69 replies to this topic

[Render]

With the US shooting the debate around video game violence has regained attention. I was wondering what everyone's insight is on this topic.



Some articles that might be of interest for argumentation:

Shooting renews argument over video-game violence
http://www.google.co...2b21e3dd4ed7dc4

Power in Games: Why Game Violence is a Red Herring
http://www.gamasutra...Red_Herring.php


Do violent video games lead to real violence?

electronics.howstuffworks.com/video-game-violence.htm

[Lethanial]

Always easier to blame video games then your own failures as parents, friends or associates of people who do wrong to other people. People need to learn to start taking responsibilities for things.

[Sean93]

Only as much as every other piece of Media. Art depicts violence, as does literature, film and music and yet it always comes back to video games.

I think there's a high correlation between troubled teens and seclusion and in seclusion, gaming is a great escape and real-life substitute both visually and as a stimulant and so the mere fact that some messed up kids play games and then go on a shooting spree is probably because they were messed up in the first place. (Although I'd bet one or two nut-bars got a little inspiration from a game..and film,book and painting)

'See that guy who shoot up that mall? yeah did you know he was an avid reader of the Peter Pan books?!'
'Srsly?!1'
'Ya'
'They must be the cause of this whole mess, BAN PETER PAN, BAN PETER PAN.'

We look for reasons and patterns on which to blame to nasty things in life without realising that they've been festering in our heads all along.

Edited by Sean93, 21 December 2012 - 12:48 AM.

[Ryu]

If a person is really that weak, gullible, impressionable and totally out of control with their impulses that they are moved to commit acts of murder because of something they seen on a screen, read in a book, heard in a song or just eavesdropping then they already had a problem long ago.

Lethanial is right, it is always easy to blame outside sources, acting as if we are so weak and vulnerable that we cannot possibly control ourselves and that we are just mere pawns, reacting to whatever we see or hear without any will of our own.

Yes..I agree that individuals need to be far more responsible for their actions and stop acting like they were helpless pawns once they got caught red-handed. (Yes, I am aware there are exceptions but I am speaking in general terms here.)

[Jinxdom]

Violent games doesn't make people violent, people get drawn towards the things they like. Just because people play it does not mean they will do it unless they have issues. If a person gets influenced by something that easy, it's a personal problem not a media problem. Ok maybe If the majority of the population who played violent video games went out and GTA/Manhunt'ed everything then maybe you could blame video games.

People just want to blame something for things they cannot understand. Just a witch hunt.

[DKO]

I posted this video before on a different thread. It's an experiment to see if video games involving shooting are 'mass shooting simulators/trainers'.

From Penn & Teller's: Bullsh!t.

[AsteroidX]

My ten year old son is playing Black Ops 2 as I type this. I have no concern for his ability to be responsible. But I am blessed with a great child. Not everyone is.

[Render]

Penn&Teller


Anyway:

Why Video Games Don't Correlate to Gun Violence

Quote

Fisher shows that the trend line for the graph actually has a downward slope, meaning more video games do not mean more gun violence. The graph also goes on to show how much of an outlier the United States is when it comes to gun-related murders.

http://www.theatlant...ce-chart/60079/


Ten-country comparison suggests there’s little or no link between video games and gun murders

http://www.washingto...nd-gun-murders/



Look at Korea. South-Korea has a game culture like you wouldn't believe. You're treated like Justin Bieber over there if you're a gamer.
And no higher gun related assaults that correlate with that. What can be said is that it's prohibited for a civilian to own a gun there.....

[Arbenol68]

Render, on 21 December 2012 - 06:55 AM, said:

Penn&Teller


Anyway:

Why Video Games Don't Correlate to Gun Violence




http://www.theatlant...ce-chart/60079/


Ten-country comparison suggests there’s little or no link between video games and gun murders

http://www.washingto...nd-gun-murders/



Look at Korea. South-Korea has a game culture like you wouldn't believe. You're treated like Justin Bieber over there if you're a gamer.
And no higher gun related assaults that correlate with that. What can be said is that it's prohibited for a civilian to own a gun there.....

The graph is interesting. A good illustration of what is obvious to everyone - except more than a few Americans.

It's not about guns. It's not about video games, or TV violence, or just about any other social factor that can be dreamed up.

It's about Americans.
(sorry, but there's no nice way of saying it)

[The Silver Thong]

Maybe video games is more of an outlet and with out them more nuts would be doing it for real.

[AsteroidX]

My kid is playing Black Ops 2 again. He just turned it back on since my last post 27hrs ago. The last time he played. Should I be seeking help for him. Possibly medication ?

Oh hes 10. Cant wait much longer to address this issue.

Edited by AsteroidX, 21 December 2012 - 08:13 AM.

[DKO]

I play video games fairly often. I think some of them are a good challenging thing to try. I'm also working hard and learning to play the drums. I doubt video games would suddenly make me want to be violent and shoot people. I've never played a game shooting game and wished I could go do that in real life.

[evil_kenshin]

I've played violent games all the way since doom back when I was 6. I haven't gone on any massacres or attacking people so video games are just a scapegoat for when these situations occur.

[Timonthy]

A virtual world is different from a physical weapon.

[Babe Ruth]

It seems likely, but not certain, that violent video games would be some sort of factor in the final equation.  I think I've read that the military uses shooting video games as some sort of assessment tool for potential recruits.

If killing people becomes part of a game, can that attitude be transferred to real life?