Comments on: The Link Between Video Games and Violence

By: Evan

Evan — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 13:29:14 +0000

I have finally found someone who agrees with me. Thank you. It is true that people relate violence to video games as a scapegoat. To me, I believe video game actually enhance my vocabulary to an extent and makes me focus more in activities I do. Although, I believe any teenager can play a rated M game. Recent studies actually show teens that are younger than 17 actually buy the most rated M games. Sales are more directed to the teens for these games. Also I believe girls can play whatever games they want to. What’s the reason girls cannot play rated M games? These games can relate to reality, but does not show if they will act the same way they do in games. In GTA4, my friend shoots police men and has fake police men chase after him. But he doesn’t do that in real life. I don’t think video games should be connected to violence and reality.

By: Icyninja

Icyninja — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 05:05:50 +0000

I’m writing a persuasive speech on this topic and i fully agree that video games dont make children violent to those in the real world, yes people get caught up in games and yell angrily i do too, bu still if one cannot define that line between fantasy and reality then they should not play video games, I am however against those that are to young or immature playing mature video games, the 7 year old next to me plays GTA (grand theft auto) and even he can define that line. Is it right that he plays that game and his mother allows it? no not at all he is still far to immature, but having the ability to define between real and fake is a great skill for him to have right now

By: Games Guy

Games Guy — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 23:37:33 +0000

I’m a guy who is kind of conflicted about video game violence. I like violent games, but I do seem to have a moral issue with some of the violence such as sniping innocent people in the head for example. I still play then but I can’t help but feel messed up a bit.
Anyway I thought this article was one of the most fair on the subject. I agree that everything is okay in moderation and parents do need to understand the social aspect of gamers for a lot the kids today. A lot of their friends are online. So to take away VG as a punishment needs to be done fairly.
But kids do need to escape the bedroom and play outdoors too.

Good read cheers!!!

By: shad0cat

shad0cat — Wed, 18 May 2011 05:44:10 +0000

Actually the girls havn’t demonstrated the corrolation between violent video games and irritability. They’ve demonstrated the corrolation between sexist bigotry and irritability. Guess what? When you make sexist comments girls get irritable.

By: Jenn

Jenn — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 06:50:39 +0000

I don’t follow part of the conclusion: Girls especially should not play M-rated games. That’s just ridiculous. Where in any article does it say girls can’t differentiate between fantasy violence and real violence? Where does it say girls are affected more by violence? I am an avid gamer (and a girl, if my name “Jenn” wasn’t enough of a clue), a mother, and I enjoy playing violent video games as much as my husband does. Granted, neither of us play the game BECAUSE it is violent, unless we want to “blow off some steam.” I prefer RPGs, like Oblivion and Fallout, but they are just as “violent” as Call of Duty, perhaps even more so with Fallout deaths often coming in the form of bloody explosions with body parts and eyeballs flying around the screen. The first thing I plan to teach my daughter about video games is that it is all pretend, just like when she plays with dolls or pretends she’s a princess. When I feel she is capable of knowing the difference between real and virtual, I don’t have a problem with her playing games, as long as I have played it to know if it is appropriate to my individual child- not some number someone else put on a box.

By: rose

rose — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 13:03:22 +0000

Indeed issues on the relevance of video games and violence is a heated one. I cannot blame the comment of one person and the other person with regards to the author’s article. However, i think before we post our comments, it is much wiser to think and grasp fully the article first before tapping that keys. Think before you speak as the adage goes Just as think before you type. The author is just stating to put all things in moderation and he maybe making just rough samples as to how long a moderate and an excessive video game playing should be. To Megan, i don’t think you have achieved such grades and i even doubt if you ever have time for studies, friends and families at all given that you play video games in more than 8 hours. The way you communicate also determines the way you handle yourself so i really am doubtful with your post regarding your academic records. on one hand, kudos to those who have understood the article well. yes, there maybe some slight arguments there but at least the arguments are laid out properly. So again, before posting any comment, make it sensible.

By: Nick

Nick — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 02:05:08 +0000

On the subject of females being able to play games or if they should. There are no reasons why they shouldn’t be aloud or no differenced between a male player and a female player. My opinion is that females would be less of a risk of committing violent acts and that there is no reason that it should be looked down on that they play shooting games or online games. “ Its only fun to play violent video games because when I cap a police man in the head in GTA4, I don’t REALLY get in trouble. I have fake police men chasing after me. None of it is real, and I’d never want to harm anyone like that in any way. “ Sophie a female gamer puts this into words very well this is the main reason behind video games. Why should males only get to enjoy it? Video games don’t say males only and a female gaming community is starting to grow as more girls start to reveal their love for video games. I think this is a good thing because games are suppose to be enjoyed by all people as on of the most entertaining things on the planet.

By: Nick

Nick — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 01:31:34 +0000

GamERgirl, I think the case with your cousin is somewhat extreme yeah some games require a lot of time to play to be considered “good” or to be successful in a game. If his passions are in video games there are a lot of options he can take when he is older, there are many players just like him that have made a lot of money by getting sponsorships from computer and other game companies in which they can end up making 6 figure salaries. “If the line does become blurred, would this person start behaving differently in reality? Do you think this would ever possibly lead to violent acts, including killing, (as they do in games) especially if they feel there are no consequences?” When someone is obsessive gamer they tend to intertwine their life with the game it sort of becomes one. Kids don’t tend to bring the acts of the game into real life, but let the in-game stuff become their life. They don’t mix the two one just consumes the other. I know this because my sibling was in the same situation when he played an online game. He just talked about everything that would happen in game and talked in abbreviated words and such.

By: Nick

Nick — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 01:15:21 +0000

Ratty, you make some very good points especially about the fact that there is instant gratification that people look for when they play video games. Thats why games today have become so intense its to get that sense or rush of excitement. Games allow you to do things that you’d never think possible in your own life. It puts you in scenarios where you can create your own player to make it to the major leagues like in MLB The Show, or play as a knight in rome. Even things like MLG have created a different view and for FPS games I know that people tend to look at the skill of being able to kill someone in those games and compete to make money. I think the main idea of violence has evolved into something beyond violence but people now tend to look past that and look more at how realistic games are becoming in portraying what actually happens. What I mean is like the cinematic and graphic side of the games are looked at before the amount of action in a game are looked at. Violence in games has become 2nd nature and is barely thought about anymore.

By: Nick

Nick — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 00:52:01 +0000

This is a highly debated topic and there are going to be cases of video games around the world that can cause violence in a youth’s life, but it is clear that overall this is not a issue when it comes to violence amongst teens. Being someone who plays video games and has grown up with them I know the effects of them and have never come across a situation where someone has been influenced by a game to do something. I think that it is silly to point fingers at video games just because of the violent nature of the games. Music or movies could also be turned to, I think that music and singers have more influence over kids than video games do. Songs singing about killing or doing drugs which are listened to constantly I feel have more of a influence on kids. Rappers like Lil Wayne, Snoop Dog, who thrive off of smoking weed and singing about making money and getting with girls are not the ideas that kids should be hearing. I mean I do listen to this music but I think its exposure to such young kids should be dealt with.

By: matt

matt — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 23:52:46 +0000

hey BIGEEE me too man, me too

By: Justin

Justin — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 11:46:41 +0000

I this is… unrealistic. I am a teen I play video games… It is my form of therapy. Over the years it has helped me greatly. I am 15. Two years ago my “spazzing” stopped. Years of pain and misery gone like that. I know many girls who play “violent” video games. Also why is everyone pointing fingers at video games? So its fine to let children watch very violent tv and movies and not let them play video games? Hypocrites.

By: MaryDuffy

MaryDuffy — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:08:13 +0000

Lots of people here have made some excellent good points. My own opinion is that Charles Manson never watched or played one single violent video. And Squeaky Fromm –a follower– either. To correlate violence and video games is a waste of time. Anyone who is familiar with these type of studies knows that statistics may be not only tampered with, but also forced and biased. After so many years of psychological studies boy still play with fire trucks and girls with dolls. Aren’t some basic genetics differences? Girls get bored more easily than boys; therefore, they give less time to videos.

By: professor guerrero

professor guerrero — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:49:59 +0000

Correlational studies are all based on statistics and the bell curve; as a result many variable are left out, rendering the studies incomplete at best. Useless at worst.
Aggression is an inborn trait, and it can be tamed just as other inherent traits such as lust, envy, and revenge. All in all, I like the article. It is provocative to say the least.

By: Ratty

Ratty — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 04:55:28 +0000

The aspect that always fascinated me is not how the games depict violence, but that violence is given as the main solution to problems. Games also feed people’s desires for instant gratification – that is a major factor in the more compelling games and a powerful combination with the visceral violet actions. If you engage in that enough through roleplay (via games), you must learn that ‘violence solves my immediate problems’ on some level.

Our streets are a much more violent place than they used to be. People seem to be far more demanding, and more aggressive (though not necessarily resorting to physical violence). Maybe even the level of a violent act has to be higher now than it was before just to garner the court’s attention and feed the statistics quoted.

Where is it that we modeled this behavior as socially appropriate? Movies and games.

Who seriously believes that a teen, who would barely talk to a parent anyway but might spend over 20 hours a week in a game, would follow a parent’s lead or that of the powerful media images glorified in our society? How many are strong enough to make the right choice?

But even if the teen sector isn’t showing an increase in aggression, then is the adult sector? Seeing as how they are the main game market anyway…maybe the real message is that the adults don’t cope with it well?

Just food for thought.