A Look At Video Games And Youth Violence

from the not-so-connected... dept

Every few months there seems to be yet another story from some worked up adult about how video games should be blamed for youth violence. There's even a lawyer who has made quite a career out of being the blame the video game lawyer. Any time there's a youth crime committed, and the kid played violent video games, that lawyer is there, trying to take the responsibility off of the kid who committed the crime, and putting it on the video game makers. Never mind that most studies have suggested that there's no real link between violent video gaming and violent acts -- and that, in some ways, violent video games may act as a way for kids to "vent" their frustration, rather than taking actual action. However, it seems to touch a nerve and people automatically seem to react badly to those who suggest that violent video games might not lead to real life violent acts. This is going to get some more attention with all of the bogus hype around Grand Theft Auto, but duke ferris has written in to point out an interesting analysis that, at least in the aggregate, suggests that it would be quite difficult to prove a connection between video gaming and violence as the reports of youth violence have continually dropped as video games have become more popular. Of course, that doesn't necessarily answer the question on an individual basis -- it certainly does give some fodder against those who seem to think that video games are causing a youth violence epidemic.
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  • identicon
    Block Sheep, 21 Jul 2005 @ 9:47pm

    No Subject Given

    Rather than call it "venting", it may be more accurate to describe what happens as being able to explore possibilities in a controlled setting.

    If a person is trained (educated) in sound critical thinking then it would be impossible for them to become violent from playing violent games.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      What, 20 Jun 2006 @ 12:20pm

      Re: No Subject Given

      Re: "most studies have suggested that there's no real link between violent video gaming and violent acts"

      Can you point me to any of these studies?

      All I found was this one:
      http://www.healthfinder.gov/news/newsstory.asp?docID=531930

      Stop manipulating the facts.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Carol of Reason, 8 Mar 2007 @ 11:45am

      Agreed

      The largest problem in the world is people are not taught reasoning. Many people want to tell us what is good and what is bad. What we should be teaching children is how to find the evidence and come to a conclusion for themselves.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    dorpus, 21 Jul 2005 @ 11:41pm

    The real issue

    The real question is how far video game makers are allowed to push the limit. If there were games for shooting schoolkids or beating your wife, I don't think even the techie-libertarians would condone it. The established game makers know that and don't make games like that.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    dorpus, 21 Jul 2005 @ 11:46pm

    For example

    We have the technology to make video games that look like this cartoon, but I don't think even the most die-hard free market supporter would condone selling a video game where you play this role.

    http://www.img3.imagebarrel.com/out.php/i4508_abuse.jpg[

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Kevin, 22 Jul 2005 @ 11:47am

    No Subject Given

    "most studies have suggested that there's no real link between violent video gaming and violent acts"
    Can you back that up with a reference please? :)

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Mike (profile), 22 Jul 2005 @ 12:18pm

      Re: No Subject Given

      The research has been mixed, certainly, but the studies that do show a connection have almost all been reasonably taken apart on methodology.

      Here's a good analysis that goes through a number of these studies:

      http://culturalpolicy.uchicago.edu/conf2001/papers/goldstein.html

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        mandy, 22 Jul 2005 @ 6:01pm

        Re: No Subject Given

        This guy reminds me of Frederic Wertham, the crusading psychiatrist who blamed gruesome True Crime-type comic books for juvenile delinquency in the 1950s... with no real studies to back up his claims. Nevertheless excerpts from his book "Seduction of the Innocent" were picked up by many media outlets till congress held hearings and the publishers self-policed with the Comics Code. Seems kinda quaint in retrospect, though some of those EC comics were really gruesome... some had way more graphic violence than today's video games.... wife beatings (and stabbings and axes in the skull) and all the taboo topics in exremely gory detail.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 15 Jun 2006 @ 11:05am

      Re: No Subject Given

      Yeah, the reference is common sense you idiot. Of course - one could say violent movies cause people to do violent things too...

      But the history of movies and media don't seem to support that. How many people go running through town with M-60's shooting it up because they seen Rambo? None that I know of.

      Naaaaaa, you should blame Ozzy and his music.

      been there done that - same crap now - first it was movies destroying the earth, then heavy metal music, then rap, now it's video games.

      whatever.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Tha-Flash, 23 Jul 2005 @ 7:04pm

    Pfft

    People love to shift the blame, clearly it's something which messed with the kids head. (parents / friends)

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymust, 25 Jul 2005 @ 10:14am

    Youth kept off of the streets. Thanks to video gam

    Should start a campaign to get kids off the streets and in front of video games :)

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      random kid, 12 Dec 2005 @ 12:20pm

      Re: Youth kept off of the streets. Thanks to video

      SSSCCCRRREEEWWW THAT

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 6 Feb 2006 @ 10:49am

        Re: Youth kept off of the streets. Thanks to video

        ur mama must had a crakkbaby because ur on crack i think if parnet buy it for ther kids that them and the guy /girl who wrote s that is a bitch

        link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Mike Lat, 18 Jan 2006 @ 6:44pm

    No Subject Given

    I agree, kids should not get their hands on rated M games. Kids are not mature enough to be playing these kinds of games, and simply not allowing M games to be sold to kids under 16 or something is completely fine with me. In my opinion, the ERSB rating system is very accurate. It would make the word much better.

    However, I do not support or agree with Jack Thompsons execution on games. Instead of rallying support from other adult gamers (I don't even think I apply as a "gamer", I only play halo 2 and other FPS games occationally, mostly with buddies), JT keeps ratting out all gamers as "brainless" or "on drugs". I guess that applies to those police officers too doesn't it JT?

    JT is just attempting to grab the publics attention by excessively blaming things on video games and such. He attempts to relate it to religion (I have no problem with his religion, but he attempts to speak for everyone in the US when he says it's against the bible to play games, im agnostic, not christian). He relates every piece of evidence he can, but steers clear of the evidence against it in fear that his career of lies and harrassment are over.

    Thankfully I live in Canada. Our political voices and lawyers know the facts about video games already.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Adam, 27 Jan 2006 @ 3:40pm

    Violence in video games,hurting each other, NOT TR

    well ive been writing a 5 page report for violence in video games and came to some thinking
    what about the old days when kids still commited some of these crimes. in an ever changing world we seem to forget the past and look on toward the future well i say we need to think about the times of jack the ripper or hitler or all the other horrific events that blaming now we would blame on video games all the death back them if someone would have shot someone i bet we would be living in a censored enviroment censored music and other things censored movies and mostly no games but learing games who really wants to sit down and learn more stuff from a video game when you could be talking with people half way across the world and learing just as muc that way. i say that buying a Mature rated game for a kid under the age of 14 is a bad idea cause that age and the younger ages seem to be more impressionable about things we cant have them think they fully know right from worng most people dont understand that they rate them for a reason and that reaon is to have the parent look at the rating and tell there child no because of the rating things would be better if they actually followed what it say if it says m dont buy it for your kid if you dont want it to affect them. and another thing i read about......

    Video Games to treat ADD?

    whats all this about people like that are the most impressionable i say because of the chemical imbalance and i should know i myself have ADHD and BI-Polar 2 and ive been playing games for many years everyone at the gamestop in my town knows me by name i have a hard time finding a place where no one knows me in there town but back on the violence thing i think its just a bunch of hos posh and they should leave it alone.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      biggie, 8 Mar 2006 @ 7:17am

      Re: Violence in video games,hurting each other, NO

      fuck u

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      lazyman, 7 Nov 2006 @ 10:12pm

      Re: Violence in video games,hurting each other, NO

      yeah um can u post a few websits or pointers on the subject? i got do a essy too ~_~

      what i support is that video game work as a stress ball,
      it helps to decrease anger/violence...

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    shanana, 20 Apr 2006 @ 9:58am

    BOOOOO

    I think that all of yall are fucktards and yall need to get a life. so fuck everybody on this damn site!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    michaell, 20 Apr 2006 @ 10:55am

    you guys just dont get it

    I have been writing a report on violent video games for school and I think this whole debate is stupid i mean if the parents dont agree with the whole rated "m" crap then why the heck buy the games?
    i found when doing my paper that the sucide rate rose in adults thats a crap load of youth violence right there

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Alex, 4 May 2006 @ 3:43pm

    The whole video game crap

    Are you guys eating Coca crack puffs or something? Video Games arent making kids violent. Take a look at Japan and all the violent video games they have made! It's the parents and how they are raising them... I know cause i AM a kid AND a gamer... it's the parents... Don't believe me if you have to but its true. Now stop the crap and get over it!! For gods sake!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      justanotherkid, 23 Apr 2007 @ 1:47pm

      Re: The whole video game crap

      so you say it's the parents? i think you are eating crack puffs man look at the society today.sure maybe it aint the games but, maybe it aint the parents either. that's like saying if you're raised bad you'll be bad and if you're raised good you'll be good either way it's all crap. the games and music today just dont help demote violence and everyone knows it.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      justanotherkid, 23 Apr 2007 @ 1:47pm

      Re: The whole video game crap

      so you say it's the parents? i think you are eating crack puffs man look at the society today.sure maybe it aint the games but, maybe it aint the parents either. that's like saying if you're raised bad you'll be bad and if you're raised good you'll be good either way it's all crap. the games and music today just dont help demote violence and everyone knows it.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Dyllan, 25 Apr 2007 @ 12:47pm

        Re: Re: The whole video game crap

        im just speaking my mind if you have a problem with it take you narrow mindid ass to another web sight. Any idiot knows that the way they act they learn from people they look up to. like your talking about me doing crack well you didnt just think that up your self you wouldnt know how to say something like that if you had not seen or heard someone say somthing like that. The fact is when your a young child you copy people you think are cool i know cause iv been one and iv been around alot of kids. Parents are always looked up to by their kids and the kids will copy them like if the parent cuses alot the kid is gonna cuse to cause they think its ok. But if you belive it FINE you dont have to but dont try to prove me wrong or insult me i have a right to believe what i believe.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Dyllan, 25 Apr 2007 @ 12:50pm

          Re: Re: Re: The whole video game crap

          correction: if you dont believe it FINE you dont have to but dont try to prove me wrong or insult me i have a right to believe what i belive

          link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    chris hamblin, 16 May 2006 @ 1:20pm

    stupid adults with small brains

    this is what i think aboult all this crap!
    games dont create violent video games!
    thats like saying crack isn't dangeres.
    the person they need to blame is themselfs!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      chris hamblin, 16 May 2006 @ 1:23pm

      Re: stupid adults with small brains

      this is what i think aboult all this crap!
      violent video games dont create violent kids!
      thats like saying crack isn't dangeres.
      the person parents they need to blame is themselfs!
      sorry about befor had to fix it.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      George, 18 Dec 2006 @ 10:32am

      Re: stupid adults with small brains

      of course man

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Gamerdude, 19 Jun 2006 @ 2:10pm

    In my opinion

    You got to look at the history of violence, back in ancient times, most people blamed the books that had violent material in them.. Politicians and some narrow minded philosophers thought it had impact on the human brain and caused some stress to commit violent acts.

    They had some book burnings around 367 AD, and most of them included violent material. This made the book lovers, and philosophers to go on a strike on anti-censorship during those times.

    Now fast forward to the 1980's, there wasn't a lot of blame towards video games at that time, but at the violent movies that kids are exposed to.. Friday the 13th, Poltergeist, Nightmare on Elm Street, Hellraiser, Tom Holland's child's play.. A lot of parents shift the blame towards the media and television for making their kids do dumb stuff in the streets and committing juvenile acts.

    I lived around the 80's and I can tell you that it is BS, to blame violent movies degrading society. I asked a question to a father that had a son that's been in Juvenile detention many times.

    Did you raise him, and teach him from right and wrong? He goes yea, but it's the damn horror movies that's controlling him to behave that way.

    I didn't want to correct him or anything, I just wanted to see from his point of view.. Then I question myself. Did his son behave this way after watching Friday the 13th or Child's play? Or is he using these tactics as a scapegoat to hide his faults?

    I think that it was his own fault that he robbed a store, and beaten people up not because of the movies, but because of peer pressure and the people that influenced him to do these things.. He joined a crypt gang at the age of 15, and they accepted him as part of the family. He thought it was ok to beat people up, and steal because the leader of the crypt gang would tell him lies... Then when it's fed to him he becomes the product tied up in chains.

    Now let's fast forward to our modern day video games, there is a lot of controversy surrounding the hype of GTA, and other violent video games that cause kids to be violent.

    Jack Thompson is trying to get Game Developers to stop making these games because it's destroying the youth.. I mean come on, I've been gaming for years.. I played violent video games ever since 13, but did I pick up a sniper rifle and blow someone's head off? Nope, never in my life did I kill someone, and even if I did do something stupid like that on purpose, I wouldn't blame the video games, but I would blame myself.

    So the point I'm trying to make is a lot of people don't want to admit it's their fault for murdering, stealing, selling drugs. instead they blame it on Video games, Movies, Music, a bottle of shampoo, hairnets, hair pins, a mouse, a dog... for their violent acts.

    One thing that I do believe though is that, some video games can cause people to get mad when they lose, but does that always lead them to become Psychos?

    It makes me mad when the mainstream media exposes this lie; Violent video games causes people to be violent is BS, all research is doing is putting more money in their pockets, but still their is no link between fantasy violence causing people to Kill.. If that was really true, then we would all be killing someone if we touched GTA for the first time, or Doom for the first time; We would have WW3, and after that the apocalypse in 5 years, then the world would be a dry desert of nothingness.

    So Remember, we live in a nation of fear right now, and sometimes that fear can play tricks with most people's minds to accept that as the truth, but sometimes people need to look at the bigger picture instead of always believing and hearing what others say in the news, or research, etc.

    I hope this clears the misconception on video game violence.

    If I missed something then, emal me at furiousalma33@yahoo.com.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Matt, 2 May 2007 @ 6:33pm

      Re: In my opinion

      i have one thing to say to that....Amen my friend...our school is trying to oust games now...but for sure were adopting some of the ideas up there...were arguing it at the Board Meeting...thanks man

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    davidlow, 13 Jul 2006 @ 5:26am

    Cause and Effect

    If "there's no real link between violent video gaming and violent acts" then how could violent video games also "act as a way for kids to 'vent' their frustration, rather than taking actual action"?

    That's a contradiction. If video games prevent "taking actual action" then that's a link between the two. How about this:

    A link does exists between frustrated children with aggressive tendencies and their attraction to violent video games: The first causes the second. A link also exists between frustrated children with aggressive tendencies and their potential for actual violence: The first causes the second.

    So of course there's going to be a correlation between violent video games and actual violence. Neither one causes the other but both have the same cause: frustration and aggressiveness. Not that a kid who plays such a game has a problem, but a kid who is obsessed with such games at the expense of all other normal activities probably does have a problem. Violent video games can be an indicator for the likelihood of violence.

    Removing the indicator is silly. That's like removing umbrellas to stop the rain.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 8 Sep 2006 @ 9:06am

    all posted my juveniles

    ok so you think that violence does not breed violence then take it out of the equasion and what do you get perfect peace. all of these postings against "video violence" are probably posted by juveniles who are looking for another reason to blame "The oppression" the fact is and studies DO prove it to be true, that violence wether in video games or in the real world, breeds violence you can blame your parents all you want but at the end of the day you had the free will to do what ever you wanted anyway. so dont just blame it all on the parents. many times a day do I hear the students in the school that I work refer to a certain scene or a part of a game that was violent with a gleam or almost grandourus delight on their face. and dont tell me for a second that you sitting at home playing those games are not cheering yourself on as you kill or beat someone in the game or after you stop playing that you dont feel energized by what just happened or what you just did because if you say no then you most certainly are a liar. so the youth of today need to start taking accountability for their actions instead of just blaming it on mommy and daddy or "The Man"

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    concerned parent, 12 Sep 2006 @ 7:02am

    from a teens point of view

    i am a parent myself and i am still a teen also my problem is that the people that seem to let there kids buy the movies and the video games they are to be blamed just as much as the kids. our world has gotten so out of control with the parenting skills that they have to remind and teach parents how to block the violent cartoons and place video games on higher shelfs. so the parents that have a problem with there kids and violence need to take a look over there parneting skills then blame the games HINT TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM DONT BUY THE VIDEO GAMES AND THE MOVIES

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    J0nD03, 18 Sep 2006 @ 4:54am

    POV

    violent people buy violent videogames but so does everyone else. there are alot of violent games out there that can be finished without firing a single bullet or throwing a single punch, it's alot more of a challenge but really who would play them like that

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • fsu rocks!!!!!

    go fsu!!!!! we owed Miami!!!! were gona own the gators

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 28 Sep 2006 @ 11:42am

    Violent Games shouldn't be to blame for youth crime. Parents try to blame the Gaming Industry just because thats who made that game. Parents need to blame themselves for not raising their kid right.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Just a thought...., 24 Oct 2006 @ 12:56pm

    Common Sense and Media Violence

    Recently I have been judged a "bad parent" because I allow my seven year old to watch some violent movies, ( Blade, Underworld). This gave me the perfect topic for my thesis paper.
    COMMON SENSE AND MEDIA VIOLENCE.
    While researching for my paper, I realized a few things... There is a lot of the violent media in the world today.
    * The average American child spends 1,023 hours watching TV and only 900 hours in school. (Media Awareness Network, 2002)
    *Children will view 200,000 acts of violence and 40,000 murders by age 18. (S.C. Attorney General’s office, 2006)
    The government has done it's job of censoring the TV, Movies and Video Games and protecting our children from violence by putting rating systems into place, playing shows or movies with viewer discretion warnings, playing violent shows late at night, and having the V-chip in 13" or larger TV's since 1996.
    As parents I think we have given control to the government to protect our children from media violence. Why have we placed the blame game on the government? It is responsibility to raise our children and to keep them from harm, not anyone else's! I personally watch whatever she does, just so I can "cover her eyes" and keep her from that type of violence. I try to discuss movies, TV and video games with her, asking if she thinks they are real, or if she should do those things she sees to other ppl. I am trying and so far she seems to know the difference. In the end she has no one to blame but herself for the wrong things she does because she knows she made those choices.
    I think parents need to spend more time censoring what their children watch and help them understand what is right and wrong. When they choose to do the wrong thing there is and will be consequences.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Suzie, 1 Nov 2006 @ 8:30am

    none

    I think that violence in video games is a good way to vent, except when the result is death and blood splattering everywhere. There is no reason for such graphic violence.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    chris bass, 9 Nov 2006 @ 8:15am

    i think its true to some extent i mean if u play video games that are violent you might wanna be

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    ME, 30 Nov 2006 @ 8:36pm

    personal choice

    one big thing that people overlook is this: violent people seek out violent hobbies.

    people who kill other people, wont play games that dont involve killing people, its simple.

    the kids who attacked columbine highschool, when their house was searched, they found violent games. it wasnt because the games made them violent, its because they were crazy and thought about killing people, so they found a game where they could kill people. they went looking for it.

    violence has been in society as long as there has been society (probably before it too). kids have always played war games. how many young boys played army growing up? how many of those boys are now normal business men? how many shot people?

    people are inherently different. i myself am considered a violent person. im a martial art instructor, swordsmen and SCA heavy list fighter, so its not a large leap of logic to assume that i like games that have violent themes.

    if i like shooting classmates, id find a game that has it. but i like fighting with swords, so i find a game that has that. im sure someones done a study to see if NBA all stars played basket ball video games when they were kids, and ill bet some of them did, and some of them didnt.

    so, speaking as one of these aggressive, violent people, yes i like violent games,(i should also add that i love harvest moon, and animal crossing, two games without any violence) will i kill people because if it? no, since it seems like everytime i attack a couple hundred people with a sword, i die once or twice. and in the real world, i can only do that once.

    one more point, in one of the studies linked above, they say that there was a rise in violence in the 1960s... saying that it was movie violence that did it. im sure they will say that WWII had absolutly nothing to do with it. like they said the gulf war had nothing to do with the violence in the 90s, and how this current war in iraq has nothing to do with violence now. its all video games fault

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Scott Haskins, 6 Dec 2006 @ 9:10am

    wow

    this is very true i play violent video games all the time and i am one of the calmest ppl u would ever see

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    some1, 17 Dec 2006 @ 4:24pm

    hmmmm

    I dont think that video games cause violence in youth, but i do think that the youth that are playing these games think that they can do the same thing without worrying about the real concequences. if the parents let them play then w.e. but when anything happens they shouldnt blame the video games industry becuase its not their fault. parents need to know that their kids know that its just a game dont try this ever. plus i think some of these games actually help people take out their anger and frustration without harming anyone. but still they cant take it too far.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Doveed, 18 Dec 2006 @ 6:04pm

    Well, with all of this youth violence ive got to write a paper any other links to research.

    Next, there are a lot of violent games out there there's Halo 1 and 2, Call of Duty, Super Smash bros. if you think about it but they are just Games. If kids have good parenting and their parents know what they're getting into then they wont do anything. For me after I have played a violent game such as halo 2 with friends I feel hyper not like overreactive but I start laughing at stupid jokes and that sort of stuff its just fun to play those games. Also me and my friends are very agressive we will punch, kick and tackle eachother if were in the right mood. Its quite fun and is an example of just having FUN. games are not a cause of youth violence and neither are movies and the media. but if you allow them to soak in too much they will start to mess you up. back up at the top of the page someone said that they think it would be smart to not sell M rated games to people under 16. I totaly agree M games are just stupid to start out with they are the games that can screw you up. They will have you shoot and kill for no reason just to do it. Like grand theft auto for example. That is the STUPIDEST game i have ever heard of. all you do is kill and destroy with no objective or purpose. At least in halo and other games you are fufilling a command from your CO to defend the place you are at or take control of a major base.

    That is entirely my opinion if this seems at all irrelevent or non-orginized my bad. but more citations would be welcome

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Alex E., 30 Dec 2006 @ 8:44am

    If people cant tell the difference between video games and reality, and they do something retarded because of it then they should be in jail!!! One less MORON on the streets!!!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    mom c, 30 Dec 2006 @ 8:48am

    people make people violent, not video games, both my kids play video games and both are not violent, but let some one do some thing stupid to them and boy do they get pissed off.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Ian, 3 Mar 2007 @ 7:29pm

    Im sick of stupid rich pmsing little stay at home moms having nothing better to do in their ample amounts of spare time than to find reasons for their kids to not have fun.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    student,son,and gamer, 5 Mar 2007 @ 3:02pm

    ....

    let me tell you peaple a story.
    Before i was born,my father tried to kill me.
    he was on drugs(heroin,etc.)and didnt want to have to pay for me to live,and so he headbutted my mother over and over again to get rid of me.
    he played video games ever since they first came out.
    at age 2,i started playing video games(super mario,etc.)my mother knew how to raise us.i have played video games ever since.for the record i have As and Bs,and avoid conflict with other ppl mostly.i do have anger issues becuase i tend to bottle it up,but even when i release my anger,it is controlled,and even at my peak i would never intentionally kill somone unless they were going to kill me.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Fuck That!, 8 Mar 2007 @ 11:32am

    Tired Of The Pointless Argument

    You seem to have come to the reletive conclusion that violence in the media does not cause real violence, as some blind people tend to forget. Any one in here who plays games or watches TV or movies, or listens to music should know better than to think otherwise. What the people who accuse video games dont seem to realize is the rediculous blatency their own hypocriticality.

    Im sure 99% of them probably have a TV in their own home. If TV was really the problem, wouldnt they want to get it out of their house at the earliest possible moment? Wouldnt they want to delete all of their illegal mp3s, and burnt CDs, so they wouldnt be sucked into the influence of committing a possibly violent act?

    My point with asking this is to point out something that no one in here has mentioned up to this point. It doesnt trully seem to bother them too much, otherwise they would be safeguarding against it, ( the same way a person that believes in Satan wears a cross or sprinkles holy water to ward away the devils.)

    I know that if i had something that i trully believe was influencing my mind in a way that i didnt want it influenced, then i would get rid of it rick-e-tick.

    You can blame it on the parents and so forth. It is partially all of this. The thing is, you guys are trying to prove the unprovable. You CANT prove that bad parenting, and NOT video games, is the cause for violence. You can only prove that video games DONT cause violence. All the rest should be left alone. Allow the "experts" run their mouths. As long as they dont have concise evidence then nothing can really be done about it. We already know that there never can be any real vidence (that isnt influenced by interest) because of the fact that free will exists, and everyones free will and concience is different. Different things are wrong for different people.

    The simple fact of the matter is that if one of the sides dont give up the argument, or if they dont come up with an agreeable solution, then this argument will remain forever. It will be a perpetual cycle of "this causes... yeah well this causes... that doesnt cause..."

    If we know we are right, then why dont we be the mature ones and take the high road. Let them bitch and bicker about it all they want. Its much more undignifying to laugh at their accusations than it is to return fire. Think about that.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Bygone, 12 Mar 2007 @ 4:03pm

    I don't think that any of these games would be any kind of prolemb if we can teach our kids good from bad... I don't think it would be very hard to teach a young kid that going around and killing people is a bad thing... There is always going to be the bad "gang" people that don't care about other people but we might as well take care of what is possible, to lower the percent of this

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    ryan, 4 Apr 2007 @ 9:14am

    Everyone is raised differently and reacts differently towards violence. Saying that violent video games affect childern would be wrong.
    I would say both that vilent video games sometimes releave stress from kids that are mad thus decreasing the amount of outbreaks, and in other cases they cause some calm kids to become more violent.
    i would say that is why violence in children has not increased or decreased with video games coming out.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Dyllan, 16 Apr 2007 @ 11:52am

    Im 15 years old i get straight A's and all my teachers like me now looking at these facts about me you would never know that love to play violent games especially grand theft auto but the idea of actually shooting someone or jacking a car dosnt cross my mind i would never dream of it and i know alot of not so smart people who play violent games who wouldnt think of it either. The problem with kids being violent is not caused by video games. But bad parenting can cause violent acts in kids. Most kids who join gangs for example probably have a terrible life at home abuse parent relitives with drug problems etc but how many people with nice homes and parents who set a perfict example join gangs non. It parents neglect their children then those children while find someone who cares about them such as friend's and some times those friends set bad examples leading to violent acts .Bad parenting dosnt directly cause violence but can help lead the kid to commiting violent acts.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    kidjustice, 23 Apr 2007 @ 1:34pm

    games and youth violence

    that is a load of bull.games dont makekids violent?yeah, maybe they dont but, they sure help promote it with games such as san andreas and liberty city stories

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    "Superman" Sam, 30 Apr 2007 @ 12:42pm

    Rediculous

    Personally I don't think you can blame video games. It's more like the parents fault, but since they don't want to look bad they blame it on things they don't like in the society. I have played violent video games since nintendo was created, and becauseI was raised properly with the knowledge of right from wrong I am able to keep video games from being close to influencing on my behavior. Parents need to take responsability if they don't want thier children playing then keep them from doing it. I can go on and on but realistically you'll be keeping your children ignorant instead of just teaching them that they cannot do what occurs in video games. If we outlaw violence in video games why not outlaw violence from everything. Oh thats right you can't!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      dyllan, 1 Jun 2007 @ 12:22pm

      Re: Rediculous

      Thank god some else understands what im sayin. Ill say this like i sayed in my first 2 postes, IF YOUR RAISED BY GOOD PARENTS (BECOUSE WE ALL KNOW THAT WHEN WE ARE LITTLE KIDS WE WANT TO ACT LIKE THEM) THEN WE WILL GROW UP AND BE JUST LIKE THEM

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    ali, 1 Jul 2007 @ 11:04am

    pokemon

    Hi there people i just love playing pokemon video games

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    gb, 2 Oct 2007 @ 11:00am

    gangs

    gangs rock get over it

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    johnbutt, 17 Mar 2008 @ 8:06pm

    Common Sense

    every kid in the world have shotguns and uzi's and are waiting for that one violent video game or show so they can start using them. GET REAL PEOPLE!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    devon fairchild, 19 Sep 2008 @ 7:25am

    video games do not cause violence in the youth

    video games are a way for kid to escape from the world around them. It puts kids in a fake world that is inless. Its a way for kids to take the stress that is around them and forget it without harming anyone.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Bacon, 1 Apr 2010 @ 8:59am

    Video games

    Thanks, this will help me on my persuasive essay.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    tahbaaaaa, 1 Jun 2011 @ 7:12pm

    hi

    coool story bro

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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