Another example of the detestable practice of swatting (making a false emergency report with the aim of having police show up at somebody else’s door) in the gaming community has just happened. Joshua Peters, known for streaming games such as Runescape and Clash of Clans , was the victim this time. A proud veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Peters had ten officers force their way through his home in the middle of a Runescape stream. His little brother answered the door and was immediately confronted by the officers.
Peters returned to his stream after the offices left and broke into tears. “I had the police point a gun at my little brothers because of you. They could have been shot. They could have died because you chose to SWAT my stream,” he said.
“I don’t give a shit about what you have against me, or what I did to you. For that, I am at a loss for words. Your gripe is with me so let it be with me and do not involve my family in any way, shape or form with this. They don’t deserve that.” Peters went on to say he would give anything to make sure that this doesn’t happen again.
Swatting is perhaps one of the darkest parts of the gaming community. It was part of what spawned the multitude of “gamers are dead” articles that spawned #GamerGate, and with behavior like this, who can blame them. I consider myself a proud member of the gaming community, but I would never want to be part of a society that condones a prank that gets a gun pointed at a ten year old boy.
Do yourself a favor and don’t read the comments on Peters’ stream recap. Half of them are just making fun of him for crying, which really shows what anonymity can do to a person’s moral fiber.
Mr. Peters, our thoughts are with you.
Source: KoopaTroopa787