Violence in Games

Hi Rod here,

Interesting lecture today-along with the Goldstein reading, it really gave me an incite into how the media and practically every agency I have ever heard in the news etc views the great violence/video game debate.

BUT is there a connection with, especially RPG games and viloence? Answer; Yes, probably at some level. If you play video games will you become violent? Answer, only if you want to! Are video games alone the cause of violence in youths and other sections of the community who play them? Absolutely not!!! I can back this up with no research at all but by saying that I have played video games, I know many other people who have played video games, and none of them are murderers! In fact if you look at cigarette smoking-you are guaranteed to have adverse health affects (even if only mild). For alcohol; probably around 30% of us will have some problem at some stage with alcohol. Drugs of any sort will obviously have some ill affect at some level. But gaming? What %age can they give me that concludes the level of real life baddies that will come out of gaming?

There is a myriad of other bad habits that many of us do to some level and that might have adverse affects on our physical or psychological well being-But I think it just simply comes down to everything in moderation. And with video games, for most of us-They are just enjoyable! Play them 24 hours a day for a month and you might have a problem. But that is you, not the game.

You cannot ban everything just because someone may get hurt if they are stupid. Thats just what our current leaders try to do-There is a long list of areas where responsibility is not placed on those who actually cause problems, it seems its too hard so everyone must pay.

What I am trying very hard to say is; The simple answer to violence and any other crime in my opinion is, regardless of whether you play video games, smoke marijuana, or even if your mother didn't tuck you in at night; if you want to go around beating up people or causing any other type of mayhem in real life, our authorities need to make the punishment suit the crime and make you responsible. There is no need for family meetings or some other pathetic waste of time. The offender must pay either by fines that mean something, real community service that you cannot get out of, or jail that means a stint away from society. Home detention? Give me a break. That is just an excuse to play more games!

People are all too good at blaming everyone else for their own problems. You stuff up, it should be all on you. Why should I not be able to play a video game just because some moron tried to blame his own actions on gaming?

I am just worried the authorities stance on addressing violence in video games will simply be a tax which will be supposedly used for some sort of monitoring. However, good parenting, and solid consequences for societal adverse actions regardless of whether you play video games or not is a far better deterrent in my opinion.

Sorry to ramble on but hope this makes some sense. See you in class....