According to local news station, DS = child molestation tool

[wraggster]

via dsfanboy

And here we go again ...

A local Fox News affiliate in Milwaukee, WI is showing parents the "dangers" of the Nintendo DS Pictochat. Of course, their arguments explaining the dangers of the handheld lack any kind of credible backing. See, they explain that you can communicate, via Pictochat, with another DS over "long distances," stating that due to the lack of advertising for this feature, parents should be worried about molesters contacting their children over the DS.

Honestly, if that's going to happen, they have to be relatively close, like say in your neighborhood. Now, if a convicted child molester lives in your neighborhood, you're going to know about it. Also, if their is someone planning an evil deed of that nature, they're going to find a different way other than using a DS. Not only does the recipient of the message have to be in Pictochat (which I'm sure a child is rarely going to be in, they want to play games!), they have to be within wireless range.

How does the reporter prove that horrible things can happen? He uses the Pictochat feature with two children. While they're upstairs in their room, he sits downstairs. We won't even bother going into the ridiculous "proof" THAT provides. After that, he goes to a shopping mall and attempts to debunk Nintendo's documented 65 feet range for wireless communication. Of course, he is successful in sending messages up to 300 feet, but what does that prove? Following his logic, even in that range a predator is going to have to be within somewhat close proximity, with their DS in Pictochat constantly looking for children (the odds of a predator finding someone are also insanely slim). This guy makes it sound like there are a roving pack of molesters going from town to town, trying to find children in Pictochat so he/she can get addresses. Get real, guy!

[Amethyst]

I want his DS! I tried to Pictochat with my brother down the hall and couldn't get past a hundred feet. Damn child molesters and their superior gaming technology.

They should also mention that the case is removable and could easily be used to disguise narcotics and weapons for... TERRORISM!!! Oh, my god! What if Al Qaeda is using Pictochat to covertly plan attacks at our local airports? Damn you Nintendo Bin Laden!

[Adrenalin]

Stupid Media These Days

[Category]

Well, I personally have never used my DS to track and abuse children! In fact, I have only once in the last 2 years found someone on picto chat that i didn't know. And that was in a very crowded airport.

Child molestation tool? Don't forget you can get the internet browser so your kids can look at filthy animal and transvestite porn!

And don't even think of getting them a mobile phone - perverts WORLDWIDE could contact them!

Basically kids, don't watch the news.

[jealentus]

Well, touching isn't necessarily good lol

[woods05]

It's plausible, but very unlikely
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I've never seen someone that I didn't know in Pictochat. Although, in larger cities, that would be more likely to occcur.