2008 1:23PM
Xav, nice dropping meat like this into the piranha tank. Watch the water swirl...
Can't wait until you guys are parents... I know you'll all be wonderful, with the understanding you're showing here.
offday @ Oct 24th 2008 1:48PM
Well I know for a fact that I won't hand my kid a packed bag, and laugh as he walks out the door. I also know that while playing video games non stop is never a good thing, I'll probably let my kid play video games over his freaking Thanksgiving break.
Based on those 2 things, I can already tell you that I'm going to be a better parent than these two. And also a better parent than you are/will be, because you obviously agree with this sort of parenting.
Doug @ Oct 24th 2008 1:55PM
You're just too angry, offday... why are you?
ryan @ Oct 24th 2008 2:03PM
I may be reading offday's comments wrong...but he doesn't come off (no pun intended) as angry to me. Should I be worried I'll be a bad parent too? *shrugs*
Xepherys @ Oct 24th 2008 3:30PM
I have to agree with offday. I am a parent. I have a 13 y/o and a 2 y/o. My older son plays video games, with and without me. I don't allow him to do nothing but play, however I don't "limit" his playtime with any certainty. My youngest will be in the same boat. Also, the cliche pack the bags for your kid is just lame. Maybe the kid at 15 was smart enough to see what douchebags his parents are. Sure, 15 is young, but there are people out there to take him in and not play with his butthole.
Courtney @ Oct 24th 2008 3:48PM
@Doug
I'm a parent of a teenager and I don't have the slightest problem with the comments above you. I don't think making snarky comments on a gaming blog really reflect how sensitive someone would be as a parent.
Really, I would suspect that gamer parents probably monitor the time and content of their kids gaming better than non-gaming parents.
Joe @ Nov 8th 2008 8:38AM
So true.
Pudge @ Oct 24th 2008 9:28AM
I don't feel bad for him at all. They made it too easy for the kid to go through with his plan. If the kid realizes how silly running away from home is while he's packing, he wont go.
I also like how the dad thinks that the mafia contacted his son through Xbox Live. I hope the kid comes to his senses, but the parents have no one to blame but themselves.
private.burke @ Oct 24th 2008 9:31AM
I wish their were government services out there that conducted investigations when children run away. Maybe Canada has them. These parents are blaming a community of voices for the dissaperence of their children when clearly the pushed their kid too hard in the wrong ways. If the father has the audacity to admit he packed for his kid he clearly doesn't understand the message he's sending his kid: "I don't care what you think. Your only going to listen to me. And I'll mock you instead of help you when your in need."
offday @ Oct 24th 2008 9:34AM
Look at his dad's face. You know he doesn't believe all that Xbox Live Organized crime crap. Man up, and admit you made a mistake and stop blaming something that had nothing to do with it. Go on tv and let your son know you messed up, and he'll probably come home. He's probably down the street at a friend's house watching this whole thing unfold.
Shawn Ryan @ Oct 25th 2008 4:11PM
Yep...his folks made a bad parenting mistake and, guess what, they aren't the first and they won't be the last! A lot of folks make them but they don't have to suffer the consequences these people do. I guess iot is easy to judge when you have nothing invested and nothing to lose. His father didn't display "audacity"...his father displayed honesty and courage in admitting his failure. Last I saw, there wasn't a manual for raising a kid. I am shocked at how "gamers" are eager to blame the parents and don't express concern for Brandon or the family. I am curious, if the worst happens and he was abducted by a pedophile, will you "gamers" feel as brash? Care to, for a second, try and place yourself in Brandon's or the parents shoes? It should be easy...you have shown a certain adeptness at living in a fantasy world. Get out and get some REAL excercise....
padthelad @ Oct 27th 2008 12:21AM
Hey Shawn Ryan, when was the last time you looked cuz a quick search of Amazon shows hundreds of parenting books for sale.
The "child" in question is only months away from being legal to marry have kids and work full time and these morons are treating him like a ten year old.
They dont have "courage" because they are using games and communication networks as a scape goat for their own mess of a family.
private.burke @ Oct 27th 2008 4:43PM
This is a good opinion piece from the guys over at TechDirt. The following is a copy and paste from their site:
Teenagers have a long history of running away after getting into arguments with their family, but throw in the fact that the argument was over a video game and suddenly you've got a big press story in which the press can slam video games as being evil. As you may or may not be aware, there's a story up in Canada concerning 15-year-old Brandon Crisp who ran away from home after an argument with his parents concerning how much time he was spending playing video games. Rather than suggesting that it may have been the argument that drove him from home, his parents are blaming the evils of video gaming, with his father saying:
"I'm worried he has met someone online through this game. It could be organized crime or someone involved in Internet gambling. Pedophiles can stalk kids through these games."
His mother apparently believes that he was taken by another video game player. So the press is having a field day, with the Toronto Globe & Mail running an editorial slamming pretty much everything to do with video games as being secretly addictive, and even claiming that video games are worse than drug or alcohol addiction, because parents and teachers encourage kids to play video games.
The problem is more insidious in some ways than drugs or alcohol because society approves of the basic activity. Parents don't bring home a case of beer or a vial of cocaine for their children but they do buy the computers that their children use. Schools demand that students use computers for their homework assignments.
Perhaps it's not surprising, though it is depressing, in this day and age that a newspaper opinion writer seems to simply lump all computer use together and automatically assumes that "video game addiction" must be the cause of the problem here, when that's not at all confirmed in any way. To support the opinion piece, the Globe quotes the guy who's been pushing to get video game addiction declared an official addiction, not noting that, as the guy who popularized it, he would stand to have his practice benefit greatly from getting to treat all those so-called "addicts." And, more importantly, the Globe article, which mentions the guy's crusade, ignores the fact that he was shot down by the American Medical Association which noted there is "nothing to suggest" that video game addiction "is a complex physiological disease state."
But why let any of that get in the way of a good opinion piece?
Orionzdrm @ Oct 24th 2008 9:39AM
Look I would run away if my Wife took my Call of Duty.
m0rb1d @ Oct 24th 2008 9:44AM
These parents are assholes! Maybe if they took advantage of the parental settings available in the Xbox 360's dashboard, they would'nt have this problem. If a child runs away from home for whatever reasons, don't blame Xbox LIVE, blame yourselves! If anything, staying home and playing video games will NEVER get you in trouble. KEEP RUNNING BRANDON!!! KEEP RUNNING!!!
Mark @ Oct 24th 2008 9:42AM
It really gets me that they let him play COD4 in the first place. If the parents would pay attention and listen to some of the crap that people say and talk about over live the kid wouldn't be playing that game.
Dev @ Oct 24th 2008 9:43AM
As a parent, I feel 2 things for this family:
1. Sympathy - Loss of a child has to be the worst feeling ever...
2. No Sympathy - YOU should have watched your child more. YOU should have taken more of an interest in what your child is doing. YOU should have established boundaries and rules with your child. We all make bad decsions while growing up and it's YOUR job to help your child through them and teach them that their actions or poor choices have consequences. YOU failed your child and now he's paying the consequences.
These people give parents a bad name.
Fafhrdd @ Oct 24th 2008 10:19AM
Dev as a parent I COMPLETELY agree with you.
It's the parents job to watch, teach, and set rules for their children. If they allowed him a game rated M and allowed him to play 15 hours a day and then pack his bags... then what else do you think is going to happen?
Kizzle @ Oct 24th 2008 9:43AM
Nice to see so far we have nothing but shitbags commenting. Way to have sympathy for people who just lost their fucking son - "oh, maybe gaming is at least a little bit to blame? fuck that! it's 100% the parents fault, all the time, every time!" Morons.
DJcube @ Oct 24th 2008 9:54AM
Gaming was the trigger, yes.
But it's likely that it's far from the actual cause/reason to him running away.
prence @ Oct 24th 2008 11:47AM
Yeah you're right. When I was 7 yrs old and ran away from my parents because they wouldn't buy me an ice cream at the state fair, it was TOTALLY the ice cream's fault.
Don't be stupid.
offday @ Oct 24th 2008 12:11PM
The kid wasn't kidnapped or abducted. He freaking ran away. The dad even packed his damn bag for him, and waved him off. Did you even read the story?
Doug @ Oct 24th 2008 1:33PM
Offday...
The anger you're spewing all over this thread is EXACTLY the same kind of anger the father showed to his son. When you become a father, you will do EXACTLY the same thing to your son, unless you learn empathy. The father didn't have it. You don't have it either. That's how fathers get to be that way. It starts where you are.
mietha CAG @ Oct 25th 2008 11:11AM
There's a BIG difference between "losing" your child and driving him away. The latter is certianly the case, quite literally, in this instance.
Will @ Oct 26th 2008 3:06PM
That's funny, I've played CoD4, and I don't remember the part that says "RUN AWAY! JOIN THE MAFIA!"
Also, he's 15 years old - not 7 or 8. I think the idea that he's going to fall prey to some pedophile in a van with candy when he's 3 years from adulthood is a bit ridiculous. Yes, it's terrible for his parents that he's missing, but teenagers "run away" and stay at friend's houses all the time.
I really hope the kid turns up safe and sound, but saying it's somehow XBL's fault when his dad PACKED HIS BAGS is just an irrational way to scapegoat and push the blame.
Ensiot @ Oct 24th 2008 9:49AM
What if he would have played Bomberman and then ran away? Still parents fault?
RandomZero @ Oct 24th 2008 2:09PM
Yes...because it's about a "man", who "bombs". It's obviously a terrorist training exercise.
:)
cocobunny @ Oct 25th 2008 12:35AM
"Yes...because it's about a "man", who "bombs". It's obviously a terrorist training exercise."
I LoL'd.
Mr. Williams @ Oct 24th 2008 10:29AM
The part I don't understand is, they took the xbox but yet he was able to still get on and construct a run away plan with people. So why don't the police then get on the xbox and figure out who everybody on his friends list is from. I do beg parents out there to be aware of what these kids hear on xbox live.
Mike @ Oct 24th 2008 9:54AM
First and foremost, let me say my heart goes out to the parents. No one should have to go through what they're going through.
Now, let me also say that their son ran away in all likelihood, because they don't understand him or his interests. There's no Mafia connection on XBL. There's no gambling on XBL (aside from the occasional friendly wager between people who know each other that is), and while I don't doubt that there are a handful of pedophiles on XBL looking for love in all the wrong places, they make up an extremely small minority.
Next up, the game is rated M for mature - if you are worried about your fifteen year old son being exposed to the big bad adult world, don't let M-rated games in the house. Pay attention to what your son is doing. Again, they clearly don't understand their son's hobby enough to know what exactly it is that he's looking at or doing online.
Lastly, and this may not be true in every situation, but chances are mocking your kid and helping him pack to run away are probably not the best strategies for getting a family issue resolved. Instead, why not try compromise? He's playing too much, so set limits. You can make him a child account, and lock it at your discretion.
Now, I'm not saying this was all the parents' fault - the kid may not have been making things easy either. The one thing I will say the parents are doing very wrong is going all over the media spreading their ignorant opinions of XBL - No, the big bad Mafia didn't seduce your kid into a life of crime over XBL - that's complete and utter fantasy.
Darth Gremlin @ Oct 24th 2008 10:00AM
I feel terrible for what this family is going through, but I do not see how they can place all the blame on Xbox. As a parent of 3 we place limits on the amount of time our children spend gaming and also make sure the titles are suitable for them.
I hope that their boy returns home safe and they are able to work out a solution for his gaming.
Ford Prefect @ Oct 24th 2008 11:39AM
The blame it on XBL because it is nothing of a person that can defend itself, meaning that XBL is not a person they can sue or getting arrested. You see the pattern a lot, school violence:goth music, drug abuse:hardcore gabber music etc. violence in general: movies and games.
joeybeast @ Oct 24th 2008 10:16AM
I did not realize sleeping is a skill.
Great parenting, blame the game.
Gemini Ace @ Oct 24th 2008 10:25AM
So, if you pack the bag for the kid, then you probably hand it to him as he walks out the door. Why don't you just follow him? Failure to be a parent does not allow you to blame everyone else.
By the way, if you're letting your kid play so goddamn much that it's affecting his sleep and social skills, maybe you should have stepped in a little earlier. Maybe set some limits in the beginning.
And besides, he's in Canada. What could happen to him? Free healthcare while listening to Rush?
Aaron @ Oct 24th 2008 10:29AM
My son is 9 years old and I let him play COD4 and Halo3. He enjoys the games and has become pretty good at them as well. BUT.... he is not allowed to sit there and play hour on end. I also instill the value of other games and activities for his age. He still a young kid and will play games like Viva Pinata and the Lego games, plus he loves playing outside with friends or watching cartoons and well as playing with real Legos. So my point is I think im doing a good job of monitoring what my son is playing and how much, plus his school work hasent suffered and if it dose he knows he gets cut off. Be a parent to your kid, dont let the TV or video games be your "Baby Sitter" for them.....
Fafhrdd @ Oct 24th 2008 10:29AM
As a parent I can't imagine losing my son (running away or otherwise). I would be completely freaked out. So with that being said I do feel sorry for them.
As for the whole games fault vs. parents fault thing. I feel the parents job is to set the rules for the kids. If he was playing too much CoD4 (I will not even get into the whole M rating and letting your kid play it) then it's their fault. You should set rules, Xbox gives you PLENTY of parenting options on the console.
When I was growing up I had a time limit on my NES. It was a battle for my parents to watch the time and get me off when my time was up but that's what needed to be done here.
They let him play WAY too long and then their solution is to take it away? How about setting a time limit but then again it's always easier to just take the thing away. Taking the console away to a kid who has been playing it all the time is like taking away a steak dinner away from a fat guy. Withdraws and the only way the kid knew how to deal with it was to show his parents how bad he wanted to play was to run away from home.
Funny thing is his dad helped him pack.
High quality parenting there!
Fafhrdd @ Oct 24th 2008 10:32AM
Completely agree with you! They let it get out of hand (massive amount of playing) and they tried to fix it the cheap and easy away.
Gamertag: GOPAL892005 @ Oct 24th 2008 10:52AM
Family Timer anyone?
i guess you have to be a big tech savvy to know how to access it.
maybe they should just be better parents instead of blaming a game he shouldn't be allowed to play.
Ian Murray @ Oct 24th 2008 10:54AM
You lost me at "Canadian Thanksgiving Weekend".
HoPhoSho @ Oct 24th 2008 10:48PM
Yay! Another ignorant American who thinks they invented everything! Fact: Canadians were celebrating Thanksgiving before the US was. Another fact: Europeans beat us both.
Next time try not to be a jackass!
dunnypop @ Oct 24th 2008 10:58AM
he's from Barrie. fuck him!
SVirus @ Oct 24th 2008 11:04AM
First, i do feel bad that this kid ran away and hope that he returns safely. But seriously, this is just absurd to blame this on the game/Xbox. Take some responsibility parents.
themizarkshow @ Oct 24th 2008 11:06AM
guys, don't blame his shitty parents or the evil videogame industry. NO!
BLAME CANADA!!!
horngreen @ Oct 24th 2008 11:28AM
It's the kids fault. He's not 4 years old an unable to think for himself. He made all these descisions on his own. So what if they helped him pack he decided to leave. I doubt the game ruined his social skills I this his lack of social skills is what drew him to become fixated on COD. The fact that he is still gone is troubling though. I remember "running away" with a buddy when I was about 10 or so. We went up to the public pool on the corner and hung out by the creek for a few hours. This was of course what we did most Saturdays anyways but I'm SURE my parents learned a lesson LOL.
PimpDaddy Stevan @ Oct 24th 2008 11:28AM
If they lived in America, they'd find SOMETHING to charge that dumb-ass kid's dumb-ass father with.
This is a whole family of dumb-asses.
SoNaive @ Oct 24th 2008 11:33AM
You are all missing the point. a boy is missing, he has been gone for over two weeks. when someone has been gone for that long, it is very rare that there will be good news. who cares who is to blame. i'm sure the parents just used the xbox angle so that it would be picked up in more newspapers. the mother herself works for a newspaper. and to dunnypop: what the fuck is wrong with you? if you were missing would you want people to say "oh, he's a troll, fuck him" it's very rude to say something like that.
x silence x @ Oct 24th 2008 11:39AM
I sent this story to you guys on Monday...