How do I convince my dad that games aren't "Evil"?

[Daniel Cygnus]

My Dad's addicted to Fallout 3 so I can't complain. Except when I can't play it.

Ha! Mine is too! He's incredibly thorough, so he'll be finding all kinds of things I looked right over.

As for this endless debate, I'll leave it with this: some people just can't be convinced. Once you're in college/out of the house, you're in the clear. Until then, try not to cause too much trouble. At least your dad lets you play them still.

 

[Orcus The Ultimate]

Little Big Planet

 

[Yokai]

I have a similar situation with my dad--he doesn't believe games make you evil, just that they make you stupid. He manages to link the vast majority of the problems the US faces today to video games. Anyhow, I've managed to get through to him a little, mainly by highlighting the positive elements of a game if possible (teamplay/socializing, great story, interesting art style, etc.) and actually showing him the game in question. If he just walks up and sees me gunning down Combine in HL2, it's important to make him stick around for the plot development and exploration bits, so that he understands it's not just mindless killing. I'd suggest trying the same thing. Also, linking him to the kind of studies--sometimes posted on this site--that show video games in a positive light, from as reliable sources as possible. It's a definite generation gap problem, but it's not entirely unsolvable.

 

[Trayion]

Did anyone think to do the simple thing and actually find some facts?
Such as this :
http://www.theesa.com/facts/violence.asp

Or perhaps this :
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/05/0528_030528_videogames.html
A study on the area of how video games (when balanced with other media of learning) can help to increase a persons visual recognition skills.
Just saying, since your dad is pulling the "games are evil"-routine, it might be worth presenting some studies that also show the opposite.

Merely a suggestion of course.

 

[Kukakkau]

Simple get him to try it before he passes judgement on something he knows nothing about.

Anyone who can't even say a games title CAN'T act like they know about it

 

[captainkrunch]

or you could tell him that
"The next statement is true"
"The previous statement is false"
and his head will blow up like the cyborg he is

 

[Rickyvantof]

Hello Kitty Online

 

[Cid Silverwing]

OP: People like your dad can't be convinced. I'm sorry to say you're stuck with his asshole attitude until you move out.

 

[The Austin]

give him a bible and explain how that has caused more violence and homocide than whatever game you were playing ever will

As a Christian I must say..... That you are totally right and I apologize for any mass genocides my people may have caused.

But seriously. Tell him that everyone thought that the metal back in the 80's would make everyone "Evil", but guess what? It didn't.

 

[captainkrunch]

give him a bible and explain how that has caused more violence and homocide than whatever game you were playing ever will

As a Christian I must say..... That you are totally right and I apologize for any mass genocides my people may have caused.

But seriously. Tell him that everyone thought that the metal back in the 80's would make everyone "Evil", but guess what? It didn't.

The funny part is im a christian as well XD

 

[feather240]

My mom is very anti-violent games. She hates any game that recieves an M rating. I was playing Half-Life 2 and she walked in to see me give a Combine soldier a face full of buckshot and that was it. My dad is very easy going, but told me my mom complained to him about it, and now I can't play them when my mom is around and I can't buy M rated games. It sucks, now the only games I can play are Flash games, and to think I could be playing Borderlands or Fallout 3.

HL2 Never appeared that violent to me. Maybe the Ravenholm part was scary, but that's it.

 

[The Austin]

give him a bible and explain how that has caused more violence and homocide than whatever game you were playing ever will

As a Christian I must say..... That you are totally right and I apologize for any mass genocides my people may have caused.

But seriously. Tell him that everyone thought that the metal back in the 80's would make everyone "Evil", but guess what? It didn't.

The funny part is im a christian as well XD

HOORAY FOR REALIZING THAT YOUR PEOPLES HOLY BOOK IS ALSO A WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION!!!!

[small]Caps lock is cruse control for cool [/small]

 

[Doc Theta Sigma]

Is he an Evangelist by any chance? If so, I called it. To be honest... Your father sounds like a man that cannot be reasoned with. People that can't come up with a reason for why they believe what they do tend to just not listen.

 

[Earthbound Engineer]

My dad's always been skeptical about me playing any games with guns in them, and I've always tried to let it go and not get pissed, but today we had a conversation that made me realize I had to do something. I started up Urban Terror, a Quake 3 Arena mod with blood turned off. The conversation went like this:

WARNING: Big wall-o-text
Dad: Is that the gun game?
Me: Yes dad, this is the "gun game"
Dad: -in a normal, perfectly conversational tone- I hate that game. It's evil.
Me: What?
Dad: It's a game about killing people. It'll make you want to kill people.
Me: No it won't. I'm not that easily influenced.
Dad: It's not about how easily influenced you are. That game will make you evil.
Me: No it won't.
Dad: Yes it will. Games like that make you violent.
Me: I'm not violent!
Dad: Yes you are. You're using a violent tone right now.
Me: so I can't play it anymore?
Dad: You'll stop eventually.
Me: What does that mean?
Dad: Someday you'll understand and stop playing that game. -leaves-


So have any of you Escapists had a similar experience? And what can I do to change my Dad's mind about video games?

Is your dad a devout Christian, or in any way related to Jack Thompson? Both are equally bad. You poor little boy. Here, have some cake.

I promise you, it is not a lie.

 

[Rayansaki]

You can't change his mind. You CAN firebomb the Faux news building.

Although that could backfire and prove he is violent
He would probably get invited to the new Nox Fews

 

[guardian001]

Ignore the living shit out of his ass.

Alternatively, stop playing violent video games and start playing hello kitty themed games. Tell him he was right about the violent video games and that you have now taken up nice, safe, kid friendly games. Then, about a month later, go completely batshit insane (assuming you make it to a month without actually going insane.)

Although you should probably save that second one for a last resort...

 

[Headless Zombie]

I haven't had any problems with things like that.

But my friend's mother won't let him play D&D because he'll get addicted. By the way, she smokes.

 

[DRTJR]

make him play a video game, it worked with my dad i introduced him to Final Fantasy IV and now we have arguments over What's better FF7 or Chrono trigger. Same logic with Halo or TF2. intro them with a well written yet Slightly easy game and go from their

 

[Lordmarkus]

Games do not influence kids. If Pac-Man were influential, we'd all be running around in dark rooms eating pills and listening to techno.

Dark room? Check
M & M's? Check
Techno? Chemical Brothers, so Check

Pac-Man is more influential than you'd think.

 

[magnuslion]

First, does he do anything similar? watch violent movies, tv, read books with violence, etc etc etc? call him on that if he does. if not, I am guessing your family is Christian. if so, tell him that Messiah is more than able to protect you from influence from a video game.