89 percent of US parents believe game violence a problem

[Moth_Monk]

A new study commissioned by Common Sense Media has found that 89 percent of parents across the United States believe violence in today's video games is a problem. In addition, the survey concluded that 75 percent of parents found it difficult to shield their children from violence in media.


As part of the study, parents were shown a video advertisement (below) for Hitman: Absolution, with 84 percent saying it was inappropriate to show on television during a time when children could see it.

One question asked if parents thought violence in video games could lead to violence in the real world, to which 75 percent responded saying yes, with 17 percent saying no, and 8 percent saying they were not sure.

Another question on the survey asked parents if they thought violence in contemporary video games is a major problem, a minor problem, or not a problem at all. Forty-five said it was a major problem, 44 percent said a minor problem, 8 percent said not a problem at all, and 2 percent were not sure.

http://uk.gamespot.com/news/study-89-percent-of-parents-believe-game-violence-a-problem-6402290

Sometimes I wonder if it's true that Americans are stupid.... >.>

 

[Vuliev]

I have a feeling that percentage is going to start plummeting here in a few years when our generation has kids of our own.

Also, that survey is atrociously worded and biased.

Other highlights from the study included 60 percent of parents saying they "very closely" monitor the movies, video games, and music their children listen to with respect to violent content. Additionally, parents surveyed expressed faith in the movie and video game ratings systems, the MPAA and ESRB, respectively, with 68 percent saying the current systems do allow parents to make informed decisions about violent content. Other highlights from the study included 60 percent of parents saying they "very closely" monitor the movies, video games, and music their children listen to with respect to violent content. Additionally, parents surveyed expressed faith in the movie and video game ratings systems, the MPAA and ESRB, respectively, with 68 percent saying the current systems do allow parents to make informed decisions about violent content.

Seriously? Evidence that parents are doing exactly what they're supposed to and they're pinning some bullshit questions like

One question asked if parents thought violence in video games could lead to violence in the real world

to it to misrepresent opinion. Yeah, violence in video games could translate to violent incidents IRL. Know something else that could happen? Me wanking furiously for days straight and attracting a mate through the pheromones present in the pool of spunk.

Fuck the assholes that wrote this "study." Jesus.

EDIT) And another thing: the uneducated (or perhaps simply ignorant) opinions of a bunch of parents means absolutely fuck all, aside from showcasing the fact that they're ignorant. There hasn't been a single scientific study "linking" video games and IRL violence that hasn't committed crippling methodological errors, and the wishful thinking of the ignorant won't change that.

GRAAAAAAAHHH VULIEV SMASH

 

[ohnoitsabear]

Yeah, I'm not going to trust a study from a group called Common Sense Media. They sound like they have an agenda to push, which means their study is probably biased as fuck. I could be wrong, but I'm not going to believe this until I see a study from a group that I know is trustworthy.

Edit: also, the 89 percent thing is quite misleading, as half of those people think that it's a minor problem. And problem is such an ambiguous term.

 

[Moth_Monk]

Well it sucks to live in that country of yours then.

If it isn't feminism, it's violent video games, and if it isn't that it's something else.

Don't forget gun control

 

[janjotat]

Sometimes I wonder if it's true that Americans are stupid.... >.>

Yes we are

My parents don't think video games cause violence, but they do think its highly unproductive and completely useless

 

[alphamalet]

Well look at it this way...

This sort of thing is a product of people not understanding the subject matter they are being questioned on. Luckily, our generation does understand video games don't lead to real world violence, and this older generation will die soon. I call that a win win.

 

[dimensional]

Dosent say what they think the problem is though maybe the problem is there is not enough of it or that its not realistic enough I mean how are our children supposed to learn correct killing techniques with all the showy flashy garbage video games keeps filling them with they try that in the field and they will probably get themselves killed.

As for Hitman isnt that an 18? if so well it only makes sense its shown after the water shed if it isnt an 18 then there is no problem I would imagine games are just as limited as movie trailers and tv ads in what they can show before certain times anyway.

 

[Terminate421]

Great. Another person to hate.

Fuck the media right now.

 

[Stavros Dimou]

You know what ? Yes,gruesome violence isn't the best kind of content a kid can watch/interact with,but that doesn't only stands true for games,but for movies also,and any type of media.
The thing that confuses me is something else.

Once I read that a 14 year old kid killed his father accidentally with the shotgun he gave him as a present for Christmas.
Another time I read that a 13 year old killed his mother with a revolver because she asked him to stop playing Halo or something.
A guy once in a forum wrote that super markets like walmart sell guns to anybody.


Uhm... Sorry,excuse my question which might sound silly to you,but I don't live in USA.
Is USA a place where pistols are sold in supermarkets next to butter products, and are casually left on top of dinner tables in the households like they are ashtrays or something,and parents give rifles and shotguns to their teen kids as rewards and presents for their birthdays ?

And if the answer is 'yes' then you think that video games are the most concerning factor for the violence of minors ?
The truth is that according to psychology young kids tend to have idols that want to be like them,and that they are not mature enough to think of the importance of the consequences some actions would have in the real world,so taking that in mind,yeah,young kids should be shielded from violence.
"monkey see monkey do" as they say.

But if the kid just sits for eating its launch on the table,and there are assault rifles all over the dinner table,then perhaps there are more serious matters that need concern.

 

[Ryotknife]

yes, 89% of parents believe that video games are a problem

/eyeroll

biased poll is biased. 90% of americans dont agree on ANYTHING, but they agree on this issue? please. Also, if this many parents believe that video games are such a huge threat, the industry wouldnt be anywhere near as big as it is today.....

 

[Jimmy T. Malice]

Next thing you know they'll be trotting out a sample that claims 100% of parents think video game violence is a problem. You can do anything with statistics- it's all in the wording.

 

[scorptatious]

Thankfully my parents are of the remaining 11%.

 

[Moth_Monk]

Next thing you know they'll be trotting out a sample that claims 100% of parents think video game violence is a problem. You can do anything with statistics- it's all in the wording.

That's not true. It's all about statistical significance of averages and large enough sample sizes.

 

[Judgement101]

I guess my parents are in the 11%. They've gotten me tons of the most violent games imaginable (Postal 2, Manhunt, ect.) and I'm not violent at all.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

Uhm... Sorry,excuse my question which might sound silly to you,but I don't live in USA.
Is USA a place where pistols are sold in supermarkets next to butter products, and are casually left on top of dinner tables in the households like they are ashtrays or something,and parents give rifles and shotguns to their teen kids as rewards and presents for their birthdays ?

And if the answer is 'yes' then you think that video games are the most concerning factor for the violence of minors ?
The truth is that according to psychology young kids tend to have idols that want to be like them,and that they are not mature enough to think of the importance of the consequences some actions would have in the real world,so taking that in mind,yeah,young kids should be shielded from violence.
"monkey see monkey do" as they say.

But if the kid just sits for eating its launch on the table,and there are assault rifles all over the dinner table,then perhaps there are more serious matters that need concern.

Definitely not. First of all, Walmart isn't a supermarket, at least not exactly. I'm not sure if you have anything equivalent to it where you live, but the best thing I can describe it as is an everything store -- it's more like a warehouse sized general store than a giant grocery store. Some locations (in fact, these days it's most of them) carry groceries, but that came later. They also carry clothing, toys, automotive supplies, furniture, electronics, sporting goods, and other assorted types of stuff. The sporting goods section is where you will find the guns, and they're sold as hunting equipment, just like the fishing tackle is sold for people who want to go fishing. You can even walk into a Walmart and buy a state fishing and/or hunting license.

But, there's a caveat: Walmart does the full background check if you buy a gun there. It's no different from buying at a regular gun shop, except they carry a more limited selection of generally lower quality equipment, and what they have is skewed towards shotguns and hunting rifles. So in other words, they don't hand out guns like candy. What is kind of scary, and it's something I learned first hand when I went shooting with a friend over the summer, is it's ridiculously easy to buy /bullets/ at Walmart. I waked out there with probably 150 rounds of various types of ammunition[footnote]most of that was one box of .22LR ammunition, and it was the smallest sized box of it they had. A lot of serious shooters buy it in 500 round boxes, because it's a cheap and fun target shooting round that doesn't have many other uses, unless you like to hunt squirrels.[/footnote], and all they did was card me to make sure I was over 18. It was as easy as buying a lottery ticket, if you can believe it.

As for how guns are handled in the home, obviously I don't have a window into everyone's home, but the kind of lax gun safety you describe is frowned upon. A kid might get a gun as a gift from a parent, but generally speaking they'd be kept in a locked gun case, with the ammunition stored separately. Or at least that's how you're supposed to do it -- as with anything else, people can be idiots.

 

[uchytjes]

Needs more data sets from different areas of the country. Needs less "Is this bad for children in general". Needs more "do you care if your child _____" and "do you let your child _____" and "do you also _____"

 

[LetalisK]

Considering this "study" was done by a video games legislation lobbying group via a marketing firm, yeah, I wouldn't put too much weight on it. Stick with the academic journals.

 

[Lonewolfm16]

You know what ? Yes,gruesome violence isn't the best kind of content a kid can watch/interact with,but that doesn't only stands true for games,but for movies also,and any type of media.
The thing that confuses me is something else.

Once I read that a 14 year old kid killed his father accidentally with the shotgun he gave him as a present for Christmas.
Another time I read that a 13 year old killed his mother with a revolver because she asked him to stop playing Halo or something.
A guy once in a forum wrote that super markets like walmart sell guns to anybody.


Uhm... Sorry,excuse my question which might sound silly to you,but I don't live in USA.
Is USA a place where pistols are sold in supermarkets next to butter products, and are casually left on top of dinner tables in the households like they are ashtrays or something,and parents give rifles and shotguns to their teen kids as rewards and presents for their birthdays ?

And if the answer is 'yes' then you think that video games are the most concerning factor for the violence of minors ?
The truth is that according to psychology young kids tend to have idols that want to be like them,and that they are not mature enough to think of the importance of the consequences some actions would have in the real world,so taking that in mind,yeah,young kids should be shielded from violence.
"monkey see monkey do" as they say.

But if the kid just sits for eating its launch on the table,and there are assault rifles all over the dinner table,then perhaps there are more serious matters that need concern.

Not really. It depends, partially, on region and such but gun laws are generally more restrictive than that and people who own guns tend to treat them with the appropriate respect for something that is potentially dangerous. There are, of course, freak cases as there are in anything.