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

[RootbeerJello]

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?

 

[grimsprice]

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

I would include a link to "the makeshift arsenal" list of home made weapons, but i think it would be frowned upon.
Image shack is being a *****... i'll be firebombing them too.

 

[Omikron009]

My dad is really opposed to technology of any kind, not because it's evil or corrupts people, but because he feels time can be spent doing more productive activities. He's kind of a workaholic. When I showed him my last report card with an A average, he asked "what assignments did you miss" and then yelled at me when I didn't know. That's the kind of person he can be sometimes. This coming from the guy who spends every weekend watching sports.

 

[orangebandguy]

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

 

[Cherry Cola]

Force him to play it.

Just do it.

Say that it's for your sake, maybe that will make him budge.

Otherwise, screw him and play what you want.

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

Make him play it. The only reason my Dad calls anyone who thinks games make you violent a "twat" is because he's also a gamer and understands that they really don't.

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

Mine buys my games for me if he gets to play with them first

 

[DoctorNick]

If he watches violent movies or TV shows, feel free to point out this flaw in his master plan.

Otherwise I don't think there is much you can do.

 

[Bob_Bobbington]

Believe me, your not alone. I have this conversation with my Dad almost weekly. It's like arguing with a brick wall. There is no give and no sense of reason. Just ignore him. That's how I've managed to keep a scrap of sanity over the past 18 years.

 

[Frankydee]

he's at least not making you turn it off so I'd just go so far as to just let it go and let him just talk. Be sarcastic with him saying something like "yupp, this sure is making me evil, yea I totally want to shoot up a mall and eat some aborted babies now."

He seems pretty gung ho on his skewed way of thinking so why not make the best of it and mess with him a bit?

 

[RobCoxxy]

It's simple. Kill. The BatDadman.

Mention to him that common psychological experiments and studies have actually shown that violent games and movies actually satisfy the Id, the violence and sex-crazed part of your subconsious that wants to kill people.

Nutshelll = Simulated killing stops you wanting to kill.
Unless you're a fucking psychopath.

 

[Hitari0]

Explain to him that people (i.e. you) play games to do things that you could not do in real life (kill people and not get arrested, fly, get shot in the head 57 times).

 

[Deathkingo]

Mum said that same ting about WoW...until I forced her to play it.

 

[Iron Mal]

Just keep playing regardless and show him through the way that you act that his accusation is unfounded.

He hasn't tried to stop you (he's only shown disapproval) so there's plenty of oppertunity for you to show him that the 'big bad' video games won't turn you into a feral psychopath.

Trying anything major to change his opinion will probably just add credability to his view that they are manipulative (since he'll note a change in your behavior for better or worse as 'influence').

 

[Heart of Darkness]

Use that same argument on something he does, like watching TV, reading books, watching movies...

If that fails, go on a murderous rampage take up Satanism do something that is very definitely NOT EVIL and tell him that "the games with the guns" made you do it.

EDIT: Also, doing some bona fide research that deals with the psychology of video games and use them as a rebuttal the next time he brings it up, along with a handy ten-page analysis.

If none of that works, you're not going to change his mind.

 

[walls of cetepedes]

I'm lucky to have a Dad who loves games.

Mine buys my games for me if he gets to play with them first

Heh, mine does that too.

Saves me a bundle.

 

[thiosk]

Play animal crossing and wear girl pants.

He'll start begging you to shoot things in no time.

 

[Casual Shinji]

It's the generation gap.

There is no way to cross it.

 

[Bob_Bobbington]

Mine buys my games for me if he gets to play with them first

Wanna trade. Please. I'll do anything.

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

It's the generation gap.

There is no way to cross it.

In 1996 engineers from both sides attempted to build a bridge across the generation gap, it was met with tragic failure, the final death toll was over 15,000.

Mine buys my games for me if he gets to play with them first

Wanna trade. Please. I'll do anything.

Nope, but you can have Fat Man Spoon's.

 

[Randomtime]

Is, by any chance, your father's name "Jack Thompson" - if so, I'd give up.