Do Video Games Inspire Violence?

Posted on January 1st, 2006 by Christine.
Categories: Sports Fanatics.

Based on the fact that Christopher is dying to get his hands on an X-Box 360, and we all know how incredibly violent Christopher can be… I started to wonder if there’s any truth to this whole concept that video games inspire violence in kids (Christopher may be 28, but he has the mentality of a 12 year old).

I’m not a video game player per se. I haven’t really been proficient at a video game since Ms. Pac-Man came out on Atari and Tetris (the black and white version) emerged on my very first Apple computer. But I have seen the popular games in recent years– Grand Theft Auto, Mortal Kombat, and Doom… and I have to say, they’re pretty fucking bloody. But does it encourage violence?

And are they really more violent than their forerunners… or are they just more graphic, so the violence seems more realistic? And does that matter? Does more graphic violence inspire real-life violence over poorly visualized graphics?

The theory has been tested in American courts several times… after the Columbine shootings, people tried to blame violent video games as a cause… but the case was dismissed, like many others. Is it even possible for an obsession with a video game to manifest itself to the point that a child becomes a killer because of it? Or is it one more thing for parents to blame (instead of themselves) when they fail miserably and their children go on a killing spree?

My opinion on this is that we (all of us) are a product of our culture… which is a combination of what we learn from our parents, other role models, school, video games, movies, television, music… basically everything we are exposed to when growing up. Now, ideally… what we learn from parents, teachers, church, etc. should outweigh all else, but there is a growing number of children who are being raised by television and video games because their parents simply don’t want to put in the time. A friend of mine (who is not a good parent by any stretch of the imagination) bought her 4-year-old an X-box and loved it when he would go into his room and play for hours as long as he left her alone. Now… is that the best situation for a child? To have his formative years monopolized by repetitive violence portrayed as a “game” with very little human interaction with adults, his parents, or children his own age? The kid can get to level 12 of Harry Potter, but he couldn’t tie his own shoes. Is that good? Probably not. Will it make him a killer? I doubt it.

So far, no one has been able to prove a direct link between video game violence and real-life violence… yet child-on-child violence has skyrocketed since the first video game was released. It’s no secret that children do mimic what they see as a way of developing their own behavioral patterns… and I can definitely see how sitting alone for hours playing a video game could prevent the development of socialization skills that going outside and trying to build a fort with your friends might provide. But I think it all comes back to the parents. If video game play is limited to a reasonable amount of time, other activities are encouraged, and it is reinforced that violent behavior is unacceptable, children will still end up well-rounded. Hrmmm… so maybe I need to have a talk with Christopher’s parents.

20 comments.

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aJ the Zen Master penned this

My first instict was to dismiss video games as the cause but on further thought I realised
that anything can be a trigger. A video game, an animation movie/cartoon, they all can inspire violence, _if_ violence does have an effect on the psyche.
Just blaming such factors is looking short. Many more factors like the childhood, growing up environment etc have to be taken into account since they all affect the behavior.

January 1st, 2006

Haas the Addict thought this

I had a similar discussion with pals of mine but that was wrt Wrestling and wrote this. I agree that Games have gotten voilent and for a fact voilence sells and it sells big. There was one recent study that showed that kids learn faster when they play games(something about a specific part of the brain picking up signals much better during gameplay). Voilence plus open access to the brain may sound really bad but it does not necessarily work that way. Frankly like my article said about Wrestling, these games might just satisfy the kids need for voilence(if they need it, ie) and make them better citizens as they might frag their anger on UT rather than on the road.

January 2nd, 2006

Christopher the Pyro thought this

I can’t imagine that Video Games inspire any more violence then everyday dealings with women, their everyday bullshit.

January 2nd, 2006

Ben the Kingpin asserted

Is it just me or is Christopher sounding more and more like he’s planning to migrate to the “other side” sometime soon? I mean, I may find women someone odd at times, but I adore the living daylights out of them and find that it makes me ache for them even more every time I have to deal with them.
As for the topic, it is human nature to be violent. It is silly just as silly to try to eliminate it as it is to cater to it.

January 2nd, 2006

Christine the Lioness stated

Lately, I’ve met several men who seem to be like Ben. They really adore women and seem to find female nuances quirky and cute. Christopher is definitely not one of those guys. I’ve said all along that he has a deep hate for women in general and particularly for me when I am “acting like a typical woman.”

I, on the other hand, love men… everything about them: how they talk, how they think, the way they look… although I gave up trying to understand them a long time ago… if I had the choice, I’d surround myself with men over women all day, every day. As far as going to the other side… I don’t think that’s in the cards for Christopher… at least not in this lifetime

January 2nd, 2006

aJ the Zen Master penned this

I’m with ya on that Ben.
They might be a mystery and difficult to understand but you just can’t stop loving ‘em

January 2nd, 2006

Christine the Lioness asserted

Ahhhh… boys.

January 2nd, 2006

Christine 2 the Mercenary asserted

Yea and what’s up with that mom that was upset because of the boobies in Grand Theft Auto. Not only do you have to go out of your way to get it, and obviously she wasn’t paying attention, But she is upset that while her kid is stealing cars, killing citizens and police, and picking up hookers, that he might see a boob?! Talk about ridiculous priorities. haha

January 2nd, 2006

Christopher the Pyro up'n wrote this

Come on guys.. I love pussy but sometimes the insane woman attached to that pussy can push me to the edge.

January 3rd, 2006

Christine the Lioness penned this

See… he still doesn’t get it. They aren’t talking about pussy, Christopher. I think he is hopeless. But it’s still nice to know that there are guys out there who think we’re adorable instead of just crazy.

January 3rd, 2006

Mara the Peacemaker chimed in with

Is Grand Theft Auto the game that allows the player to rape women? Or is that an urban legend/myth?

January 3rd, 2006

Christopher the Pyro spake, and sayeth

If it doesn’t it should.. it would be much better to get those tendencies out during a video game session then during movie night with Christine… as for finding women adorable.. ya i guess I just don’t get it, insanity just isn’t that adorable to me.. in patches it can be… but long substained periods of extreme insantiy is what it is.. madness.

January 3rd, 2006

Mara the Peacemaker scribbled

That’s more than a tad disturbing — the rape in the video game that is. My boyfriend has a couple of games that have pretty graphic sex scenes but they aren’t rated for children either.
As for INSPIRING violence, that’s an interesting question. It’s a bit like the chicken or the egg one — which came first? Did the video game inspire the violence or does it only allow us to confront the violent nature we already have inside? I don’t know. One has to admit that inventing games where people are murdered as a form of entertainment is a little twisted.

January 3rd, 2006

Christopher the Pyro scribbled

Grand Theft Auto has a Mature 17 rating, children shoudl not be playing it… if they are their parents are fuckups.

January 3rd, 2006

Haas the Addict commented

Its surprizing how often kids get access to Mature 17 or over games, but I guess its rare that some parent might have given it as a Chrismas gift. Maybe parents should try and monitor their kids but frankly they cant be everywhere.
As for girls being adoreable well got to disagree with Christopher’s point of view. Come on dude they are a bit insane but hey dont we love them coz of that

January 3rd, 2006

azg the Virgin got all philosophical

There is no raping in GTA (Grand Theft Auto). You do increase your power buy having sex with hookers but there is no raping. You can also mug them after to get your money back.
Whether video games cause people to act out violence in real life is personal opinion and there is no right or wrong. I personal do not think they do.
By the way, I have an Xbox 360 and it Rocks! Call of Duty 2 is a must have.

January 3rd, 2006

Christine 2 the Mercenary mentioned

Exactly…GTA is a mature game. I just think it’s ridiculous that the one thing that mother chose to make a big deal about was the NUDITY! I mean c’mon…the nudity is the last thing she needs to worry about her kid seeing if he is too young for the game. If he isn’t old enough to see boobies, (which he probably does all the time anyway) then maybe she shouldn’t let him play a game where the main objective is breaking laws, killing people, and mugging hookers. haha. I think that’s funny though. That game does kick ass however. Ya’ll remember the part in Duke Nukem in the adult theater where he sings “bad to the bone” on the stage mic? haha again.

January 4th, 2006

Christopher the Pyro chimed in with

I think seeing “boobies” is probably healthy for any male child older then 12… so Christine 2, I agree with you.. the woman needs to get her priorities straight.

January 4th, 2006

Keith the Director commented

Video games don’t inspire violence, dullass fucktards with nothing better to do than bitch and blame soemthing other than failed parenting skills inspires violence. You know something else that doesn’t inspire viloence; lyrics in music, t.v., and action movies. The asshole parents who let their underage children watch said shows, movies, and listen to music with violence without the know how to explain to their children it’s all entertainment should have no buisness being parents. The rating system for movies and t.v were made for a reason. Adhere to those age levels or watch and explain situations with them. Alsoif a cd has parental advisory explicit lyrics stickers on them…what the hel do you think that child is going to hear and repeat off those songs. It’s a shame you need to have a liscense of some sort or another and pass a test of some degree to earn anything in this life, but any retard can have a baby with no one to stop them!

March 1st, 2006

up'n wrote this