are videogames leading to homicide?

[FlashCridic1124]

I say no, politicians say yes, crazy people do, and normal people use that as an excuse in court.

[TheBoyOfAges]

There are instances where if some kid saw something cool in a game they may want to try it like a move from a fighting game but yeah; a game wont tell you to go out and find a ray gun to blast some guy. Only if that person really had it up to the point of no return games just give port rails of killing not the advocation.

[cHunter]

Sadly, people don't like taking responsibility for their actions these days and so they blame a scapegoat. In this case, video games. Games don't make someone homicidal, a fucked up youth does.

[KeithHybrid]

Before video games, it was television, and before that, it was rock music, and before that, movies.

Seeing a pattern?

[robattle]

They don't know the difference beteew reallity and video games, that's why some people copy things from games (like shooting people).

[Sistine1408]

Unfortunatley, when it comes right down to it, no one can be blamed but the stupid parents. Video games don't cause shit, but parents don't tell kids that it's wrong to jam a shard of glass into someone's eye because they checked out your girl.

[AceAzzKicker]

I agree this is where the esrb comes into the picture I hate how some parents dont care. My neighbor has a five year old and she lets him have any game he want Shit she probably wouldnt even care if the game had nudity. The ratings are there for a reason to keep People like kids the age of five from playing a game like lets say Halo for example.

[TheBoyOfAges]

Yes many of us including parents know about the ratings but some that know about it just don't care because its just a game. Games are just part of the idea; its just not it there are too many variables in a kid's physiological growth that will lead them to act out from just smacking a guy for calling him a dumb ass or holding it in to the point of getting a gun and ending it right there. ESRB was pretty much made just so the game companies wont get in trouble if kid takes a sniper rifle and just keeps yelling "HEAD SHOT" while he kills plenty of bystanders.

The only thing to be said is its up to the people that see a person in trouble mentally or physically to try to help them (mostly parents with their kids) so that they realize turning to a game for comfort not ideas for a battle plan is the real purpose. Just like I said its just a game.

[JayBirdSlim]

At 2/27/08 10:01 PM, KeithHybrid wrote: Before video games, it was television, and before that, it was rock music, and before that, movies.

Seeing a pattern?

Actually yes...but a different one than you might want me to see. I have to say yep...all those things I think are leading to younger and younger homicidal crimes. Television, movies, (well...ok... not rock music so much except maybe in rebellious british punkers from the early 80s and that was mostly punk on punk crime so no real foul there... hehehe)

However! It has nothing to do with any of those things. I know, confusing isn't it? Well here's my logic and feel free to contradict. It all comes down to "parenting" and the lack there of. I grew up with knobs on my television as a kid and there was one of them in the living room. I got to watch TV occasionally on my own or when the 'rents were with me. If I wanted to hang out with my friends we were forced to do something. There were lots of times we would want to watch Kung-Fu sundays (which if you don't know about you missed a brilliant time of Sunday morning television..) but noooooo if we wanted to play we would have to go get some legos, get some army men or GI Joes...or (heaven forbid) go outside. All those things you mentioend are now used as a baby sitter which just allows kids to absorb all sorts of ways to do "destructive" things. If we wanted to cause havoc when I was a kid dag nab it we had to make stuff up and I think without a preconceived notion there was only so much pain kids are willing to inflict on one another.

So again, yes. I think video games, television and movies all have increased the level of violence and the perception of violence amongst th yutes but it's not the video games fault.

[Kenshi]

At 2/27/08 09:23 PM, FlashCridic1124 wrote: I say no, politicians say yes, crazy people do, and normal people use that as an excuse in court.

In my honest opinion, it all depends on the person, and maybe even the game.

[butsbutsbutsbutsbuts]

Exercise makes it more likely for a madman to kill someone, also teeth and hands. We should surgically remove everyone's teeth to reduce the likelyhood of people being murderred.

[Extremewookie]

With crime rates rising while violent crimes committed by adolescents are steadily decreasing, I remain optimistic.

[Hellz-Yeah]

At 2/27/08 09:23 PM, FlashCridic1124 wrote: I say no, politicians say yes, crazy people do, and normal people use that as an excuse in court.

Unfortunatly, it is a cause of violence in people. But it's only the violent videogames. Here's an example. I recently did research on this topic for school, but I forgot what triggers the violence. And I believe humans are naturally violent, so it doesn't make a difference either way for me.

[carbanonzo]

Keep in mind this information is completely in relation to telivision, which while similiar to videogames, has one fundamental difference: telivision is simply images pouring into you a stimuli with no possible response, while videogames present a stimuli that can be manipulated a responded too. Though they are still similiar in obvious ways.

In his book "Four Arguments for the Elimination of Television" Jerry Mander explores in the latter chapters how images and light effect human beings. Apart from just seeing light it enters our body setting of several chemical reactions that travel as far as the pituary gland effecting our endorcine system. A study was conducted on animals focusing on light effects on them. Certain lights caused cancer rates to rise in rats, others caused the heart cells of chicken embryos to rupture. There is an entire field of science known as photobiology dedicated to the study of lights effects. Then through the process of memory images are obviously in some way chemically ingrained in our brain. Though this does not prove videogames induce homicidal tendencies it provides grounding for the idea that light has concrete effects on our bodies as do images. So one cannot simply ignore light and images as passive in relation to our bodies and minds. So it goes without saying then, that repeated violent images (such as those in video games) have some influence on our mindset and behavior.

[CaptainChip]

Video Games aren't leading to homicide.

Some parents think they are because they probably have idiotic kids who repeat things they see on the Magic Box.

Hell, I've been playing violent video games since I was 2 1/2 years old, and I'm not violent.

[acellus]

Parents nowadays are looking for anyone to blame for their mistakes. They do not raise their kids right and want to blame the media for their kid shooting up a school or beating a kid to death with a baseball bat. I personally believe that a child has the ideals to make their own decisions at the age of 14. Not voting or drinking but the idea of what to do and not to do. The reason children keep freaking out and hurting people is because they want to or feel a need to be remembered.
This is not the medias fault, it is ours. Ask yourself right now. Have you ever called someone a name, have you ever put someone down to feel better. Do you make people feel like outsiders? I have done these things before and once my friend was killed at Virginia Tech, I dont anymore. I now understand that people try to fit in and when they dont they sometimes feel the need to latch out.

Please try and refrain from putting others down and help people out. You may see a huge change in the attitudes of people everywhere.

[morefngdbs]

Mankind has been killing each other for tens of thousands of years.
Video games have been around for what 30 years or so ?

Explain all the senseless killing people have done to each other before these types of games were around?

[D2Kvirus]

At 3/1/08 12:01 PM, morefngdbs wrote: Mankind has been killing each other for tens of thousands of years.
Video games have been around for what 30 years or so ?

Explain all the senseless killing people have done to each other before these types of games were around?

May I bring your attention to Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time?

[animehater]

Yes, video games are the devil's work and must be banned at once.

[D2Kvirus]

At 3/1/08 01:34 PM, animehater wrote: Yes, video games are the devil's work and must be banned at once.

Banning video games makes Pyramid Head cry.

[Sistine1408]

At 3/1/08 01:37 PM, D2Kvirus wrote:

At 3/1/08 01:34 PM, animehater wrote: Yes, video games are the devil's work and must be banned at once.

Banning video games makes Pyramid Head cry.

Wait, whe did that guy get eyes?

[D2Kvirus]

At 3/1/08 01:55 PM, Sistine1408 wrote:

At 3/1/08 01:37 PM, D2Kvirus wrote:

At 3/1/08 01:34 PM, animehater wrote: Yes, video games are the devil's work and must be banned at once.

Banning video games makes Pyramid Head cry.

Wait, whe did that guy get eyes?

I'm sure they're in there somewhere.

[notld224]

A Greek Philosopher, his name I forget. Once said that out of Entertaining Violence comes Catharsis (A release of stress and anger).

From personal experience... I couldn't agree more.

Now that's not to say there aren't any exceptions to the idea. Crazy fuckers do all sorts of shit for all sorts of reasons. But just because Hen-Ko-Jing and Terry Higgins have a psychotic episode in which their schoolteachers look like the Imps from Doom...

Doesn't mean it should affect the rest of us. And to have an employee from EB-GAMES talking down to me, asking for my ID card.

Nothing as infuriating as that... I wish I could just punch the mutherfucker bureaucrats responsible for this in the face. Besides... Shit Happens. And there are far WORSE causes for Homicide then Video Games... *rolls eyes*

[Centurion-Ryan]

At 3/1/08 04:31 PM, notld224 wrote: Doesn't mean it should affect the rest of us. And to have an employee from EB-GAMES talking down to me, asking for my ID card.

You know what's worse?

Having an employee from Smyths look UP to you asking for ID.

I'm a good head taller than the guy and he still won't let me buy Heavenly Sword.

[notld224]

At 2/28/08 11:08 PM, butsbutsbutsbutsbuts wrote: Exercise makes it more likely for a madman to kill someone, also teeth and hands. We should surgically remove everyone's teeth to reduce the likelyhood of people being murderred.

And we shall replace those teeth with Fiberglass Razor Fangs...