We very rarely cover current, non-tech events on this site, simply because they don’t often overlap with our mission to bring tech news to a broad audience. However, I’ve decided to post on the various reactions to the Virginia Tech shooting from pundits who blame violent behavior on video games.
Like the gun-control issue, which I won’t even begin to comment upon, the link between video games and violence is fraught with conflicting and staunchly-held views. As a new parent and gamer, I, too, am unsure as to where I stand on “mass murder simulators” as Clive Thompson described some of the games available today. But I do know they are important.
I know the adrenaline rush of a Counter-Strike headshot just as I understand that these things are not real, that war games have been played for centuries — probably since we separated our instinctual predatory instincts from our social instincts — and that they are valid release that can potentially defuse violent conflict in real life. I know this because gaming, in my teen years, was my refuge from a world I did not nor could not understand.
I was reading a report in the New York Times that struck me:
Joe Aust, who shared Room 2121 at Harper Hall with [Cho Seung-Hui], said he had spoken to Mr. Cho often but had received only one-word replies. Later, Mr. Aust said, Mr. Cho stopped talking to him entirely. Mr. Aust would sometimes enter the room and find Mr. Cho sitting at his desk, staring into nothingness.
Nothingness. He wasn’t staring into Doom or GTA. He wasn’t raging against monsters on the screen — he was raging against monsters inside himself.
I’m still unsure how and when to expose my son to video games, violent or not, but I know that with care and parenting I can make him understand that the images on the screen don’t reflect the rules of real life. Fantasy and violence will always be with us and one of the few ways we have expressed this is through storytelling. I don’t think these games simulate mass murder, they simulate dreams. Anyone who has woken from a dream of flying will understand the fantasy value of games like Lost Planet and movies like Superman. Anyone who has dreams of frightening things or of doing frightening things will understand the cathartic value of GTA and films like Grindhouse. These products of imagination give us sensation and experience without forcing us to resort to jumping from high places or, much more tragically, waging war. Unfortunately, to many who do not understand them, these simulations also seem like rehearsals for real life, a horrible misconception that has branded many books, movies, and now games as “immoral” throughout the ages.
Games, books, and movies are communicated thought. While many will say that playing games rewires our brains to do bad things, video games are the products of human effort and intention and reflect our frailty, failings, and violence. Games, unlike weapons, are not tools. They do not bring our intentions into the physical world. Instead, they are a paltry reflection of the real and offer solace and comfort to many who fear or do not understand this selfsame world. Disturbed individuals don’t use games to train for violence — the violence is already in them. To say that gaming stimulates only evil is like saying reading the Bible or any other holy book stimulates only good. Reality is too complicated to blame polygons, moving pictures, or letters on a page.
Here is a list of links I’ve found commenting on this topic and I encourage you to add your opinions as well. What happened at Virginia Tech was a tragedy, but rushing to judgment on any of the myriad, granular facets of that tragedy is wrong and wrong-headed.
When will the video games industry fight back against Jack Thompson? [Infendo]
Did Va. Tech Murderer Learn From Video Games [Newsmax]
You Grew Up Playing Shoot’em-Up Games. Why Can’t Your Kids? [Wired]
Rush Limbaugh DOESN’T Blame Games For VT Shootings [FiringSquad]
Feature: Dissecting Jack’s Lies [Kotaku]
I have to say that I agree with the majority of what you’ve presented. It is tragic that so many place the onus of responsibility on violent video games. Sadly, this is probably a result of the PC (politically correct not personal computer) world in which we live. The private sector is increasingly less skilled at teaching children the difference between right and wrong. Bad parents proliferate and are so complacent that the necessary lessons these children need to distinguish between fantasy and real life doesn’t exist. Our public sector is so terrified of betraying the private sector (like religious belief and parental guidance) that many children have no moral compass. Teachings won’t teach how to be only what to know. So, their world view is developed from mainstream media like movies and video games. Clearly, however, these games and movies aren’t intended to act as teaching tools. They are forms of entertainment that appeal to many of us because they are therapeutic. It may not be the best of our humanity at play but it certainly shouldn’t be banned, blamed, or censored simply because our country won’t sack up and teach children right from wrong and fantasy from reality.
Admittedly, video games have been used in a military context to support training and clearly games can serve an educational function. To dismiss the impact that games and movies have would be complacent. However, the “lessons” such media might teach have always been offset by the ethical current running through the individual experiencing the medium.
In the end we might very well be able to blame violence in the media for awful things people do but there is a huge jump between playing Doom and shooting a campus full of people. Whatever occurs between playing in violence and acting in violence is certainly not typical and the vast majority of those who consume violent media do not generate violent acts. The argument that it engenders hatred or a desire to act in like manner is mostly untrue. However, research does indicate that violent media may cause what George Gerbner refers to as “mean world” syndrome where people acquire a greater fear of the world based on their media experiences. Regardless, the damage media causes is negligible when compared to the lack of moral sense a person has prior to experiencing the violent fantasy.
For most of us, fantasy and reality are separate and cognitively very different. Though overlap does exist and the desire for certain fantasy to become reality is inevitable, Grand Theft Auto is probably not the way most of us would live despite our enjoyment of the game. When faced with real violence versus fantasy violence, the actual harm and emotion is very different from that of a game. We are simply not what we play.
I would also like to add that at E3 in 1999, just a month after Columbine, Doug Lowenstein (president of the IDSA, later ESA) held up a game controller during his keynote address and basically said that if a controller can teach you to shoot… then it can teach you to drive a racecar. I don’t see too many NASCAR drivers training on their Xbox 360!
I would also point out that it has been reported that at Columbine the two shooters also often quoted Shakespeare. I don’t see that mentioned too often.
You’re my heeerooo
But seriously, if someone follows what they see/play in video games, then there’s something already wrong with them, video games didn’t change them.
GTA is one of my favorite video game series, but I’m not going to go purchase a rocket launcher and go blow up cars at rush hour traffic, rocket launchers are too expensive.
Ha, all jokes aside, the Need For Speed and Gran Turismo series are also some other great games, but I don’t street race even though I am into cars. There are places and times designated for that if that’s what you’re into. Just like the shooter games. If you like shooting things, try the army.
There was an experiment done by a British professor. The professor asked 140 of the most violent adolescents in Britain if they played violent videogames. None of them actually played any videogames, apparently they had better things to do.
The reason this is bogus is right at the bottom of the video. The ultra-sensationalist, fear-mongering, debautchery of a network, Fox News. Rupert Murdoc’s shining light. Someone help us… The president watches that shite.
poop
Brittanie sucks balls she stupid
u suck poop
personally i don’t think video games affect you. If your instable to begin with then you shouldn’t be playing games that could make you get all hyper and try to blow up the world. I’m writing a research report about the effects of video games. Please give me your oppinion on things.
P.S CS kicks butt
I agree with you totally.
Many people play video games, obviously, so why isn’t every one else wanting to do these things? The rest of us aren’t sick in the head, that’s why. It’s not video games, it’s the people. And as for children, yeah, they don’t know better. But that’s why you don’t give the gun to a 5 year old. Any rated R games or even PG13 are sold to adults for a reason, because if you’re mature enough, you can handle the graphics and nature. If you’re of age and can not, you’re mental, and should have never bought it.
OMG Kikki, they arnt rated R or PG13 its E for evryone, T for teen, or M for mature ! Get it right! No I do not think that video game effect you.
Cool that was posted fast… most websights it takes like 24 hours to post…
Halo 1, 2, and 3 are the best games ever!
PS. Halo is rated M not R Kikki!
In the US you are correct, however, in Canada, as well as well as many other countries. They use the general ratings we use for our movies for video games. The ESRB is not international.
Sweet, I totally agree
me to thats exactly what i think
Right now I’m doing a report on how violent video games affect the behavior of kids and young teens. I think that some of the games do affect the way kids act, think, and feel.
For me, video games do not cause violence at all. Majulah sukan untuk kampung!
i play video games and so do most of the people reading this, yet i have yet to kill anyone, and i am sure that not many if any of you have either. video games, just like guns, don’t kill people, people kill people. this whole crap about video games is just a scapegoat for the real problem; bad parenting and poor diagnosis of mental/psychological/personaltiy disorders in kids. why don’t legislators do something about that first instead of attacking the thing that makes sure that i don’t go killing people.
I totaly agree with you I play first person shooters and have yet to kill some one other then in the game
Video games don’t cause violence
people should get over there selves…
Why does everyone just focus on videogames? Movies are just as violent.
this is one of the best articles that i’ve read on this topic. i am doing a research on video game violence and its affects in school and this supports my thinking exactly
video games are CCOOLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i agree with brittny haahahahahahahaha
Im doind a project on why video games dont cuse violence in youths and this web site rocks i hoppe you guys have preorderd your copy of GEARS OF WAR 2
( )Y( )
by the way my gamer tag is (the FALLOUT X)
In GTA, you can do whatever you want without actually getting hurt, doing isanely impossible things, and when you die you come back to life. If you can do all of those impossible things in the game, why the hell would you want to do it in real life?
Dude, go to
http://www.apa.org/science/psa/sb-anderson.html
That will prove that Violent video games DO cause violence
your a retard they don’t
I agree with all the video gamers people kill people not games or objects im a gamer and i love it i do insane stuff in video games that i cant do in real world and i keep it that way
@Bob
Just because a website says that something is a fact does not make it so. I recommend you do some back research on that. For example, his claim that all studies on video games have shown that they cause aggression is itself false. Look up some published research on your own, there are many studies out there that have yielded mixed results.
But please don;t take my word for it, look it up yourself.
Bob, that website holds no proof. All it is making are claims, there’s nothing there to back it up, no research or data. I suggest you find someone who has research this issue and has put up their results before saying that what they say is true.
video games actually can help people. to see what i mean go to: (copy & paste it) http://find.galegroup.com/ovrc/retrieve.do?subjectParam=Locale%2528en%252C%252C%2529%253AFQE%253D%2528su%252CNone%252C11%2529video%2Bgames%2524&contentSet=GSRC&sort=Relevance&tabID=T010&sgCurrentPosition=0&subjectAction=DISPLAY_SUBJECTS&prodId=OVRC&searchId=R1¤tPosition=28&userGroupName=hend30035&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&sgHitCountType=None&qrySerId=Locale%28en%2C%2C%29%3AFQE%3D%28SU%2CNone%2C11%29video+games%24&inPS=true&searchType=BasicSearchForm&displaySubject=&docId=EJ3010289216&docType=GSRC
nm about the copy and paste thing lol
Well First of all i totally agree that video games do NOT cause violence… one way i tell is that i too am i vivid Halo 3 player and ive never had a thought of going out and buying a battle rifle and go out on a killing spree. But secondly thats for helping me out because at the moment im working on a essay about How Video Games Don’t Cause Violence and this site has helped me alot .
I agree completely. Video games cause no more violence than the movies we see on t.v. Who is anyone to tell me how enraged a video game will make me feel? Nobody thats who. This has helped me out alot with my studies on teen violence thanks!!!!
i have to say i agree that video games are not the major factor to violence and i just wanted to say thanks for putting it so well. thank you
i think that video games do not change the way people think and do, cause ive been playing GTA and like Counter-Strike for 3 years now and i dont see my self doing anything dangerous or murderous, even my 7 year old little cousin plays freakin GTA and……. well i cant really tell what hes thinkin inside of his head but i hope its not bad :O
but seriously if you think violent video games change the behaviour of teens and kids then your messed cause if that was true, then your basically saying every single kid/teen in this world would be killing each other, right?
im sick of everyone focusing on video games, TV shows, movies, BOOKS!!!!!! can be just as violent. People who blame video games for everything are retards. Plain and simple.