Lately I have been thinking about people blaming video games for things like school shootings. And I think I speak for most, if not all gamers when I say it is seriously starting to piss me off. It doesn't seem to be able to sink into peoples heads that video games PREVENT violence and does not cause it. I am living proof of this. I used to be the short guy at school, the punching bag I'd go through the day hearing a nar endless amounts of insults and assault. I had gotten in a total of three fights in 2 years of high school and had even given thought to more radical actions against the school.

Then I found video games, a place I could retreat to at the end of the day and calm down. In a way you could see it as a safe way to live out my anger, I could shoot all the people I want and no harm would come from it. Video games are not murder simulators. If a violent video game makes a person more likely to cause a school shooting does a sports game make it more likely for the player to become a sports star? If you play a racing game does it make you better at driving? What about CSI games, do they really make you a crime solver? If you play World Of Warcraft does it really make you a spell casting wizard? The list can go on and on but the fact is that playing a certain type of game does not make you more likely to "Live the game".

I guarantee you that if violent video games were banned this country would go insane. You'd have mobs of gamers at the white house in a month. If your going to ban violent video games for causing violence then you better ban religion because religion has caused more deaths than video games have. I don't mean to seem "anti-christian" but it's true. You also might as well ban violent books, movies and then we'l have gun control because it may cause violence until there is no violence in the world but we still have wars and live in an Orwellian society.

Better hope Hilary doesn't get elected she wants to ban violent video games from being sold to children. (Her definition of children could be anything under 18, but thats when the piracy biz gets a boost!)

I disagree so much. Violent video games are raising aggression in the children of America, it has been proven with statistics. If we want to have an orderly and peaceful future we need to, at the very least, tone down the video games on the market.

Quote from Dragon077

I disagree so much. Violent video games are raising aggression in the children of America, it has been proven with statistics. If we want to have an orderly and peaceful future we need to, at the very least, tone down the video games on the market.

Lies and slander.

That probably has more to do with the media in general than with videogames.

i don't know where these statistics are from, the only way playing a violent video game would make you more aggressive is either if, A:you had a mental disability, or B: you were a small child who shouldn't even Be playing such a game. honestly, it's like an interactive stress reliever. i know that a smaller child playing an intense fighting game will be more aggressive, but, isn't that the parent's fault?

Quote from Dragon077

I disagree so much. Violent video games are raising aggression in the children of America, it has been proven with statistics. If we want to have an orderly and peaceful future we need to, at the very least, tone down the video games on the market.

I kinda agree. I think we should ban games like counter strike to 10 year olds. (It'd be awesome, no mroe annoying mic spammers!) but around 12 or 13 is alright for Grand Theft Auto. But thinking you can stop it is madness, if the sale becomes illegal the underground network, in this case piracy will increase and that means more seeders for torrents! Kinda like the introduction to prohibition around the 1920's-30's and the underground bars.

Quote from MiniMan

I kinda agree. I think we should ban games like counter strike to 10 year olds. (It'd be awesome, no mroe annoying mic spammers!) but around 12 or 13 is alright for Grand Theft Auto. But thinking you can stop it is madness, if the sale becomes illegal the underground network, in this case piracy will increase and that means more seeders for torrents! Kinda like the introduction to prohibition around the 1920's-30's and the underground bars.

Really? Simulating shooting a Police Officer in the face is "alright" for 12 and 13 year old children? What kind of effect do you think that's going to have?

Hey!

I played violent video games from a young age and look how good I turned out!

=]

The problems exist before the video games are ever played. They might be the trigger(lol jok!)But its not the real issue.

i think the current ratings system is pretty accurate, i think it's ridiculous to allow 12 year olds to legally buy grand theft auto... if their parents think they can handle it then fine.

i don't agree that videogames are some sort of catharsis, where they release violent tendencies. i've never felt any urge to play a video game when i feel angry, i just don't see a connection. video games are just electronic toys.

violence is a problem, but it doesn't have anything to do with video gaming. i mean, 200 years ago children learned to slaughter live animals and were brought up as racists, but i don't think there was the same level of violence among the youth that there is now.

so playing a computer game can make you a killer, but waking up every morning and snapping a live chicken's neck doesn't have any effect? i think we're barking up the wrong tree.

If you play a violent video game, and you are inspired to go and kill people, it is not the video games fault, its the fact you are [SIZE="4"]MENTALLY ILL.[/SIZE]


The video game is not even a catalyst, if someone plays a game and then wants to kill, they were capable of violence in the first place.

because, that person is [SIZE="4"]MENTALLY ILL.[/SIZE] and should be in a care home.

Its complete bullshit that governments feed to the moronic masses while they pump billions into warfare and nuclear weaponry.

Quote from Kegman

If you play a violent video game, and you are inspired to go and kill people, it is not the video games fault, its the fact you are [SIZE="4"]MENTALLY ILL.[/SIZE]

I couldn't agree more.


I don't really understand what all the hype about video and computer games is for nowadays.

"Look at this study done on 2 year olds! It shows that Videeeo Gamz may, in some rare cases, stunt your learning!"

"Look at this study done on people who play bloody, gorey video games! It shows that bloody, gorey videogames makes your testosterone levels go up! YOU MIGHT KILL SOMEONE!"

Exaggerated, but thats basically what's going on.
I don't understand why people bother. They aren't going to be able to stop it.
Even if Hillary Bitchton does get elected and she bans all videogames, like miniman said, Piracy ftw.
They can't stop it.


The thing is, though, EVERYONE plays videogames nowadays. So if I decide to go off on a random killing spree, guess what'll be blamed first.
"Those horrible SUPER MARIO VIDEOGAMES caused my son to lose his mind and kill innocent people with a large wooden hammer!"

I can't even imagine the reaction if they find out I play Counterstrike.


Anyways, my point is that since everyone plays them, thats the first thing that gets blamed because you can't prove or disprove it.
"Oh, he played videogames. That must've been it!" *case closed*
"Everyone plays videogames. Everyone does not go on genocidal rampages."
"But videogames must create violent tendancies"
"The guy who did the Virginia Tech Shootings wasn't a videogamer."

Meh, it's frustrating and annoying, but I don't care what they say.
If they mouth off any more I'll put a bullet through all their heads.
(lolVideogamejoke)

"I don't care what they say
I want to!"
And rofl. I know lots of people that would totally freak out if they found out Counterstrike even EXISTED.

Quote from Dragon077

Really? Simulating shooting a Police Officer in the face is "alright" for 12 and 13 year old children? What kind of effect do you think that's going to have?

Well, I'm 12, and I've shot a police officer in the face in GTA.

I'm not affected.

Which part were you referring to when you said WRONG?
Everybody could still get it, and they can't punish EVERYBODY.