Video games and the problems they cause

[vampirekid.13]

does anyone except those stupid news reporters and people who just love stirring the pot think that violent games like GTA cause people to go murder people?
Why would they? Explain your answers.

YEA like totally. kinda like marylin manson is responsible for colombine.


i think that there are sane people, and insane people. and whether an insane person plays videogames or not is completely irrelevant. i have been playing video games since i can remember. i have been watching R rated movies since for ever (i dont even remember how long ago, like 15 yrs, and im 22) and i have yet to go on a murder spree. this single specimen proves my point. sane people dont get influenced by videogames, and it doesnt matter if insane ppl do because they would end up killing someone sooner or later anyway, because they are insane.

 

[badgersprite]

People have always blamed the criminal actions of people on things they don't understand. Today, it's video games or metal music. In the 60s, people blamed popular music and hippie culture. In the 1920s they blamed immigrants and alcohol. In the 1500s, they blamed witchcraft.

I think it's because they don't realise that some people don't really need a reason to do bad things, and so they need something external to blame to preserve their view that it isn't society's fault, or the parents' fault, or the fault of the people who did it (although, since people who commit these specific sorts of crimes often have mental illnesses, I'm inclined to say that it's not entirely the perpetrators' fault in that regard; they could have been misdiagnosed or prescribed bad medication). It's easy for people to blame something that doesn't effect them personally, because it's a way of saying, "I'm not the one with the problem!" and pretending they're immune from similar situations occurring again.

I always like to point out to people the fact that the world was a lot more violent before video games were invented (and that the most violent parts of the world are places where video games aren't widespread). Video games are a hobby, and people who have hobbies are more likely to stay away from crime, especially when they give you a sense of accomplishment and a way of socialising with others - meeting like-minded gamers.

From personal experience, I can also say that most gamers I know in real life are pacifists, even though they play violent video games, and the majority of people I've personally met who have violent tendencies towards others have rarely if ever played video games - the reason they tend to behave violently is either because they were raised in a climate where they learned violence was an acceptable way of expressing themselves (and have acknowledged that in conversations with me) or because they had anger problems that stemmed from real-life experiences with other people. I think that, if they played video games, they would have a competitive outlet that could help them relieve stress.

 

[DeadlyYellow]

So, it's the one or two (out to millions) that ruin it?

Yes. I'd like to think most gamers are able to remain levelheaded, despite what online experiences may lead me to believe. Incidents occur and are inflamed by the media, then blown way out of proportion by activists. Though relatively few in minor, it is much easier to point out and rally behind negative ideas than positive ones.

 

[ZeroMachine]

As it has been said many times over, I shall say again:

Any child or teenager that commits a violent act he got from a video game was troubled in the first place.

 

[Poopie McGhee]

So, it's the one or two (out to millions) that ruin it?

Yes. I'd like to think most gamers are able to remain levelheaded, despite what online experiences may lead me to believe. Incidents occur and are inflamed by the media, then blown way out of proportion by activists. Though relatively few in minor, it is much easier to point out and rally behind negative ideas than positive ones.

Well Damn them... :~(

 

[Hollock]

the people who say this are not informed, they refuse to get informed because the only way they can actually expirience it is by playing it and they will never play games because they dont get them. when people can say mass effect is a sex game and pokemon is about summoning demons. The exact same thing happend with comics way long back and once everyone whos scared of games grows too old and dies which will be around 30 40 years we'll definently have freedom to play what we want and maybe video games can be art. but if you dont want to wait that long we dont have to because more and more people are playing games thanks to the wii and it's casual games. (this will NOT be the downfall of our games it's just going to broaden the audience)also square and popcap are making a game together is this the possible middle ground we need?. soon we'll become the majority and be able to realize that most games are doing nothing but good. they dont CAUSE problems just like how comics, and rock and roll didnt CAUSE problems. And the idea that people are wasting their lives playing this stuff, what about sports? what do they "get" from sports nothing their just entertaining (to some). Actually just counting sports watchers you get way more out of playing somthing like bioshock then watching the mets beat the sox.But that's not the point they can do whatever the fuck they want. If kids killed someone and they just so happend to have video games it dosnt mean shit. My first game was Mortal Kombat when i was 3 and while it didnt teach me how to spell Kombat I never went on a fucking killing spree. They dont want to listen and it's fucking frustrating because it shouldnt even BE an issue. They're never going to look to see if they're wrong because they know they're right, and the only way we're ever going to grow is if we grow in numbers. Even then who knows I just wish people gave into reason.

EDIT: sorry if this is a little scattered brained and ranty

 

[Insanum]

I do get violent after videogames, But im a terrible loser.

So its not just confined too Games. Although im fine if im with friends, Or if its a very close call.

Explination (im going to use Karting):

Will Piss me off:

Lead the whole race, Shunted on the last corner & then come 3rd. RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGEEEEEE.

Will Not Piss me off:

Lead the whole race, The people in 2nd & 3rd overtake me with skill, and im unable to catch them.

No Rage.

----

See what i mean?

 

[Kriptonite]

Anyone that can't separate reality from videogames might do something like this.

 

[Bourne Endeavor]

Video games are to blame for none of the instable reactions some people have. The statistically percentage of people who have gone beyond sanity in comparison to the number who purchurse the games is so significantly low it would take the space of half this post just typing all the zeros that precede that 1.

I often wonder how the United States has one of the worst crime rates in the known world, if not the worst and their immediate scapegoat is the entertainment industry when many experts cite the advance intelligence of Japanese schools. Have any of these people witnessed the creations in Japan? The animes, which are their prime time programming would give parents in America heart attacks between the sexual content and the gross degree of violence some portray and yet... you hardly ever hear of any children or teenagers there going on murderous rampages and even on its best day GTA cannot hope to compare in terms of violence to something like Elfen Lied.

These people were already deranged long prior to being exposed to video games and their outburst was inevitable one way or another. If you shoot your mother over your Halo game being taken, you will shoot her over her taking away your favorite CD, DVD, bike, car keys, TV, stereo, whatever. In that example it happened to be a video game but that could easily be replaced with the similar result.

 

[Mray3460]

Ok, I must have posted this 30 times now on the Escapist, but once again:

*Sigh* I'll say what I said at my philosophy club meeting, and have posted here previously "I'm incredibly tired of people saying that video games cause violence (or misbehavior or rebelliousness or any number of other things) because kids (or someone else) played a violent game for 130 hours a week, and then went out on a killing spree/started misbehaving/etc.. Guess what people, if you're playing a violent video game for 130 hours a week, you're already screwed up."

 

[Hikikomori Ookami]

Did kids ever shoot their friends in the face with a shotgun because they'd seen Elmer Fudd do that to Daffy Duck? I don't think so. If you want to blame it on someone blame it on their parents for being idiots.