Hans Reiser: Linux Visionary, Murder Suspect, Gamer

Wired has a fascinating--and disturbing--story upabout Linux visionary and murder suspect Hans Reiser. Reiser is accused of murdering his wife, Nina, with whom he was engaged in a bitter divorce and custody battle. One of the pivotal elements in the case was Reiser's attitude towards gaming, especially in relation to the couple's young son, Rory:

Reiser claims that Nina may be consulting with "memory creation specialists" in order to implant memories in Rory's mind. He insists that he never told Rory to hide the fact that they play Battlefield Vietnam together and is convinced that the specialist created this memory. "I am just lucky these memories only involve a computer game so far," Reiser writes to the court. "I don't want to find out that my child remembers being satanically sacrificed by me in a past life."

Nina was strongly opposed to Rory playing violent video games, but Hans felt that it's part of the "culture of manhood."

Reiser is amused by the implication that he is violent. "In reality I am just a computer gamer, and when someone says I have been demented as a result of [videogame] combat the laughter comes easily," he writes. He believes mental health professionals scorn people who "teach the culture of manhood to little boys, with all of its inherent opposition to wallowing in wimpiness."

Reiser delves into this "culture of manhood" in a 32-page filing he submits to the court after Nina accuses him of hurting her. In it, he explains the difference between appropriate and inappropriate violence. Grand Theft Auto, for instance, demonstrates inappropriate violence because players can get away with killing innocent people. "Many other computer games heavily penalize shooting the wrong person, and I prefer those," Reiser says.

It's excellent (if unsettling) reading.

Hans Reiser: Once a Linux Visionary, Now Accused of Murder [Wired]