Blame The Video Games

from the will-it-ever-end? dept

Two stories, both found over at Geek.com show how, after all these years, people still are trying to blame video games for the actions of troubled children, rather than learning that these children need to take responsibility for their own actions. The first one is a lawyer in Florida who is trying to forcefully take over the defense of a kid accused of murder in Ohio. The guy, who is a "self-styled expert on the influence of violent video games on youths" says that he will blame video games for the crime, saying: "Whatever happened (in JoLynn's death), it was not murder... The American video industry must share the blame." Of course, all such attempts at blaming violent crimes on video games have failed miserably. Meanwhile, in New Zealand, police are warning about kids who have resorted to crime to keep up their online video game playing addiction. At least in that case, the police admit that it's more the parents' fault for leaving these kids unsupervised (they were sending their kids to the internet cafe to act as a babysitter). Either way, this brings up the old debate about trying to pass of the blame for troubled children and their actions on video games, instead of having them (and their parents) take some responsibility themselves. There's plenty of evidence (with the most obvious being that the vast majority of people who play video games are not criminals) that, for most people, video games are simply a form of entertainment. If they were really causing these crime sprees, then wouldn't we be seeing much more? Clearly, these are troubled kids, and adults around them can't accept that and need to find someone else to blame - and the video game industry makes for an easy scapegoat.
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  • identicon
    Doug, 2 Jun 2003 @ 11:14am

    Children's responsibility?

    these children need to take responsibility for their own actions
    Children simply are not fully responsible for their own actions, because it is recognized that their judgment is immature. This is the reason why children are not permitted to buy tobacco, alcohol, or weapons, not permitted to sign legally binding contracts. It's why parents are sued for their children's actions. It's why we have Juvenile Courts and the well-known phrase "tried as an adult".

    Children are children, and are not normally expected to have a fully-developed sense of right and wrong, a sufficient understanding of the law, nor of the full consequences - legal and otherwise - of their actions.

    The question with the violent video games is whether or not they undermine the "normal" development of that understanding of right and wrong, of what's legal and what's illegal, and of what the likely consequences of misbehavior are.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 2 Jun 2003 @ 2:55pm

      Re: Children's responsibility?

      Second that. Five-year-olds have difficulty making a distinction between political leaders and God.

      Child soldiers used in third world conflicts often make the best soldiers, because they don't hesitate to kill like grownups do. Video games risk turning kids in developed countries into having the same mentality.


      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        Mike (profile), 2 Jun 2003 @ 3:36pm

        Re: Children's responsibility?

        Video games risk turning kids in developed countries into having the same mentality.

        Considering the number of kids in this country who play video games, wouldn't you think there would be a bit more evidence on that front already?

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 2 Jun 2003 @ 4:01pm

          Re: Children's responsibility?

          Research is ongoing. Over decades of data collection, there is solidly established correlation between kids who spend too much time watching TV and kids who do poorly in school. Would it be any surprise if kids who spend too much time playing video games do poorly in school? Now that "poor" kids can afford playstations in their home, we'll start seeing more delinquents who play video games as well.

          The Columbine high school massacre kids spent lots of time playing Doom.

          The high-tech industry will want to say that it's really the parent's fault for letting the kids play too much video games, but video games do have an influence in spreading the notion that violence is the way to solve problems.



          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            Anonymous Coward, 2 Jun 2003 @ 4:09pm

            Re: Children's responsibility?

            Also, it should be kept in mind that realistic, violent video games in first person 3-D perspective is only about a decade old. Reputable medical studies take years. What effect will even more realistic, violent video games have on children? The video game industry likes to say it has no effect, but we notice they also don't (yet) produce really, really violent games like burning people alive and showing them with 3rd-degree burns in photorealistic detail. We don't (yet) see games for capturing as many Jews as possible and putting them in ovens. If there really was no effect, what difference should such games make?



            link to this | view in chronology ]

            • identicon
              blake schaffner, 4 Jan 2007 @ 7:07am

              Re: Re: Children's responsibility?

              Im doing science fair on if violent games make you more violent can anyone give me a website.

              link to this | view in chronology ]

            • identicon
              sam, 31 Jan 2007 @ 3:53pm

              Re: Re: Children's responsibility?

              you are the dumbest smart person i have ever seen. these games are not ment for FREAKING kids. adults like gore and stuff like that so that they can take their anger out on something artificial. and trust me you jackass if a game came out where they through jews in the oven it would be banned accept for in iraq. which i am jewish so that does offend me. And why the hell does evryone alway's blame Doom this is the future we have new shit to blame like parents. you obviously use doom because you are unintelligent and haven't done your research. these kids who kill other people are sick of life and are tired of being bullied by teachers and other kids or even parents. This is motivation enouph to make someone want to kill. people like you piss me off.

              link to this | view in chronology ]

          • icon
            Mike (profile), 2 Jun 2003 @ 4:18pm

            Re: Children's responsibility?

            You are confusing correlation with causation.

            Considering that 99.9999999% (or whatever) of people who play Doom do not then go out and shoot up a school, I could make the same statistical argument back to you, saying that the correlation shows video games don't cause a problem.

            If what you claim is true, why aren't there more stories of video-game influenced violence?

            Also, how do you respond to studies that have pointed out that video games often act as a "stress reducer", in that they let people let out aggression in a simple way that doesn't harm anyone?

            link to this | view in chronology ]

            • identicon
              Anonymous Coward, 2 Jun 2003 @ 6:46pm

              Re: Children's responsibility?

              >You are confusing correlation with causation.< br>
              Since we cannot directly observe people's thought processes, correlation must be weighed more in psychological studies. Putting together several different correlations can support a causative link.

              >Considering that 99.9999999% (or whatever) of people who play Doom do not then go out and shoot up a school,

              If one person was influenced by Doom to go out and shoot up a school, is that not enough? Or should we set laws that say killing up to 10 people is OK?

              Also, what about future generation of games that are more realistic? Doom is still pretty fake and cartoon-like, but what about games that show, say, babies exploding in anatomically correct, photographic detail? If there are photorealistic games in the future with titles like "SuperModel Slasher", "SimHolocaust", "Internet Predator", "Domestic Violence", "Kindergarten Chainsaw Massacre", "School Arson", will you still argue that it will have no effect whatsoever upon people?

              >I could make the same statistical argument back to you, saying that the correlation shows video games don't cause a problem.

              It's possible to construct a statistic that says 99% of the time, drunk drivers do not kill others. However, it still does not absolve the moral responsibility.

              link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            Anonymous Coward, 2 Jun 2003 @ 6:25pm

            Re: Children's responsibility?

            Over decades of data collection, there is solidly established correlation between kids who spend too much time watching TV and kids who do poorly in school.

            There is probably a pretty good correlation betwene kids who spend too much time doing ANYTHING and kids who do poorly in school.

            link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            Anonymous Coward, 3 Jun 2003 @ 6:42am

            Re: Children's responsibility?

            The Columbine high school massacre kids spent lots of time playing Doom.
            I also understand that those kids drank water. And so did Jeffrey Dahmer and Charles Manson!

            link to this | view in chronology ]

            • identicon
              Anonymous Coward, 3 Jun 2003 @ 9:48am

              Re: Children's responsibility?

              Oh MY GOD!

              They also breathed AIR every single day of their LIVES! We must find that AIR shares responsibility for that masacre...those poor kids...it wasn't their fault..

              Yeah right.

              As angry as I was in high school (I was picked on, got into fight, spent time isolated socially now and again) *I* knew it wasn't right to kill my classmates no matter how *ssh*le like they were...and I played "violent" video games (today's current scapegoat) and watched LOTS of "Violent" movies (the scapegoat of the eighties) and read lots of VIOLENT comic books (the scapegoat of the 50s 60s and 70s)

              When are you people going to realize that people need to take PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY...we've been brainwashed by lawyers into the kind of society where we can blame ANYONE (and consequently sue them...making lawyers VERY rich) *EXCEPT* ourselves.

              You got hurt by a guy while you were robbing his house? Sue 'em...its not your fault.

              You tripped over your shoelace and fell? Sue Nike (its happened).

              You took a SLEEPING PILL and got in an accident because you went out driving? Sue the pharmaceutical company because there wasn't a warning on the bottle that specifically said you'd be drowsy..(Its happened).

              Your kid got blown away by another psychopatic teenager? Chaching baby! Sue the video game companies.....

              Geez...wake up a bit ya know?

              link to this | view in chronology ]

            • identicon
              Anonymous Coward, 3 Jun 2003 @ 9:55am

              Adult's responsibility. Re: Children's responsibil

              The kids at Columbine were clearly uninvolved and unengaged by their parents. If the parents were involved with the kids, they'd have recognized and helped them with their feelings of extreme isolation. They'd have *never* let them get to the point of buying guns or building bombs without their knowledge, or any of that stuff. They'd have helped them talk through the bullying the kids suffered, if it even got to that point. They'd have gotten the kids involved in esteem-building programs - martial arts, cadets, team sports, anything.

              Yes, I'm sure the parents were "nice" people. Nice isn't enough.

              Anyone *seriously* advocating the concept of censoring things like TV / movies / music / video games doesn't know the first F#$@ing thing about being a good parent! You can't take away the world and expect your kids to "turn out right". You have to give them self-esteem, self-confidence, and moral judgement - and most of all, CONTEXT to understand things in the world.





              link to this | view in chronology ]

              • identicon
                Anonymous Coward, 3 Jun 2003 @ 10:34am

                Re: Adult's responsibility. Children's responsibil

                >Anyone *seriously* advocating the concept of censoring things like TV / movies / music / video games doesn't know the first F#$@ing thing about being a good parent!< br>
                A good parent knows that kids should not be playing video games that portray hurting people as "funny".

                And is it fair to assume that adults have perfect moral judgement? If parents are inundated with video images that portray baby rape or burning people alive as "funny", they may be swayed into making inappropriate comments, or worse, acting them out. I've met quite a few punk rock parents who look like candidates.

                People are influenced by what they see and hear around them. If video games show inappropriate social behavior, it will affect their thoughts, possibly their actions.

                link to this | view in chronology ]

                • identicon
                  Churchill's Ghost, 9 Jul 2003 @ 5:27pm

                  Re: Adult's responsibility. Children's responsibil

                  A good parent knows that kids should not be playing video games that portray hurting people as "funny".

                  Well duh. But is it right to blame and/or legislate against the video game/movie/tv media industries because parents' children play these games? Or shouldn't it be the parents' responsibility to keep their children away from them? As a child, I wasn't allowed to watch MTV until I was 13. The first R-rated film I saw was Terminator 2, when I was (I think) 11 or 12.

                  I saw parents with 5- and 6-year-olds in the theater at the South Park movie.

                  That's sick.

                  More and more people play video games these days. Violent crime, then, if its perpetrators are spread evenly over the population spectrum, would therefore be perpetrated by more and more people that play video games.

                  The new generation, especially. Violence in schools is not new, these things happened fifty years ago, just nobody talked about it, especially on a national scale.

                  I hear people rail on about how teenage pregancies are everywhere now, even though statistics show that it has dropped dramatically since the 1950s. People just didn't talk about it then.

                  So what if these kids called themselves "Neo" or "the One" or "Warriors of Freedom." If violent adolescents called themselves "Macbeth," would you seek to blame, sue, or ban Shakespeare? If they called themselves "Napoleon" or "followers of Hammurabi" would you seek to blame, sue, or ban history books?

                  link to this | view in chronology ]

            • identicon
              urmom, 17 May 2005 @ 11:12am

              Re: Children's responsibility?

              wanna fight?

              link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            Anonymous Coward, 10 Sep 2003 @ 8:35am

            Re: Children's responsibility?

            "Over decades of data collection, there is solidly established correlation between kids who spend too much time watching TV and kids who do poorly in school."

            How does this explain the high marks of students and low crime rate of Japan? In the US, the PS2 sold over 500,000 units from the time of its release (October 2001) till the end of the year. In Japan, the PS2 sold 1.5 million units in its first weekend.... don't tell me that Japan doesn't play games as seriously as US .

            When I was a child I watched voilent movies and played the violent video games all the time, but my parents sat there with me, and constantly reminded me that violence was wrong.... Now at 5 years old, I and am able to distinct between right and wrong when it comes to violence, but for some reason, adults are breeding common-sense-deficient children that can't figure anything out.... or maybe they're just not being told. Instead of being taught about violence, they're being sheltered from it, which can lead to just as devistatingly disasterous results.

            link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            urmomonastick, 18 Mar 2004 @ 5:15am

            Re: Children's responsibility?

            i play video games and i watch a lot of tv i still get good grades and i dont want to shoot anything especially not my school

            link to this | view in chronology ]

            • identicon
              Daniel, 17 Apr 2004 @ 4:16pm

              No effect?

              for people who don't think violent video games have an effect, examine this short excerpt from my essay I didn't make it up, these are cold, hard facts:

              A court case filed against Michael Carneal, the 14-year-old Paducah, Kentucky, boy who killed three students, declares that Carneal "clipped off nine shots in about a 20-second period. Eight of those shots were hits. Three were head and neck shots and were kills. That is way beyond the military standard for expert marksmanship. This was a kid who had never fired a pistol in his life, but because of his obsession with computer games had turned himself into an expert marksman." (Grossman, 16) According to Grossman, "Michael Carneal ... fired eight shots ... at a bunch of milling, scrambling, screaming children.... Even more astounding was the kill ratio. Each kid was hit once. Three were killed; one was paralyzed for life. Never, to my knowledge, in the annals of law enforcement or military or even criminal history can we find an equivalent achievement.... It turned out that while the kid had never fired a pistol before ... he held the gun in two hands. He had a blank look on his face. He never moved his feet. He never fired too far to the right or the left or up or down. He simply fired one shot at everything that popped up on his screen." (Grossman, 17)

              Violemt Video games have no effects? Is it ignorance or the want to have these games around that makes people support such ideas?

              link to this | view in chronology ]

            • identicon
              Mikey The Hedgehog, 12 Oct 2005 @ 3:49am

              Re: Children's responsibility?

              Blah, Blah, Blahdy-Blah-Blah. Look all you need to know is that it's the parents fault and that's about it. I mean an 8 year old would probably do that (Shooting up places) but definetley not me or anyone else I know (I'm 14),no matter how much they like games, would'nt do it because we're not mental.

              link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          ted, 7 Feb 2005 @ 8:32am

          Re: Children's responsibility?

          you'er a fag

          link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        anonymous, 23 Nov 2003 @ 1:47pm

        Re: Children's responsibility?

        that is complete BS. i have been playing violent video games since i was five. i haven't gone rambo on anybody. video games just give kids an outlet for their angers and frustrations, where the only thing that they hurt is animated characters. censoring violence in video games, movies, and music won't stop violence. it will just tell kids that they can blame thier actions on the media and not get in trouble for what they do, because everybody will go right after the producer of the game, movie, or music. it makes them not responsible for their actions anymore.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        bob, 16 Dec 2003 @ 7:34am

        Re: Children's responsibility?

        they should do what they want there choice there los

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        fooper minkey, 20 Feb 2004 @ 9:02am

        Re: Children's responsibility?

        you really think that children wouldent hesitate to kill and a grown up would and what the $@^&
        does this have to do with violent
        video games

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous, 24 May 2006 @ 10:40am

        Re: Re: Children's responsibility?

        I personally have to believe that not all gamers are subdued to the side effects of the games they might play. Games more active like Dance dance revolution are promoting phsyical fitness in a fun way amongst teens that allows them to keep in shape and stay healthy due to the intensive moving required of the footsteps( I know myself of this; that I have played the game for 2 years). I personally believe there are a certain number of people out there though who would agree to such. I do disagree with some games but not all are necessary bad though.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      mrbumpy, 27 Sep 2003 @ 2:41pm

      Re: Children's responsibility?

      You can just go f%#* yourself. If you dont want your kid playing violent video games dont buy them for him. I'm 13 and i haven't gone to my school with a gun and started shooting everyone. Maybe if you have a kid he's just a stupid skid that he doesn't know right from wrong.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 20 Oct 2003 @ 10:45am

        Re: Children's responsibility?

        Video games have little influence in the actions of children, ill give you that, but how many 5-year olds take a gun and imitate wat they do in games? None whatsoever.

        Who claims that video games influenced them? Teens. Stupid teenagers who want to use video games as a reason to get a lower sentence.

        Video games do not influence crimes, anyone who is stupid enough to think that video games show you how to socialy behave should be shot.

        I played violent games since nintend was out, you dont see me taking a gun and shooting everyone I see. If you cant tell that video games are a form of entertainment then you need phychiatric help. It doesnt matter if the criminal is a kid, teen or adult, video games did not influece them to kill people. You dont learn how to use a gun by playing a video games that makes you push buttons, not a trigger.

        And if anyone brings up the games that use guns like house of the dead and stuff, your shooting people that are bad, the game visually shows the guys ur killing are the "bad guys" and they are shooting you or trying to hurt you.

        parents should stop blaming video games for their kids violent behavior, and start blaming themselves for raising such a horrible kid in the first place, maybe if the kid got more attention from the parent instead of the game he wouldnt turn out so bad. Why do you think attention deprived children break stuff, THEY WANT YOUR ATTENTION.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 28 Oct 2003 @ 6:11pm

      Re: Children's responsibility?

      I agree,
      When you grow up you learn from your guardien. Your physical and emotional character comes from the person that raises you. You develope your personality from whatever or whoever effects your daily life and when your a child you are still developping your sense of wright and wrong. Video games can effect your life, because if you are subject to the kind of violence displayed by many video games daily, then you may begin to become desensitized and may start believing that this kind of violence is not uncommen.
      This does not mean at all that parents are not responsible for the majority of their childs actions. If you are allowing your child to activly paticipate in these violent videogames, then in the child's eyes you may be allowing them to actively participate in violence themselves, because you are not refusing them these games.
      Videogames are just one example, many things can effect a child's development.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 13 Jan 2004 @ 2:14pm

      Re: Children's responsibility?

      shutup

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      bob, 7 Feb 2005 @ 8:25am

      Re: Children's responsibility?

      your stooped

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      chris harmon, 23 Jun 2005 @ 5:56pm

      Re: Children's responsibility?

      So we're going to blame video games for troubled kids. How about NO. To be honest, you blame the parents for their problems. If the parents would actually take time for their children, you would not have these troubled kids. I haved played video games for a long time; I turned out just fine. My parents showed that they cared about me. Plus, I did know that the stuff on games aren't real; but some games are realistic.
      So if you take alook at the kids from Columbine shooting back in 1999, the kids had problems because they were not shown a lot of attention when they were growin up. Everyone was making the comments that they said that "this is like !@#$%^ Doom." So everyone blames the game for the shooting.
      Parents around the world. IF you are reading this, take care of your children, and love them as much as possible. And know that you cannot blame video games for your problem. Thank you.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Hunter Jones Martin, 20 Nov 2005 @ 1:56pm

      Re: Children's responsibility?

      My name is Hunter Jones Martin and i am 11 years old an i disagree with you compleatly

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Federico, 30 Dec 2005 @ 3:36pm

        Re: Children's responsibility?

        Okay, obviously, your false accusations were already proved wrong by the effort of the other posts. So I'm not going to bother repeating their corrects counterexamples to your idiotic point.

        All I wil say is that I'm 14, i have been playing games all my life, and I am a magnet student, get good grades, am a devout Christian and I did not ONCE ever thought about killing another being.

        And u can ask any of milions of gamers out there as well. They will all tell u the same thing, and it shows.

        Like my uncle, he is 46, and a proffesional psychologist. He knows this stuff very well. He is also an avid gamer. He has played GTA, manhunt, Halo, and Resident Evil 4. He is the nicest guy u will ever meet.

        So why don't u just leave the dang thread and go live with Jack Thompson? U will do the world a big favor.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 23 Feb 2006 @ 11:18am

          Re: Children's responsibility?

          i saw some violent comments within this very thread- where are the parents of these hooligans who want to induce violence upon one another? should we ban this forum?

          my son plays video games. not incredibly violent, gory ones, but some which do involve the useage of guns.

          i get bored playing those games, but i am right there with him playing along.

          he is probably the sweetest most sensitive kid you could meet. but when he's out to get a "bad guy" - ya better lookout!

          do i anticipate him becoming a violent youth? never.

          parents who worry about whether or not their kids are growing up violent had better take a deep look at their situation and adjust accordingly- and stop putting teh blame elsewhere. either youre doing a good job parenting or youre not- and video games shouldnt have any weight in the matter.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Dyllan, 17 Apr 2007 @ 11:42am

      Re: Children's responsibility?

      I cant beileve you actually think kids arnt able to tell right from wrong i mean 5 year old's cant but i dont know any 5 year old with the mentel capabillity to play video games or even understand what the hell their looking at i know cause i have a brother whos 5 years old ive let him play some of my games and let him watch me play them and he didnt have a damn clue as to what he was watching nor has he copyed any thing on my games ( and i own nothing but violent video games such as Grand Theft Auto)

      oh yeah im 15 and love to play GTA oh no the worlds coming to an just cause i like to play a game were i steal cars and shoot people who are not real. Oh wait im not stupid and mentaly unstable so that means i know not to shoot someone or steal cars.

      So to summerys what im saying ONLY STUPID ASS KIDS WHO ARE MENATALY UNSTABLE AND MOST LIKLY DONT HAVE A LIFE WHILE COMMIT VIOLENT ACT'S THEY SAW ON A VIDEO GAME

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    itchyfish, 2 Jun 2003 @ 3:42pm

    Insanity

    Both of you are kidding right? You're going to blame video games for a child's criminal actions? While I agree to some extenent about the immature morality of younger children, there is still one mitigating factor that never gets brought up in this discussion: the parents. Why are video games being singled out as singular influences for morality judgements? What about the parents? Why are parents not monitoring their children? Why are parents letting 5 year old children play violent video games? Why are parents not teaching their children that lying, cheating, stealing, etc. are wrong? I for one, at the age of 5, had a fairly good grasp of what was "right" and what was "wrong", and video games didn't have anything to so with it. It's time for parents to quit letting the Playstation be the babysitter and take some responsibility for THEIR actions as well as their child's. Using video games as a scapegoat is a handy trick to deflect the attention from the real criminals; the parents.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 24 Feb 2004 @ 9:11am

      Re: Insanity

      shut up

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      ?, 3 Mar 2004 @ 9:47am

      Re: Insanity

      you are really stupid

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Nick, 6 Mar 2004 @ 5:44pm

        No Subject Given

        As a teen and gamer, I realize that games are obviously addictive when we are given a certain amount, but with all due respect, I must have you all realize that violence in the world also lies in movies, radio, and the internet. Also, video games act as if they are a placebo, for I only get more violent from the games when I believe that they make me more violent. However, this depends upon the maturity of the child, and if they simply find any pleasure in the game, i.e. "Wow, that kung-fu move was so cool! I'll go try it on somebody!" or, "I bet I could shoot that good in real life since I'm so good at the game," or, "Since i don't get caught in the game, I won't get caught in real life!" It appears that as long as kids can complete high-level tasks on a regular basis or are involved in several extra-curricular activities, they should be able to realize what's right and wrong as long as you tell them. If you are a concerned parent, allow your child to tell you the things that they should never do, and you should be able to take it from there. I guess this is simply a theory, and any suggestions/critisism on my psychology would be acknowledged.

        -Nick

        link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    mwmtllvr, 25 May 2004 @ 7:55am

    i agree

    i agree with you fully. people need to take responsibility for their actions. my favortie games are grand theft auto and manhunt. those are two incredibly violent video games and i haven not killed or even attempted to hurt anyone. you have to hate someone pretty greatly to killed someone. the media is an easy scapegoat for people's actions. if you go to japan, the things that are rated M here in america are suitable for small children there. people in this country just hate so much that they will actually kill someone. it is not he fault of the media or anything like that. video games have labels and warn you of their content right on the box. it is your choice if you want to still buy or rent the game. the game company is not making you do anything. people need to stop blaming others and start blaming the people at fault, themselevs.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Madeline Harrison, 20 Oct 2005 @ 11:01am

    Hi:if U R mature enough

    some kids do this violence from video games but some R mature enough to not do the violence from these games

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    setch, 16 Nov 2005 @ 12:32pm

    who to blame and how???

    I agree fully that the parents are at fault for giving there 8 year old a rated adult or even mature game. That is totally yhtere fault and responsibilty to know exactly what there children is about to recive but honestly i also see other reasons why children are reciving these games and i think its because of the sellers as well as the buyers. I have seen plenty of game stores selling rated adult or mature games to those who clearly dont meet the required age limit. I would have to say that they should be punished as well in some case or another. I think the whole rated (M) or (A) thing is not fully in effect at most gaming stores and nobody really gives a hoot anymore to what the game is rated. If they want it then they will buy it and since America is so greedy at earning as much money as possible, they will just give it to whom ever. For example i had my little brother go to game stop and purchased the "Guy Game" and he looks nothing like an 18 year old cause he is 12, but that didnt matter cause they sold it to him and i was standing right there. SO basically what im trying to say is that its the parents or gaurdians fault as well as the person who is selling it.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 13 May 2006 @ 5:18pm

    SHUT UP

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    ricky martin, 13 May 2006 @ 5:20pm

    DIE IN HELL

    YOU GO TO HELL AND U DIE

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 28 Jul 2006 @ 2:08pm

    you are so right man keep it up

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Shadowman, 16 Aug 2006 @ 11:48am

    RE: Childrens Responability

    In all respect to all who have comments...

    There are 2 key factors, 1) being the childs state of mind....even a grown human being can go on a rampage and kill dozens of people...2) the parents....if they cannot see that their child is having problems with what is reality and what is fiction , then they r truly to blame...

    I am now 18 and was raised by a single parent... Though my mother was always working, my ability to know what was reality and fiction was never affected.... Ive even been playing games since atari and colicovison.... Ive played: Doom(all of them), Manhunt, Suffering(both), Kill Zone,and lots of others...but u dont see me walkin around with knives, shotguns, or even a pistol...most of which i own....

    Its all just dependent on the 2 key factors...

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Kerican, 20 Aug 2006 @ 8:30pm

      Re: RE: Childrens Responability

      Video games should be censored in that the same way movies are censored. If a store tries to sell or rent Mature rated games to kids the possibility for it to be charge should exsist just like with the movie rated system. Young kids regardless of the effect just should not be playing extremely violent video games any more than they should be watching violent movies.

      The ESSRB raiting should be taken into more consideration by parents whom are responsible for educating themselves about them. True I do not think a violent video game will make them violent, but I don't think a kid should be shown violence at a young age anyway. Video games are become more and more realistic and the graphics are becomming more and more lifelike. I think with this in mind the rating systems need to be enforced and policed. Not just banning video games that older more mature youth and adult can enjoy without problem.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    ME, 11 Oct 2006 @ 9:57am

    ESRBS

    I think the ESRB ratins aren't very accurate. E games are always family frienly. E is ok as is.

    But rated T games usually have a little violence in them or they're more complex, like racing games. Rarely do you see blood or gore in them or any strong violence. I think they're ok for ages 10+ not lke what they have now (isn't it 14? Absurd.)

    And rated M games are usually gorey and full of killing. So maybe it is ok to restrict them to ages 18+ but I think it should be 16+ because at 16, you can DRIVE. I THINK you could be trusted with a violent game by then. :|

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Annie, 13 Mar 2007 @ 2:02pm

    Question

    "a lawyer in Florida who is trying to forcefully take over the defense of a kid accused of murder in Ohio"
    The link to that story doesn't work. So, my question is, which lawyer?
    Jack Thompson?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Angela, 27 Mar 2007 @ 5:39am

    i think videogames can be blamed

    The children can blame the video games because something a child interacts with on a daily bases changes the way they act. Children can blame video games as long as they have the same form of crimes in the game. Like if someone kills a person by stabbing them but in the game they claim someone gets shot there is clearly nothing to blame in the game. Children should have a set aside time of when they can play those horrible video games. They should be more active with their friends and not with themselves on video games or even online because they arent face to face with their other players. Video Games can be blamed!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Dyllan, 17 Apr 2007 @ 11:54am

      Re: i think videogames can be blamed

      if the internet is so damn horrible then why are you on the internet hu that dosnt make sense

      and i say this like i sayed in my last commint only a stupid mentaly unstable kid while copy a violent act seen on a video game kids are alot smarter then you think i mean what are you hiding? Someone getting shoot well all they have have to do is turn on the tv and watch the news there's always some retard shootin inocint people its not like we dont already understand that its wrong seeing as we probably whould never want to get killed thats why most of use dont break the law join gangs etc we just want to live are dull uneventfull lives the way we want to, with a little of entertainment is that too much to ask

      Dyllan 15 years old Straight A student and video game player

      P.S. i love playing games on the internet i can meet alot more people then i could outside also i dont have to deal with the creeps and sickos like i would outside

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Britt, 9 Jan 2008 @ 12:33pm

    Who's Fault?

    Clearly there's a pattern here, gamers agree that games do not influence a child in an act of violence while non gamers say it does. But serial killers..rapist..etc does anyone ever notice they don't blame games, because they know people would consider it a scape goat and not believe them but then why believe the child? I of course love playing violent games, but never would i hurt anyone. the thought makes me shudder.

    Its not the games that do the damage, or tv or anything else, its the parents. But this is only my opinion and being a gamer, i must be violent and out of control because i play Mercenaries.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Britt, 9 Jan 2008 @ 12:34pm

    Who's Fault?

    Clearly there's a pattern here, gamers agree that games do not influence a child in an act of violence while non gamers say it does. But serial killers..rapist..etc does anyone ever notice they don't blame games, because they know people would consider it a scape goat and not believe them but then why believe the child? I of course love playing violent games, but never would i hurt anyone. the thought makes me shudder.

    Its not the games that do the damage, or tv or anything else, its the parents. But this is only my opinion and being a gamer, i must be violent and out of control because i play Mercenaries.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Dylan, 4 Apr 2008 @ 8:20am

    censorship's gay

    forget that come on its a video game its art not a toy little kids shouldnt play them dont ruin it for the other person

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    CRPO, 9 Nov 2008 @ 4:04pm

    Really? vido games?

    Come on, you cant just blame everything on video games. Some children who play video games excessively, and i mean EXCESSIVELY they are usually trying to distract themselves from the bad parents and stressful lives. I'm not saying blame the parents but, it is the parents sometimes and when its not, its just cause the kid snapped!

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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