Videogames = Violence? Think Again!

[Rinku]

I just got the August Issue of Electronic Videogaming Monthly the other day, and they had an article about someone writing some research report about how video games led to violence.  I think they also blamed the Virginia Tech Shooting on video games -yes, highly absurd, I know-  >:(.  I think Jack Thompson was in on this too.

It was a highly exaggerated, overindulged topic that the writer and its supporters made a big fuss over and the final conclusion was the most obvious thing ever.Well I don't remember all the details at the moment so when I get back home (only 2 more days of summer school, heck yes!!!) I'll post some quotes and stuff.

So what do you guys think about it?

[Zoratunic]

Pesonally, no. I have never felt that video games have made me violent. However, I'm not saying it can't happen.

[MagmarFire]

That says "Jack Thompson" all over it. Investigators stated, I think, that the shooter at Virginia Tech didn't play video games, but as many of us know, Thompson was on the news to push his own agenda to blame video games.

I, too, think it's completely absurd. Say, did that article mention anything at all about violent movies being in the picture too? Because really, if you blame video games, you need to blame movies also.

[Mysterious F.]

Screw that research, it is actually PROVEN that a killer/shooter is twice as likely to be addicted to violent movies or books then video games, so Jack Thompson should instead be trying to get rid of movies or books instead.

Oh, and Commodore, if you have a pic that basically mean "OWN!!!" then please PM it to me.

[Rinku]

Only 40 min left or so before I can go home and check... but I think they also mentioned movies.
Well my dad totally agrees that video games can mess you up... he actually thinks that I'm messed up because I'm into Zelda and all that. He also thinks I've grown more violent. He has no proof of that but he keeps insisting it's true. I don't see how a 4.0 for the last 3 years of my life is messed up... my dad seriously has issues.

[Gamefreak]

..........I am a big supporter of the first ammendment.  Yes, I believe that there are no bounds to the freedom it gives.  The right to free speech is one that is tried constantly.  

Video games do not make people violent.  It depends on the mindset of the person playing.  If an ignorant 23 year old plays a game such as Grand Theft Auto for example, and thinks that it is real, then obviously it would be bad.  But what if a 10 year old were to play the same game, yet know the difference between right and wrong, and know for a fact, that this game is wrong.  Then who's to say who shouldn't play some games?

[LadyNintendo]

You know, when someone does something bad and he plays videogames, it's "always related". But if I would save an old lady from some punks (just an example), would any paper mention I play videogames, and a lot of them too?

If videogames caused violence, the world would be a lot more violent. Everybody plays videogames once in a while. everyone, except the Verginia Tech shooter. They searched specifically for games in his room and found NOTHING! Didn't stop Thompson and Dr. Phill of blaming games. It's that kind of nonsense that makes people think games are bad.

Games do not cause violent behaviour. At least, not without being combined with low social contact, ego problems (both ways), bad home situation etc.

[Mysterious F.]

And this is one of the many reasons the world is bad, people refuse to admit that something they hate is good and will blame it for anything. Your dad is an example, Rinku. Well, parents worry about their children, mabye he just overdoes it.

[TP Zelda]

I just got the August Issue of Electronic Videogaming Monthly the other day, and they had an article about someone writing some research report about how video games led to violence.  I think they also blamed the Virginia Tech Shooting on video games -yes, highly absurd, I know-  >:(.  I think Jack Thompson was in on this too.

It was a highly exaggerated, overindulged topic that the writer and its supporters made a big fuss over and the final conclusion was the most obvious thing ever.Well I don't remember all the details at the moment so when I get back home (only 2 more days of summer school, heck yes!!!) I'll post some quotes and stuff.

So what do you guys think about it?

What do I think about it? I think it's absurd!! Zelda? Hell no!! The only kind of violent games are the ones rated M!! Gawsh, how stupid can people get?

[MagmarFire]

You know, when someone does something bad and he plays videogames, it's "always related". But if I would save an old lady from some punks (just an example), would any paper mention I play videogames, and a lot of them too?

AMEN!!!

Really, it's messed up people that cause shootings like that and that play video games that gives us gamers bad names. Really, people that cause shootings like that are a minority, but people are acting like video games are going to make them into a majority!

Sure, I play violent video games. Zelda, for one; Ratchet and Clank, too; there's also Kingdom Hearts; I like playing Halo, even though I'm not good at it; and I'd like to play Resistance someday, too. Yeah, as if I'm going to shoot every person I see because I like games like that. ::)

[LadyNintendo]

Talking about the effect other media has on you: I cannot give the full details, because I just couldn't bear to read about it in today's paper. Just thinking about it....

Yesterday, a young man was tortured to death back here in the Netherlands. For as far as I know, the killers wanted to imitate a movie they saw. Hostel 2, I think. Makes you wonder why movies are never questioned, altough I'd love to know what kind of people the killers were to begin with.

[Gamefreak]

Because if movies were cut, all generations would suffer.  If games were cut, mostly our generation would suffer.  

It's a judgement based on keeping what's good to them.

[Mysterious F.]

And that is what makes all video game revolutinaries like Jack Thompson retarded. They don't even realize that you are more likely to be addicted to another violent thing and/pr have had troubling pasts and mental/emotional problems.

[Rinku]

Well they're freaks! If they're stupid enough to get influenced by a movie why should the rest of us get looked down upon?

[MagmarFire]

I think it's because video games are more recent than movies are. Older people (for lack of a better term than older) aren't willing to give up a part of entertainment that they enjoyed when they were younger, so they're probably willing to blame the more recent things and keep tradition. I think it's kind of like taste of music: some people think the newer generation is bad for you, but their parents probably thought the same about their tastes. I think it applies here similarly.

Then again, I'm probably wrong. I don't know how else to explain it. :-*