Help me defend Gaming's good name!

[Nieroshai]

I am writing a lengthy term paper on why video games are not the real source of childhood and teen emotional and mental problems. I implore the Escapist to direct me to good rebuttals to the argument that games are corrupting the youths of America. I can do this research myself, but I want the perspective of others and data I haven't found yet.

This topic has been talked to deeath on the Escapist, but this thread is all about data and creating a watertight argument for my case. Tell me your opinion if you wish, but please add a link to a trustworthy article.

Also, let's not turn this into a flame war. If you provide links in your arguments, though, any and all bickering might actually help me.

 

[Nieroshai]

Well, the only reason I play games is to relax/vent out my frustrations,

And I'll search around for a decent article,

(Remember: Use Wii Fit and the PlayStation Move in your arguments, it might help. ;D)

I'm definitely going to include casual games as an argument, but if you can, track down something about violent games.

 

[AssassinJoe]

The way I figure it, if you develope emotional or mental problems from playing a video game, your mind probably isn't at full compacity in the first place. In which case, anything could set you off.

Hell, might as well say watching tv reading a certain book could cause you to have a mental break-down.

That's my opinion anyway.

 

[dfcrackhead]

I wrote 8 or 9 page paper for my first college english class, heres my works cited part, put the titles in google and you'll find some good stuff.

Spoiler

Works Cited
"CAUTION: Childen at Play - The Truth About Violent Youth and Video Games." Game Revolution. Web. 2 May 2010.
"Effects Of Video Game Playing On Children | MediaWise.org." MediaWise - Media Violence |Brain Development | Children and Media | Childhood Obesity. Web. 2 May 2010.
Ferguson, Christopher J. "Video Games Have Become a Scapegoat for Violent Behavior." Opposing Viewpoints. Web. 2 May 2010.
Glazer, Sarah. "Video Games." CQ Researcher. CQ Researcher, 10 Nov. 2006. Web. 2 May 2010.
Hsu, Jeremy. "Video gamers are surprisingly fit, says study - LiveScience - MSNBC.com." Breaking News, Weather, Business, Health, Entertainment, Sports, Politics, Travel, Science, Technology, Local, US & World News- msnbc.com. Web. 2 May 2010.
Jenkins, Henry. "The Video Game Revolution: "Eight Myths About Video Games Debunked" by Henry Jenkins |." PBS. Web. 2 May 2010.
Kalinske, Tom. "Video Games Do Not Cause Aggressive Behavior in Children." Opposing Viewpoints. Web. 2 May 2010.
Lowenstein, Douglas. "Violent Video Games Do Not Encourage Violent Behavior." Opposing Viewpoints. Web. 2 May 2010.
"New NPD Online Gaming Report | Edge Online." Edge Magazine - Video Games, Game News, and Gaming Jobs | Edge Online. Web. 2 May 2010.
Newman, Jared. "Videogames: Playing at Violence." Newsweek 25 Dec. 2006. Web. 2 May 2010. <http://www.newsweek.com/id/44343?obref=obinsite>.
Oak, Manali. "Positive Effects of Video Games." Buzzle Web Portal: Intelligent Life on the Web. Web. 2 May 2010.
Olson, Cheryl K. "The Link Between Violent Video Games and Youth Violence Is Unproven." Opposing Viewpoints. Web. 2 May 2010.
Radford, Benjamin. "Violent Video Games Have Not Been Proven to Harm Teens." Opposing Viewpoints. Web. 2 May 2010.
"SafeYouth.org - Media Violence Facts and Statistics." National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center. Web. 2 May 2010.
Smith Nash, Susan. "Children Are Technologically Skilled." Opposing Viewpoints. Web. 2 May 2010.
Streisand, Betsy. "Video Games Can Provide Health Benefits to the Sick." Opposing Viewpoints. Web. 2 May 2010.
Vance, Patricia E. "The Video Game Ratings System Is an Effective Regulation." Opposing Viewpoints. Web. 2 May 2010.
"Video Games and Violence." Update: Video Games and Violence. Facts on File. Web. 2 May 2010.

If I remember right I got a low B or high C on it, so this is good stuff

 

[Furious Styles]

Just make them remember that when phones first became mainstream people were afraid they'd suck their souls out and when rock and roll first came along it was decried as causing moral corruption. People are always afraid of new things and games are a medium that is expanding at a very rapid rate so is extra scary.

That, and just because someone is influenced by a medium to do bad things doesn't the medium is bad. I mean, Mark Chapman attributed his shooting of John Lennon Catcher to in the Rye, and John Hinkley was similarly influenced by the same book to shoot Reagan.

Is literature, therefore, a cause of madness and moral decay? No, i read it and, due to my lack of underlying mental illness, did not shoot either a Beatle or a US president.

 

[subject_87]

Point out that crimes ostensibly linked to games were generally committed by delusional psychopaths who would've done it with or without video games.

 

[silver wolf009]

Video games allow for the release of the Id's desires. The part of your brain that want to murder, burn and destroy all there is is sated by the simulations provided by games.

Try to use that card in there somewhere.

 

[dfcrackhead]

The way I figure it, if you develope emotional or mental problems from playing a video game, your mind probably isn't at full compacity in the first place. In which case, anything could set you off.

Hell, might as well say watching tv reading a certain book could cause you to have a mental break-down.

That's my opinion anyway.

In the research I did for this same topic, just about everything has been put on the stake as gaming has, fictional novels, tv, even Pinball machines, people even blamed Jack the Ripper on a piece of fiction or play that came out around that time. It's crazy, everyone just wants a scapegoat to blame for what is essentially human nature or bad parenting. Everyone will blame anyone else before they blame themselves.

 

[Konaerix]

Whats better?

Shooting a FICTIONAL alien that doesn't even look human and one thats trying to kill you first in a boyish pretend fantasy world.

OR

Killing and raping a five year old girl in the middle of a Godforsaken city and just being let go when you pay the courts a certian amount of $.

Because many "normal" people seem to take the latter option nowadays.

Gaming is a portal (pun!) into another world where you can play out any number of fun or interesting senarios as many time as you want without hurting anyone. Its been proven that it has calming qualities (Harvest moon, Nintendogs) and that it can be used for education (portal, Typing of the Dead, some RTS's). Its only the stupid ones who try to take that over into real life.

 

[Imp Poster]

I am writing a lengthy term paper on why video games are not the real source of childhood and teen emotional and mental problems.

The real source of childhood and teen emotional and mental problems are parents or the lack of good parenting skills. So that's easy.

This topic has been talked to deeath on the Escapist, but this thread is all about data and creating a watertight argument for my case. Tell me your opinion if you wish, but please add a link to a trustworthy article.

Also, let's not turn this into a flame war. If you provide links in your arguments, though, any and all bickering might actually help me.

Trying to be rational as possible, being violent doesn't come from playing or watching violent things. One has to have violent tendencies or behavior. Or else, you are saying the movie Clockwork Orange is valid. Video Games can only give you ideas on how do violent acts but definately is not the source.

Just because you have a gun does not make you a killer. You unload a whole clip into a crowd of people, now that can make you a killer. To say that you did that act because you did it in GTA 4 as an inspiration, I can see that. To say you did that act because OF GTA4, now that's reaching.

 

[Worgen]

http://www.paulgraham.com/nerds.html

read this, the last half of it starts getting into why kids are the way they are and I think it does a fantastic job of it

 

[JaysonM]

I am writing a lengthy term paper on why video games are not the real source of childhood and teen emotional and mental problems. I implore the Escapist to direct me to good rebuttals to the argument that games are corrupting the youths of America. I can do this research myself, but I want the perspective of others and data I haven't found yet.

This topic has been talked to deeath on the Escapist, but this thread is all about data and creating a watertight argument for my case. Tell me your opinion if you wish, but please add a link to a trustworthy article.

Also, let's not turn this into a flame war. If you provide links in your arguments, though, any and all bickering might actually help me.

Just blaammmeee the parents =D

 

[Nieroshai]

Let's please try to provide links if we want to comment, shall we? I agree with you so far but that does me no good.

 

[hittite]

http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=4&hid=108&sid=380776ed-d4b0-4e55-93ac-3ff57c6db4e9%40sessionmgr114&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#db=aph&AN=51320243

http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=4&hid=108&sid=380776ed-d4b0-4e55-93ac-3ff57c6db4e9%40sessionmgr114&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#db=aph&AN=44564372

http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=4&hid=108&sid=380776ed-d4b0-4e55-93ac-3ff57c6db4e9%40sessionmgr114&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#db=aph&AN=37012030

http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=4&hid=108&sid=380776ed-d4b0-4e55-93ac-3ff57c6db4e9%40sessionmgr114&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#db=aph&AN=44564368

http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=4&hid=11&sid=380776ed-d4b0-4e55-93ac-3ff57c6db4e9%40sessionmgr114&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#db=aph&AN=43912556

Sorry about the giant links. I hope these help.

 

[spartan1077]

The way I figure it, if you develope emotional or mental problems from playing a video game, your mind probably isn't at full compacity in the first place. In which case, anything could set you off.

Hell, might as well say watching tv reading a certain book could cause you to have a mental break-down.

That's my opinion anyway.

In the research I did for this same topic, just about everything has been put on the stake as gaming has, fictional novels, tv, even Pinball machines, people even blamed Jack the Ripper on a piece of fiction or play that came out around that time. It's crazy, everyone just wants a scapegoat to blame for what is essentially human nature or bad parenting. Everyone will blame anyone else before they blame themselves.

It shows perfectly though. Human nature is violent and aggressive but people can't attribute that to us because everyone thinks we are perfect in thier God's eye so they need scapegoats. I find that gamers are actually less violent than people who are athletic in FULL COMBAT sports. Sure I go out and kill zombies but you hurt people in real life.<-- me talking to people that play full contact sports.

 

[Exort]

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE68E4OW20100916
It is a study done by New York's University of Rochester

 

[Viking Incognito]

http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=4&hid=108&sid=380776ed-d4b0-4e55-93ac-3ff57c6db4e9%40sessionmgr114&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#db=aph&AN=51320243

http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=4&hid=108&sid=380776ed-d4b0-4e55-93ac-3ff57c6db4e9%40sessionmgr114&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#db=aph&AN=44564372

http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=4&hid=108&sid=380776ed-d4b0-4e55-93ac-3ff57c6db4e9%40sessionmgr114&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#db=aph&AN=37012030

http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=4&hid=108&sid=380776ed-d4b0-4e55-93ac-3ff57c6db4e9%40sessionmgr114&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#db=aph&AN=44564368

http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=4&hid=11&sid=380776ed-d4b0-4e55-93ac-3ff57c6db4e9%40sessionmgr114&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#db=aph&AN=43912556

Sorry about the giant links. I hope these help.

You sir are a knight in shining armor.