Episode 223: The Matrix Defense
Blaming violence on movies is nothing new. From John Hinckley shooting Ronald Reagan and blaming the film Taxi Driver to scapegoating violent video games in the 1990s, attorneys have always found creative ways to present defenses for their clients. Was this science fiction action film somehow more harmful than any movie before it? Or is the real answer something more sinister? This week’s episode is The Matrix Defense.
SOURCES
‘A Glitch in the Matrix’ wonders if reality really is the real deal, Boston Globe: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/02/03/arts/glitch-matrix-wonders-if-reality-really-is-real-deal/
A History of People Using The Matrix Defense in a Court of Law, Fansided Winter Is Coming: https://winteriscoming.net/2021/02/15/history-the-matrix-defense-court-simulated-reality/
Are We Living in a Computer Simulation, and Can We Hack It?, The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/17/science/cosmology-universe-programming.html
Are You Living in a Computer Simulation? By Nick Bostrum: https://www.simulation-argument.com/simulation.pdf
Beltway Snipers, FBI Famous Cases: https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/beltway-snipers
Buzzy Sundance documentary 'A Glitch in the Matrix' features a new interview with the 'Matrix Killer', Yahoo Entertainment: https://www.yahoo.com/now/sundance-documentary-a-glitch-in-the-matrix-interview-matrix-killer-233145990.html#:~:text=Ultimately%2C%20Cooke%20opted%20to%20plead,a%20forty%2Dyear%20prison%20sentence
D.C. sniper Lee Boyd Malvo must be resentenced, Maryland's highest court says, NPR: https://www.npr.org/2022/08/27/1119815927/dc-sniper-lee-boyd-malvo-resentenced-maryland
Do We Live in a Simulation? Chances Are about 50–50, Scientific American: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/do-we-live-in-a-simulation-chances-are-about-50-50/
DOCUMENTARY: A Glitch in the Matrix: https://www.hulu.com/profiles?next=/movie/a-glitch-in-the-matrix-e2b1d118-9f19-4264-9655-dccb68fd1301
Does 'The Matrix' Inspire the Disturbed?, ABC News: https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=125158&page=1
Escape 'The Matrix,' Go Directly to Jail, Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2003/05/17/escape-the-matrix-go-directly-to-jail/9cbda793-6af5-47a1-85ea-b1aa37afaac2/
Glitch in the Matrix Flow Chart: https://imgur.com/a/R0AGqTf
I live my life as a real life NPC AMA, Reddit AMA: https://www.reddit.com/r/AMA/comments/8v1337/i_live_my_life_as_a_real_life_npc_ama/
Male inequality, explained by an expert | Richard Reeves (Video Heather referenced on updating education opportunities for men), Big Think on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBG1Wgg32Ok
Man Says He Killed, Chopped Woman / Police say confession came out of the blue, SF Gate: https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Man-Says-He-Killed-Chopped-Woman-Police-say-2761437.php
MATRIX BREAKDOWN! Secret Easter Eggs, Visual Analysis & Deeper Meaning!, New Rockstars on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qg5rStNXHq8
Matrix films blamed for series of murders by obsessed fans, The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/may/19/usa.filmnews
Miami prof’s killer back in court, Journal News: https://www.journal-news.com/news/crime--law/miami-prof-killer-back-court/lPDeB8cdEFbFNxIMP5bnRP/
Red Pill Subreddit Glossary of Terms, Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/TheRedPill/comments/2zckqu/updated_glossary_of_terms_and_acronyms/
Taxi Driver Defense, Famous Trials - University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law: http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/hinckley/taxidriver.htm
The drugs did work, The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2006/aug/12/sciencefictionfantasyandhorror.philipkdick
The Matrix defense, Boston Globe: http://archive.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2003/11/09/the_matrix_defense/
The Matrix is a 'trans metaphor', Lilly Wachowski says, BBC: https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-53692435
The Matrix Made Me Do It, Fox News: https://www.foxnews.com/story/the-matrix-made-me-do-it
The Technical Delusion by Jeffrey Sconce: https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9781478002444-008/html?lang=de
Verdict of acquittal by reason of insanity to state the fact; temporary custody and evaluation, Virginia Code of Criminal Procedure: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title19.2/chapter11.1/section19.2-182.2/
Virginia Teenager Pleads Guilty to Murdering Parents, Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2003/06/25/virginia-teenager-pleads-guilty-to-murdering-parents/b7d9ac19-56e7-49e0-a448-ea9f8b58fae7/
What Is 'The Matrix' Defense — And Does Claiming Real Life Is A Simulation Actually Work?, Oxygen: https://www.oxygen.com/true-crime-buzz/the-matrix-defense-was-nearly-used-in-the-joshua-cooke-case
Woman’s Torso Found; Student Held in Slaying, Los Angeles Times: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-may-05-mn-26746-story.html
