In a Friday Reuters story about the preliminary approval of a California bill banning the sale of violent video games to minors, the bill's author compares the sale of violent video games to the sale of adult items like pornography.
"For the same reason we don't allow kids to buy pornography, cigarettes or alcohol, we shouldn't allow them to go to stores and buy video games that teach them to do the very things we put people in jail for," said Democratic Assemblyman Leland Yee, a child psychologist. He cited specific scenarios from video games, including children "abusing women, joining street gangs, killing police officers or even assassinating President Kennedy."
It is naïve to think, that just because YOU have played video games for 20 years there are no adverse affects to playing them.
You do not represent a population of which we can draw any conclusions from. Youd need to do the appropriate research and control for any outside factors, that would skew the results IE: Violence is more likely associated with economic conditions, and education, so you would need to use populations with similar backgrounds.
If thats too much statistics for you, consider this;
I could drink socially for 20 years. I could drink a case of beer every night before going to bed, and never drive drunk, never do anything that would get me in trouble (IE: run nekked around the yard screaming, or drive my car into a tree).
Yet, its logical to think that people who drink, are more likely to drive drunk, then people who dont. Right?
So, just because You or I never drove drunk or acted irresponsibly is no evidence one way or the other that drinking does or doesnt lead to that kind of behavior.
I think one thing to consider, is that it may be a contributing factor to behavior. I am not convinced 100% one way or the other, but I know if someone for instance taught me to hate a person of a certain skin tone from the age of 3, and then had me take part in a variety of excercises designed to indoctrinate me into that belief, then it would be possible that would contribute to a racist attitude on my part.
I do not need a statistical study to know that. I just cant tell you how likely it is, because I have no statistical evidence. I do know its possible.
So if you play games, that encourage you to a certain type of behavior in a formative stage in your life, it may indeed lead to an attitude towards violence. I just cant tell you how many it affects.
Psychology textbooks do tend to say there is a connection between violent video games and violent behavior, but I'm pretty sure the bulk of studies on the subject have really only definitively indicated a correlation between these two factors. Anyone who has had a single psychology class, or most science classes for that matter, should understand that showing a correlation does prove that one is a causal factor of the other. It only proves that there is some sort of relationship; it does not even imply that the relationship is direct.
So, yes, it is necessary to keep an open mind on this issue. I think you hit the nail on the head; despite all the studies, this issue has not been adequately studied, and other potential causal factors have not been eliminated.
Of course, the problem is that any truly definitive study on this subject would take a very long time to complete, like many medical studies, and thus, it leaves everyone with the question of what to do in the meantime. But it seems to me little is accomplished with the type of knee-jerk reactions this subject always seems to bring up.
violent people also like violent games. That is not the same as saying violent games CAUSE violent people. But, kids who do take an excessiveinterest in violent games may need to be watched to make sure that they can distinguish games from reality.
On the other hand, I do get the impression that too many games become addictive to adolescents, and essentially interfere with their transition to adulthood. We may not see the actual cost of some of these games for another twenty years.
There is also the possible point that any computer game which creates a major emotional response to criticism is already a distubing influence in a person's life. Another link to psychologicaal addiction perhaps?
if you cant teach your kid its wrong to kill and have them understand tv /games arent real ...then sterilize yourself ...QUICKLY !!! help is on the way ..911 .." hello , operator , * yes ? * im insane and i just killed some guy cuz i played to many violent games and i need help !!* ok sir , johnny cochran is on his way , oh wait he's dead too * "
I'm an avid gamer, but I'm all for this bill. It's painfully clear that parents simply aren't doing their jobs these days, which means that someone has to.
Sad, though, that they actually had a valid argument when they likened violent video games to violent movies, the way it should be. But putting it up there with porn is a bit of a stretch.
I'm not really against any of these bills restricting sale of mature-rated games to minors, but it does feel like a knee-jerk scapegoating reaction. Are these bills really about the kids, or are they about the politicians who want to be seen as doing something about a publicly visible problem?
I see two equally disquieting scenarios: one, this is just politics as usual, and politicians are just avoiding dealing with the real complexities of this issue, or two, they really believe that violent video games have so much of an impact that bills like this will have a significant impact on the problem. The second scenario disturbs me because it means that they are overlooking other causal factors and delaying any real effective action on this issue due to ignorance.
No, it couldn't be any of the other things that have been changing in our complex societial transition to the information age, could it? It has nothing to do with society's attempts to adapt to all of the changes that have been occuring over the last several decades; it's only one cause. Because we have violent video games, kids are killing each other.
It's just way too simple an explanation, and that's what worries me about this debate. These people want to treat a symptom rather than deal with the complicated issues of trying to treat the disease.
If they want to pass this bill and actually begin looking in real solutions afterward, then I'd support on that basis. My fear is they'll pass this bill and just wait for the next highly publicized tragedy before trying to do anything else, and then, they'll just find another scapegoat. It seems to be the general pattern of things.
I don't think anyone should be denied acces to video games
Out lawing sells of video games is for one, a violation of the first ammendment, and two pointless. If you have fifty dollors for a video game you are eigher 16 and is working or, not working and your parents are buying it for you. In which case they should think to them selves that "hmm this game is named after a violent crime. Do I realy want to give this to my six year old son?"
Video games like grand theft auto are not responsible for crimes commeded by people who have played them. Anyone who has blamed their actions on them are just trying to get themselves out of trouble. Let's put it this way, if you had a choice between going to prison for 80 years or telling everyone "it's the evil video game makers fault, let's sue them" which would you choose?
If we ban grand theft auto for being violent, then sports like football should be banned that too, let's have police officers walk around the park all day telling little kids they can't play football unless your 18 or older, and completly ingore every other problem in the world.
I agree we should ban violent video games. More kids now are playing it and there's a new generation coming.
The MIND is a serious matter. Visual effects sticks into your conciousness and a person can become numb from watching violence. This applies to any form of violence and pornography.
Take it from my experience. I'm only 25, but there are just things that I watched that seeps through my head that I now consider very wrong.
We should put good stuff into our kids' minds. Its priceless. dont opt for garbage.
Video games are bad. Well, do you want queer kids or real kids?
"or even assassinating President Kennedy".
well, I seriously believe its impossible to assassinate somebody twice. And by the way, video games do not cause violence. Little boys are supposed to play dirty and rough. The reason why so much of this violence occurs, is the lack of parental control with their own children. Children are supposed to have a sorta "fear" of Mom and Dad. This "fear" kept me and my brother out of trouble, and we played bloody gorey war games, shoot'em up games, and GTA series games. But, if you dont like them playing video games, then let me suggest letting them have barbies, and let's see how they turn out.
ok ,video game violent dosent aplly to all of you, majority of us know , that we cant do this stuff in real life or wuth get in major trouble but some people dosent understand that and think they can do stuff like gta ,kill people etc
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Last time I checked there was no conclusive scientific evidence that "violent" games cause actual violence or any behavioral deviations.
I've played "violent" games ever since my childhood (for 20-odd years now) and have never started a (real) fight in my life.
Some people just have problems...video games are not the reason that people do bad things.
It is naïve to think, that just because YOU have played video games for 20 years there are no adverse affects to playing them.
You do not represent a population of which we can draw any conclusions from. Youd need to do the appropriate research and control for any outside factors, that would skew the results IE: Violence is more likely associated with economic conditions, and education, so you would need to use populations with similar backgrounds.
If thats too much statistics for you, consider this;
I could drink socially for 20 years. I could drink a case of beer every night before going to bed, and never drive drunk, never do anything that would get me in trouble (IE: run nekked around the yard screaming, or drive my car into a tree).
Yet, its logical to think that people who drink, are more likely to drive drunk, then people who dont. Right?
So, just because You or I never drove drunk or acted irresponsibly is no evidence one way or the other that drinking does or doesnt lead to that kind of behavior.
I think one thing to consider, is that it may be a contributing factor to behavior. I am not convinced 100% one way or the other, but I know if someone for instance taught me to hate a person of a certain skin tone from the age of 3, and then had me take part in a variety of excercises designed to indoctrinate me into that belief, then it would be possible that would contribute to a racist attitude on my part.
I do not need a statistical study to know that. I just cant tell you how likely it is, because I have no statistical evidence. I do know its possible.
So if you play games, that encourage you to a certain type of behavior in a formative stage in your life, it may indeed lead to an attitude towards violence. I just cant tell you how many it affects.
So, yes, it is necessary to keep an open mind on this issue. I think you hit the nail on the head; despite all the studies, this issue has not been adequately studied, and other potential causal factors have not been eliminated.
Of course, the problem is that any truly definitive study on this subject would take a very long time to complete, like many medical studies, and thus, it leaves everyone with the question of what to do in the meantime. But it seems to me little is accomplished with the type of knee-jerk reactions this subject always seems to bring up.
saying violent games CAUSE violent people. But, kids who do
take an excessiveinterest in violent games may need to be
watched to make sure that they can distinguish games from
reality.
On the other hand, I do get the impression that too many games
become addictive to adolescents, and essentially interfere with
their transition to adulthood. We may not see the actual cost of
some of these games for another twenty years.
There is also the possible point that any computer game which
creates a major emotional response to criticism is already a
distubing influence in a person's life. Another link to
psychologicaal addiction perhaps?
Sad, though, that they actually had a valid argument when they likened violent video games to violent movies, the way it should be. But putting it up there with porn is a bit of a stretch.
I'm not really against any of these bills restricting sale of mature-rated games to minors, but it does feel like a knee-jerk scapegoating reaction. Are these bills really about the kids, or are they about the politicians who want to be seen as doing something about a publicly visible problem?
I see two equally disquieting scenarios: one, this is just politics as usual, and politicians are just avoiding dealing with the real complexities of this issue, or two, they really believe that violent video games have so much of an impact that bills like this will have a significant impact on the problem. The second scenario disturbs me because it means that they are overlooking other causal factors and delaying any real effective action on this issue due to ignorance.
No, it couldn't be any of the other things that have been changing in our complex societial transition to the information age, could it? It has nothing to do with society's attempts to adapt to all of the changes that have been occuring over the last several decades; it's only one cause. Because we have violent video games, kids are killing each other.
It's just way too simple an explanation, and that's what worries me about this debate. These people want to treat a symptom rather than deal with the complicated issues of trying to treat the disease.
If they want to pass this bill and actually begin looking in real solutions afterward, then I'd support on that basis. My fear is they'll pass this bill and just wait for the next highly publicized tragedy before trying to do anything else, and then, they'll just find another scapegoat. It seems to be the general pattern of things.
Video games like grand theft auto are not responsible for crimes commeded by people who have played them. Anyone who has blamed their actions on them are just trying to get themselves out of trouble. Let's put it this way, if you had a choice between going to prison for 80 years or telling everyone "it's the evil video game makers fault, let's sue them" which would you choose?
If we ban grand theft auto for being violent, then sports like football should be banned that too, let's have police officers walk around the park all day telling little kids they can't play football unless your 18 or older, and completly ingore every other problem in the world.
The MIND is a serious matter. Visual effects sticks into your conciousness and a person can become numb from watching violence. This applies to any form of violence and pornography.
Take it from my experience. I'm only 25, but there are just things that I watched that seeps through my head that I now consider very wrong.
We should put good stuff into our kids' minds. Its priceless. dont opt for garbage.
well, I seriously believe its impossible to assassinate somebody twice. And by the way, video games do not cause violence. Little boys are supposed to play dirty and rough. The reason why so much of this violence occurs, is the lack of parental control with their own children. Children are supposed to have a sorta "fear" of Mom and Dad. This "fear" kept me and my brother out of trouble, and we played bloody gorey war games, shoot'em up games, and GTA series games. But, if you dont like them playing video games, then let me suggest letting them have barbies, and let's see how they turn out.