Opinions on Teen Violence Related to Video Games

[Shapsters]

Ok, so as a normal gamer, you should hate any news report claiming that teen violence is related to video games. I am writing a speech on that opinion, and I have left it for much too long, it is late now and was due yesterday...

Anyways, I need to get it done so I was wondering if some people could help me and give some opinions on the matter, maybe a few facts about the situation as well.

Thanks Escapist! You guys are the best!

 

[Crescent Sun]

Some studies show our generation to be the least violent (maybe because we take our frustations out in fictious worlds)
Our great-great or great grandparents started 2 world wars. that's violent

 

[Flying-Emu]

Some studies show our generation to be the least violent (maybe because we take our frustations out in fictious worlds)
Our great-great or great grandparents started 2 world wars. that's violent

The United States hasn't had a single decade without joining a conflict since pre-WWI.

 

[Mookie_Magnus]

Violent videogames do not cause violent children. It is the fact that the children are already violent that cause them to play the games. All people are innately violent, children especially, it is our human nature. Most people play violent videogames because they want a safe channel for their inner rage.

The reason you see a correlation between violent videogames, and acts of violence, is because for some people the games do little more than take the edge away. After a while, it builds up, and the videogames can no longer satisfy them. So, they take a shotgun and blow someone's face up. Or at least attempt to.

 

[CoverYourHead]

I'm a teenager and avid gamer, I'm one of the least violent people I know. I also don't smoke, drink, or do drugs. Games are not a curse, they are divine intervention to us mere mortals.

 

[Sporky111]

Videogames don't make people violent. Bad parenting makes people violent.

Any child can turn on a TV at 8 PM and watch CSI. There is more blood, gore, and violence; at a much higher level of realism; than there is in most games. The difference is that games have this magical ratings system that tells parents if this game is safe to buy for their perfect, faultless child. Of course, nobody thinks of that when the perfect, faultless child stabs somebody.

No, no. It wasn't because this kid had an abusive parent, or suffered bullying at school, or had a mental disorder, etc. It was because he played a game with violence in it.

Real life doesn't work that way.

 

[Booze Zombie]

I've played many violent games and I've never wanted to kill anyone... except when they piss me off so much I want to smash them around the head with a chair, but I was like that before I even played my first game, anyway.

It's not like I actually do hit people around the head with chairs, I just want to when they piss me off, please note.

 

[Valksy]

I think that blaming video games is an easy thing for the news media to do (keeping in mind that so much news media is now 24 hours and with so much time to fill there is a lot more room for opinion instead of just facts).

The gaming community and indeed the industry behind it just does not have a strong, competant, coherant advocate who can stand up against persistent claims like a link between video games and violence. We are all a soft and easy target.

Personally, I find violence in video games to be quite cathartic. I have a quick hot temper and a very short fuse and find that having a place to express that is quite useful.

It is always worth reminding people that content that is considered violent is NOT intended for minors (sorry guys). If Modern Warfare 2 was rated 18 in the UK then it should only be played by those 18 years and older and selling it to minors is a criminal offense. There are some things that are not intended for younger people.

As far as I am aware there has veen no definitive proof of a connection between video games and violence. It would probably be unethical to try and prove a correlation one way or the other.

Every generation has some degree of "media panic" - from certain forms of music to violent films to video games. It is not a new phenomenon and the fact that this situation keeps repeating suggests to me that it should be treated with some suspicion.

 

[Worgen]

as the number of video games have risen the number of youth crimes have gone down, just look at the statistics from the early 90s tho today. There isnt anything directly saying its videogames tho but I would be willing to be the 2 are at least somewhat releated

 

[Canadamus Prime]

I think teen violence is more related to failures on behalf of the parents then it is anything to do with video games. Parents and possibly school administrations.

 

[Delock]

I'm actually going to go with the fact that it's more likely related to bully, which leads to exclusion, which leads to a need to fill the gap normally held by human interaction which leads to gaming. However, the bullying is what would be more directly responsible, as it continues to put stress on the victim to the point that it can no longer be safely released.

Bad parenting can lead to a lower stress load or bad forms of release, and lack of parenting completely can lead to problems understand right from wrong.

Another problem can be that the teen could just be different, which would lead to fewer groups in which they could belong to making them a social outcast and therefore either a prime target of bullying, or lack of human interaction/self esteem (another thing which can determine how much stress can be taken before they snap).

Some studies show our generation to be the least violent (maybe because we take our frustations out in fictious worlds)
Our great-great or great grandparents started 2 world wars. that's violent

The United States hasn't had a single decade without joining a conflict since pre-WWI.

The whole world hasn't gone a generation without some conflict somewhere. Humans are different, which leads to lack of understanding/acceptance, which leads to arguements, which lead to violence.

 

[Crescent Sun]

*snip*

The United States hasn't had a single decade without joining a conflict since pre-WWI.

I know, America is violent, but I was speaking in a more general global term (not all games are in America) that was why i used a reference to the world wars (global conflict) And even though America invested itself in many conflicts, it's highest death tolls were 1. American Civil 2. WWI 3. Vietnam. All belonging to previous conflicts.

Gamers aren't violent. More like God ;P
"If it turns out there is a God, I don't think that he's evil. But the worst you can say abou him is that basically he's an underachiever" -Woody Allen

 

[GhostPhantasm]

i know plenty of violent people who have never played a proper video game, and the ones who are regular gamers are the calm ones... video games =/= crazy

 

[ultrachicken]

I have several pacifist friends who play some violent games, myself included.
Venting your anger in a virtual world does not cause real world violence, bad parents who are more willing to blame the game than themselves are the cause.

 

[Shapsters]

*scribbles on clipboard*

Excellent excellent, keep them coming people!

 

[DustyDrB]

Ok, so as a normal gamer, you should hate any news report claiming that teen violence is related to video games. I am writing a speech on that opinion, and I have left it for much too long, it is late now and was due yesterday...

Anyways, I need to get it done so I was wondering if some people could help me and give some opinions on the matter, maybe a few facts about the situation as well.

Thanks Escapist! You guys are the best!

I say you should go to your library and look up the topic in a peer-reviewed Psychological Journal. Skip the data, because you're probably unfamiliar with the stats they use and they sum it up in words in their conclusion.

Video game violence's relationship with people committing real life violence is a tricky subject to study. Even if people don't play video games (or don't play violent ones), chances are they are exposed to other forms of media violence. So its hard to isolate video game violence when there are all these other variables (other media violence, family, peer relationships).

There is data, but much of it (as I have seen - I have a Psychology degree and have researched the effects of media violence a good bit) is conflicting, or the studies just yielded no significant results.

Make sure you're getting your information from somewhere other than a video game website. It's best to have neutral party opinions, and a balance of those for and those against. Obviously, The Escapist is bound to have a pro-gaming slant (right or wrong).

On a personal note, I am a pacifist and I do play violent games. Nothing overly gory, but that's more a matter of taste.

 

[Shapsters]

Ok, so as a normal gamer, you should hate any news report claiming that teen violence is related to video games. I am writing a speech on that opinion, and I have left it for much too long, it is late now and was due yesterday...

Anyways, I need to get it done so I was wondering if some people could help me and give some opinions on the matter, maybe a few facts about the situation as well.

Thanks Escapist! You guys are the best!

I say you should go to your library and look up the topic in a peer-reviewed Psychological Journal. Skip the data, because you're probably unfamiliar with the stats they use and they sum it up in words in their conclusion.

Video game violence's relationship with people committing real life violence is a tricky subject to study. Even if people don't play video games (or don't play violent ones), chances are they are exposed to other forms of media violence. So its hard to isolate video game violence when there are all these other variables (other media violence, family, peer relationships).

There is data, but much of it (as I have seen - I have a Psychology degree and have researched the effects of media violence a good bit) is conflicting, or the studies just yielded no significant results.

Indeed, going to the library would be a wonderful idea! But I am a bit of an idiot and have left the speech much to late, so that is out of the question.

 

[rekabdarb]

to anyone who thinks violent games make violent people...

"Fuck off" that is all

i find that ironic considering i have Berserk as my picture

 

[D.L.390]

Penn & Teller had an episode on videogames. Well worth a watch.


Socially acceptable sports, ie Football, cause millions of injuries worldwide every year.


Is it banned? No. Videogames cause no injuries, except RSI etc in people who simply play them too much (You get fat if you eat cake too much, that's legal).

 

[DustyDrB]

Ok, so as a normal gamer, you should hate any news report claiming that teen violence is related to video games. I am writing a speech on that opinion, and I have left it for much too long, it is late now and was due yesterday...

Anyways, I need to get it done so I was wondering if some people could help me and give some opinions on the matter, maybe a few facts about the situation as well.

Thanks Escapist! You guys are the best!

I say you should go to your library and look up the topic in a peer-reviewed Psychological Journal. Skip the data, because you're probably unfamiliar with the stats they use and they sum it up in words in their conclusion.

Video game violence's relationship with people committing real life violence is a tricky subject to study. Even if people don't play video games (or don't play violent ones), chances are they are exposed to other forms of media violence. So its hard to isolate video game violence when there are all these other variables (other media violence, family, peer relationships).

There is data, but much of it (as I have seen - I have a Psychology degree and have researched the effects of media violence a good bit) is conflicting, or the studies just yielded no significant results.

Indeed, going to the library would be a wonderful idea! But I am a bit of an idiot and have left the speech much to late, so that is out of the question.

Oh. Well if you need a case for violent video games being linked with real life violence, you could point out the effect of desensitization. People desensitized to violence would be, in theory, more likely to see violence as a viable solution to a problem.*

* Whether that is actually the truth is something no one here can answer without looking at the data, and even then we wouldn't really know. It's just a point you could use. Teachers like to hear both sides of the argument.