The Harvard Crimson Takes Aim at Video Game Legislation

The Harvard Crimson Daily has taken a stand on the video game legislation frenzy sweeping the world today. The Crimson calls the effort and money poured into video game legislation unproductive and just plain negligent politicking. What’s worse, it distracts people from the real issues and causes of violence amongst the world’s youth.

The physical evidence that links video game usage to violent behavior is distorted and inadequate—at best. When the American Psychiatric Association, in 2002, published a report entitled “Violent Games Can Increase Aggression” it sparked nation-wide alarm and hysteria.

Omitted from the press release was that the data was essentially inconclusive. The purported relationship between violent media and violent people is actually not causal, but sometimes correlative. Put simply, the evidence accumulated from this study could only conclusively argue that “aggressive” people enjoy “aggressive” entertainment. Hardly a profound statement condemning the gaming industry.

Henry Jenkins, the Director of Comparative Media Studies at MIT, even concluded that no research has found that a violent video game “could turn an otherwise normal person into a killer.”

Jenkins has also raised the point that, as proven by a report from the Surgeon General, the biggest risk factors for school shootings center upon mental stability and a child’s home life (not video games). And given the fact that violence amongst teenagers is at a 30-year low, it seems that perhaps politicians should refocus their energies on measures that actually protect children.

Unfortunately politicians such as Sen. Hilary Rodham Clinton continue to ignore the facts in favor of a political agenda; rhetoric which they believe will further their own interests and careers.

It does appear that politicians are more concerned with protecting our children from the virtual boogie man than from real life threatening issues.

via The Harvard Crimson