Desensitised

[Fudj]

The internet is the main reason for me, unintetionally finding things that have warped me slightly, but then i allways found sick jokes funny, computer games aree just that and i dont think have had a effect

on the other hand if anyone has a BFG they want to lend me lets see if we can blur a few boundries

 

[Fangface74]

I'm currently 17,

You've just mistaken growing up for being desensitized.

 

[McBEEF]

I don't really think many people are desensitized- i have played games and watched violent/ horror films all my life but there were things in condemned 2 which made me stop playing, even feel sick at the thought of that really happening to someone. I reckon your only really desensitized if you really enjoy or dont see anything wrong with manhunt or other violent games, and not many people are that messed up

 

[cleverlymadeup]

I also practice martial arts and find that the prospect of striking or throwing to defend myself acceptable, but have trouble with joint locks. The idea of hurting someone with a joint lock is very disconcerting. I figure in the heat of the moment I could defend myself, but if there was a lull I'd think too much.

depending on the martial art you will just react, unfortunately stuff like karate or kung fu taught at the local mc dojo causes more harm than good, especially if the teacher said "this move can kill" or "this move will definately break a bone" or "you do it this way in class and this way on the street" (unless it's slowing down in execution, such as a heel hook), you're screwed in a real fight. stuff like muay thai, brazillian jiu-jistu, judo and boxing that practice actual real live sparring, you'll be better off with in a real fight

other than that it will be natural and reflexive reaction, you won't even know what you're doing but you will at the same time.

i personally have no quams about breaking a join in a joint lock, kinda hard to fight with your arm hanging at your side or chase you when your heel is no longer attached to your leg. tho personal fav is choking someone else, for some reason they lose the will to fight if they wake up and you're standing over them after you choked them out

 

[ThaBenMan]

Just think of that Combine soldier's children!

http://www.hlcomic.com/index.php?date=2006-05-17

 

[Limasol]

Right, all these annoying anti-gaming idiots keep going on about how games desenstise people to killing/death etc. I've never believed in that, but recently I've noticed it's kind of happened to me.

I'm currently 17, and up until recently, graphic violence/gore/people dying has upset me. I've just finished up playing HL2:E2, and at the end it was almost as though I knew what was happening was sad, but I just didn't really feel any proper emotion; thinking back, at the end of Halo 3, it was about the same thing.

I've also started watching more horror films lately, and the gore (i.e. flesh eating viruses, beheadings etc.) just don't seem to bother me at all, and I'm typical a relatively squeamish person.

So I guess, summing up: do any of you think that gaming has desensitised you to certain things?

Chances are its as much the films and generally getting older and more mature/knowledgeable that's desensitising you. Games aren't the enemy, remember that and stick it to Jack Thompson, its not like he can fight back any more...

 

[PedroSteckecilo]

I find that I am personally desensitised towards death, but that may just be a lack of experience in the matter and my own personal emotionlessness regarding it. I find violence, cruelty and legitimate fear, pain and helplessness very bothering and I react emotionally to these things.

What Videogames have given me is a strong break between fantasy and reality, as I am not remotely phased by violence in movies, videogames, comics etc.(as long as its not cruel). I find I am jarred with random displays of violence however, like how the people crawl away crying for help in GTAIV, that kinda shook me up.

 

[soul_rune1984]

I can watch graphic and gory movies and play graphic and gory games. I see real blood I faint, I see a person or animal who's wounded and in pain, I want to do everything I can to help them. Ever have a injured or sick animal die in your hands? It hurts. I've held two rats and a injured squirrel as they died. My heart broke each time. So no, I am anything but desensitized.

 

[CarrierII]

I was bothered in Republic Commando when one of my squad mates died. "We'd" fought three campaigns by that point, and it was like... He died! But he's so cool!

I have (almost) total concious control of my emotions (Unless they're really strong, or I'm drunk) so I was desensitised before I played violent games. I tend to turn the gore off though, it's not needed. I play games because they're unreal, not so I can get as close as possible to killing someone without doing it.

 

[Anarchemitis]

Just think of that Combine soldier's children!

http://www.hlcomic.com/index.php?date=2006-05-17

That gave me a tummy-ache in my heart. More so because it was me holding the gravity gun...

I am not really desensitized because I avoid those games in which that would pose a problem. I still have feelings alive in me.

 

[AntiAntagonist]

I also practice martial arts and find that the prospect of striking or throwing to defend myself acceptable, but have trouble with joint locks. The idea of hurting someone with a joint lock is very disconcerting. I figure in the heat of the moment I could defend myself, but if there was a lull I'd think too much.

depending on the martial art you will just react, unfortunately stuff like karate or kung fu taught at the local mc dojo causes more harm than good, especially if the teacher said "this move can kill" or "this move will definately break a bone" or "you do it this way in class and this way on the street" (unless it's slowing down in execution, such as a heel hook), you're screwed in a real fight. stuff like muay thai, brazillian jiu-jistu, judo and boxing that practice actual real live sparring, you'll be better off with in a real fight

other than that it will be natural and reflexive reaction, you won't even know what you're doing but you will at the same time.

i personally have no quams about breaking a join in a joint lock, kinda hard to fight with your arm hanging at your side or chase you when your heel is no longer attached to your leg. tho personal fav is choking someone else, for some reason they lose the will to fight if they wake up and you're standing over them after you choked them out

Everybody loses the will to fight if you do certain things to them. I wasn't communicating lack of ability, I was communicating that I don't enjoy the prospect of hurting someone with a joint lock (thread subject: desensitization). Bones cracking/popping doesn't sound nice to me. I've broken my own arm from a fall, so maybe that's way I have an abundance of empathy for that.

As for one martial art over another it will depend on both the way it's taught as well as the style. Krav Maga (sp?), kung fu, karate, etc... there are a ton of variables (skill, style, school, teacher, student), especially if you consider multiple opponents. It's easy to say one can beat another, but those statements and arguments are ridiculous since any given (internet) person will only be aware of the environment that the martial discipline was designed for.
I've read several arguments about martial arts, and every single discussion ends up with that. The one time I've seen that one has 1v1 outclassed the other was Shao Lin Kung Fu (Snake style) vis-a-vis Tae Kwon Do (which is basically Shao Lin Kung Fu Crane style) and snake won.

 

[stompy]

Yes, I can say I'm somewhat desensitised. But I say that video games were not the only thing that desensitised me. I grew up; been exposed to more mature things, and thus, when I see things that woulda creeped me out when I was 10, at 15, it's not longer creepy.

I believe the problem with desensitisation occurs when the person becomes so desensitised from violence, and their perception of reality and fiction is so warped, that they commit acts because they don;t realise the difference. This, though, is because of mental and social reasons, and cannot solely be blamed by video games.

Oh, and while, I've entertained thoughts of re-enacting somethings in video games (GTA has made me think of car-jacking), I have enough sanity to pull myself from actually doing it.

 

[Acehalo-2]

Just think of that Combine soldier's children!

http://www.hlcomic.com/index.php?date=2006-05-17

Shoot. Beat me to it.

But yes same for me... Sorta.
Violent videogames don't do freak me out anymore. (Gears of War headshot)
but for some odd reason movies freak me the heck out, for example, I can't watch Hostel or the Saw series of films.

 

[TheKnifeJuggler]

Your talking about media. Video games and horror films are hardly real.

If there was someone in front of you who just had their arm sliced, I'm sure you would be pretty sensitised to it.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

I'm currently 17, and up until recently, graphic violence/gore/people dying has upset me. I've just finished up playing HL2:E2, and at the end it was almost as though I knew what was happening was sad, but I just didn't really feel any proper emotion; thinking back, at the end of Halo 3, it was about the same thing.

I've also started watching more horror films lately, and the gore (i.e. flesh eating viruses, beheadings etc.) just don't seem to bother me at all, and I'm typical a relatively squeamish person.

You're 17. If you weren't doing these things, I'd be more worried.

I'm twice that age, love Zombie films but still get squeamish when someone cuts themselves. Perfectly normal reaction.

What you're looking at is the delineation of real and pretend violence; your brain has to shield itself at times and you may find yourself actually more sensitive to violence on your loved ones due to the nature of it.

Next time you're in a fight, or you see a fight, and someone draws blood; if you're elated and then sick to your stomach: that reaction has gone on for two millenia. As has the graphical depictions of violence found on the walls of cavemen's abodes.

 

[Raikone]

I think video games have desensitized me. I'm sorry to say it but right now in class we are studying the holocaust and i feel almost nothing.

 

[GothmogII]

I think video games have desensitized me. I'm sorry to say it but right now in class we are studying the holocaust and i feel almost nothing.

Well, not that the Holocaust wasn't bad and all that, I think it's fair to say however, that a lot of people wouldn't have a strong negative or positive reaction about it, probably and especially with maybe the last generation + the current one, means that it's essentially just becoming a part of history, and thus you have a weaker connection with those events.

That's not to say people will eventually stop (actually give a couple of hundred years, that goes for anything really) caring about it, or that not many do today, but' y'know these things happened before you and many others were born, it's not really that hard not to care about it, or feel nothing.

 

[Zemalac]

Desensitization: There lies the thin boundary between reality and illusion. I've been desensitized to most video game violence, but I still cannot play games like Manhunt or Condemned. Nor do I want to. I actually desensitized myself to "normal" video game violence on purpose, sort of as an experiment, but hideous deeds don't fall into the catagory of fun for me. That said, if you can play these things and still tell the difference between the game and reality, go ahead and enjoy yourself.

I think video games have desensitized me. I'm sorry to say it but right now in class we are studying the holocaust and i feel almost nothing.

That's actually one of the normal reactions to the Holocaust. Your mind simply cannot comprehend the tragedy that occured. Eli Wisel's book Night purposefully tries to induce that reaction, to make people feel guilty for not caring as much as they think they should.