I suggest reading the article, it's hilarious.

Link to the article.

Quote - We read in horror today the story of Mark Bradford, a 46-year-old, jobless father of three from Plymouth, Devon (UK). After being killed and then taunted by a 13-year-old opponent in Call of Duty: Black Ops, Bradford tracked down his teenage opponent (in real life) and proceeded to mercilessly choke him. The attack was luckily thwarted by the teen's mother and Bradford later admitted to one count of assault.
It's a grim story, and simply inexcusable. A grown man attacking a child like this turns our stomachs and should turn the stomach of any responsible, caring human. This is the end of our post on the matter, and it in no way continues after the break.
...OK, they're gone. Sorry, we can't be too careful and our bosses never read after the jump. Here's our real post.
We need to first apologize about what we said about Mark Bradford, because Mark Bradford is mother-fucking Batman.
Listen to this quote from him: "I'd been playing the whole day and he was baiting me and baiting me and just would not shut up. He went on and on and I just lost it." Ever felt that way about some wretched, homophobic kid who has nothing better to do than play video games, eat barbeque potato chips and taunt employed people? Yeah, so has everybody. But only Mark Bradford had the sheer will and determination to find this punk's address, get in his car and pour that little asshole a refreshing Choke-a-Cola.
We hope shithead kids tell stories in hushed whispers about Mark Bradford. "No, no, he came for my friend Danny! He teabagged him like 40 times and like 30 minutes later, an eight-foot-tall guy in a trench coat shows up and made him eat40 literal tea bags ... at gunpoint. It's true!"
To Mark Bradford: We know you're going to catch some flak from people who've never suffered in the way you were forced to, but know that we're preparing a banquet in your honor when you get out of the clink.
To the kid who we hope now permanently talks with a rasp: When you act like a shithead to someone twice your size, they may try to kill you. Welcome to the last 2.5 million years of human evolution.

What do you think about this? Personally, I felt it went a bit too far. Yeah, people like that can be really annoying sometimes but I don't think it was necessary to go and choke him.

if i could of found where a few people lived i would of left bags of flaming shit on their doorstep. People need to learn just because youre on the internet, that doesnt give you free reign to do as you please. Guess what? Some of those people youre fucking with are crazy. And some of them can kick the shit out of you. And a very few will find you and do it.

Makes me wonder how many have died due to Pulp Fiction-related conflicts.

Justin McElroy is, the best.

Yeah it's bad that he choked him and it's also bad that the kid was rude.

But, it's damn funny and the kid had it coming. Glad he didn't kill him.

A jobless father of three who sits around and plays video games all day. I'm glad to know my tax pounds are going somewhere useful.

Man chokes 13 year old because he's an unstable, insane human being.

There's a very simple solution if you don't want to hear the 13 year olds on Live: mute them. Getting so angry that you need to lash out in real life - or track them down and physically assault them - probably means you need to take a long hard think about what you're doing. Fortunately it seems like Mr. Bradford will have plenty of time to mull it over.

@NekuSakuraba said:

Personally, I felt it went a bit too far.

Ya think?????

I'm pretty sure it went "a bit" too far when the guy made up his mind to track that 13 year old. However, me being me I see the positive side of everything, that dude did make sure that 13 year old won't smack talk anyone anymore.

People need to learn just because youre on the internet, that doesnt give you free reign to do as you please. Guess what? Some of those people youre fucking with are crazy. And some of them can kick the shit out of you. And a very few will find you and do it.

@Mordukai said:

@NekuSakuraba said:

Personally, I felt it went a bit too far.

Ya think?????

I'm pretty sure it went "a bit" too far when the guy made up his mind to track that 13 year old. However, me being me I see the positive side of everything, that dude did make sure that 13 year old won't smack talk anyone anymore.

Okay, a LOT too far.

I'm pretty sure everyone would agree that the guy went a bit too far. That doesn't mean that the kid didn't deserve it, at least in some capacity, nor does it mean that it isn't a humorously written article (I guess people are upset?).

I love Justin McElroy. And I love even more the stupid people who took his article seriously. Oh intenet...

it's such a tricky question.

On one side, people need to take responsibility about the things they say online and he was right in bringing a reality check for that kid.

On the other hand, tracking down and choking a kid is going way too far.

That sounds like CoD demographic.Not surprised.

it's like the end of Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back where they go and kick the shit out of all of the people who talked shit on messageboards.

This gives a bad image towards gaming due to one persons insecurity and lack of mental stability.

Technically, what game they were playing is irrelevant.

Good hope that kid learns not to shit talk over the internet.

@TheSouthernDandy said:

I love Justin McElroy. And I love even more the stupid people who took his article seriously. Oh intenet...

Yes. I let Justin know on twitter that if he gets fired from AOL, the community here will welcome him with open arms.

Kid should have specced ghost so he wouldn't be tracked!

LOL, oh the days of people talking shit on the internet over scrims/matches in cs. to see the outcome in lan tounraments when it came time. this is nothing -_o

Smells like... MADNESS Victory.

Well, driving to the boy's house and choking the little shit was pretty ridiculous. Then again, the shit that kid must've been talking had to be pretty bad to make the guy that livid to the point where he'll track his ass down and hand his ass to him, so despite getting choked being more than he deserved, fuck that kid.

And McElroy sure does know how to make someone laugh.

I admit, there is a certain amount of schadenfreude to be found in the physical manifestation of what we wish we could all do to the 13 year old kids who use their headsets too often, but assault is (usually) not cool.

That article. LOL.

That just shows that CoD's demographic audience is wide, and isn't liking the rest of it.

Did this guy just see Taken or something??? Either way it is pretty bad someone would do that, but super impressive. If I had the will power to track down some pricks I met on games at egg their house I would, but choking is pretty damn insane.

Genuinly shocked by how many people think it's a good thing that he tracked them down, but went a little too far. I mean, jesus christ. How mentally unstable does someone have to be to think that hunting someone down is a good idea?

People talk shit and often they go too far and majorly push your buttons. Anyone who would actually enact revenge on someone for talking shit needs to grow up and let things go.

I wish whiny brats on xbox live were my biggest problem in life.

We need to first apologize about what we said about Mark Bradford, because Mark Bradford is mother-fucking Batman.

I agree with this. The punk got what he deserved.

It's a shame little 13 year old punks that ruin online games don't read or this would be legendary.

I will always recount the tale, though. Should be a lesson. You don't act like an ignorant prick unless you're ready to be a man about it and get your ass beat.

Parents should tell this story to their children in hopes of making them terrified of trolling online. Maybe it'd be more effective.

Edit: Oh and ya, read more of the story here--> http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2043589/PlayStation-gamer-Mark-Bradford-46-throttles-schoolboy-Call-Of-Duty-revenge-attack.html

Remember if you are being hassled by kids on XBL just file a complaint for communication.

I'm uncomfortable by how ugly the backlash the article has gotten on Twitter over the article. >_<

Yes, let us lionize the psychopath and demonize the victim. God I love this community.

Real World Consequences for someone's internet bullshit.

I almost approve.

@Beforet: I love your avatar.

That's pretty messed up and hilarious at the same time. Not that I approve of either actions but damn.

Anything that teaches people that anonymity != free license to be a twat can't be an entirely bad thing.

The general behavior of 13-year-olds in multiplayer games leads me to assume the kid had it coming.

EDIT: To make sure nobody interprets my opinion the wrong way and gets their panties in a kerfuffle:

I do not support or condone the actions of Sir Chokesalot, Choke-A-Cola Door-To-Door Salesman of the Decade.

@Guyzea said:

@TekZero said:

Technically, what game they were playing is irrelevant.

Man chokes 13 year old over Scrabble. Makes sense.

It could make sense, but we're just splitting hairs here.

@CornBREDX: Thank you, so do I.

...and pour that little asshole a refreshing Choke-a-Cola.

@EuanDewar said:

Justin McElroy is, the best.

Oh yeah he really is. He knows just how to tongue the arsehole of the audience in such a way as it seems legit and honest. He's the best heartless, lying cocksucker who can sort of write I've ever half read with a listless disinterest which verges on utter fucking boredom.

@mm665 said:

That sounds like CoD demographic.Not surprised.

All I'm saying, is that the kid had it coming.

I don't like how this article says I have to care about this kid to be responsible human, because I could not give less of a shit about him. You get what you ask for, especially when you're talking to crazy people.

@SeriouslyNow said:

@EuanDewar said:

Justin McElroy is, the best.

Oh yeah he really is. He knows just how to tongue the arsehole of the audience in such a way as it seems legit and honest. He's the best heartless, lying cocksucker who can sort of write I've ever half read with a listless disinterest which verges on utter fucking boredom.

Ok, cool. Nice to know you have an opinion too.

Hey, guys, don't you think that it is a bit harsh to say that a 13 year old "had it coming"? I mean, a lot of young teens do stupid shit, don't listen to their parents and are complete assholes. However, that doesn't give anyone the right to hurt them, let alone kill them. That jobless guy is insane.

And this is why I prefer not to play online multiplayer. It's all assholes and psychopaths.

@EuanDewar said:

@SeriouslyNow said:

@EuanDewar said:

Justin McElroy is, the best.

Oh yeah he really is. He knows just how to tongue the arsehole of the audience in such a way as it seems legit and honest. He's the best heartless, lying cocksucker who can sort of write I've ever half read with a listless disinterest which verges on utter fucking boredom.

Ok, cool. Nice to know you have an opinion too.

What exactly is the point of the article? To celebrate people who can't tell the difference between reality and fiction to the point that they attack people they battled on a game? Or is it to be the most offensive a person can be to generate feedback and hits on the site? Or maybe it's some perverted way of Justin proving to himself that his audience is a bunch of crass manchildren?

@TehFlan said:

And this is why I prefer not to play online multiplayer. It's all assholes and psychopaths.

You forgot about the 13-year-old homophobic racists.