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 Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 8:57 pm
Okay, it's not quite the 'OMG I'M SUPER PROUD OF THIS AND I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU ALL' type thing, but I've seen this arguement a lot before, and I'd love to share my essay on it.
The arguement?
"Are video games to blame for the violence that teenagers show these days on the news?"
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Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 8:58 pm
Games and Blames Games. To some people, the first thing that comes to mind is a fun, stress-reliving activity that usually involves computers or a gaming console. To others, however, dangerous, violence-loving and gun-craving teens sprout to mind. But why do games get more attention than T.V. shows in the influence area? Would it be because they’re interactive, and they put the player into a realistic situation? Some people think that way, but realistically, games give people something to put their minds to, where as television lets them sit and rot. The media should stop portraying gamers as being aggressive, teenage boys who are dangerous.
For one, people can be influenced a lot more ways than just games. It’s just more convenient to do so. With games, the gamer has to set up the console, sit down, and play. He can’t do anything else; his fingers are occupied, and it would be very hard to play and pace at the same time. However movies, and television can be watched virtually anywhere; in the theatre, at home, in the office, on a computer, at school, on a projector, and even in your car. Newspapers can be read in those places and also outside, on the bus, or in the subway. Music can be listened to in even more places. And what some tend to miss is that all of these activities are just as influential to people as games are, and could be even more because of their easier accessibility. Even books are very influential. They explain more, picture less, and let the mind go to work. And once again, it’s more convenient than video games.
Another thing is not all gamers are boys. Many are girls, and to prove this, the games that make the most money are those that are targeting both genders like, the Sims, The Legend of Zelda, or Final Fantasy, to name the most popular. Girls, on average being less physical than guys, tend to be less easily provoked into physical violence and injury then the latter. Instead, they are more verbal and look for something to take it out on, like a stuffed animal, or a nice game.
Also, gamers aren’t all teenagers. In fact, most of them are not. There are plenty of adult gamers. After all, it’s adults who program them, but most games are aimed towards elementary school kids. Need a reason? Not only do elementary school kids have the freest time to play games, but they also have the most money. They can have their parents buy them games for random occasions. It’s harder for most teenagers to get money out of parents for things like this, and there is a stage of time where they also can’t get a job. So for a lot of teenagers, buying the newest popular games for their retail price of $50.00 is out of the question.
Now, people should stop stereotyping gamers to be violent teenage boys who are influenced by what video games they play. Other things, certainly not just games, can influence them; they are not all boys, and not all teenagers. Please, don’t blame the gamers! See what kind of games that are being bought and be careful of what is chosen. But don’t blame the games, there are other things you can point guilt on.
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Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 9:00 pm
Like I said, it's not my best, but it's a conversation starter. sweatdrop
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Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 6:40 pm
Oo good topic, nice essay too. Hope it's ok if I add my two cents in too.
I would say that video games aren't to blame, they may contribute in some individuals but as a whole I would say no. I can speak from expirence on this one of my favorite video games is Killzone. I tend to enjoy watching more than playing because I tend to fine the controls not to my tastes. With that said I enjoy watching someone play any of the SOCOM series, and yes there is blood, gore and other lovely little bits, but in real life I can stand the sight of blood, but I don't enjoy seeing it. Like little animals on the freeway, granted playing 'name that road kill' with my sister to gross my mom out is just for fun, but I don't enjoy seeing death and blood and guts opened up and spread all over the side walk/street.
Some people would say that seeing an animal dead and a person dead is different, I'm not going to argue because I've never seen a body in person, even on TV though when they do a good job of making the guts all squishy and life like I find it quite...gag worthy, mush like in Black Hawk Down The blood and guts were very well done, and I will admit it turned my stomach and I think I almost barfed once or twice.
So not I would say that video games are to blame, they may desensitize you to in game blood and gore, and a few people even to real blood, but much less likely I think. Honetly I say that society is to blame. It may sound like a cop out but if you think about it did we have the issues that we do now when people were allowed to actually duke out their issues rather than taking the we all have to get along route, granted people got hurt but was it really as bad as it is now.
Just a thought. Hope I didn't bore anyone to tears.
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Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2006 8:35 pm
"Are video games to blame for the violence that teenagers show these days on the news?"
My question to this statement is why is it video games? We watch movies, advirtisements, hell we can even listen to the radio and get the same message that a video game can give. The only thing is in a game you DO the action. Though, in a movie or advirtisment sometimes you feel like you want to be THAT character, and do what daring thing that they did. Or do what the person said on that very radio station. People these days that say that are partually right, except for the fact that you must be mentally traumatized or somewhat mentally unstable for you to play that. I've played shooter games ever since i've had a computer. And do you see me shooting people in rampages? I've owned the most bloodiest, randomest, kill for fun games but do you see me doing that to people? I watch movies like hostel, Dawn of the Dead, The Hills Have Eyes, and various movies that have large amounts of killing and gore for no apparent reason only for the satisfaction of killing things and it doesn't scare me. It does not want me to kill people or torture them just because, it only takes me away from reality to relax for a while or scare friends because they actually think this could happen.
The people that say that video games create violence have no played games in reality. Instead of playing that very game that you have means that you are actually away from ways that people can affect your judgements and actually get you in trouble depending on the person you are with. And with that it gives no justice... There are a few people that will actually do it, but you can not tell me that they were completely sane when something like that happens? If you are sane person then you must know the difference from a game where a bullet will only create several lines of code to do something on the screen and hurt the character then holding a gun and pointing it at someone and then pulling the trigger at their face. Those are the type of people that are lost in La-la land. I've had friends that have played shooter games, I've even handed them replica BeeBee gun weapons that my uncle had and empty clip guns. Never once did they ever CONSIDER aiming and firing a weapon at one another (Except for beebee guns cause we all had armor and we realised that it was a beebee gun and those only sting, and don't take lives as long as you're... a few feet away.)
I must confess, playing shooting games all my life has made me mad at times when people have constantly fraged me. (damn hacking SOBS! XD) And the internet speaking of "OH I'MMA GOING TO FIND YOU AND KILL YOU" are just normal things, they are empty threats and if they are taken seriously and actually followed out then the person is a raving lunatic and they take something that was ment for enjoyment, letting off of steam, or just plain old fun and making it serious. Games are not for overly serious people, especially online games.
The media only targets the video games because we actually interact with the game and actually can kill people. But what about the movies? What about the people that kill each other, torture others, destory buildings, and all of the like? People have covered that before, but they say it doesn't do it as much as a video game? Just because we aren't physically doing something such as blasting someone away doesn't mean we aren't doing it mentally either. Watching television can be just the same way as video games. If one is to take away the video games, then I demand they take away PG 13 movies, as it influences people to swear because they are allowed to in the movies and do other unmannerable things in them too. And also take away all pornographic images on the internet and take away the internet as a whole, since we wouldn't want our children to take bad mannerisms from other people. People with this mentality should not be given any resources that deal with any bad mannerisms or anything a teenager can learn from for only a day and see how narrow minded that very statement is, because it is not the game that influences us to kill, steal, rape, or do other things. And if it does, then that person have a very weak will and an even weaker mind for such pointless pixels and numbers.
And my rant concludes with a... I don't know i'm too tired to think up something witty.
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 2:31 pm
This is my overly simplified way of answering the question are video games to blame although I realize that it will probably open this for more debate on other matters if someone choses to.
Are video games to blame?
No, it's the parents of the children to make sure that they know right and wrong, granted no child is going to listen to everything their parents say but there is one way to demonstrate this that worked for someone in my family.
My uncle always emphasized gun safety partially because they lived in alaska and where they were they had bears running around so everyone needed to know how to use a gun for their own safety. To emphasize how dangerous guns can be he took them out and shot a rabbit, but not a killing blow (I know that PETA would have a field day with this.) He did this to demonstrate that guns can be very dangerous and what can happen if they're used improperly. He made sure that the rabbit didn't suffer for very long and did put it out of its misery. One thing that can be said for this method none of my cousins use guns lightly or in jest.
I'm by no means saying that this is the only or best way to deal with this issue, I know I wouldn't go about it the same way but it does make my point, it's the parents responsibility to ensure that their kids know the dangers of guns/violence.
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