Quote:
Originally Posted by iceman
Chris - it's a game. I can full well understand the difference between playing a game, and going out and doing "the real thing" in a real war.
There's no comparison. You can't lump every 16 year old gamer into a category that fits everyone who's ever played a "shoot 'em up" game.
You can have your opinions but not everyone has to agree with them.  With your own admission that you haven't ever played them, you honestly can't claim to be an expert on their effect on people's minds. |
I think that you seem to be taking this as an attack on you Mike - it's not. My beef is with the concept, not the players.
I have played them Mike - or at least tried to. They bore me stupid, so I never persisted.
No, I can't lump every 16 y/o gamer into the same basket - and neither have I attempted to. Others have:
http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-...389906_25.html
Quote:
Last week the University of Michigan released a study that links playing violent video games and viewing violent content as a child to adulthood violence. The research, which dates back to the 1960’s when the lead scientist interviewed 856 third graders (and then tracked them for 30 years), found that repeated exposure to violent television shows and video games have a stronger influence on aggressive behavior than being poor, having a substance abuse or growing up with abusive parents.
“The study supports what has long been suspected: Viewing violent ‘entertainment’ and participating in ‘virtual violence’ have profoundly serious implications for society,” read the press release regarding the study. According to the researchers, video games, particularly the first person shooter games, could be more “dangerous,” than watching violent television shows or movies.
Contributing researcher Brad Bushman, a professor of psychology and communications studies at the University of Michigan, said that playing violent video games changes brain function, desensitizing repeat players to real life violence.
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So - while these kids may not be turned into dangerous, bloodthirsty raving lunatics - they probably
are the type to sit there and watch, passively, while some poor bloke gets bashed right in front of them by a 14-year-old girl and her mates for a wallet full of pocket money, and do absolutely nothing about it while they lick their paddle pops.
To balance this, there are also of articles stating the exact opposite. I did a Google search on "link games to violence".
I don't see the point in them - I don't see why we NEED to have them - is there a good reason that you can tell me? Apart from all of this I can see them as a huge waste of time. I only have to look at ALL of my neighbour;s 12-year-olds to see what kind of socially inept, introverted little whackos they are who can't go anywhere without their PSP's - or it's tantrum time. Sheesh! Have they even heard of a football in the local park - or can't they go there because lawers have turned the local park into a "safety zone".