26 replies to this topic

[rayzoredge]

I believe that it is a bit of both. It really depends on many factors, especially factors dealing with the person being exposed to the content. As we live and grow, our behavior develops on the experiences that we go through growing up. We form our reactions, thoughts, and methods of thinking on these foundations.

Examples: 1.) If you were sexually abused by a family member, you may develop a fear and general distrust of people altogether. 2.) If you were raised to fight and bully others, you might resort to violence to solve problems in the future.

Video games as an influencing factor work the same way, in my opinion. Anything that is able to influence the development of a child will sway their behavior in the future towards the subject matter. Fortunately enough, most kids are old enough to think for themselves and are not exactly swayed to terrorize and kill a bunch of their fellow classmates after playing a game of Halo. However, some kids are literally mentally undeveloped enough to accept the idea that video game violence portrays an acceptance of violence in reality, and thus they will adapt to the idea that violence in society is okay.

Basically, what I'm saying is that if you raise a child around violence, that child will most likely have more of a violent behavior as his/her thought process will revolve around their own experiences with the matter, simply because that's all they know. If you have someone that has the mental capacity to determine that violence is not acceptable, yet that person plays many violent games, that person MAY become violent in behavior as a result, but not very likely considering the fact that he/she KNOWS that violence is not acceptable in the real world.

That's what I figure. [Hopefully that wasn't confusing.] =p

Remember that if you do agree with what I believe in, it is the mental capacity to determine whether violence is right or wrong that would sway a person to become violent as a result of violent video games, which means that this leaves anyone subject to becoming violent as a result of violent video games [and not just younger children]. If I didn't know better, I could very well myself become more of a violent individual because I enjoy violent video games... and so could you.

[street]

I really dont think that violent video games make players who play them violent. What someone decide to do with there life is up to them not what they play. If they are violent it is because they want to be violent.

Now about kids growing up in a violent environment then i believe that they will be violent. But everyone is different there are kids who have been brought in homes were they see violence everyday but when they get older they get wiser and some of those kids don't usually turn out to be violent. I have a friend who mom and dad were constant smokers they smoked around him from since he was a kid to this very day and he has never smoked and he plans to never smoke.

What it all comes down to in my opinion is how an individual wants to be in life they can make there own decision. Unless they have someone threating them to do what the want but other than that i don't think video games will make someone violence. That is just and excuse for them to find a way and the don't want to admit that they have a problem.

[csp4.0]

yes, becase like the peoplle that play violent computer games all the time doesn't seem violent at all, and yeah. Like what the above person said about smoking, if a person grew up surrounded by smokers, the person still decides whether he/she smokes

[megabytemb]

i don't think so because all you are physically doing is pushing buttons and turning knobs.

like i play Grand theft auto and i don't go up and punch someone in the head.

but at the same time some people are like monkey see monkey do. like my 11 year old sister saw me riding my motorbike so she decided to have a go without anyone around and crashed it into a wall and broke her arm.

so yeah monkey see monkey do

but most people aren't that dumb

[FolkRockFan]

Blaming violent video games for a person's violent choices is just another pathetic excuse - a means of shirking personal responsibility.

"The video game made me do it!" is just a lame excuse. We have free will. We choose what to do, or not do. It's not like the video game emerged from the TV screen, put a knife to the player's throat and forced him/her to go do something evil or violent.

And why is it that, when people do rotten things, society is quick to blame an external force...but when that person does something really good and wonderful, he or she gets the credit? You can't really have it both ways. You either have free will or you don't.

[Unknown_99]

Video games yes may be used as stress relievers, for me myself have played many games that may be considered too graphic but neither the less I'm quite a nice person and in all honesty games doesn't make the person bad, its the person already who have made up their mind to do such acts. Anyways just like the person above me said, its just an excuse used by many people to excuse their behavioral issues.

[arza1]

i think that the thought of people being violent because they are playing violent video games is a bunch of crap. i don't know about you guys but playing games makes me really happy. usually for the rest of the day too. even if it is the most brutal game i have ever played. which is usually the type of of game that i atract to the most. i never feel like i want to do something as stupid as steal a car or murder families or bomb villages. that is rediculus. the only tie that video games might have on our actions is something to the nature of increasing the adrinaline and making us a little on edge or exited. but for kids at the age of 7 plying gta san adres is stupid because they do not have the mind to know what is right or wrong. there parents should take the responsibility, not the producers.

Edited by arza1, 09 September 2007 - 02:14 AM.

[DeM0nFiRe]

Well, come on guys, it's not as if there was violence before video games or anything
Seriously, the idea that games cause violence is ridiculous. For as many cases that someone was influenced towards violence by a vidoe game, there are at least as many cases that people could play a video game to blow off some steam without hurting anyone.

[rvalkass]

There's an arguement on each side. Some firmly believe that playing violent video games and watching violent films will make the person more violent. A study in the 60s showed that even small children become much more violent when shown violent cartoon clips. Very small influences can have a big impact.

Some believe the exact opposite - watching violence makes a person more aware of its consequences and therefore less likely to be violent. Some think there is a slower process where we get desensitised to violence and eventually it has no effect. There is evidence for this in films and games gradually becoming more violent. Another study shows there is the effect of catharsis. If people watch violence, and especially if they take part in it in video games, it provides a safe outlet for their anger and aggression. This theory would mean that violence in games and on TV is actually a good thing and prevents violence in the real world with real people.

Personally I agree with a recent study that shows violence in games and films has much more of an effect if it is realistic, and the viewer can directly relate to it. Shooting aliens with a ray gun wouldn't have much of an effect (as that wouldn't happen in real life), but a game like Grand Theft Auto has much more of an effect as the people are more realistic and you use realistic guns.

[arnz]

Only going from one side of things, video games are indeed seen as relaxation, stress relivers and the like. Even myself, I've been through games which are graphic and the like, but in general I'm a bit busy to think about the violence and the like. But as many others on here, and elsewhere said, some use it as a excuse for violence in RL. Besides, younger people shouldnt be exposed to violent type of games that early, yet imo. Maybe down the track, but not while they are in primary school. Parents should at least have some control or watch what their younger kids may be playing.