Violence and Video Games, to what extent?

[Leonard]

YouTube - Jack Thompson GTA IV - Part 1

Watched this video a while ago and it really got me thinking.

While I agree with a lot of things stated in this video, e.g. GTA IV not being supposed to be sold to minors or some of the scenarios in this game being rather horrid, I also think that many people are making violent games look a lot worse than they actually are.

So, what are your comments and opinions on this?

I'm sure it has already been established that video games do not cause violence, but to what extent do you think they affect violent behavior in people, and especially minors?

[Nevermore]

I personally think that people are affected by the ideas of the media that enters into their mind, especially if it's consistent. If a person is constantly exposed to violence in a glorified matter, than that will affect, to a certain degree, how a person responds to it.

This is why I think it's of huge importance that parents take the ESRB ratings very seriously. If it says "M for Mature" then don't buy it for someone under that age level. ESRB ratings are there for a reason, and it's the responsibility of the people who purchase video games to understand what those ratings and descriptors mean.

[Aucune Raison]

Really if you have minors playing M games and then showing violent behavior, it's the parent's fault for letting their child be so absorbent of media and also allowing them to play games above their age group.

[PLR]

The thing is at certain ages (Like 11) you are very impressionable. You may think it's cool to go around blowing up cars and you may stand in your back yard pretending to do so and make sound effects. You more then likely will never do so. By the time you'd have the ability and means to blow up cars and have sex with hookers you'd realize it isn't morally correct.
Although many do the latter it certainly isn't due to a video game.

[√]

Lots of parents blame video games if their child does something wrong.

[Papou]

I agree with a lot of the things in this video. Games like GTA desensitize people and they really are a bad influence, especially in younger people (who should not be playing it in the first place). In most people, especially older people, it's not such an influence that they think killing people is okay and then go out and do it themselves, but I still believe it's a bad influence nonetheless.

[Iridium]

Originally Posted by Papou

I agree with a lot of the things in this video. Games like GTA desensitize people and they really are a bad influence, especially in younger people (who should not be playing it in the first place). In most people, especially older people, it's not such an influence that they think killing people is okay and then go out and do it themselves, but I still believe it's a bad influence nonetheless.

The thing is at certain ages (Like 11) you are very impressionable. You may think it's cool to go around blowing up cars and you may stand in your back yard pretending to do so and make sound effects. You more then likely will never do so. By the time you'd have the ability and means to blow up cars and have sex with hookers you'd realize it isn't morally correct. Although many do the latter it certainly isn't due to a video game.

[Q]

itt parents need to parent, why the fuck are they buying the kids the game in the first place

I would rather buy it for them and then go over the acts in it and tell my child not to do that shit or he'll get FUCKED UP by the police. I mean, you usually get fucked up by the police in those games too, so that should ward him off of any sociopath behaviors.

[Papou]

Kind of off the topic, but was anybody else bothered by the fact that he kept addressing women and making reference only to their son, husband, or boyfriend playing the game?

[The Lionheart]

They've done studies, video games do nothing to violence. Only a few extreme cases.

[Papou]

Originally Posted by The Lionheart

They've done studies, video games do nothing to violence. Only a few extreme cases.

When they're little kids, it definitely does. I have a friend whose little brother started playing FPSs around the age of 4. When I go over to her house, he hits me and shoots me with nerf guns. And hits me with nerf guns. When we play games, he always gets the most excited when things die the worst deaths. He's not amused by explosions the way he is somebody getting slammed in the head and falling to the ground. He always gets frustrated if he can't play, but instead of asking to play, he says "I wanna kill them!". It probably doesn't sound so serious, but the excitement he gets from these things is creepy to see for yourself.

[PLR]

Originally Posted by Papou

When they're little kids, it definitely does. I have a friend whose little brother started playing FPSs around the age of 4. When I go over to her house, he hits me and shoots me with nerf guns. And hits me with nerf guns. When we play games, he always gets the most excited when things die the worst deaths. He's not amused by explosions the way he is somebody getting slammed in the head and falling to the ground. He always gets frustrated if he can't play, but instead of asking to play, he says "I wanna kill them!". It probably doesn't sound so serious, but the excitement he gets from these things is creepy to see for yourself.

again:

The thing is at certain ages (Like 11) you are very impressionable. You may think it's cool to go around blowing up cars and you may stand in your back yard pretending to do so and make sound effects. You more then likely will never do so. By the time you'd have the ability and means to blow up cars and have sex with hookers you'd realize it isn't morally correct.
Altough many do the latter it certainly isn't due to a video game.

[The Lionheart]

That's why there's a rating. That's the parents fault, not the kids.

[ikkuh2]

I've been playing violent games since i was thirteen and i just turned out fine. It's mostly hypocrites who want to ban games, since they do support civilians having guns.

[Watson]

Games are simply for entertainment and people shouldn't make such a big deal about them. I mean, yeah the american miltiary uses games to desensitize soldiers, sure some games promote guns which do more harm than good, but that gives no reason for violent games to be insulted!