Video Game Violence?

Max Shade IV

Max Shade IV

Pokémon Collector
Member
I'm writing my senior thesis on the impact of violent video games on children and teens. My teacher has given me permission to use the opinions of PokéBeach Forums members, so please discuss whether or not video games provoke violence in children and teenagers and feel free to begin arguements and debates.

-Max Shade IV: Over and Out.
 
Our teacher asked us this: Do you think violence in games makes people more violent? 1 out of 26 said yes. Then he asked: Do you think Violence in games make the ODD person more violent? Everyone raised their hand. Yeah so I think Violence in games influences the odd person.
 
Ok, look at the facts:
- Consoles cost a lot of money (PS3...), new controllers cost a lot of money, games cost a lot of money, GTA is often blamed, GTA costs a lot of money, a decent TV costs a lot of money, everything gaming-related costs a lot of money. Let's face it, gamers are snobs, spoiled little brats, no-lives.
- Most robberies and murders are by people who don't have the money to feed their girlfriend and 5 little accidents, let alone buy a PS3 and GTA.

Sure, there's those weirdos at Columbine, but those are very rare and I'm pretty sure people like that would start killing even if they didn't play games like that. I believe the guy from VT played Mario, yet he did not throw fireballs at his school.

The media is trying to find a scapegoat, blaming video games is so much easier than blaming the legality of guns or the lack of social security, because most gamers who would supposedly get affected are under-aged anyways, therefor they cannot vote. But the rich dude with his gun collection who sees his son's pocket money go to that expensive piece of metal over there, he's gonna want an excuse to take away the kid's toy and get him to study.

The matter of fact is that this is just another way the media is trying to make you afraid of everything; Fear sells. If anything, this is like terrorism, airplane-crashes and wild bears, the chances of it actually affecting you are so very small, yet we still fear them. But let's smoke another cigarette and ignore another red light or two when heading to the bar to drink a few beers.
 
"Violence in video games" is not the problem. It's what they stimulate is what the problem is. If you spend hours a day playing an intense, gorey, and everything else that means killing and or murder don't you think at one point your brain will become wired to be want that stuff? In other words, you will become addicted to the stimulation. Your mind will long for the sense of thrill and adrenaline (or simply the pleasure) of blowing up and killing things. Playing violent video games isn't going to turn you into a murderous thug but it can't be denied that prolonged exposure to such stimuli would cause and addiction. Thus, causing a desire to satisfy the urge by simulating it in real life (though that is a bit of a stretch).
 
This topic ticks me off more than anything. As far as I'm concerned, parents just blame violence on innocent sources. For instance, if a child is very violent and just so happens that he owns a copy of Grand Theft Auto, the parents automatically assume that the violence came from GTA. For all we know, that kid could just be naturally violent. Even if GTA made him violent, the parents were the people stupid enough to buy the game for him! Same goes for watch show/movies that are inappropriate for children. In my opinion, violent video games are an outlet for violent people.
 
And right after GTA IV...

Basically what Spoon said. People will say anything as long as they don't get blamed when they should be. Violence does not stem from playing violent video games; it's from either parent abuse or some other external factor.

dmaster out.
 
I think that such a subject as whether violence in games has any impact on teens and children should judged on a case by case basis. Some people, particularly those in the lower age ranges, can be very impressionable, but that's not to say that everyone who constantly plays violent video games will emulate what they see in said games. It's all about how impressionable a personality the person has.

Still, kids and teens are very susceptible to being copycats; that's how they learn. Best to err on the side of caution and just ensure that they don't play games with mature content.
 
Kids who are naturally violent are more likely to enjoy playing video games with graphic violence. If a kid is completely terrified of anything that involves blood, guns, and such, they won't play violent games. Due to this, video games are frequently blamed for violence in children, but it's not a direct cause. Video games with graphic violence might encourage someone who is naturally violent not to use common sense, however. Please remember that all of this is just IMHO.
 
Ok, when it comes to this subject, if you really think its a games fault for any kind of violence then your just like everyone else that has to have something else to blame.

See there is this thing out there that just happens to lable a game for a selected age type. So say you bought your kid GTA IV and the next day he kills his best friend (In this case your kids already a lost cause) are you going to blame the game? You prob. will, when even if that was to be the case who let there child play it?

Kids are indeed influenced (at a young age) by many things, but a child for the most part should know better then to react these things. Maybe if your playing with some friends and playing pretend and stuff... I grew up on games, I myself played GTA, Shooters, MANHUNT, Nintendo games, and so on. Never have I reacted anything from those games involving violence.

Dont forget there are other gamers out there that are 17+
Gaming isn't limited only to little kids, it has been growing for years now leading to serious competitions in some places.
Parents just seem unable to tell there kids "Your not old enough to play that" or my favorite "That game is to violent for you, I dont want you to grow up to be a killer"

We older gamers of today have grown up fine with games (those of us that play) so what makes the kids of today have any more troble then we did. The violence comes because of what happens in their real life. School bully, abusive parents, etc...





On another note, I read someone post all gamers are stuck up mama's boys or something on that note..
How fair is that? I am considerate to the people around me, and have done alot to help out others. My mom did not get me my 360, I saved up money to get it. Then I saved up for my Husky because I love dogs (animals in general), and am now saving for a PS3... Even now I dont change my tone torwards you, (Ha! Told you games dont bring out someones violence lol) I just dont think that was a fair statement you made. I may only be 20 but I worked for what I have, and never hold myself higher to anyone. Im not self centered.
Also, there are alot of gamers (Then again people in general) that are just really dissrespectful to anyone outside there group. Trying to show off and be tuff for there friends. But living in America that is no surprize in the least....
 
How about this:

If we're blaming video game comapnies for teen violence, we should be blaming automobile industries for car accidents.
You can't blame a car accident on the maker of the vehicle, you blame it on the people who were driving carelessly or not paying attention. Similarily, you wouldn't blame the video game, you'd blame the teenager that misinterpreted the video game and confused it with real life.

Plus, I don't know about you guys, but to me it doesn't seem like a person would go shoot up a school just because they've done it in video games. I feel people would have much different motives than "I've done it in a video game before".

[ChanseyMaster]
 
I hate this c-r-a-p. People always blame Video Games. I`m thirteen. REPEAT 13 THIRTEEN!! And I'm not allowed outside because of the way the world is. They try to hide "certain information" from me, but I KNOW IT ALL!! They just don't acknowlege it. I don`t tell them. I see this stuff on the news all the time. Am I allowed to watch the News? NO!! I am expected to be clean in the mind. I have no intensions of breaking the law. Why can`t I play M games? BECAUSE OF SITUATIONS LIKE THIS!! Why can`t people tell the difference between real and fake? I definitley can. All the knowledge of *stuff* including the news, I know about. I tire of being held inside the house. I get bored. The news only shows the bad stuff in the world. Oh, there was a killing. Oh, someone was stabbed. oh SHUT UP!! Obey the law. Its simple. Don`t kill. Simple right? You know how to do it, right? With this knowlege you know not to do it right? I`m not allowed to play M games watch, TV 14 or above, because of certain content. In other words how a baby`s made or the kind of people out there and what they`ll do. Come on! I already know this stuff. Let me outside. NO!! Why? BECAUSE OF THE CRAZY PEOPLE OUT THERE!! I know already, not to talk to anybody I don`t know. I'm not going to do anything. I have extremely negative feelings towards drugs, alchohaul, and cigarettes. I AM NEVER GOING TO USE ANY OF THOSE THINGS!! Most of my life has been indoors. Alone with my parents and five year old sister. I want to go outside. Play sports or something active. I am in great physical condition. What do they tell me? They say I'll get killed by people like this. I want to have fun. ITS MY LIFE AND ITS NOW OR NEVER!! I ain't gonna live FOREVER!! I just wanna live while I`m alive. ITS MY LIFE! My heart is like an open highway. Like Frankie said I DID THINGS MY WAY!! I just wanna live while I`m alive. Its my life. From the song Its my life.

Sorry, I`ve gotten obssesed with this song. I know its old. 0_o
 
Okay, the way I see it is that only if the player has a very weak, manipulatible mind, and only if they can't tell between reality and fiction. In which, they would only be able to mimic the game's scenes as they can't realise what's happening isn't the game. The same idea goes for those guys who think they're religious figures who need to save people, or movie characters, etc. This is just a lame excuse to attempt to override and dominate the child's life. I think. Not sure about that last part.
 
I was 6 when I got my first M rated game and I don`t do crimes and stuff like that.
 
People blame Video games because they are afraid to confront the real truths, and use it as a scapegoat. They blamed for all manner of things, including child obesity, knife crime, and England losing the World Cup (believe it).

But the truth is that most of these issues stem from bad parents. Child obesity? Feed your kid healthy food. Knife crime? Gosh, you aren't a good role model. England losing the world cup? Football has become ridiculously competitive over the years, the joy of playing has been sucked out.

I also blame the government. More mature members from the UK will probably side with me when I say this- the whole, entire system of "new labour" is absolutely pathetic. Many parents live in a benefits culture (in other words, living off of state handouts), and the whole thing has become so easy that more and more families are deciding not to work, because the working class families get screwed over so much. Kids follow their parents, it's a natural thing to do, so if the parents are lazy then it is highly likely the kids will follow in their footsteps. And lo behold, if kids don't have these good role models, then crime is only natural.

That is not, however, saying that I totally approve of all video games, nor do I like the idea of kids going on 8-hour gaming binges. However, the problems of the games themselves are so eclipsed by bad parenting and our inept government that I really couldn't care less about what gets released now. It's that bad.
 
Yeah. What he said.

I`m not even allowed outside. I can`t play video games too often, because of school. No games on school days and I get grounded A LOT. I don`t do anything bad. I lucky I`m still in good condition. I want to go outside so bad. I`m limited to things TV 14 and above and I can`t play M games. I`m 13. Turboblast was six when he got his M game. He turned out fine. I can definitely tell the difference berween real and fake. Let me go outside already.
 
video game violence is not responsible for who kids grow up to be, instead they should have the common sense to not grow up to become evil or corrupted. Some video games are not loved for their violence or bad things, GTA for example is loved for the amount of freedom you get.
 
wow you guys sure hit on gta alot i mean im 14 and i play gta4 sa and the older titles and you know what i actually know whats fiction from non as of some people who want to repeat stuff in real life like they do in gta ,for example in gta when a cop comes up to you when you have one star you have a choice stay and get busted or break away and spree now think wich seems more real ... staying and getting busted of course cuz i know for a fact that you wont go 2 inches if you try to run there just no way on earth that could happen,so really if you know that you cant repeat or you have the brain not to it should seem okay if you wabt to play i mean who woudnt want to be in a open world game doing what ever you want like racing seeing secret areas or spoofs of certain companys,anyone ??

Spoon: The funny thing about a language is that there are a certain amount of rules which you must try to follow if you wish to type in this language. These rules are called "spelling and grammar", it is advised that you learn these rules and apply them to your future posts.
 
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