Violence Causes Games
By William on Monday, June 11th, 2007 at 3:55 AM PST In Gamer Life
Over the past couple of months, the debate claiming, “games cause violence†has intensified. We can thank special interest jockeys like Jack Thompson and Dr. Phil I suppose. I prefer to thank people instead of blaming.
I have felt personally sickened that many individuals and groups attempted to attach the Virginia Tech tragedy to this debate. I am from Blacksburg, Virginia and currently finishing out a degree. One of my good friends was one of the 32 innocent people murdered. I also mourn the death of the other 31. It honestly completely tweaks my melon that people are looking for so many things to blame. Have we completely forgotten about personal responsibility in society? I understand that it’s human nature to blame, but we have to accept the fact that sometimes it’s o.k. to go ahead and place the blame on an individual instead of everything else. If you want to blame someone for what happened here, blame that bastard Cho. To continually use what happened here for special interest agendas is simply doing a disgrace to the lives of 32 great Hokies we lost that day.
My primary point of this article is that perhaps we need to start thinking about this debate backwards. I started thinking the other day about the concept that violence causes the games instead of it being the other way around. What came first? Car jacking or Grand Theft Auto? It’s not really a stretch to comprehend the fact that the games we see today are a product of our society and not the other way around. Perhaps instead of attacking the video game industry, Jack Thompson and others could actually go after real life criminals. In the end, games are simply a form of entertainment, and in most ways less violent than a random sampling of Hollywood films.
I definitely support keeping violent games away from kids. That is usually the angle these people against games take, but it’s really a farce. It seems to me they are simply trying to make money. The systems are already in place to keep the games away from kids. If you want to prosecute someone, go after the Wal Mart or GameStop clerk selling the rated “M†games to minors. Go after the parents. Living in a free society the way we do, we should not be punished for the minority of people who cannot handle the games properly. Another aspect that needs to be seriously looked into is the actual contribution games have to violent and deviant behavior. I’m sure in nearly any case of violence perpetrated by a gamer you will discover an entire treasure trove of other factors that led to the behavior. I will always refuse to believe that playing a violent game will cause any kind of real life violence. Explain why so many of us can handle the games just fine.
I guess in the end I am simply tired of the nonsense arguments people are tossing out against gamers and the video game industry. If you don’t want games to be violent, then work on making society less violent first. I am far more concerned with real world events. As a society, we really need to get our priorities straight.
I for one agree fully with this article.
The number of people who play stuff like Postal and GTA and Mortal Kombat and dont actually imitate/reenact the violent content far outnumbers those who simply cant distinguish fact from fiction and virtual from reality. Its just that they are far more publicisized than those who can handle them for the simple reason that they dont cause trouble and are not worthy of news. To those who have the passe stereotype that gamers are people who live in a world of their own, shame on you. And grow up.
The one thing that William forgot to mention is this. In almost every way, 99% of gamers agree with guys like Jack Thompson. We don’t think games rated ‘M’ should be sold to kids. The difference is that we think the way to handle it is through informed retailers and parents, whereas Jack wants to ban games from existence.
Also, you might keep in mind when you hear the “Games cause violence” line that THOUSANDS of people play violent games. I mean, how many copies did GTA III sell? A miniscule number of those people are violent. Heck, if you’re a twisted, evil, violent bastard, wouldn’t your gaming choices reflect that? How come no one ever says, “Man this kid that shot his friends has violent drawings, violent notes, violent books, and violent games. He must really have been a violent person.” That never gets said. It’s always “IT WAS THE GAMES!”
If volience in games casued people to act out violent acts then half of us should be serial killers by now.
I agree – I have been playing games for more than 14 (yes ,fourteen) years , during the summer breaks I used to spend more than 18 hours a day in front of the PC,playing things like quake,unreal,doom,DoW and other extremely violent things – and I am neither a psychopath nor a killer .I think the problem is not the games ,but rather how some people “handle” them.As it was mentioned above a violent movie can light the spark of violence in a labile person just as easy as a pc game – and movies are way,way more accessible (not everyone can afford to spend much money on a high-end pc in order to play the newest titles) Then why is all that …malice against the games? Sounds more like passing the ball – I remember a tragic event in Germany a few years ago ,when a schoolboy who sufffered from deep depression killed several of his school mates with a gun which was a gift from his father. Everyone jumped the gaming industry back then because his parents were convinced that his excessive playing of everquest was the reason for his depression and ultimately lead to his actions.Nobody asked the question “Why did a kid have a firearm ?” And where were his parents ,why didn’t they seek help for their child ? It *IS* easy to just point the finger and say “the games did it” unlike actually try to find what the true source of the problem is. For me it is neglecting parental responsibilities , selling M-rated products to under-aged and society’s inaction on the matter – as long as we (including myself) keep our eyes closed about that such things will happen again. And this is not only related to games ,but to movies and other media.
And yes – some people do try to make money out of it (or are trying to compensate for inferiority complex or what?)
P.S.
It just came to my mind – a lot more people perish in car crashes ,being ran over by some drunk driver or hitting a tree while driving at extreme speed .Why there is not such a fuss about it ?
very true comments. The last time I checked GTA doesn’t come with a real firearm.
In finishing up a writing and media studies major this year, I’ve come to realize not many people are aware of the historical silliness of this debate.
Few, but some, have cared to point out that before video games, it was movies. Before that, rock music, television, movies again, jazz music, the telephone, literature. This brand of social activist always dies out in time as a new art form acquires a seat in society. It’s just immensely annoying in the meantime.
Why this happens is because when an event (like VT or Columbine) occurs, our body tries to claim it didn’t happen. I believe some are still trying to do that with the Holocaust. With modern media, that’s nearly impossible so we try to blame something not human, or something helmed by an easily dehumanized person like Bill Gates and Microsoft. It just makes it easier for the mind to handle; even if it’s not true, it becomes true for those people. I have no doubt there is no amount of debate or reform that could satisfy people like JT – in the end its a conscious effort to propagate a farcical reality.
Tectonic, I completely agree. To be honest when the killings happened here in Blacksburg, it did not seem real to me at all. It still seems a like it was all a dream at times. I guess I told myself when it happened that I need to be as logical as possible and now allow my emotions to control my thoughts.
I’ll probably spend the rest of my life wondering why my friend is dead, but it’s simply irresponsible for me to blame anyone but the killer.
I am glad the article touched on social responsibility. Many times people put the blame elsewhere instead of focusing on the problem itself, which is you. Video games are far less responsible for violence than the 6 o’clock news
Gentleman (and ladies),
Perhaps it’s my ‘limited’ brain cappicity but the question i would rather ask myself is (in relation to this article) what came first? My first reaction would be is violence! I mean, nobody can claim or even substanciate (?) that violence in games came first, thats BS! Everything that takes place in games is based on what we have to witness on our streets these days. So, this whole attack is crap! If you ‘crime fighters’ really want to do something against violence than start looking at something else rather than videogames…
“There’s so much comedy on television. Does that cause comedy in the streets?”
Dick Cavett
Just hopefully a gamer doesn’t end up killing Jack Thompson.
The guys over at G4 did a segment on this article
“A recent editorial from Gaming Today brings up a salient point: Violence causes games.
Believe it or not, there was violence before Pong was invented. We know; it’s shocking to imagine that videogames didn’t cause every beating, head-stomping and shooting since the 70s. We’ve even heard that there were great armies of people who met in Europe and the the Pacific to shoot guns and throw bombs at each other. They made some videogames about it.
Whether we like to admit it or not, violence is inherently exciting and awesome in a fictional context–that’s why professional wrestling is so exciting–so it should come as no surprise that videogames are, by and large, violent. But it still seems to stick in moralists’ craw that so many gamers dig murdering digital aliens and Pikachus and crap. But that fact never sinks in. Anti-game activists always seem to mix up the cause and effect– “Games cause violence!” is the cry, even though, in truth, violence causes games.
Here, do some reading:”
Agreed
When it comes to the video games debate, what Jack Thompson and others seem to ignore is that as violent video games have increased in popularity, violence in society has actually DECREASED. I’m not saying that’s a direct result of violent video games. But I am saying that if video games cause violence, why has there been a decrease in violence? If Video Games cause violence shouldn’t there be an increase?
But take a look at America. Over 180 million gamers in America. Its getting more and more unlikey everyday that video games do cause violence. With so many gamers… why hasn’t violence in society increased?
It is hard, but I do find that people like Jack Thompson have used this sort of debate to further their own agenda (and to get attention). Dr. Phil and Thompson jumped on the “Blame the Video Games” bandwagon before the shooter was even identified. It wasn’t that which upset me, though, what upset me was that we didn’t know the shooter played games at the time (and we found he did… five years ago). However, just because you find a violent video game does not mean it had something to do with the shooting. You go into anyone’s house and you’re bound to find a violent movie.
This debate stems from the fact that people like Thompson think video games are played primarily by kids. The truth is that the average gamer is 33, and that 70% of gamers are over the age of 18. In fact, more adult women play video games than teenage boys. I’m not sure why Thompson is doing things like threatening Microsoft and Take-Two Interactive, though. They’re not responsible for whether or not an M Rated game gets into the hands of minors. The retailers and parents are. Why should the GOOD gamers–the law biding gamers who’ve never committed a crime ever–have to suffer because of some stupid parent who bought Grand Theft Auto for their kid?
But I’m hardly convinced games cause violence. I mean, in 1966 Charles S. Whitman climbed into an observation tower and shot people. This was before the existence of video games.
Finally, the magazine says Columbine Massacre was used to train this guy? Impossible. It was an RPG. A Docuvideogame (Basically a documentary). The point of it was to educate, not train or anything like that. You can’t train off it. The only training you could get from that is how to read.
Yes, children shouldn’t get a hold of violent video games, but going after the developers and publishers isn’t the way to do it. Instead you need to educate the parents about the system. And if you’re going to punish someone, then punish the parents and the retailers (if the retailer sells an M-Rated game to a minor, that is).
i agree with the artical i play violent game to releave stress so you won’t hear on the news that i went to school with a gun and killed whoever or that i ripped someones spinal cord from there body through the neck.
The only nonsense in this situation is coming from this clown writer who ignores all of the science, including the American Psychological Association findings in August 2005, that violent games increase aggression in teens.
Talk to my clients whose family members are dead because of these murder simulators. Jack Thompson
What parents need to do, I think, is to know and control video games. All media cause violence and aggression, but the reason why video game promotes violence so much is because the parents don’t know enough of it. I think the ESRB needs to broadcast their commercial more often…
yeah that is strange how violence has gone down. NYC is a great example. It’s actually fairly safe to walk around nearly any neighborhood now. I also think you can never take violence out of entertainment. I can’t really explain it but violence is entertaining as long as it’s fake.
But it’s also common sense and a scientific fact that teenage boys increase in aggression because of hormones as well (testosterone, they settle down when they get to be about 18). It isn’t just the video games. It’s called Teen Angst and every teenager goes through a spat with that at some point in their lives. I’ve read about that too, and I’m not disputing that, Mr. Thompson. But in those years you also have to remember that teenagers (boys especially) will have an increase in aggression because as parents often say: Their hormones are out of control.
Again, what about movies, books, etc.? More teenagers go to the movies than play video games, yet for some reason it’s perfectly okay for them to view say… Hostel II which is far more graphic than any video game on the market today.
Finally, to the gamers, stop taking stabs at Mr. Thompson. I’m so sick of hearing over and over again, “He’s a moron,” and “He’s an idiot,” and blah blah blah. That doesn’t help our cause as gamers to educate people by sitting here and complaining. Go out and find research and such to back up your argument. Stop with this silliness of taking stabs. It doesn’t help just to constantly keep playing the name-calling game. It gets old really fast.
Jack Thompson,
You may think I am just a silly video game writer, but I happen to keep well informed on the scientific end of things. There has yet to be a single scientific study showing that games are a “leading” contributor to real life violence in any situation. I’m not talking about the special interest group findings..I’m talking any independent studies I have looked into. I have also discussed this issue with some of the leading sociologists in the country. It is true that you can claim that video games are a factor in some cases, yet there are always other factors that are much greater. The games are simply not the problem. Why don’t you show me some solid evidence? It’s always word play with you guys. It’s always avoiding the facts that go against your side of the story. The simple fact is that although violent games can cause aggressive behavior, the games are simply a very minor part of the problem.
Show me some facts man. I see you simply as a schmuck who wants to make a name for himself and make money. You’re like an ambulance chaser on a larger scale. Our society has declined to the point where personal responsibility no longer exists. I suppose if I spill coffee on myself at McDonalds you would help me sue the corporation. In my opinion, I should be considered a dumbass for spilling it on myself and that should be the end of the story.
The people that play video games and then kill people are messed up in the head already. If they didn’t have video games it would be something else. So instead of blaming games, perhaps our society needs to blame the individual.
Oh and one other thing. I’d rather be a “clown writer” than a greedy lawyer taking advantage of our legal and media system for personal and special interest gain. How do you even sleep at night using tragedies for wealth?
@ Jack Thompson
That clown writer is the same one who participated in writing the 2000 APA piece on video games and aggression. Let’s be clear, there are no single writer or researcher on this topic. Please don’t just rely on Lt.Col. David Grossman.
The thing is that it’s EXTREMELY difficult to establish even a CASUAL relationship between violent video games or movies, and violent behavior. The difficulty is that the possible connection between these variables can not be studied net social environmental factors (neighborhood, family, peer group, etc.).
If we want to get scientific about things, there are thousands of factors that have to be included.
Thank you I give that statement A standing applause because nothing is responsible except the moron who did it,the movies you watch,thing you read,games you play,these things don’t effect you they just reflect the way you are
Sorry, maybe I wasn’t clear on what I said: I though JT was refering the clown writer to the APA writers. In any case, the 2005 APA resolution on video games share the same recommendation on what William had said: keep “M” rated games off the hands of kids. So his solutions are quite simple and has common sense. Oh here’s a possible answer, in the APA resolution, as to why we can handle games: because we are media literate, i.e. we learn to critically assess media and don’t get influenced by media like commercials and the like.
haha.. no I think he was calling me a clown.
To be honest, what people need to keep in mind… I discuss this issue with some high level sociologists and psychologists. They tell me that people need to keep in mind that most of the research being done on this topic is still in the “experimental” stage, so there are no definitive answers and probably never will be.
Also a majority of the research on video games causing violence published by the APA completely avoids the affects of the social environment.
Indeed, it’s a statistical nightmare to include so many factors and to be as close to real life as possible and we also have to consider what is a benign factor as well.
I agree on your opinion about the lack of the affects of the social environment. I came to the same conclusion when I was doing my research, apparently there are 2 schools of thought, media “effects” (psychology) and media “meanings” or “interpretation” (Media comparative studies or Henry Jenkins). Maybe I should find a way to reconcile the two schools!
sweet intelligent people discussing an issue that matters
i will have to agree with William there is no REAL way to tell if it indeed is video games that cause an increase in violence,in fact if you think about it there has been an increase in population and in the amount of violent video games so one would think that youth violence would get worse if it was the video games fault but it has been slowly declining
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I am a college student who is writting a research paper on violence in video games. If any of you now a good source that looks at both points of view, or two seperate ones that look at them respectively, i would appreciate it if you told me were to find them then. thanks.
ha I guess you meant KNOW not now
and I think this is all from the mind of the writers
i totaly agree
there are so many factors in what causes the violence in young teens that people that just put the blame on one factor are missing the real point that it is the parents and the indavidual that are responsable.
I thought that the article was very well done, but I have to say I disagree a little. Yes, maybe violence does cause gameing. People want to make money so they find out what our sociaty wants (which happens to be violent games). But it does go both ways. We are handing out these games without thinking of the end result. What are kid supposed to think when they’re exposed to that kind of violence. They are being showen that its okay to act like that. That’s there’s no consequence for actions. Putting violent games out there can be like puting matches in the hand of a pyro-maniac.
(i still thought it was a great article. a new point of view.)
If it is the actual Jack Thompson that posted above, can science prove that God? Since you only use science to your convenience, and you are so called a religions man, can it? Moving on to the subject, I agree that there should be some cleansing in the game industry but banning violent games all together is plain stupidity. Work on getting some laws passed that PREVENT minors from purchasing violent games. Look at it this way, Bush must have played endless hours of Age of Mythology, look at what he’s doing.
Science can’t overcome common sense, sir, nor can it overcome the ability of detecting what’s right or wrong. Try blaming the person that actually did the killings for once. As for your clients whose family members are dead, your clients had an idiot family member. As much as you hate it sir, I love those murder simulators.
Any questions, comments, or concerns Mr. Jack Thompson? Contact me at: victor.h.d.88@hotmail.com
~ Vic HD
of violence in the game in youth and kids is crazy! Did you know that media know that violence in games can and mostly will foster
aggression in youngsters. And that most of those kids learn
their social behaviors are observed by the video games?
Now, you might have asked this question before.
Does repeated exposures of violence and sexual activity in
video games have more of an impact on teenagers that an adult?
The answer is Yes, it does because teenager brains are
different from an adults brain. The part in the brain that
makes you think ahead is basikly not fully done until their
early 20s. Under construction. The diminished impulse
control becomes heightened in a person who has additional
risk factors for bad, criminal behavior.
-thats is my little speach. and if anyone is reading this and
plays very violent video games iwant you to know that you can
change! I am a beliver in repenting and turning away.
-bre
Bre, you are aware, however, that the increase in aggression is only temporary, right? And that violent crime rates have also gone down considerably despite games, television, music and movies getting more violent, correct?
The problem with using the words “influence” and “impact” though is that no one ever talks about what KIND of influence or what KIND of impact. For example, seeing a lot of violence in a video game may cause someone to have the complete opposite reaction. The influence might be never to do harm to another human being. The impact could be the same. What someone does with that influence or impact is entirely unpredictable.
Lastly, you must be weary of the media. I’m not trying to turn you entirely against it, but sometimes the media doesn’t put all the facts out there and instead will only put out there what supports their agenda. Opinionated commentators often times don’t even use facts, they just tell you what they want to tell you. How much information, for example, does Jack Thompson have regarding the other side of the argument? It’s nice that he sticks to his guns, but in many interviews he completely dismisses the other side of the argument. Yes, violent media (not just video games) has been linked to aggressive behavior. But no one gives credit to the fact that the violent crime rate has been down.
Another thing that no one seems to realize is that a lot of the research–on both sides–is still pending. There’s no direct link between violent video games and violence. It hasn’t been uncovered yet, and we’re still in the dark on how long it could take to unearth. That does NOT mean that the reason crime rates have gone down is because of violent video games (or other media, for that matter) either.
So think about it for just one second. Both sides have strengths and weaknesses. In my opinion, the impact is not quite as huge. It’s hard to believe video games are causing more violence when the crime rate has been down. When it comes to aggression in teens, people are also forgetting that men in particular have a moment where they become more aggressive in adolescence because of hormones. Testosterone kicks in for the boys. Consider those other factors as well.
You are correct that a teenagers brain isn’t fully grown. An adult usually doesn’t reach maturity until about age 25 or so.
One thing I will say however, there may indeed be research that supports that violent media has a negative impact on people who are UNSTABLE. And keep that word in mind. If you are MENTALLY UNSTABLE then its very possible that ANY violent media (not just video games) could have an impact. But to blame games (or any other media) would totally be ignoring the fact that the perpetrator was Mentally unstable to begin with.
then i want to know y “science” says that video games cause violence???