March 18, 2005 4:00 AM PST
Perspective: If video games kill, what about the Bible?
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So it was that in 1931, some 40 religious and educational groups pressed Uncle Sam to regulate the film industry and thus protect minors from damage they might suffer from being exposed to "harmful" content.
Skip forward to 2005, and you can't mistake the echo of that familiar argument in the push by legislators and private interest groups to get government to do something about violent video and computer games--the only difference being the particular object of society's collective ire. Back then it was Hollywood hotties; these days it's digital psycho-droids. What exactly should be done remains as unclear and contentious as ever.
In the last century, each wave of new media technology has been met by hand-wringing and more. When television emerged as a mass medium at midcentury, some critics complained about its supposed role in the increase in juvenile delinquency rates and the vulgarization of the culture--and this was years before "Desperate Housewives"!
There's little doubt the introduction of interactivity has attached a heightened sense of urgency to the debate. However, I can't say it's generated a heightened sense of clarity. If anything, it's just the opposite.
The widespread use of personal computers by minors certainly raises legitimate questions about what makes for proper content. But it's hard to escape the feeling that many politicians and advocacy groups are just grandstanding for the cameras.
Even when lawmakers are driven by good intentions, you run into problems when they spell out the details. Consider, for example, a recent push by Washington state legislator Mary Lou Dickerson that targets manufacturers and retailers of violent video games whose products wind up in the hands of minors.
Dickerson's bill would allow for wrongful death or personal injury lawsuits if "the game was a factor in creating conditions that assisted or encouraged the person to cause injury or death to another person."
That's a mouthful, and don't you know a good defense attorney could drive a truck through the holes in that argument. For starters, how do you define "factor?" Or how does a prosecutor prove that repeated exposure to games such as "Quake" and "Doom" encourages someone with an otherwise normal (or even borderline) personality to start blasting away in a school lunchroom? Easier said than done.
Dickerson's is only one of several proposals making the rounds these days. But as long as the nation's punditry is intent on examining causes and effects that contribute to aberrant behavior, why stop with computer and video games? Page through the Bible sometime. Not only do you have your pick of X-rated segments--a parent should serve as chaperone when tender young readers get to the recounting of all that "begetting"--but the good book is also chockablock with tales of one neighbor smiting the next.
And what should we make of Dennis Rader, a man who was president of his church council and described as a faithful Christian? These days he's in custody and accused of being the notorious BTK killer.
You get the point.
I'm not looking to let the cybergame industry off the hook for its sundry stupidities. (Do we really need a game re-enacting JFK's assassination?) But laying blame for the coarsening of society and the desensitizing of so many of our youth at the doorstep of the game-development community is a cop-out. It's too pat and avoids the complicated truth that the potential for good and evil coexists in everyone.
Biography
Charles Cooper is CNET News.com's executive editor of commentary.
See more CNET content tagged:
video game, legislator, CBS Broadcasting Inc., games, video
It's what we do with the garbage in our programming that determines whether we crash, or process it as garbage.
Makes me believe once again that these forums actually serve a purpose!
Thanks!
It's what we do with the garbage in our programming that determines whether we crash, or process it as garbage.
Makes me believe once again that these forums actually serve a purpose!
Thanks!
While I understand your point, I don't think the people has the "X-rated" fair that you speak of. I've read much of the Bible, any even the racier parts are not graphic enough for any ratings board to grant it an "X-rating" (at least these days).
By the way, since you are using video games as a comparison, I'd say that the equivalent rating is probably "M" for Mature for some parts (though these days it might be "T" for Teen.)
While I understand your point, I don't think the people has the "X-rated" fair that you speak of. I've read much of the Bible, any even the racier parts are not graphic enough for any ratings board to grant it an "X-rating" (at least these days).
By the way, since you are using video games as a comparison, I'd say that the equivalent rating is probably "M" for Mature for some parts (though these days it might be "T" for Teen.)
While I understand your point, I don't think the Bible deserves the "X-rating" that you speak of. I've read much of the Bible, any even the racier parts are not graphic enough for any ratings board to grant it an "X-rating" (at least these days).
By the way, since you are using video games as a comparison, I'd say that the equivalent rating is probably "M" for Mature for some parts (though these days it might be "T" for Teen.)
Something fishy must have happened here...:-)
While I understand your point, I don't think the Bible deserves the "X-rating" that you speak of. I've read much of the Bible, any even the racier parts are not graphic enough for any ratings board to grant it an "X-rating" (at least these days).
By the way, since you are using video games as a comparison, I'd say that the equivalent rating is probably "M" for Mature for some parts (though these days it might be "T" for Teen.)
Something fishy must have happened here...:-)
These 'video games made me do it' escape clauses sound fishy to me. I suspect more often than not, bad and/or insufficient parenting is the chief cause. Many won't look into that mirror though as what it reflects is not what they want to see.
I am guessing that the next victim after video games will be the anime and manga culture, once it gets 'mainstream' and 'popular' enough.
These 'video games made me do it' escape clauses sound fishy to me. I suspect more often than not, bad and/or insufficient parenting is the chief cause. Many won't look into that mirror though as what it reflects is not what they want to see.
I am guessing that the next victim after video games will be the anime and manga culture, once it gets 'mainstream' and 'popular' enough.
We have a right to share opinions according to God's own message. But our message must resonate God's love for others. Its never about us anyway.
The Lord God knows who as His. Is anything to difficult for our God? Surely not, then we share His love that lives in us. His peace that He has brought us.
We have a right to share opinions according to God's own message. But our message must resonate God's love for others. Its never about us anyway.
The Lord God knows who as His. Is anything to difficult for our God? Surely not, then we share His love that lives in us. His peace that He has brought us.
While I do agree that blaming video games for violence can be a cop-out, my common sense tells me that when I spend hours and hours consumed in some activity, it will effect the way I think. I experienced this when I was involved with the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. After playing for many hours, I sometimes had to remind myself that I was back in reality. This can happen with video games as well. And especially when teenagers are going through the difficult adolescent period and trying learn how the world works and how they fit in it, video games can have a bad influence (in the same way TV can).
Back to the Bible - while there are many examples of murder and sex and backstabbing in the Bible, they are displayed in the context of right and wrong. When murder takes place, it is clear that it was not the right thing to do. If you read the Bible you will understand that.
In contrast, many of these games display murder and gratuitous sex to the point of promoting it as a lifestyle. To compare these types of games to the Bible is a very unfair comparison.
Displaying murder and gratuitous sex as the ultimate lifestyle is not what the Bible teaches - just the opposite.
There is a right and wrong in this world. It's defined by the One who created this world. And it's written in His word - the Bible.
Yes, the bible promotes more hatred and violence than any videogame I ever saw, and in fact has quite a few massacres and atrocities under it's belt, think: the crusades, witchburning, slayings at abortion clinics, violence toward gays, muslims and basically non christians, constitutional amendment due to pure redneckery, encouragement of ignorance instead of knowledge, faith instead of proof... I've yet to see a game that causes the genocide of millions of arabs (the crusades) or indigenous people (the invasion of the America's and their subsequent "conversion")
Saying games are more harmful than the bible is pure hypocrisy.
So just for the record, I don't care if you kneel and pray to your imaginary friend once in a while, that's your prerogative. Just don't expect me or anyone else to take what you or your I.F. say seriously.
The bible was written by men. Read through it one day, without the suspension of disbelief caused by blind, unquestioning faith and it will be obvious to you.
The Christian bible is all about gratuitous violence, sexual relations, and it even promotes incest.
Why would any god promote this book as his "word"? Would you be happy with this representing you, if you were a deity? Discussions about how daughters laid down with their fathers in order to become pregnant? The bible was written by men. It is therefore flawed and cannot represent the actual word of God. It is a collection of tales and stories written by people who didn?t have the advanced knowledge that we today have. In comparison, 2000 years from now, should someone look upon what we have written here, they will laugh because their knowledge will be far more advanced than ours.
Most of the major wars in the history of this planet were fought over religion. Were it not for religion, millions, if not billions of people would have lived much longer and probably much happier lives.
People always blame something, TV, Video Games, Music, Society, etc. None of this is to blame. The world today is no more violent than it was 150 years ago, and it's far less violent than it was 1000 years ago. The difference is that everyone hears about it on TV now. The only thing to blame, if there is anything to blame at all, would be the upbringing of the individual who caused the act of violence.
So, before you take up your crosses and threaten to burn down the software companies buildings, or crucify John Romero, remember that not everything you read in that book you hold so dear is accurate, or even true. And keep in mind that were it not for religion, it?s entirely possible that this world would be a much more peaceful place.
While I do agree that blaming video games for violence can be a cop-out, my common sense tells me that when I spend hours and hours consumed in some activity, it will effect the way I think. I experienced this when I was involved with the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. After playing for many hours, I sometimes had to remind myself that I was back in reality. This can happen with video games as well. And especially when teenagers are going through the difficult adolescent period and trying learn how the world works and how they fit in it, video games can have a bad influence (in the same way TV can).
Back to the Bible - while there are many examples of murder and sex and backstabbing in the Bible, they are displayed in the context of right and wrong. When murder takes place, it is clear that it was not the right thing to do. If you read the Bible you will understand that.
In contrast, many of these games display murder and gratuitous sex to the point of promoting it as a lifestyle. To compare these types of games to the Bible is a very unfair comparison.
Displaying murder and gratuitous sex as the ultimate lifestyle is not what the Bible teaches - just the opposite.
There is a right and wrong in this world. It's defined by the One who created this world. And it's written in His word - the Bible.
Yes, the bible promotes more hatred and violence than any videogame I ever saw, and in fact has quite a few massacres and atrocities under it's belt, think: the crusades, witchburning, slayings at abortion clinics, violence toward gays, muslims and basically non christians, constitutional amendment due to pure redneckery, encouragement of ignorance instead of knowledge, faith instead of proof... I've yet to see a game that causes the genocide of millions of arabs (the crusades) or indigenous people (the invasion of the America's and their subsequent "conversion")
Saying games are more harmful than the bible is pure hypocrisy.
So just for the record, I don't care if you kneel and pray to your imaginary friend once in a while, that's your prerogative. Just don't expect me or anyone else to take what you or your I.F. say seriously.
The bible was written by men. Read through it one day, without the suspension of disbelief caused by blind, unquestioning faith and it will be obvious to you.
The Christian bible is all about gratuitous violence, sexual relations, and it even promotes incest.
Why would any god promote this book as his "word"? Would you be happy with this representing you, if you were a deity? Discussions about how daughters laid down with their fathers in order to become pregnant? The bible was written by men. It is therefore flawed and cannot represent the actual word of God. It is a collection of tales and stories written by people who didn?t have the advanced knowledge that we today have. In comparison, 2000 years from now, should someone look upon what we have written here, they will laugh because their knowledge will be far more advanced than ours.
Most of the major wars in the history of this planet were fought over religion. Were it not for religion, millions, if not billions of people would have lived much longer and probably much happier lives.
People always blame something, TV, Video Games, Music, Society, etc. None of this is to blame. The world today is no more violent than it was 150 years ago, and it's far less violent than it was 1000 years ago. The difference is that everyone hears about it on TV now. The only thing to blame, if there is anything to blame at all, would be the upbringing of the individual who caused the act of violence.
So, before you take up your crosses and threaten to burn down the software companies buildings, or crucify John Romero, remember that not everything you read in that book you hold so dear is accurate, or even true. And keep in mind that were it not for religion, it?s entirely possible that this world would be a much more peaceful place.
You/We as a society as a whole - cannot hold a child accountable for their actions. Check the lawbooks folks. Should at least be able to hold their parents accountable for their actions - Yes! Of course we should be able to - because, the root blame falls to them. As it should. Know where your kids are and what their doing. Can you all of thime - NO! Should you continue to try (Like my parents did - and many others out there) - YES!!! It pays off.
But - Unchecked access to the types of violence, sex, etc that are out there - will pay off how???
Unfortunatly folks - We all need to care about this because it could be your kids that die. It could be one of these unchecked, unsupervised, un-parented kids that kills yours when he/she brings a gun to school. Is it just because these kids are borderline sociopathic - probably. But what will it be that puts them over the edge. How will they react when it happens. They will react as to how they were trained to. AND IF - it was the movies. tv and video games that "trained" them - because Mom & Dad are just kids themselves or Mom & Dad are just to busy to notice or care or whatever the reason, It doesn't matter why - you can bet they will react as to how they were "trained".
How do you react to things? To arguments? To bad drivers? Like your folks. What if they weren't around? Guess what - if they weren't around to "Train you up" - how would you be? How would you react to things? - WHAT DID YOU WATCH? WHAT DID YOU PLAY? WHO DID YOU HANG OUT WITH?
Better think about it.
You/We as a society as a whole - cannot hold a child accountable for their actions. Check the lawbooks folks. Should at least be able to hold their parents accountable for their actions - Yes! Of course we should be able to - because, the root blame falls to them. As it should. Know where your kids are and what their doing. Can you all of thime - NO! Should you continue to try (Like my parents did - and many others out there) - YES!!! It pays off.
But - Unchecked access to the types of violence, sex, etc that are out there - will pay off how???
Unfortunatly folks - We all need to care about this because it could be your kids that die. It could be one of these unchecked, unsupervised, un-parented kids that kills yours when he/she brings a gun to school. Is it just because these kids are borderline sociopathic - probably. But what will it be that puts them over the edge. How will they react when it happens. They will react as to how they were trained to. AND IF - it was the movies. tv and video games that "trained" them - because Mom & Dad are just kids themselves or Mom & Dad are just to busy to notice or care or whatever the reason, It doesn't matter why - you can bet they will react as to how they were "trained".
How do you react to things? To arguments? To bad drivers? Like your folks. What if they weren't around? Guess what - if they weren't around to "Train you up" - how would you be? How would you react to things? - WHAT DID YOU WATCH? WHAT DID YOU PLAY? WHO DID YOU HANG OUT WITH?
Better think about it.
Every parent is responsible for what his/her kid is doing. If you see your kid play a game/look at a movie/read a book that is not suitable for his age, it is YOUR responsibility to stop it from doing it until it is old enough to do so.
Our kids can only play games at his PC that we allow them to. I also placed the PC they can use to play in the living room, so it is always monitored. When they are old enough to determine for themselves what can and what cannot, then they can have a PC/TV to their room.
And even then, I too have played Doom/Duke Nukem/GTA3... and I still haven't killed any cop yet, and I don't feel the need to...
It's all depending on the values you give them. If you bring them up with respect for any living creature and property of others, then you can be pretty sure your kid will turn out alright. No shopkeeper will be able to provide that.
where the person who serves the liquor is responsible for the
drinker's conduct. When you come down to it, and this is
reflected in the current dram shop liability theory, it is the
consuming of the alcohol that casues the behavior, not selling it.
The approach you suggest has also been tried on cigarettes,
alcohol, guns and fast food. Under common law, which is how
our justice systems works, there is very little allowance for
vicarious liability.
The problems of enforcement would be a nightmarish intrusion
on our individual civil liberties. Do you want to make the 17 year
old kid behind the counter the arbiter of what you can and
cannot buy-see-plaz? Why stop at video games? Why not put a
password on the daily newspaper, so kids can't view "content"
that might be considered "harmful" by someone.
I agree the problem is parenting. I wouldn't go so far as to say
parents should be made ot pay - in criminal or tort liability.
The scariest part is how many people think they can dictate the
way other people live - because of religion or anything else -
and try to put people in jail who disagree. I wonder if the people
doing this realize, after they go after something they disagree
with, something else will come that up that "needs" to be
regulated, taxed, controlled of otherwise interfered with by the
government.
It is an endless battle. Unfortunately, coming out, publicly, in
support of something that is hyped as "helping chldren",
provides a great deal of publicity, which politicians love.
Every parent is responsible for what his/her kid is doing. If you see your kid play a game/look at a movie/read a book that is not suitable for his age, it is YOUR responsibility to stop it from doing it until it is old enough to do so.
Our kids can only play games at his PC that we allow them to. I also placed the PC they can use to play in the living room, so it is always monitored. When they are old enough to determine for themselves what can and what cannot, then they can have a PC/TV to their room.
And even then, I too have played Doom/Duke Nukem/GTA3... and I still haven't killed any cop yet, and I don't feel the need to...
It's all depending on the values you give them. If you bring them up with respect for any living creature and property of others, then you can be pretty sure your kid will turn out alright. No shopkeeper will be able to provide that.
where the person who serves the liquor is responsible for the
drinker's conduct. When you come down to it, and this is
reflected in the current dram shop liability theory, it is the
consuming of the alcohol that casues the behavior, not selling it.
The approach you suggest has also been tried on cigarettes,
alcohol, guns and fast food. Under common law, which is how
our justice systems works, there is very little allowance for
vicarious liability.
The problems of enforcement would be a nightmarish intrusion
on our individual civil liberties. Do you want to make the 17 year
old kid behind the counter the arbiter of what you can and
cannot buy-see-plaz? Why stop at video games? Why not put a
password on the daily newspaper, so kids can't view "content"
that might be considered "harmful" by someone.
I agree the problem is parenting. I wouldn't go so far as to say
parents should be made ot pay - in criminal or tort liability.
The scariest part is how many people think they can dictate the
way other people live - because of religion or anything else -
and try to put people in jail who disagree. I wonder if the people
doing this realize, after they go after something they disagree
with, something else will come that up that "needs" to be
regulated, taxed, controlled of otherwise interfered with by the
government.
It is an endless battle. Unfortunately, coming out, publicly, in
support of something that is hyped as "helping chldren",
provides a great deal of publicity, which politicians love.
A culture coarsens or unifies according to many many forces at work in a given time period, a phenomemon sometimes called the zeitgeist. Today it is games and a decade ago, it was the appearance of increasing amounts of so-called pornographic content in prime time television. The effects of that one have yet to be analyzed but I think anyone can make any case they want to based purely on a single incident.
As to those responses telling you you should read the Bible, they should too. Should we still be allowed polygamy or slavery, both practices in ancient times and described in the Bible? As a historical document, the Bible has been both accurate and inaccurate as far as archaeological evidence has shown. Even the well known cases are disputed. As an article for faith, it is above reproach because we cannot prove or disprove articles of faith.
I suspect the same will be and can be said about the effects of games, but again, judges will decide case by case. There is no single sine qua non for this cultural phenomenon.
A culture coarsens or unifies according to many many forces at work in a given time period, a phenomemon sometimes called the zeitgeist. Today it is games and a decade ago, it was the appearance of increasing amounts of so-called pornographic content in prime time television. The effects of that one have yet to be analyzed but I think anyone can make any case they want to based purely on a single incident.
As to those responses telling you you should read the Bible, they should too. Should we still be allowed polygamy or slavery, both practices in ancient times and described in the Bible? As a historical document, the Bible has been both accurate and inaccurate as far as archaeological evidence has shown. Even the well known cases are disputed. As an article for faith, it is above reproach because we cannot prove or disprove articles of faith.
I suspect the same will be and can be said about the effects of games, but again, judges will decide case by case. There is no single sine qua non for this cultural phenomenon.
I myself am a Christian. I believe that a large portion of human behavior is taught; or more specifically, behavior stems from our perceived experiences. Think of the boy that grows up without a strong father figure. Without doubt there will be certain parts of his personality that are influenced by the example of the female authority figure (example) in his life. Having said that, I believe God has given us the capacity to differentiate between good and evil, between fantasy and reality. Therefore, I do not believe should be any more or any less surprising that the alleged BTK killer was a church going man, and even in a leadership position at his church. At the core of it, I believe he has the same mental defect that causes any other serial killer, whether allegedly influenced by games or whatever other medium, to disconnect fantasy from reality and making the decision to kill. I believe we as Christians need to distance ourselves from games, books or movies that promote gratuitous violence or sex, not for fear of becoming serial killers, but because we know it to be against what the Bible teaches us, and what we believe to be true. And not to react with hatred or insult, ever, if someone chooses differently.
- Hate, Defensiveness not the answer
- by March 18, 2005 7:49 AM PST
- Clearly the writer of the article is entitled to his opinion. I do not believe that responding in anger or hate does the "Christian" (read: those who believe the Bible) cause any good.
- Like this Reply to this comment
-
Showing 1 of 6 pages (298 Comments)I myself am a Christian. I believe that a large portion of human behavior is taught; or more specifically, behavior stems from our perceived experiences. Think of the boy that grows up without a strong father figure. Without doubt there will be certain parts of his personality that are influenced by the example of the female authority figure (example) in his life. Having said that, I believe God has given us the capacity to differentiate between good and evil, between fantasy and reality. Therefore, I do not believe should be any more or any less surprising that the alleged BTK killer was a church going man, and even in a leadership position at his church. At the core of it, I believe he has the same mental defect that causes any other serial killer, whether allegedly influenced by games or whatever other medium, to disconnect fantasy from reality and making the decision to kill. I believe we as Christians need to distance ourselves from games, books or movies that promote gratuitous violence or sex, not for fear of becoming serial killers, but because we know it to be against what the Bible teaches us, and what we believe to be true. And not to react with hatred or insult, ever, if someone chooses differently.