Games to Play with Drug Warriors

DARE's Parent News, an evergreen font of kiddie-threat fun, hips us to the choking epidemic:

The father of a Scarlet Oaks High School student said he wants other parents to be aware of a dangerous game some students are playing called the "choking game."

Sidney Hauser said his son, Christopher, 17, suffered vision problems and headaches after another student tried to choke him at school…. The school called the incident "horseplay" and said it was conducting a full investigation.

Sidney Hauser said he wants other parents to know that students are playing a game with potentially deadly consequences. "This is not a joke. I know they see it on TV, video games, sports," said Hauser. "This is something that could cause a permanent injury to somebody, and I don't think they realize it."

Choking: Just another tragic outgrowth of our poisonous media environment.

Comments

[Tseren]

You know, I remember this game when I was in Jr. High, more than a dozen years ago. Every 5 years or so another group of kids discover it and everyone acts as though this is the craziest thing they've ever seen.

Personally, I think these parents are over compensating because they don't spend any time with their children for whatever reason, then when something like this comes up, it's some sort of guilt driven response.

And I hate the way he has to mention movies and video games. I mean, while I did like "Choking Adventure Island", I felt "Choke: The Series" left a lot to be desired.

[scape]

"I don't think the kids themselves realize how much damage they can do to somebody else by doing this." Christopher Hauser said the incident happened Thursday in a high school lab. He said another student, Brandon Merida, 20, came up behind him, put his arm around his neck and choked him.

I think the most worrisome problem in this article is a 20-year old still in high school. I know there have always been exceptions but is this a new trend.

[BPerry]

I remember it also about 20 years ago. My brother seriously got it hurt when he passed out and fell flat on his face on the cement.

T.V. had nothing to do with it. It was introduced by some stupid neighborhood kid.

(My brother now has a Master's degree in Computer Engineering - so the "choking" must have triggered something in his brain)

[MattXIV]

17 and 20 yrs old? I think by that point they've graduated from kid to moron.

[BPerry]

Correction: The game we played back then was about holding your breath and then having someone bigger come up behind you and squeeze you for a minute till you saw stars. Sorry for the misinfo.

[Evan]

Are you serious? This again? Talk about Deja Vu.

"Did you know that certain kids out there are drinking, and some are even doing drugs!?"

[the other Mark]

Get those kids some ecstasy and weed and beer. They're way too old to be doing this junior high shit.

[downstater]

"This is not a joke. I know they see it on TV, video games, sports,"

the chicago cubs should be held accountable.

[van]

Back around 1977, when I was 11, we used to bend over, deliberately hyperventilate,and then clutch our own abdomens until we hit the ground, for the head rush. I don't know who taught us that, but it wasn't kids raised on video games because there weren't any. Never saw it in any movies either. Actually, as cheap highs go, it's about the most pathetic (i.e. glamour-free) thing I can think of and I can't imagine any cool movie heroes doing it.

[Ventifact]

"I know they see it on TV, video games, sports." Oh, does he? I've never seen or heard of it from those sources, and neither has anyone else here it would seem. I think this relates to Tseren's point about guilt -- the best way to assuage guilt is to make the problem someone else's fault.

Actually, now that I think about it, it wasn't TV, videogames, or sports. It was Canada!

[Isaac Bartram]

Personally, I think these parents are over compensating because they don't spend any time with their children for whatever reason, then when something like this comes up, it's some sort of guilt driven response.

I think you've nailed it.

At one time parents had children so they would look after them in their old age so they had to make sure they learned al the hunting and gathering skills.

Now people just have children as pets. They figure as long as they throw them some treats every so often they'll roll over to shoew the proper gratitude.

Interestingly if people thought about it at all they'd probably view the former as the self-absorbed ones.

[SR]

"This is not a joke. I know they see it on TV, video games, sports,"

I blame Sasha Cohen. Olympics, national championships, etc., etc. She glamorized choking to an entire nation of impressionable girls!

[Smappy]

My brother, cousins and I used to do this about 16 years ago. Back then passing out wasn't the aim, it was just to get lightheaded and see stars. And, as with BPer, we would hyperventilate first, then do very limited choking. Anywho, we quit after I passed out and woke up with a raging headache. I have no idea how we heard about doing it, but it certainly wasn't from any media; I'm sure it came from the schoolyard.

I actually heard a couple on the radio today talking about how the "high" produced from choking is similar to alcohol or drug use, and that it is actually addictive. I can't speak for others who've tried it, and I've never touched (illegal) drugs, but it certainly paled to anything you could get from alcohol. And I'd like to see the clinical study on choking's addictiveness.

[fingerpoint]

I blame Geraldo, he's the one that gave all of the media focus on this. Before that people were getting high off whiffing.

[Abdul]

Whenever we played the choking game, I always won.

It's because I have asthma.

[KidCarnivore]

Bill Hicks would remind us that we're not losing the cure for cancer here. A few more gas station attendants...

[Charles]

Wow. When I was in Jr. High, my friends would get together and masturbate for fun. Who knew we could have tried attempted murder instead.

[happyjuggler0]

This is not a joke. I know they see it on TV, video games, sports,

It would be nice if DARE and anyone else who quotes this dipshit insists on references. But that is probably too much to hope for....

[sarah pacatte]

Over compensating? For not spending enough time with them? Guilt?.... Are you serious? Let me guess; You don't have children, do you? Here's another guess; You have never lost someone you LOVE, a sister, a brother, a son or a daughter have you? I HAVE.
I lost my beautiful, precious 13 year old son, Gabriel on May 6, 2006. Gabriel made a BAD CHOICE, Gabriel didn't think he woudl die. Some kid taught the kid that taught my kid how to 'play' a wicked, high risk, thrill seeking 'game' called the choking game!
I suppose none of you have ever done something stupid, like, let's say: Ran in and out of traffic? Played on railroad tracks? Jumped from 'high' places? Drove at a 'high' rate of speed? Driven with someone who was driving 'fast'? Did drugs? Drank? Moto Cross racing? Here's one I'm sure none of you have ever done... something extremely STUPID: Had UNPROTECTED sex?
No, you people here who, in your heartless opinions of these kids who have died as a result of 'the choking game' and their families are above all of that, aren't you? My goodness, you just may be perfect, without fault! How fortunate for you! Now try this one:
.... Before you attempt to pull the sliver from another's eye, pull the plank from YOUR OWN!
Ignorance is not bliss: You people who judge US and our children, I just pray to God nothing ever happens to someone you love.... because of something stupid that loved one does.
Think .....
I miss my son, my boy. I will for every minute of every day for the rest of my life....
....... Guilt?... You have no idea, no concept what this is like. If you did you never would have said those ugly, calloused, judgemental words that you did. ... Why? Why be ugly? ..... The very worst kind of Ugly?....
Still loving all four of my children,
Sarah Pacatte, Gabriel Mordecai's mom

StillLovingMyGabriel.com NickSerna.com

DeadlyGamesChildrenPlay.com StopTheChokingGame.com

This 'Game' has been killing for DECADES! It is 'ignorance' of it that keeps it alive, and killing.....
Information and education on this deadly activity has, and will continue to SAVE LIVES!

[sarah pacatte]

Over compensating? For not spending enough time with them? Guilt?.... Are you serious? Let me guess; You don't have children, do you? Here's another guess; You have never lost someone you LOVE, a sister, a brother, a son or a daughter have you? I HAVE.
I lost my beautiful, precious 13 year old son, Gabriel on May 6, 2006. Gabriel made a BAD CHOICE, Gabriel didn't think he woudl die. Some kid taught the kid that taught my kid how to 'play' a wicked, high risk, thrill seeking 'game' called the choking game!
I suppose none of you have ever done something stupid, like, let's say: Ran in and out of traffic? Played on railroad tracks? Jumped from 'high' places? Drove at a 'high' rate of speed? Driven with someone who was driving 'fast'? Did drugs? Drank? Moto Cross racing? Here's one I'm sure none of you have ever done... something extremely STUPID: Had UNPROTECTED sex?
No, you people here who, in your heartless opinions of these kids who have died as a result of 'the choking game' and their families are above all of that, aren't you? My goodness, you just may be perfect, without fault! How fortunate for you! Now try this one:
.... Before you attempt to pull the sliver from another's eye, pull the plank from YOUR OWN!
Ignorance is not bliss: You people who judge US and our children, I just pray to God nothing ever happens to someone you love.... because of something stupid that loved one does.
Think .....
I miss my son, my boy. I will for every minute of every day for the rest of my life....
....... Guilt?... You have no idea, no concept what this is like. If you did you never would have said those ugly, calloused, judgemental words that you did. ... Why? Why be ugly? ..... The very worst kind of Ugly?....
Still loving all four of my children,
Sarah Pacatte, Gabriel Mordecai's mom

StillLovingMyGabriel.com NickSerna.com

DeadlyGamesChildrenPlay.com StopTheChokingGame.com

This 'Game' has been killing for DECADES! It is 'ignorance' of it that keeps it alive, and killing.....
Information and education on this deadly activity has, and will continue to SAVE LIVES!

[Tseren]

Sarah,

Let me begin by saying how sorry I am for the loss of your son. As a father I could know no greater loss.

Now let me answer some of your questions:

You don't have children, do you?
Actually, I have two a girl, 13, and a boy 6.

You have never lost someone you LOVE, a sister, a brother, a son or a daughter have you?
Yes I have. My brother died while serving in Kosovo. My father died two years ago from natural causes. I could go on, but I?ll leave it at that for now.

Ran in and out of traffic?
I do that everyday on my way to work, because I am not going to walk to the end of the block to cross the street.

Played on railroad tracks?
Not on per se; I?ve played around them, but not on them, at least not for long periods of time.

Jumped from 'high' places?
Yes, an airplane, and a helicopter.

Drove at a 'high' rate of speed?
When driving down to visit my sister and niece in LA, I usually cruise between 85-95 mph.

Driven with someone who was driving 'fast'?
Yes because I hate being in a vehicle driven by a ?slow? driver.

Did drugs? Drank?
Some in high school, a lot in college, but none since I became a father.

Moto Cross racing?
No, but I?ve always wanted to.

Had UNPROTECTED sex?
Yes, that?s how I was able to have kids in the first place.

Now I have a question for you: What difference does it make whether or not I?ve done any of these things? Are you saying that it is wrong for anyone anywhere to speak about any death unless you speak about those people in reverential tones?

Again, I am sorry for that you lost your child, but where I was coming from, is this father learns that his son is doing something potentially life-threatening and rather than talk with him about why he did it, he immediately places the blame on the doorstep of movies, TV, and video games.

Also, we were enjoying our conversation. Yes, perhaps we are a bit morbid and perhaps a little bit twisted, but that is the beauty of the diversity of human experience.

Finally, I find it very offensive for you to use the tragic loss of your son to lecture us. If you wanted to use what happened to your son as a shield to protect you from our harsh words in your presence, I would say fine and apologize. However, don?t join this discussion and proceed thrust your son?s death upon us in an attempt to silence us. If you don?t like what we discussed, you can do so without holding up your son as some sort of foretoken to shut us up.

[Mary]

I also lost my son to this stupid game. There are alot of us. We don't know how our kids heard of this tragic game but they did and they tried it and now they are gone. YES we feel guilty because we didn't know about it. I have lost both my brothers my mother another infant son but nothing prepared me for the way I feel now. Knowing that it is still going on and kids are still dying and nobody gives a crap and saying all this about how stupid they were! These children were not stupid, the game is STUPID. You should feel guilty because who knows whos child will be next. I feel gulity because every time another child dies from this STUPID GAME I feel I havn't done enough to get the word out. My son was a straight A honor roll student who had everything going for him. His whole family and community loved him, over 400 people came to his funeral. A lot of parents know that if it happened to our family it could happen to anybody. Death is always looking for it's next victim...Don't tempt it. And have a little compassion for every person that has lost a child. Don't judge anyone unless you have walked a mile in thier shoes...