"Horric" Videogames being blamed for UK riots by Supernanny Jo Frost

[Hosker]

Riots like this have been around for decades, hell they used to blame comics.

More like centuries.

OT: all the respect I used to have for Supernanny is gone now. She seemed to really know what she was talking about before, as well.

 

[Iron Mal]

These horrific games where points are given for burning, shooting and killing, where the graphics are so realistic you believe that they're real scenes of carnage, where those who play fantasise they have the power of life and death, are so brutal they completely desensitise anyone taking part.

Research shows that within 15 minutes of playing one of these games young men become highly aggressive and lack empathy in normal situations. It is not too fanciful to suggest it's a short step from being immersed in this war-like world to taking that nightmare mindset on to the streets with all the consequences of anarchy and violence we saw rip apart cities.

I saw the 'study' that gave her the impression that video games incite violence in young men after 15 minutes of exposure (it was on television and had her observing it) and it was riddled with issues in it's methodology and how it's conclusion was formed (a bunch of kids not rushing to help you pick up pencils that you intentionally knocked over doesn't mean that they are highly aggressive or lack human empathy).

My own psychological study found that if there was any physiological effect, which was present regardless of what form of media my participants viewed, violent or non-violent (heart rate and blood pressure increased regardless of what type of media I exposed them to), was only temporary (you're probably gonna be more aggressive after stubbing your toe or getting into an arguement but that doesn't mean you'll forever be a burning ball of pure rage because of that box you didn't see on the stairs).

Videogames can incite some (often already mentally unstable) people to violence (all things can, just look at Twilight fangirls and PeTA fanatics, romance novels and pets have turned otherwise 'normal people' into highly hostile and irrational people) but the chances of it doing so are very slim, given how much videogames are now part of our culture shouldn't we see a horrific increase in violence and aggression amongst everyone involved insted of the almost universal decline in crime that we've seen?

Videogames are a very easy and obvious target but this doesn't mean they're the true cause of our problems today, the sooner we get past trying to find something to point fingers at the faster we'll find the actual cause of societal ills and incidents such as the recent riots and hopefully prevent such things from occuring again.

 

[hazabaza1]

Where's that Critical Miss comic that came up recently?

 

[Da Orky Man]

I fully agree-I won a Team Deathmatch on Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 and immediately went outside and deployed a Tactical Nuke on 10 Downing Street. If I remember correctly, I killed everyone in Europe.

Oh God! I remember that. It was a Tuesday.

Sure it wasn't last Thursday? Never could get the hang of Thursdays...

 

[Ddgafd]

Ah, this so called "research" aka stuff I made up or read on some website full of people who don't know jack about games. Hell, 15 minutes of doing my math homework makes me highly aggressive and lacking in empathy, then I play games to calm myself down.

 

[lacktheknack]

Looks like incredibly detailed clay = photorealistic?

Anyways, don't pay her any attention. Jo Frost is a nanny (and a very good one), not a psychologist of the masses.

 

[Magicmad5511]

Yeah, we are going to war, shooting anyone who disagrees with us instead of the better idea of sitting round a table and discussing it. Crime having happened for all of time, with riots and entire cities being wrecked which in turn killed thousands.

And she blames the riots on gaming. Gaming relieves stress and stops violent outbursts. This sort of thing has always existed, its just humanity is stupid overall. I hate when people blame it on games because some of them are violent. I wouldn't say people could be inspired to violence by games like CoD because there is a massive difference between pressing buttons to make and enemy player lose that battle and actually killing people with firearms.

I hate the morons who just knee jerk that its the games fault. Idiots.

 

[elcher]

[/quote]

It probably makes people stupider, but it DEFINITELY makes me violent. Hate that show.[/quote]

Your brain actually lowers its own IQ due to primal instinct when you feel threatened, aggressive or angry - so practically, that is correct.

 

[SyphonX]

Research shows; (Search indeed.)

Scientists say; (Those workaholic scientists.)

A new study reveals; (Oh yea, that study.)

It isn't a stretch to assume; (Yes it is.)

Or in other words:

I'm a big stupid knob and this is my opinion.

 

[captaincabbage]

What games have they been playing?

Because I have yet to play a game that's photorealistic.

At this point I think the researchers and resident game-blamers are having a harder time telling games from reality than anyone who actually plays games.

 

[Macgyvercas]

*sign* And I had just finished putting my list away too. Oh well, back out it goes.

*adds Super Nanny to List of things that piss me off*

 

[King Toasty]

I don't have the energy to be sarcastic about this anymore. Just accept it and wait for them to leave.

 

[SplicedUp068]

Kids in gangs are carrying guns and knives because they feel no threat from our bobbies

Bobbies? Are we still in the 70's?

Bobby is just an English term for a police officer, and she is old enough to have lived through the 70's.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

What games have they been playing?

Because I have yet to play a game that's photorealistic.

At this point I think the researchers and resident game-blamers are having a harder time telling games from reality than anyone who actually plays games.

Well we've solved that issue.


I get to keep the Nobel Peace Prize on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. You get it on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. We shall alternate possession of the prize on Sundays via an elborate system of levers and pullies.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

What games have they been playing?

Because I have yet to play a game that's photorealistic.

[Insert PC versus console comment.]

...

There still isn't a game that's photorealistic.

I have yet to confuse CGI with real life.

 

[Glowbug]

Found the "research":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n53EFYgQpPE

How it desensitizes them I don't know, but she sure shows some random statistics and draws a conclusion from them!