Does gaming turn people ______?
- Thread starter Eve Charm
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I doubt very much that an adult with typical development is going to have their opinions changed completely by what they see and hear in a video game. However, I'm sure that's not what most of the psychological literature is actually claiming. The concern is really for children and those adults without the mental capacity to understand what is being depicted in a game, and how continued use of violent video games may impact on development. Personality develops throughout childhood based on what you see and hear, and video games are part of that larger context.
Slightly off-topic, but there is also concern for the addictive quality of video games, and there is a much larger body of evidence demonstrating that people can become pathologically addicted to video games to the detriment of their (and their family's) lives.
My personal opinion: playing a violent video game won't turn you into a violent person, but continued exposure to violence during childhood through any media (including video games) will cause that person to become desensitized to violence.
Slightly off-topic, but there is also concern for the addictive quality of video games, and there is a much larger body of evidence demonstrating that people can become pathologically addicted to video games to the detriment of their (and their family's) lives.
My personal opinion: playing a violent video game won't turn you into a violent person, but continued exposure to violence during childhood through any media (including video games) will cause that person to become desensitized to violence.
As a feminist, pacifistic gamer, I can state with certainty that playing video games has not turned me sexist or violent.
Do I believe that games can turn people sexist or violent?
Depends.
On the large part, no, I don't think so at all. A person with a firm grasp on reality probably won't be influenced by what's being portrayed in games. Someone that can't differentiate between reality and fantasy as well as the "typical adult" (read: very small children, or people that actually have a decreased mental capacity for differentiating the two) probably can be influenced slightly by violent or sexist media - note I said "media," not just "games." But I don't think that's a problem with the media itself; I think that is, unfortunately, something that is involved with the person in question, and should be solved as a "person's issue" (read: psychological aid for adults, and the obvious "growing up" for the young children before they consume said violent media) rather than blamed on the medium in question.
Do I believe that games can turn people sexist or violent?
Depends.
On the large part, no, I don't think so at all. A person with a firm grasp on reality probably won't be influenced by what's being portrayed in games. Someone that can't differentiate between reality and fantasy as well as the "typical adult" (read: very small children, or people that actually have a decreased mental capacity for differentiating the two) probably can be influenced slightly by violent or sexist media - note I said "media," not just "games." But I don't think that's a problem with the media itself; I think that is, unfortunately, something that is involved with the person in question, and should be solved as a "person's issue" (read: psychological aid for adults, and the obvious "growing up" for the young children before they consume said violent media) rather than blamed on the medium in question.
You're still neglecting the fact that if you believe sexism in videogames can make a person sexist then you're admitting that videogames can, in general, alter one's behavior. If you're giving up that point, then you're agreeing to the fact that violent games can turn people violent. What you're saying is that sexism is a behavior that prompts imitation, just as the media likes to argue that violence is a behavior that prompts imitation.Seagoon said:
You already agreed to the point that contradicts what you're saying now: that if you're a decent person it's not going to effect you. And that's the point. Decent, normal, non-sexist people aren't going to suddenly turn sexist due to sexism in games, just like how decent, normal, non-violent people aren't going to suddenly become violent due to violence in games. You're either sexist/violent to begin with or you're not. As I said: you don't need games as an excuse for your own behavior.
If gaming ever turns me into a Beta-male I want to be put down. D:Evil Smurf said:
OT: No, not it does not. If it did the world would be an even more violent and chaotic place.
Considering I'm a woman who played violent games as a girl, is terrified of guns, and won't even squish bugs that fly into the house, I would say that video games haven't turned me violent. I can look at real life gore for the most part, but then again I watch surgeries on a regular basis and it's part of my career. Haven't noticed myself turning on other women either, so I guess neither have happened on my end.
Haven't seen others do this too with friends and family either, so still a negatory there. Personally I think there has to be some sort of x-factor or catalyst that would cause violence (like some pre-existing mental health problem, reoccurring and/or enforced behaviour, social norms, etc). Sexism seems like a different animal all together since it has different implications (ie not typically violent) and is a completely different set of behaviours. Perhaps the worst case it would reinforce a "norm" or gives people a chance to mimic as opposed to create sexism. But then again whenever I see a kid trying to be cool and mimicking Cartman of South Park, a character the show itself thinks is an unlikable asshole you don't want to be, then I'm sorry, but your kid is a moron.
Haven't seen others do this too with friends and family either, so still a negatory there. Personally I think there has to be some sort of x-factor or catalyst that would cause violence (like some pre-existing mental health problem, reoccurring and/or enforced behaviour, social norms, etc). Sexism seems like a different animal all together since it has different implications (ie not typically violent) and is a completely different set of behaviours. Perhaps the worst case it would reinforce a "norm" or gives people a chance to mimic as opposed to create sexism. But then again whenever I see a kid trying to be cool and mimicking Cartman of South Park, a character the show itself thinks is an unlikable asshole you don't want to be, then I'm sorry, but your kid is a moron.
That thread title does not help people with dirty minds. I came in here expecting a whole other thread.
I don't think games turn people violent. At least, not outside of playing the game itself.
For example, my bro goes nuts over WoW. He swears and hits the comp if he gets lag while playing. But in everyday life, he's really mellow.
Same for me, I love shooting zombies and screaming like a banshee when I'm playing games, but anyone who's met me will know that I'm very easy going, and I try to be friendly to everyone!
I do like to make loud noises in real life though, but that's just enthusiasm!
As for games making people sexist? I have no clue about that one.
I don't think games turn people violent. At least, not outside of playing the game itself.
For example, my bro goes nuts over WoW. He swears and hits the comp if he gets lag while playing. But in everyday life, he's really mellow.
Same for me, I love shooting zombies and screaming like a banshee when I'm playing games, but anyone who's met me will know that I'm very easy going, and I try to be friendly to everyone!
I do like to make loud noises in real life though, but that's just enthusiasm!
As for games making people sexist? I have no clue about that one.
No, I don't think gaming turns anybody anything, unless the person is already mentally unstable. This goes for both cases, but I mean we've pretty much talked the violence thing to death and it's pretty unanimous amongst most people that play videogames.
As for the people who say that gaming enforces gender stereotypes in our culture, they have the cause and effect mixed up in my opinion. Even operating on the pretense that there are no inherent physical or mental differences in women and men, historically society has always treated women and men differently. Content and media which portrays that is a by-product of it (in most cases anyways.) For example, the marines in Call of Duty aren't an even mix of men and women because in reality women are not allowed to serve infantry roles in the armed forces, so a portrayal of the Marine Corps by default would be mostly, if not entirely, male. The gender roles are reflected by the game, not created by it. I mean obviously it gets more abstract with things like princesses getting kidnapped, which can be traced way back to ancient mythology that influenced "traditional" storytelling and all that, but its the same idea.
As for the people who say that gaming enforces gender stereotypes in our culture, they have the cause and effect mixed up in my opinion. Even operating on the pretense that there are no inherent physical or mental differences in women and men, historically society has always treated women and men differently. Content and media which portrays that is a by-product of it (in most cases anyways.) For example, the marines in Call of Duty aren't an even mix of men and women because in reality women are not allowed to serve infantry roles in the armed forces, so a portrayal of the Marine Corps by default would be mostly, if not entirely, male. The gender roles are reflected by the game, not created by it. I mean obviously it gets more abstract with things like princesses getting kidnapped, which can be traced way back to ancient mythology that influenced "traditional" storytelling and all that, but its the same idea.
No. A huge resounding NO! People already are violent (its in our nature, some more than others), and sexism is a cultural thing which will take many generations to completely undo considering its been a prevalent part of society for centuries. Games, books, movies and news are all forms of media that can depict violence, sexism even racism but they don't make people think differently. Nothing forces you to think a certain way except your own self-motivation... and sometimes a few broken/unbalanced mental parts can contribute to that. But blaming any media for what people do or how they act is irresponsible and just plain stupid. Its like blaming a gun for a person shooting someone. The person who pulls the trigger is responsible, and if they didn't have that particular weapon its very likely they would have found something else to use to harm others.
Its a cowards tactic to blame something else for your own actions instead of taking responsibility for what you do, and just smacks of the culture shift that society seems to be taking these days. The "its not your fault" crap is weakening people's characters... I'll stop there but damn it riles me something fierce.
Its a cowards tactic to blame something else for your own actions instead of taking responsibility for what you do, and just smacks of the culture shift that society seems to be taking these days. The "its not your fault" crap is weakening people's characters... I'll stop there but damn it riles me something fierce.
Ya but it's still kind of one in the same, just not as drastic as violence like a shooting. An minor comparison would be more like does the violent video games make people desensitized to real life violence, as sexist games would do the same way, Changing both normals for some people to what people would call abnormal.Raggedstar said:
First answer: No
Second answer: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
I have been playing violent video games, for quite sometime, and I never done violent acts or been sexist. Gaming is just entertainment that the news media know nothing of.
Second answer: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
I have been playing violent video games, for quite sometime, and I never done violent acts or been sexist. Gaming is just entertainment that the news media know nothing of.