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Video Games and Aggressive Behavior - 12/3/2006 4:20:42 AM

KG Erwin

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See this article : http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15938244/site/newsweek/?GT1=8816

OK, with mindless FPS games, I fully understand this. I hate those things. Unfortunately, the backlash may or may not filter down to the wargamers.

Now, admittedly, some tactical games involve squads inflicting grievous injuries on other groups of individuals (think SPWaW), BUT, that game doesn't involve inflicting mayhem on civilians (thankfully).

To be honest, my daughter has no interest in the FPS games, and I have no intention of introducing her to any of them. That's the point -- if you don't want your kids exposed to these things, don't buy them!

Indirect exposure is another matter -- however, my daughter's friends' parents are good people, and they don't condone the ultraviolent videogames either.

So, is this much ado about nothing (a webspace filler) or a legitimate concern?

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RE: Video Games and Aggressive Behavior - 12/3/2006 5:46:04 AM

bradfordkay

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I didn't check your link. but the article I read earlier in the week about this was talking about how the FPS genre is triggering an emotional response that strategy games will not, due to the need to sit and think about what you're doing in a strategy game (okay, maybe not RTS!

).

Wargames will probably catch some fallout from the general public over this, but the experts will recognize the difference between something like Medal of Honor and War in the Pacific. One relies upon quick, unthinking responses while the other requires a well thought out plan of action.

I recall being shocked a few years ago when a friend purchased GTA:whichever (I forget which one it was) for his seven and nine year old stepsons to play. They were proudly showing me how to yank a driver out of his car, shoot him and drive off with that car...

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RE: Video Games and Aggressive Behavior - 12/3/2006 7:41:43 AM

Veldor

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quote:

ORIGINAL: KG Erwin

See this article : http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15938244/site/newsweek/?GT1=8816

OK, with mindless FPS games, I fully understand this. I hate those things. Unfortunately, the backlash may or may not filter down to the wargamers.

Now, admittedly, some tactical games involve squads inflicting grievous injuries on other groups of individuals (think SPWaW), BUT, that game doesn't involve inflicting mayhem on civilians (thankfully).

To be honest, my daughter has no interest in the FPS games, and I have no intention of introducing her to any of them. That's the point -- if you don't want your kids exposed to these things, don't buy them!

Indirect exposure is another matter -- however, my daughter's friends' parents are good people, and they don't condone the ultraviolent videogames either.

So, is this much ado about nothing (a webspace filler) or a legitimate concern?

Id buy that ANY video game increases anti-social behavior. However it partly depends on what you consider "socializing". As even the latest and greatest console shooter "Gears of War" generally has people chatting in real voices with one another and working together or otherwise chatting about whatever.. Id consider that a "new age" sort of socializing. Perhaps the oldest among us might still see that as horribly anti-social. MMPORG players get hit the worst with that accusation. But again, its just a different form of socialization. I would likely agree though the problem is when one form of socialization becomes your only form (And forums count there as well).

As for the violence part.. for the most part I dont buy it at all. Kids have wrestled and fought and played guns since the beginning of time. The average kid around here seem to get in far less fist fights than when I was a kid. No matter how many heads you see blown up or rolling around in a video game.. any kid seeing this in real life is not in anyway going to be under affected by it. Graphics aren't THAT GOOD yet. Sex, on the other hand, I do think TV/Movies/Media do go a ways towards desensitizing kids.. Not as much video games though. But kids on average definitely have higher tolerances for what is acceptable to see and do in that department.

As for the difference, I think its the message that being sent, which is still different. Kids are sent the message constantly that sex is ok, great, Threesomes awesome, More you go for it, gay sex try it, so on. But the violence doesnt get such a message. Nowhere are you being told.. Yeah its awesome to kill people, blood is cool, stab someone or yourself if you have to... Cutting is good and normal and might help.

The message on violence is still way different than the message given on sex. So I don't buy that violence in video games does anything bad at all. At best, for the fast paced games, it might in fact be an outlet for aggression that would otherwise be directed at something or someone else. So perhaps its just the opposite of whats being claimed...

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RE: Video Games and Aggressive Behavior - 12/3/2006 8:45:30 AM

KG Erwin

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Uhh, Veldor, you're confusing me. You'd rather your kids be exposed to gratuitous violence than to sex? You are NOT implying that, are you? I must be misunderstanding you.

"Sure, honey, it's fine if you shoot that sorry-ass boyfriend of yours, but it would be a mortal sin if you had sex with him."

I'm exaggerating, but that's what your post implied.

< Message edited by KG Erwin -- 12/3/2006 8:51:18 AM >

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RE: Video Games and Aggressive Behavior - 12/3/2006 9:05:45 AM

bradfordkay

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Veldor, you need to read the article that KGErwin posted. It is an article about the study I had read about earlier. It is discussing a scientific study that is concerned with how games affect the development of the youthful brain and behavioral inhibitions. It is not just that FPSs "glamourize" violence, the way they affect the brain actually restricts the development of inhibitions against reactionary violence. It's an interesting study about a subject that should be researched further.

"Nowhere are you being told.. Yeah its awesome to kill people, blood is cool, stab someone or yourself if you have to... Cutting is good and normal and might help."

Apparently you have not seen the Grand Theft Auto series...

< Message edited by bradfordkay -- 12/3/2006 9:12:22 AM >

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RE: Video Games and Aggressive Behavior - 12/3/2006 9:11:32 AM

Veldor

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quote:

ORIGINAL: bradfordkay

Veldor, you need to read the article that KGErwin posted. It is an article about the study I had read about earlier. It is discussing a scientific study that is concerned with how games affect the development of the youthful brain and behavioral inhibitions. It is not just that FPSs "glamourize" violence, the way they affect the brain actually restricts the development of inhibitions against reactionary violence. It's an interesting study about a subject that should be researched further.

Flawed science. One study proves carrots cause cancer, the next that carrots cure cancer. Believe what you wish.

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RE: Video Games and Aggressive Behavior - 12/3/2006 9:19:36 AM

robpost3

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kids today are missing something...a living grandfather a person who has been there a relative who has seeen this or that....this war that is going on is detacthed in a very strange way ....we care oh so truly that two factions not unlike our civil war days will see eye to eye and alleiviate 1000 years of pain...we hope therefore we are beings of a gentle nature....let so this be truth....whatever...

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RE: Video Games and Aggressive Behavior - 12/3/2006 9:21:03 AM

Veldor

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quote:

ORIGINAL: KG Erwin

Uhh, Veldor, you're confusing me. You'd rather your kids be exposed to gratuitous violence than to sex? You are NOT implying that, are you? I must be misunderstanding you.

"Sure, honey, it's fine if you shoot that sorry-ass boyfriend of yours, but it would be a mortal sin if you had sex with him."

I'm exaggerating, but that's what your post implied.

You missed the point entirely. The point was there is no message saying to shoot your sorry-ass boyfriend at all. Nor any implication such a thing would be ok. Its just realism and added detail and for the most part its always been in video games, just that the graphics have gotten better over time. We are no more a generation of murders than the next one will be when they grow up.

And it wasn't "sex with him" that I was talking about. I was talking about teen shows (even ones on the WB) that glorify threesomes and gay sex and orgies etc as if it was all the norm now adays. It sends a message that you are "missing out" if your not also doing those things. Essentially its projecting a lie. Im not passing judgement on any of the individual activities. I just dont think youthful media should include such things.

Where are all these people killing others because of video games? Around here all the ganstas that shoot others dont even have the ability to play games. Maybe if they did they would be off the streets in the first place. As for kids I have an unscientific theory that many of the same kids that hide behind video games probably have terrible home lives. Far more damage is done by mom and dad screaming at each other and fighting than the actual fighting in a game, however more graphic it may be...

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RE: Video Games and Aggressive Behavior - 12/3/2006 9:35:18 AM

bradfordkay

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So the media that our youth interact with can desensitize them to sex, but not to violence? Flawed science indeed...

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RE: Video Games and Aggressive Behavior - 12/3/2006 10:16:49 AM

KG Erwin

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Ok, Veldor, I sense that there may be some personal issues behind your postings. You are a parent, correct? You live in Chicago. Lots of negative influences, right? Wrong?

Am I reading too much into your posts? You can tell me to shove off if you wish. Your life is none of my business.

You know where I live. We have our own issues here. My daughter sees the wargames I play, and takes them for what they are. I've explained to her what war is all about. As for the realities of sex, I'm pretty sure her mother has explained that to her. Dad is kept out of the loop on some things, so maybe I should ask. I'm not a Ward Cleaver type, by any means, but I try to help take care of the girls.

I'm wondering if I should've even started this thread. Lately, I've started several very off-topic threads. I'm thankful that the admins haven't cracked down.

However, do you know why they haven't? They are family men, too. We gamers CAN discuss the really important things, as long as we can keep it civil.

The Gunny didn't become a father until he was 39 years old. Now my daughter is 10, and I know that the potentially toughest times lay ahead. This is why I've gone into these tangents. It's unknown territory for me.

I will ask for help from the guys who have been there, so bear with me. I have to give my wife the impression that I know what I'm doing.

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RE: Video Games and Aggressive Behavior - 12/3/2006 1:53:45 PM

parusski

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I will not make a long post. BUT. I have three children, 22, 20, 18. My two oldest boys have played every type of game, including board wargames(did not want to make them invade other countries), however they have always played FPS games. I too have played a lot of FPS games. Neither I nor my son's seem to have developed violent ideas. Most of my son's friends also play and they seem just as fine as my boy's. I see the FPS games as a way to release tension, not create it.

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RE: Video Games and Aggressive Behavior - 12/3/2006 1:55:34 PM

Terminus

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People who are otherwise mentally healthy and possessed of a good social network and family structure do not develop pathologies because of violent video games. It does not happen.

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RE: Video Games and Aggressive Behavior - 12/3/2006 2:40:12 PM

Halsey

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I had aggressive behavior years before video games ever came out.

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RE: Video Games and Aggressive Behavior - 12/3/2006 3:07:23 PM

Jevhaddah

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I remember when it was 'Play the record backwards and here the voice of the Devil telling yoo to kill peeps'

I remember when it was 'The violence on TV that sent folk out to kill peeps'

I remember when it was ' The violence in films that sent folk out to kill peeps'

Now its the turn of Video games.. sigh.

Back in the 60's when I were a lad, we used to play japs and Commando's and other military type games, where we would quite happily run around shouting 'Drrrrrrrperchang Yoor Dead I blew yer heid aff' and the images we had in our minds of this action were far more graphic than any PC game

There are a lot of sick people out there, many with a grudge against.. well whaterver.. and some though not all will carry out some kind of atrocity, without the need of a video game.

There billions of people on this planet and out of these billions a miniscule fraction of people have claimed that it was one of the above forms of media that 'made' them do what they did.

Personaly and to go totally Non PC here, I think they were just a bunch of nutters looking for a scapegoat to get a nice cosy bed in the Loony bin.

The various Press Organs nowadays are more interested in sensationalism rather than the truth, it sells more papers and makes them more money.

Just wait until we get Holodecks.....

This can easily become a very emotive thread and I want to state here that it is not my intention to offend anyone here.

Cheers

Jev

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RE: Video Games and Aggressive Behavior - 12/3/2006 3:52:50 PM

JudgeDredd

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I haven't read the articel, but have heard many discussion on the media regarding whether computer games "cause" problems in society.

The upshot, I think, in 2 brief points, is this...
1. Yes...some actions people see in a video game are going to be replicated in society....mainly by children. For example, that game of karate kicking and kick boxing (Mortal Kombat?) which was big in the 80's...I saw many, many a useless attampt at recreating it, either in the playground or elsewhere. You will get children recreating this...the same as you will get people recreating Star Wars light sabre fights...how many of us growed ups have held brooms and fought with our mates using the "whooooom...whooooom" sounds?

Some of it is harmless replication. Other times, it can cause injury. But that is playing.

2. No...violent games are not the cause of the violent and disturbing actions we see committed today. Yes, people will see these actions in games and go and replicate them...but they are not normal humans and would probably have performed some sort of unimaginable act anyway.

They have to stop blaming gaming for what happens in our streets. For the most part, the acts which are copied and performed by individuals are within the bounds of the law...and is probably covered under the umberella that is "playing". The rest are, in my view, disturbed individuals anyway...they don't need the games to show them what to do...they would perform some terrible act in the future anyway.

Another thing...it doesn't matter that games are getting "ultra" realistic...more gore, more life-like faces and bodies, ragdoll physics...it means nothing and makes no difference. I play Splinter Cell Chaos Theory. It doesn't make me want to slide down and zip wire with a silencer and shoot someone point blank in the head. Why doesn't it? Because my mind is normal. I am in touch with reality, humanity and a level or moral that some aren't.

Another thing....why, if computer gaming is blamed for the violence, is it not praised for preventing violence. As an example, in Chaos Theory, you are rewarded, in a way, for NOT killing the enemy, but walkign up behind him and knocking him out....so when Chaos Theory came out, if games truly DO affect humans level of behaviour, there should've been a drop, somewhere along the line, in shootings...right? More sore heads, but less shooting. Whilst that is taking it to an extreme....I think no more so than the people suggesting that games are responsible for peoples actions.

Your average person can distinguish between reality and non/virtual reality. Taking violent games off the market will not stop anyone who cannot make this distinction.

As usual, what will happen is that the people who operate their lives within the bounds of the law will eventually be brought to heel and prevented from following some hobby or other...and they will realise that the violent crime still goes on!!

It's probably a bit like the gun laws of the USA. The problem ISN'T that it's your right as an individual to carry arms...the problem IS that having such a law allows people who shouldn't be allowed to have a pop gun to own a shotgun or, god forbid, a high velocity 7.62 rifle complete with scope and nerd targetting mechanism!!

Once again...the people who are going to commit violent crime will commit violent crime, whether you take violent games from the market or not.

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RE: Video Games and Aggressive Behavior - 12/3/2006 4:04:49 PM

JudgeDredd

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quote:

ORIGINAL: KG Erwin

Uhh, Veldor, you're confusing me. You'd rather your kids be exposed to gratuitous violence than to sex? You are NOT implying that, are you? I must be misunderstanding you.

"Sure, honey, it's fine if you shoot that sorry-ass boyfriend of yours, but it would be a mortal sin if you had sex with him."

I'm exaggerating, but that's what your post implied.

On this note, KG...I surely allowed my 10 year old to watch Lord of the Rings trilogy. There was violence galore in that...but I would not allow her to watch Mission Impossible II where there was some gratuitous, meaningless, pointless sexual references and innuendos or other films where there is swearing in it.

That's because I know and trust my daughter to be able to distinguish, even at such an early age, between reality and fiction.

Yes, senseless killing goes on in society...but normal people do not perform it. Sex and colourful language DOES exist in society and IS performed by normal people....which is why I have made the distinction between what I would and would not allow her to watch. I am very cautious with everything...but I WILL NOT allow her to watch anything with sexual references or bad language and WOULD allow her to watch something with violence...of what I consider to be an acceptable level.

Be aware, though, I am not talking about Goodfellas here...I make the distinction. I judge what I think is a suitable level of violence and what is not...but Harry Potter and the violence in...and Lord of the Rings...that is a level of violence I am willing to allow her to watch...Goodfellas...SAW...NO. Maybe the distinction I make is on real or fiction...but NOT PURELY on that...the level of gore and other things is taken into account also...and I will also not allow her to see anything I have not seen.

She's 10 now and, touch wood, not showing any signs of wanting to cut the heads off Orcs!!

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RE: Video Games and Aggressive Behavior - 12/3/2006 4:56:37 PM

Les_the_Sarge_9_1

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Pavlov proved his point a loooooong time ago. It's just that some people simply don't like the results of his research.

Some are of the opinion "I'm a cultured and thinking human being, not a dog". They simply don't like the facts.

But as for making it all a games fault, consider this. My son never plays those games, my son never watches violence on tv. He doesn't like violent movies.
Yet, while playing with his Lego, he will come up with all sort of confrontational play between the Lego people just the same.

The fact is, violent confrontational behaviour is actually still the norm for our species. Peaceful non violent cooperative behaviour, THAT is the abnormal behaviour for our race.

Rape, murder, fighting, theft, THOSE have not been beaten out of our psyche yet. We have to use laws to force it on ourselves.

You might not like it, but you do have to accept it.
You're currently reading this post on a forum focused on violent confrontation behaviour through history by the way. If I was wrong, you wouldn't be here.

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RE: Video Games and Aggressive Behavior - 12/3/2006 4:59:58 PM

Hertston

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Terminus

People who are otherwise mentally healthy and possessed of a good social network and family structure do not develop pathologies because of violent video games. It does not happen.

That's the point, I think. The problem is not kids playing violent games, but the amount of time spend playing any computer game.

Childhood, and especially adolescence, is the only time we really have to learn how to interact with other people - both those we like and those we don't - when we can still make big mistakes and get away with it (relatively) unscathed. Without that time, say by playing any video game in every spare moment, kids don't get that opportunity and they fail to learn the basic lessons as to how others tick.. not to mention developing decidely schizoid personalities in the process. Add to that that games themselves can provide distorted pictures of how people think and behave (e.g the only others you ever 'meet' are those who also play World of Warcraft or Battlefield 2 from dawn to dusk) and you have a psychological mess. External violence is only one possible symptom, there may well be even worse ones hidden away inside.

In short, I'd rather my kid played GTA: San Andreas for an hour then went out to play with her friends rather than spend a whole day playing Everquest or The Sims.

< Message edited by Hertston -- 12/3/2006 5:04:52 PM >

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RE: Video Games and Aggressive Behavior - 12/3/2006 5:24:29 PM

ravinhood

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I believe that all mankind is inheirently violent. Violence has been our history since history began. Even in the animal world there is violence. It is society that has tried to curb mankinds violence to the point of making men more passive and females more aggressive. lol go figure.

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RE: Video Games and Aggressive Behavior - 12/3/2006 6:25:34 PM

Veldor

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quote:

ORIGINAL: bradfordkay

So the media that our youth interact with can desensitize them to sex, but not to violence? Flawed science indeed...

3rd time saying it.

Marissa, the popular girl from the O.C., tries a lesbian girlfriend. Some popular girl on One Tree Hill I believe was the show thinks thressomes are the bomb and wants to try an orgy. These are shows popular with and aimed at teens. Why are they delivering those messages?

I do not see similar teen shows telling kids it was ok that the boyfriends beat up the girlfriends (which did happen). Those guys ended up in jail, or getting theirs back etc.

The message is different. Im talking about words and messages in media. not images. The video game angle is bs.

That school shooting recently in canada.... Yeah 20 years ago one town away MORE kids were killed in a bigger school shooting. Likely that kid 20 years ago must have played too much pac-man.

That kid that was found wrapped around a tree with a copy of need for speed on the front seat... Likely did so cause he just purchased it.. not because he was so ultra obssessed with it that he needed to cart it around like a trophy while he got his related "thrills".

And yes, the "Playing records backwards thing" is the perfect analogy. People want to always blame other things and other people for the problems in the world or problems with their own kids.

Also:

It seems today like all we see..
Is violence in movies and sex on TV..
But where are those good old-fashioned values..
On which we use to rely??

PS. For clarity I have no problem with gay people or those with other lifestyle choices. I just don't think a growing majority of shows and entertainment should include the token gay guy and so on. Some schools around here have that book with the fairytale about two princes. I don't think those discussions need to be had at that age. I don't think teens should be over-enticed to "try" gay sex. I think those discussions should be had at home with parents and not decided upon by liberal media or shools.

< Message edited by Veldor -- 12/3/2006 6:36:31 PM >

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RE: Video Games and Aggressive Behavior - 12/3/2006 7:35:00 PM

bradfordkay

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You are now attacking one popular form of media (television) and discounting the effects from another popular form of media (video gaming). I feel that we can't discount any one influence on our youth if we are concerned about their developing minds.

I have defended video games for years, but this new study does merit some further review - to see of it does indeed have some merit. I would never be in favor of banning any type of game - violent, sexual, or whatever. I do, however, deplore the lack of supervision and/or input into their children's lives that most parents these days seem to exert.

Television does glorify violence. Look at WWF/WWE (or whatever they're calling themselves these days), Ultimate Fighting, and the like. And, yes, kids are emulating these "heroes", to the point that some have been seriously injured in "backyard wrestling matches".

One reason that hollywood has brought the gay/lesbiasn scene to the forefront is the extremely high rate of suicide among teen gays. If the popular media can show these kids that they are not an abomination, then maybe a few lives will be saved. You may not agree with this attitude, but it is less dangerous than the old method of telling them that they are sick and do not belong in society.

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fair winds,
Brad

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Post #: 21

RE: Video Games and Aggressive Behavior - 12/3/2006 8:49:04 PM

Veldor

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quote:

ORIGINAL: bradfordkay

You are now attacking one popular form of media (television) and discounting the effects from another popular form of media (video gaming). I feel that we can't discount any one influence on our youth if we are concerned about their developing minds.

The difference, though perhaps small, is that television is more of a story told and kids iconize the characters more easily and see them as role models more easily. Most kids, on the otherhand, get that games aren't real. They don't idolize characters in them as much or too the same levels, and certainly don't often choose them as their role models.

quote:

I have defended video games for years, but this new study does merit some further review - to see of it does indeed have some merit. I would never be in favor of banning any type of game - violent, sexual, or whatever. I do, however, deplore the lack of supervision and/or input into their children's lives that most parents these days seem to exert.

There is no problem or issue that good parenting can't solve. But there are definitely a lot of things that make the job much more difficult.

quote:

Television does glorify violence. Look at WWF/WWE (or whatever they're calling themselves these days), Ultimate Fighting, and the like. And, yes, kids are emulating these "heroes", to the point that some have been seriously injured in "backyard wrestling matches".

Again, its more likely this emulation comes from watching TV and not from a similar video game.

quote:

One reason that hollywood has brought the gay/lesbiasn scene to the forefront is the extremely high rate of suicide among teen gays. If the popular media can show these kids that they are not an abomination, then maybe a few lives will be saved. You may not agree with this attitude, but it is less dangerous than the old method of telling them that they are sick and do not belong in society.

Tell that to the parents of the little girl who ran around gym class kissing all the girls while yelling "I'm Marrisa, I'm Marrisa". Well either way your info is dated by as much as a decade now. Up north anyway its now "trendy" to be gay. "All the cool kids are doing it". The idea of a "threesome" has also be highly pushed by media as something "cool people do". Now even talk about group activities are showing up in teen shows. Is this suppose to also keep those hopefully few kids involved in that from feeling bad about themselves and committing suicide? At the cost of falsely presenting said activities as way more common than they really are..?

Of course everything I say should be ignored as I did not belong to society as a teen either since I played D&D. The utterly bad influence that was has turned me into the devil-worshipping homicidal maniac that I am today...

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Post #: 22

RE: Video Games and Aggressive Behavior - 12/3/2006 10:06:15 PM

martxyz

Posts: 194
Joined: 1/29/2005
From: Broughton, Northants, UK
Status: offline

Hi KG (Gunny, isn't it?)

Well - first thing is that as far as I'm concerned, some of the posts you've started recently have been great, and thought-provoking. Of course, some people don't like having their thought provoked, and there have been a few heated exchanges. There is a wargaming forum, not far from these shores, where people would probably have offered to neuter you with their latest semi-autiomatic toy. Fortunately, on the Matrix forum, I've found that people generally realize that it's hard to keep a good thought in your head at the same time as your trying to cling to your prejudices. They also realize that it's very heard to type while you're swaggereing about with your new piece of light artllery. Also this forum always seems to remember that we like games, but not war. So, I do enjoy your posts and I enjoy reading most of the replies.

I'd like to say "Can we please stop going on about gay sex". If people want to bring in sex as an issue, in relation to the discussion computer games and violence issue, whether or not people are (or become) gay or straight is irrelevant, and so is the notion that one is a pervertion of the other, and, consequently, the issue of how people learn or experiment with and about sex should be agenda-free, unless of course that person wishes to state what their agenda is.
As regards violence, is that I see no evidence (in the US context) that the people who are the most worried about violent videogames, are similarly concerened to tighten gun control. Often the people that want to tighten up on games don't want to tighten up on guns. To me, that's weird.

The third is a very general point. My son is a medical student. As parents, I'm sure that we did pretty well everything wrong from some people's perspective. My guess is that he also did pretty well most things that some parents think would have shrunk his brain, and inflated his testicles. I don't quite know how he survived at all! But, he's an intelligent, socially conscious, politically conscious, well-balanced lad. He thinks for himself, but is thoughtful, and is capable of discussing everything from under-agmore than he should, goes to gigs of all kinds and works hard and gets good grades, and has the energy of a nuclear power plant. We, as his parents, didn't "design" his childhood. By some peoples standards we we would have been lousy (mmm - make the seriously lousy). But it was a house where, when he'd finished blasting away on his nintento, he could also discuss important things, was loved, could have a laugh, and had good friends.

I don't worry about videogames half as much as I worry about other problems in society that children have to deal with, or make decsisions about. Today's world is definitely in trouble, but I would see violent videogames more as a side-effect than a cause. PCompanies produce these games because they they want to make money, and the culture and politics of money-making is usually sacred to those who do it, and has very few limits.

I think I probably do have some worries about the mental health of some of the videogame programmers, but I guess they have good insurance.

Please keep putting up interesting posts. Thanks, Martin

(in reply to Veldor)

Post #: 23

RE: Video Games and Aggressive Behavior - 12/3/2006 11:44:49 PM

Jevhaddah

Posts: 626
Joined: 11/24/2005
From: Scotland
Status: offline

Another point I feel that should be mentioned re Video Games is that the Press, Scientists, Goody two shoes etc seem to think that ALL games are meant to be played by kids.

What I mean is that games nowadays come with some form of rating which gives a pointer as to who and what age group it is aimed at.

In some countries Its illeagal to sell games to people that are Under the minimal age on the box. I know there will always be ways around this, but if a parent buys their 14 year old child a game rated for over 18's than that parent is not being very responsible.

If the child then goes out on a killing spree well...... I am more of a mind to put it down to bad parenting over the childs life to date rather than pin it on a single video game.

I was in a shop in Edinburgh where a sales person refused to sell a game to a lad who was clearly under age. The child went outside, his dad came in to buy the game for him and the sales person still refused to sell it. The dad went berserk and grabbed the sales person by the collar, fortunatley things calmed down when the manager appeard and the dad left WITHOUT the game.

As for the sex issue, thats a personal issue between consenting adults. Here in Scotland you are a leagal Adult at 16, you can get married, have babies and smoke, but you can't go into a pub, an 18+ film or play an 18+ game

Its a funny old life

Cheers Jev

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Post #: 24

RE: Video Games and Aggressive Behavior - 12/4/2006 1:00:38 AM

shunwick

Posts: 2426
Joined: 10/15/2006
Status: offline

Personally, I am more inclined to think that a love of cooking rather than video games encourages aggressive behaviour. I came to this conclusion when I suddenly noticed that my 10" kitchen knife started going by the name of Mr Slicey.

And then there are the voices ...

Best wishes,

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Post #: 25

RE: Video Games and Aggressive Behavior - 12/4/2006 2:04:25 AM

martxyz

Posts: 194
Joined: 1/29/2005
From: Broughton, Northants, UK
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: shunwick

And then there are the voices ...

You as well? Phew. I thought it was just me!

(in reply to shunwick)

Post #: 26

RE: Video Games and Aggressive Behavior - 12/4/2006 7:41:07 AM

Tankerace

Posts: 6400
Joined: 3/21/2003
From: Stillwater, OK, United States
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Terminus

People who are otherwise mentally healthy and possessed of a good social network and family structure do not develop pathologies because of violent video games. It does not happen.

I got into an argument with my grandmother about this very subject, ironically enough.

She contended that very point, that Grand Theft Auto (I doubt she honestly knew what it was) and other video games cause this behavior and should be banned.

Here is how the conversation then went.

Me: "So playing video games makes people want to reenact what they see and hear?"

Grandmother: "Yes it does. They are bad influences."

Me: "I can prove that is wrong."

Grandmother: "How?"

Me: "Easy. I play violent games about World War II all the time. When was the last time you saw me mow down a platoon of Germans?"*

At which point I was confronted with racist remarks about "those people predisposed to blah blah."

But I fear her original point may be right. I'm a history major, I design history games, and I play history games. Suddenly now I have a repro '61 Springfield musket and I'm planning on buying a Civil War uniform. But then again its not like I'm going to be running around bayonetting people.

I'll save that for when I get the Napoleon uniform and go around yelling "Give them a whiff of grapeshot!"

Vive Le' Emperer!

*Note: I have nothing against Germans. This was simply to keep in with the game makes people reenact what they see mantra.

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(in reply to Terminus)

Post #: 27

RE: Video Games and Aggressive Behavior - 12/4/2006 9:35:53 AM

Goblin

Posts: 5547
Joined: 3/29/2002
From: Erie,Pa. USA
Status: offline

If this discussion continues, I will kill all of you. Mebbe grind you under some tank treads, or save up and get an MG42, and alot of ammo. You will hear from me.

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Post #: 28

RE: Video Games and Aggressive Behavior - 12/4/2006 12:17:12 PM

Marc von Martial

Posts: 10875
Joined: 1/4/2001
From: Bonn, Germany
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Goblin

If this discussion continues, I will kill all of you. Mebbe grind you under some tank treads, or save up and get an MG42, and alot of ammo. You will hear from me.

Uhhh, if the FBI reads that ...

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Post #: 29

RE: Video Games and Aggressive Behavior - 12/4/2006 3:09:18 PM

martxyz

Posts: 194
Joined: 1/29/2005
From: Broughton, Northants, UK
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Marc Schwanebeck

quote:

ORIGINAL: Goblin

If this discussion continues, I will kill all of you. Mebbe grind you under some tank treads, or save up and get an MG42, and alot of ammo. You will hear from me.

Uhhh, if the FBI reads that ...