Do violent video games induce violent behavior in kids?

[007craft]

Well ive been playing violent video games since i was 4 (like doom, quake etc etc) and I turned out fine.. im a very non-violent person.

personally I think if there is violence in the hosehold or improper values set upon by your parent or peers that will cause violence when you older..

so what do you guys think?

[BeepBeep]

Videogames are simply a scapegoat, much like movies, TV and comics books before it. Critics are simply looking for a quick-fix method instead of looking deeper into the cause of the violence: the environment the child is raised in.

[KALS SON]

YUP

[Summers]

Originally posted by BeepBeep
Videogames are simply a scapegoat, much like movies, TV and comics books before it. Critics are simply looking for a quick-fix method instead of looking deeper into the cause of the violence: the environment the child is raised in.

agreed

[lucky 12]

I think videogames have an influence on those who play them, but certainly not to the extreme that the news (or whoever) phrases it a lot of the time.

[MrE_Dog]

NO.

This is the same arguement that old WB cartoons with Bugs vs Elmer or Coyote vs RRunner was bad for kids.

As long as the medium looks fake, I think the influence is next to none. Now when CG starts to look totally real, I would start to worry. Being able to control a character to kill other real looking character might hurt the mind. But a cartoon is a cartoon and video game still looks fake.

I played a bunch of games and I don't think it has made me violent. IMO, negative parenting will lead to violent tendencies.

Remember in GIJoe cartoons, everytime they would shoot down a COBRA plane, a parachute would come out? Violent but not so violent???

[greenshady]

Originally posted by 007craft
personally I think if there is violence in the hosehold or improper values set upon by your parent or peers that will cause violence when you older..
I agree...
Mostly, it's about the parents. From early on you have to teach your kids the difference between right and wrong. Teach your kids to deal with certain situations. Then comes the peers. If a kid has been taught right, then there's nothing to worry about. Everybody's going to do bad things, but not be violent because of a video game or movie or music for that matter. It's usually just the insane kids that do this stuff. Or the insane kids who had no real parenting.

[WJB1]

Of course video games don't cause violence, who ever first thought that up was an idiot....They probablly have been against video games since the Pong days

Idiots: Pong causes people tyo become murderers!

[The Killer]

Originally posted by BeepBeep
Videogames are simply a scapegoat, much like movies, TV and comics books before it. Critics are simply looking for a quick-fix method instead of looking deeper into the cause of the violence: the environment the child is raised in.

This guy hit the nail on the head.

My Mom explained it once to someone.
Me and this kid up the street, grew up togther, same age, ect.
1) We both played video games.
2) watched crazy movies.
3) watched whatever on tv.

But this kid was smacked around, left completely unsupervised by whoever his Mom was (too many shady ladies going in and out of the house, I never knew what his folks looked like.) from age 5-18. Never told the differance between right and wrong. By anyone. Was left in a house with f*cked up older siblings and who knows who else, that did drugs, and other graphic things inappropriate for a child to see at that young age.

That kid's in juvee for god knows what.

I'm not.
You do the math.

[isavedpvtryan]

i have always played violent games and i never want to commit violence in real life or in any way...i have better things to do in my life then sit in a jail cell

[TATEone]

Probably, but who knows. If not video games, TV and Movies would do it also.

[biym6969]

nothing's wrong with violence in our video games, in fact, it's like a stress reliever for me growing up... when your angry at someone or just having a really bad day, what better way to take it out on someone then rogue agents, zombies, and covenants :lol:. if you ask me, there's to many finger pointing at the entertainment industry...and not enough finger pointing at the parents...now if you would excuse me i need to whack my friend on the back in halo 2 (revenge is best served cold). :rotfl: it's all fun and games until someone dies. :lol:

[oscarfudgie]

I'm a girl and I like playing violent video games like Grand Theft Autos especially if I'm angry or stressed.

I think maybe violent video games have influence maybe 1 or 2 kids that got carried away and confused reality with the game but they use the very small numbers of people who do that and exaggerate. It's probably happened with movies too it's just the exception to the rule that some people end up violent but I never think it's directly from video games anyway. However they use this as scare tactics I think and it makes parents believe it happens a lot more often than it does.

[Hartski]

It's a bunch of bull. Me and my friends played Doom all the time in college and we never.....................uh.....................I guess we did start that riot.
Maybe there's something to this, after all

[SuperPillowGun]

I don't think so, but I dunno...

[Disco]

It's really hard to say...... I mean does the Road Runner dropping an anvil on While E Coyote bring on violence to kids. I think kids are subject to violence in so many innocent ways that it's surprising some of them turn out ok.

I do not by any chance condone the violence on some of these games. I do think they go a bit too far. The games should definitely have ratings and the parents should be aware of what they are playing.

[Jellie]

the games do have ratings if you are a kid you are not supposed to play grand theft auto etc , i hate the way the games get blamed it makes no sense, if somebody is gonna kill somebody else they will do it no matter wat, its just there always has to be blame so instead of blaming the parents or whoever the innocent computer game gets blamed thats not fair

[Freckles]

No way!

Bad parenting is was causes violence in kids.

IMO of course;)

[Sharkie]

It can, but I don't think it's an end all. If you are really young, you can't tell the difference between reality and fantasy, so if a young kid plays Mortal Kombat, or GTA San Andreas, and the PARENTS let it happen, then that's a problem. If they feel it's fine to let them play those games, then hey, that's their choice. But it's a parents job to explain to their children that it is not real, and they shouldn't act like Scorpian in MK3, or what have you.

[joeysj440]

Bad parenting is what causes violence in kids. The parents are suppose to be the role models for thier kids, not characters in some game.

My parents let me play those games when I was growing up, but the difference between me and the other kids is that my parents were involed in my life. They went to all of my Basketball games, Soccer games and any other after school activity I was in.

My wife and I are planning on having kids, and more than likely I will allow them to play violent video games because I will have taught them the difference between video games and real life. We will also not allow them to spend every free minute in front of the TV and turn into some 300lbs 13 yr old like I see on the news.

[cien_bolas]

I think the games not directly influenciate someone to be more or less violent. But, if the surrounding atmosphere is violent (like parents who don't pay attention to their son/daughter, or parents who hit their son/daughter), then they can help a person to be more violent. Otherwise, they're completely innocuous.

attE: cien_bolas

[truemeathead]

I love the GTA series but I have never pulled someone out of their car and drove off. It is all about parenting if you distill values there are no problems. I tell my stepkids don't start fights walk away unless someone lays a hand on you then it's time to issue a beat down especially kids in school because if you let them mess with you once then it happens all the time. No games, t.v, comics, and movies have nothing to do with it-OJ getting off is more harming than a game.

[Smallvillenews]

I totally agree with those people who have said that it depends on what life you have whilst being raised. Kids are subject to violent images in most things today, including the news, it doesn't make them go out and copy it.

Now, bullying, abuse (physically, sexually, emotionally), neglect, etc... that is the difference. If you grow up experiencing only these things in your life and then add on the violent games, TV, movies, etc.., then in a majority of cases (some people know it's wrong and end the cycle, so they can have a better life!) these people will go on to be violent abusers themselves in some way. But only because they haven't been taught right from wrong and have only learnt the wickedness they have suffered or seen.

This said, I do think that a good parent will adhere to age guidelines on games, movies and TV or will make their own judgement as a parent as to what they feel their child can watch or play.

[Unbreakable Lex]

I have a 6 year old son and I can tell you that they do.

Where else do they learn it from. The fact that I won't let my son play these games only hieghtens his want to play them. They become "cooler".

Violent games, tv shows, cartoons and movies introduce this nature to children and Parents should keep their children from them.

[truemeathead]

I don't think that is necesarily true I have a 12 year old step son and he loves GTA he loves shooting those guys and whatnot but he wouldn't touch my gun if a serial killer broke into the house he says he is scared of it and doesn't want to end up like one of those kids you hear about in the news. I really believe that it is a parents responsibility to instill right and wrong. Wile E Coyote has been the Roadrunners whipping toy for decades now and kids aren't dropping anviles on peoples heads all over the place. The closest I've seen is wrestling kids do love to fake wrestlers and alot of crying ensues but that is it I've certainly never seen games responsible for that stuff. Tell your kids to behave and not to do what you think is wrong and hammer those values away and your fine-doesn't mean the kid can't play some Streetfighter. If the kents can teach a alien with superpowers to behave we should be able to get our normal kids to behave too.:D

[Yuui]

Firstly, when you say "impose" you must mean "force" and in that sense video games do not impose violence onto children.

And don't these children have parents who have the means (money) to which to purchase these video games?

Unless these children are working in slave factories behind a Wal-Mart, they are most likely getting the resources from their parents.

[TVHOG]

I dont necessarily believe playing violent video games is gonna make a kid do something violent, but it cant be good for a child to play them constantly. Too much of anything can be bad and yes bad parents would play a big part in a how kids turn out. But what Im afraid of is when this games become so advanced they seem real. This is a real possibilty in the future. Just think how far they have come in the last 10 - 20 years.

[smallvillekiddio]

to quote Tarantino "violent movies dont make violent kids-violent movie makes violent film-makers"

i think that sums up my 2 cents on this subject

[truemeathead]

Originally posted by TVHOG
I dont necessarily believe playing violent video games is gonna make a kid do something violent, but it cant be good for a child to play them constantly. Too much of anything can be bad and yes bad parents would play a big part in a how kids turn out. But what Im afraid of is when this games become so advanced they seem real. This is a real possibilty in the future. Just think how far they have come in the last 10 - 20 years.

I'm waiting patiently for the first football game to have actual players I'm gonna do a Thurgood from Half Baked when he gets the medicinal ********* and he bust a *** and gets all weak in the knees. Has anyone ever played that old hologram video game at the arcades, the one with the cowboy and you shoot indians that was sick I can't wait-I'll sacrifice a whole lot of kids for video games like that:lol:

[Unbreakable Lex]

Originally posted by truemeathead
I don't think that is necesarily true I have a 12 year old step son and he loves GTA he loves shooting those guys and whatnot but he wouldn't touch my gun if a serial killer broke into the house he says he is scared of it and doesn't want to end up like one of those kids you hear about in the news. I really believe that it is a parents responsibility to instill right and wrong. Wile E Coyote has been the Roadrunners whipping toy for decades now and kids aren't dropping anviles on peoples heads all over the place. The closest I've seen is wrestling kids do love to fake wrestlers and alot of crying ensues but that is it I've certainly never seen games responsible for that stuff. Tell your kids to behave and not to do what you think is wrong and hammer those values away and your fine-doesn't mean the kid can't play some Streetfighter. If the kents can teach a alien with superpowers to behave we should be able to get our normal kids to behave too.:D

Does anyone see my point?

[truemeathead]

Originally posted by Unbreakable Lex
Does anyone see my point?

I see your point and agree to a certain extent but I think the onis is on the parent. Let's put it this way we have two kids from two different families one is getting all the loving attention and kudos when he does something good, they tell him what is right and wrong you know the whole shabang, ground him when he breaks across the boundaries set for him and the whole nine yards he still plays video games and watches t.v. and what not but he is being disciplined and loved you know spank a kid when he screws up then give him a hug to let him know just because he got a spanking doesn't mean daddy doesn't love him you just have to behave. The other kid on the other hand is running around with no supervision doing whatever he pleases being stingy with others blatant disregard for the few rules the parents do have. The only time he gets hit is when he finds daddy's porno mags. Kid #2 doesn't care about school loves his games and whatnot mommy and daddy don't bother to tell him what is right and wrong they let him do what he pleases, and as off the wall as this might sound I've seen plenty of people just like this. So anyways out of the two kids the one who is being told wrong from right and being disciplined and loved is the one who will abide by society's standards of right and wrong when he grows up. Kid 2 on the other hand was never told right from wrong when he pimp slapped his sister no one did anything well when kid 2 grows up he is going to have absolutely no idea what society's standards are and is going to have violent tendecies because he was never told to stop what he was doing as a child so he grows up thinking it is all good. That is my point one kid was raised proper the other wasn't the one who was is less likely to have violent tendecies-the one who wasn't is going to be the guy starting fights at bars and getting into roadrage situations. That is what I mean when I say it's up to the parents a 6 or 7 year old probably shouldn't be playing GTA he should be playing Crash Bandacoot or something but I don't think that will bring on violent tendecies I think it is the upbringing.

[mongo]

the powers that be want you(the average joe)to beleave that violence is caused by anything but bad parenting. BUT i will not allow certan vid games into my house. most of them are the GTA type games. I CONTROL what my children see and hear. i also discuss anything that they have questions about.

by the way my kids are 12 and 7

[TVHOG]

Good for you mongo. There are some games that I would not let my kids play, either. Just like you shouldnt let a child watch a R rated movie or worse. You have to set limits.

[truemeathead]

I'll let my stepson play violent video games all day. I won't however let him play sex related games, like Leisure Suit Larry-that game is so sick. You get all bombed and try to score with chicks it's great for a slappsticky play and it has hot video game chicks and hot models for the loading screens but I won't let him play that game. It's a little to risquay. But I let him shoot people go figure:D

[Mrs.Bizzaro]

Video games DO NOT = violent children. It is silly to think a TV show, a movie, music or a video game would have that kind of an impact on your kid.

And how violent are we talking? Violent like hitting other kids by punching or kicking or violent like cutting other kids, carrying a knife or box cutter or a gun? I think everyone has some violence in them, the calmer ones a lesser degree, but still there somewhere. It's up to the parents to discipline and teach their kid(s) how to control themselves. It's not really all black and white on how a kid becomes really violent, either. Nothing cut and dry like video games, movies, TV or music is the source. It's parents, it's the neighborhood, and it’s the school and more than that. It's the financial situation of the family, their health, their sense of worth, their mental situation. It could be so many different little things put together or one very big thing like the parents themselves. Some parents can't even control their own kids and don't even know what to do so they end up doing what they think is right but ends up being wrong. Look at these outrageous Nanny shows. Goodness knows how these kids would turn out without outer intervention. And you see these parents are at a loss. Now, if the kid is exposed to violence, violence directed to them or in the household, then you will get a violent child. If Daddy is beating up Mommy (or vice versa), the child will be violent down the road. If Daddy or Momma is beating on the kid then you will get a violent child. If the parents are just plain negligent and uncaring and live in a bad neighborhood then the child will be violent. That’s very easy to say because the problem is right in front of you. That doesn’t mean that that’s always the case. But everyone, such as the government, cannot say to the public, “it’s many things,” or even “we’re not sure” because it would make them seem like they don’t know what they’re talking about. As leaders, they are SUPPOSED to be able to point a finger at a problem and come up with a quick solution. Something as murky as a violent person doesn’t have one pinpoint problem, but many, and usually doesn’t have a simple one step solution.

It's such a gray matter that it's crazy to think it's just one thing. It mostly depends on the individual situation. So saying that a video game causes kids to become violent is utterly preposterous.

[TVHOG]

Im not saying video games necessarily cause kids to be violent. Many of the games are fun and do wonders for your coordination and mental quickness. I read somewhere that some of the younger Nascar drivers use some of the racing games to stay sharp mentally in the off season. All Im saying is there are some games i would not want my kids playing and I also wouldnt want them sitting around all the time playing video games (not good for their health). And you are right, the cause of children becoming violent could be any number of things. But as a parent you have to set limits. If you dont they will not repect limits when they become adults.

[Mrs.Bizzaro]

oh, you're absolutely right. Through good parenting and discipline kids will grow up to be good adults. I'm just simply stating that video games or any other media don't "make" kids violent. But I also don't think that playing video games is all they should do, by all means. Kids should be doing physical activities, family activities and social activities more so than sitting at home. But blaming one or two video games for violence in kids is silly. (Not that I think that's what you think, TVHOG [btw, love your screen name, I tend to hog the remote myself], just saying it in general)

[Mr Boejangles]

I support the idea that it does.... if the kid is screwd up in the head to begin with. I have played violet videogames, watched evil movies, and listened to horrible reprehensible music. and yet i have turned out to be an angel.... :D so if the kid is screwd up because of his environment... or what ever, it depends . of course the game was IMPOSEING violence on me, thats what it was for, to play something violent, but i didnt take what they gave me as something i should reinact.

[Mrs.Bizzaro]

So, what you're really saying is it doesn't. Think about it, if the kid is messed up to begin with, he/she would be violent even without the video games, TV, etc. I mean, there were violent people before TV and all that other stuff came around.

[Mr Boejangles]

no i still think yes because one kid out of a million might play the game and just have a really dumb idea one day to try and copy it. why... because the game gave him the idea in the first place.

i dont support any kind of game censorship other than the warnings that are currently in place, but i still think there are really really really dumb people out there who COPY what they see.

[Mrs.Bizzaro]

Yes, very true. But then why only single out video games, TV media, etc.? If that's the case then we should hold everything that gives kids a dumb idea responsible. I think that pointing fingers at one thing will just start the "snowball effect" to go onto everything else. First it'll be video games then it's sports. It's already gotten outta hand. If video games are to blame then everything else should be as well. And I totally agree about any further censorship. I think the guides (that's as far as it SHOULD go) that are in place now are just fine.

[superfrodo]

I don't think violent video games have a very negative effect on kids. I think violence has more to do with your environment and the way you were raised rather than video games, Marilyn Manson (watch Bowling for Columbine for an awesome Marilyn Manson interview concerning violent behavior and gun control), etc.

For example, I have a 14 year old cousin who's been violent since the age of 3. He used to be a biter when he was younger, but now he likes to punch people. Even his own family. His parents have never really given him the affection that he needed growing up, so he tries to draw attention from other people. If his annoying comments don't work, he turns to hitting people in order to get their attention.

- Tiff

[Mr Boejangles]

Originally posted by Mrs.Bizzaro
Yes, very true. But then why only single out video games, TV media, etc.? If that's the case then we should hold everything that gives kids a dumb idea responsible. I think that pointing fingers at one thing will just start the "snowball effect" to go onto everything else. First it'll be video games then it's sports. It's already gotten outta hand. If video games are to blame then everything else should be as well. And I totally agree about any further censorship. I think the guides (that's as far as it SHOULD go) that are in place now are just fine.

First of all i dont really care... ;) but i guess i was only singleing out Videogames because thats the topic of the thread. music tv movies religion. could all apply to what i have said. :D

[TVHOG]

Does anybody remember the movie Jack***. It showed people doing some really stupid and dangerous things. I know that some kids copied these stunts and got hurt. I guess Im kinda on the fence on this one, because games, movies etc.. can give kids bad ideas and parents cant watch their children all the time. But I do see the points made above about censorship and I do think good parenting is the best way to keep kids from becoming violent.

[Mrs.Bizzaro]

Originally posted by superfrodo
....For example, I have a 14 year old cousin who's been violent since the age of 3. He used to be a biter when he was younger, but now he likes to punch people....

I think you've hit a good point here. Babies develop most of their personality/characteristics by the age of 3 or younger. It's during this time that parenting is most needed than any other time because it really depends on how the baby was cared for during those first years for that child to turn out the way they'll be when they're adults. And the only influence is really coming from the parents.

[TVHOG]

I guess you really cant stress that enough. Good parenting is so important. I know there are a lot of single parents out there who do a great job, but I also believe you really need a good mother and a good father to do the best job. Of course I know that is not always an option.

[truemeathead]

The hell if that is true my mom did a hell of a job on me alone and my wife did one hell of a job with her two kids on her own before I came into the picture, I also know plenty of two parents families and the kids are complete screw ups so your statement holds absolutely no water with me man.

[greenshady]

But, either way, it's still better to have 2 good parents. One good parent can get the job done. So, would'nt two parents be better than one?

[pacofajita]

When I was little, I saved some money and bought The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past on SNES. I had it for about a month, had made it pretty far into the game, and then my mom heard some crap on the local christian radio station. I think Pat Robertson was talking about demons and stuff and named Zelda by name. Needless to say, my mom took it back that afternoon. I was so angry.

But yeah, I do think bad kids are a by-product of bad parenting. Not video games.

Although I do think it can be an obsession. It was for me for a while. It really hit my grades hard and my mom had to take my SNES and Sega away from me. That I do believe. Not that they inspire violence.

lol It was funny, my uber-religious grandmother said that I had made video games my god and that I would go to hell for worshipping an idol.

[truemeathead]

Originally posted by greenshady
But, either way, it's still better to have 2 good parents. One good parent can get the job done. So, would'nt two parents be better than one?

Yes. My rant was because the guy said that "you really need" two parents instead of it would be better to have two parents

[TVHOG]

Im saying that two GOOD parents could probably do a better job than one, even though a lot of single parents do a terrific job. Im sure that any single parent wishes they had someone who could help them out. Im not saying that single parents do a bad job or not a good enough job. What I mean is that its probably BETTER to have two GOOD parents. Didnt mean to offend you, dude.

[truemeathead]

Originally posted by TVHOG
Im saying that two GOOD parents could probably do a better job than one, even though a lot of single parents do a terrific job. Im sure that any single parent wishes they had someone who could help them out. Im not saying that single parents do a bad job or not a good enough job. What I mean is that its probably BETTER to have two GOOD parents. Didnt mean to offend you, dude.


Hey it's cool like I said it was the way the statement read-it is a big down side on posting on boards what you read is what's on the screen and sometimes it isn't what was intended hell it's happened to me a bunch of times-I just had to get my momma's back just in case.....:lol:

[greenshady]

I know what ya'll mean. I was raised for many years by my dad. I wouldn't trade that for anything. And, so far, I guess he's done a good enough job with me. But, it would've been nice to have been raised by my whole life by both of my parents. Anyways, I think we're getting a little off subject.
I still stand by my first opinion, that a child must be raised up by his parent(s). Even though that doesn't necessarily make a kid a good one, it helps a whole lot. Kids are going to be influenced by the media, peers, video games, and all sorts of stuff. But, only can good parenting keep him/her in line.

[NewAgeJesus]

Hey. If video games had an effect on the way you live your life. I'd be down in the sewers experimenting with mushrooms. Or attaching second tail's to foxes, and trying to make them fly...


Marylin Manson got blamed for yet another murder a few days ago, because the teenager that murdered his girlfriend, listened to his music.

The fact is, Manson had nothing to do with that murder. The kid that murdered his girlfriend has severe mental problems.

I've yet to hear of a murder being blamed on the war. Kids with fathers/mothers away fighting, killing... or god forbid, being killed.

When the war first started, it was on the news 24/7. You could barely avoid the coverage. Yet, when someone is killed, it's blamed on video games. Rock music.

The fact is, it's the enviroment that the children are raised in that has the most effect. Not the games, or the music.

[TVHOG]

I tend to agree with you man, although I cant stand Marylin Manson. I dont think there is anything good that comes from listening to his "music".

[NewAgeJesus]

Originally posted by TVHOG
I tend to agree with you man, although I cant stand Marylin Manson. I dont think there is anything good that comes from listening to his "music".


Hey, I don't like his music... but I can't see anything "bad" coming from his music either.

[xxkittenstar]

After playing Dead -or- Alive i do kung fu moves all day!

[greenshady]

Originally posted by xxkittenstar
After playing Dead -or- Alive i do kung fu moves all day!
On other people?

[TVHOG]

If I went to a Marylin Manson concert I would probably not sleep for a week with bad dreams. But maybe thats just me.

[NewAgeJesus]

Originally posted by TVHOG
If I went to a Marylin Manson concert I would probably not sleep for a week with bad dreams. But maybe thats just me.

Yeah, probably just you.:lol:

[ProudPenny]

I'm pretty sure this thread's subject line meant "induce" and not "impose," so I'm changing it.

For the record: yes, I do.

[DarkseidX]

Although I'm a huge supporter of politicians not being to tell me what to do, I do believe that SOME video games can cause children to react in violent ways.

Grand Theft Auto being the main one.

I have to say however that video games cause less violence with teens than they do kids. You see kids do things because they think they're cool. So when they see the Grove Street gang cheering CJ popping some Ballas, they get the impression that shooting someone is a good idea.

But back to teenagers. 2 years ago, there was a case where an african american shot down a man on the street. After investigation by the police, they found that that person owned both GTA 3 and GTA VC.

After much thought they concluded that the game had caused the teenager to kill the person.

My thoughts on this are, if the games had in fact caused this type of behavior, then why don't we have everyone who owns this game shooting up people in the street?

Clearly, there was something wrong with that teen before the shooting. And yet they try to find any excuse to shoot down our video games.

[Magus]

It all depends. I've been playing M games since i was like 8 and i'm a very reasonable,peaceable guy. I think it depends on your environment for the most part. How you were raised. That kind of stuff. I mean, if a dad lets his 7 yr old kid play GTA and then gives him a rifle cause he wants go hunting deer with his kid, he's asking for trouble. Well, in today's world i think video games r gonna be getting a butt load of crap from politicians.

[Xcalibur]

Nope I dont think so.

Only probably the GTA games and a few others might induce violence I think.
But those games are rated mature and you would expect persons that old to be responsible enough.

[smallvilleck]

i dnt think so,,, but then again the violent games do come with an 18 certificate (UK) and it is therefore the parents fault if the child is exposed to the games.... i know someone who has brought GTA san andreas for a 7 year old!!!!! that is too young, IMO!

But no. i watched tom and jerry and that was violent and i am not aggressive! (I hope)

[Magus]

i like this discussion. what about sex in games? especially now with like hot coffee and all that political crap.

[Shadowknight]

No, I do not, although I don't think GTA series is a game children should be playing. ( Or anyone for that matter, but that's just me)

Also, there is a very large amount of M rated games going out there, but you have to realize, the ESRB is cracking down, so half of them would have been T if they wouldnt have started tightning the belt on T games

Well, thats just my opinion

[amus525]

Originally posted by Sharkie
It can, but I don't think it's an end all. If you are really young, you can't tell the difference between reality and fantasy, so if a young kid plays Mortal Kombat, or GTA San Andreas, and the PARENTS let it happen, then that's a problem. If they feel it's fine to let them play those games, then hey, that's their choice. But it's a parents job to explain to their children that it is not real, and they shouldn't act like Scorpian in MK3, or what have you. I agree with you because kids exposed to violence at younger ages are more likely to commit violence compared to older kids. But younger kids don't always commit crimes and sometimes older kids commit crimes. I also agree it is the parents choise of what games their kids should play.

[Krypton935]

no its the way kids are raised

[*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*]

they unlock the violent parts of our brain that make us go insane

[PKII]

I played violent video games and blood guts and all that...I'm not out chopping up people from what I seen in the video games. I'm just as sane as anyone else. :) The games only cause problems in kids that are unstable to begin with. :\

[boywithbluehanger]

I think a certain type of single parenting or parnting combo trully determines how the child will later be influenced by the games he/she plays. I grew up around many games that prominently featured gore. But I was always taught the difference between whats right and whats wrong and how to ask questions when being unsure.

But to answer the question, yes violent games can induce violent behavior in chlidren who are not fortunate enough to have learned the importance of community-respective morals.

[Angel7]

Originally posted by ProudPenny
I'm pretty sure this thread's subject line meant "induce" and not "impose," so I'm changing it.

For the record: yes, I do.

Yep we should ban violent movies and tv shows as well then!

In fact lets go petition against smallville right now.

:rolleyes:

Everyone acts for theirself u know.
By playing a game a person should realise its not real life and figure out the difference.
Get with the facts please.

[DarkseidX]

To be honest I don't think this debate is that black and white. One can post their opinion about what is true and not true but the fact of the matter is, people commit crimes whether or not games had any kind of involvment. To say that games induce anything in children may be true, but everyone reacts and acts differently whether or not they group up in a rough neighborhood.

[Reuben]

It depends, some kids don't get influenced by things as easy as others.

[smallvilleobsessor17]

If a kid is influenced by a video game, they must be pretty stupid.

[red_sun1938]

Videogames are simply a scapegoat, much like movies, TV and comics books before it. Critics are simply looking for a quick-fix method instead of looking deeper into the cause of the violence: the environment the child is raised in.


Agree 100%.

[Black*Rider]

For me it comes down to how your are raised. Iv played video games as far back as i can remember. And i turned out fine.

[Jaded Wolf]

I think there is inconclusive evidence to support a yes or no answer to this. I voted not sure. Frankly, there are so many factors to look at concerning the violent behaviors of an individual. What was the environment surrounding the individual growing up? What were their parents like? Who were the people they hung around with? What kind of school did they go to?

Simply blaming video games or movies or other forms of media is a scapegoat and quite frankly, irresponsible. People who simply blame media forms are not wanting to face reality and accept responsibility for how they raise their kids. After all, in today's "evolved" society which believes we can do no wrong, we have to blame some inanimate object because it can never be our own fault for the way our kids turn out.

Simply put, video games and other media forms alone do not make a violent person. Consider all factors before singling out one.

[Insight]

There are so many sides to this issue and questions involved. Is it the violence itself that messes kids up? Are some kinds of violence OK (i.e. cartoon, Roadrunner)?

The problem I see in some violent games (and the GTA games specifically) is the idea they promote that it is cool to gun someone down and steal their car. It is not just in video games either. If you listen to some of the music these kids listen to and the way they talk to each other (I'm a high school teacher) then you really are shocked that MORE kids aren't commiting acts of violence. The pop culture role models these kids have are horrible examples of how to treat other people in many cases, especially in the case of hip-hop music.

[Bane]

Video games don't induce violent behavior in kids, if a person is naturally going to be violent, they'll be violent, video game or not. Me & my brother have been playing video games since we were little, and now with me being 14, & him 19, we're still really nice people. We don't want to imitate a game and go pop off people's heads with guns. They're just fun & entertainment.

[Hopefulsuicide]

i don't think violent behaviour is something that can be put down to any one thing really

when i think of all the violent people i know, they all come from different backgrounds and are all violent in different ways

1. anger issues that medication is prescribed for
2. violence as a male ego thing - hanging round in groups talking about beating up some guy
3. short temper - will snap when pushed too hard, but seems perfectly gentle before hand
4. angry drunks - people who are pussy cats until they have a drink and then they click and will attack you for looking at them funny, or decide your drink is theirs and demand it back

none of these things i see ever being caused by video games...

anger and violence just dont come from there, it comes from inside

[Backward Galaxy]

It looks like I agree with most of the people here.

I look at violent video games as an "instigating factor" that will encourage those already prone to violence. Personally, I can't tell you how many computerized bad guys I've shot in the face, but I've never been in a physical confrontation that went beyond shoving (and that was in 3rd grade, before I had the chance to play any violent video games).

[Bane]

I've had many physical confrontations, but it wasn't due to any video game or TV violence. Sometimes it just happens, no matter how much you try to avoid those types of situations. I do agree that you can't blame it on any one thing, and it's unfair to even try to do that. If your child is violent, I'm pretty sure it didn't stem from a video game, TV show, or movie, but was rather bottled up, or you simply never saw them act violent, but they were doing it whenever they were around others.

[6-Super-Man -5]

No.

[redkryptoniteisthebest]

Yeah.

[6-Super-Man -5]

How so?

[redkryptoniteisthebest]

It depends how the person plays it. If they are playing just to play it and have fun, then it probably won't. It would take forever for me to explain.

[6-Super-Man -5]

I guess, so to speak, if you are in a very angry mood and a very violent game conforts you, are you are likely to become that of which you are playing only in real-life, or just keep it as a visual pleasurement for the mind? If you get what I'm saying, me, I will never ever be affected with the violence.

[redkryptoniteisthebest]

Yeah, I get what you're saying.

[6-Super-Man -5]

Alright, good.

[Krypto~Luan]

No, its natural for people who are already violent to go to these violent games. But its not wise to say that it creates violent behavior. I have played Many violent games in my past, from shooting games, to rpgs. And i am a pacifist. I never had the urge to cause anyone harm because a game made it look fun.

[Supermania]

Of course they do; look at that idiotic Manhunt game. A kid choked his friend to death with a paper bag because of what he saw.
GTA on the other hand isn't simply mindless killing but a series of carefully thought-out missions that don't leave you wanting to kill yourself. It really is as simple as that.

[ColdPlay3r]

i dunno lol maybe

[Krypto~Luan]

I think the people who mostly use this clam are parents too thick headed to see their at falt so ther find a scape goat. And what else rather then a video game. The TV and Movies aspect didnt fly so well with people. They'll find another excuse when blameing video games proves ineffective.

[cousteau]

In short, yes, I think they do - but I also think there's an element of parental negligence to factor in.

The fact is that most games such as manhunt or GTA IV are designed with an adult (meaning 18+) audience in mind, which means that any reasonable parent wouldn't buy a game for their 12 year old son without reinforcing a certain set of values of right and wrong within them.

However.

It's become a quick fix these days to sit your child down in front of the TV or the Xbox to keep them quiet, without really, really giving some thought as to what effect some games are having on kids; you don't have parents these days telling children, just to make sure, that it isn't okto break wing mirrors off of car doors, in fact you have some parents, particularly those less priveleged that simply see that kid of gaming as a godsend. ALl it really does is desensitise you to violence I think.

[an4rew]

It doesn't seem to make any difference if a game is rated 18 or not... kids still want the hyped up games like GTA4.

Its up to parents to supervise and watch what games they are buying their kids.

[Clois4eva89]

I've played violent games since I was 12 and horror movies since I was 16 and I turned out fine.I grew up in a loving enviroment and was taught right and wrong. I just hate it when critics target video games and movies. Heck one critic targeted Superman many decades ago dunno why though. My point is violent video games don't make people do bad things stupid people who don't know right from wrong.Do bad things everyone is responsible for their own actions. You can't blame murdering someone because of a violent video game or movie. Doing that will only get you locked up into an Asylum somewhere.

[redkryptoniteisthebest]

I think so. It depends on what your take of the game is - if it makes you want to do what the game is doing, stop playing it. Some games will only effect certain people.

[rajman]

It all really depends on the kind of state you are mentally, and how well you know yourself, video games give you the chance to do things you can't do/or is just wrong for real. I think if parents make sure that the child doesn't get obsessed with whatever he/she is playing they'll be ok

[thehenry89]

I doubt it.

If you're already pre-disposed to a violent nature than it doesn't help but a video game isn't gonna make a normal well adjusted adolescent into a killer.

[Davis Bloome]

It's been proven that video games actually reduce violence. This is because violence in video games let's children take out their agression in these games, instead of in the real world. We humans all are violent by nature. That's just one of our traits. And by using that violence in a video game instead of on an actual human, reduces that violence we have in us.

[BoyScout-ManOfTomorrow]

It's been proven that video games actually reduce violence. This is because violence in video games let's children take out their agression in these games, instead of in the real world. We humans all are violent by nature. That's just one of our traits. And by using that violence in a video game instead of on an actual human, reduces that violence we have in us.

Anger management wrapped in an entertainment product. Give a nobel peace price to the game industry seriously! :cool:

[Embraceurside]

Yeah it probabaly does if there is no violence in the family the only source would be video games and not just that tv too thats what media intends to do. make the public do what they want the more angry they get they might break the game but there so addicted to the game being a "stress reliever" they will go and buy another :lol: this is how the business world thinks.

----- Added 32 Seconds later -----


I doubt it.

If you're already pre-disposed to a violent nature than it doesn't help but a video game isn't gonna make a normal well adjusted adolescent into a killer.
Thats true.:lol: I mean video games wont make killers.

----- Added 1 Minutes later -----




It's been proven that video games actually reduce violence. This is because violence in video games let's children take out their agression in these games, instead of in the real world. We humans all are violent by nature. That's just one of our traits. And by using that violence in a video game instead of on an actual human, reduces that violence we have in us.
:eek::eek: Well if its a fact i guess i change my opinion all about facts here.:lol:

[Davis Bloome]

But that is just the thing. Less violent children tend to like less violent games. They tend to choose more for rpg's and adventure games, while more violent children will choose action games with a higher violence level. But whatever violence is in these children will be reduced by taking it out on these games. It's not that their violent behaviour will completely disappear, but it does help.

And maybe I should have chosen my words more carefully. There have been tests and study on this which makes scientists believe this is the case, but we can't call this a fact yet.

[alengrew]

seriously I am not sure about it.

[Krypto~Luan]

No. Simple answer.

I did a college speech (which required lots of research) on the topic. People who are violent and play video games are violent before hand. It's simply a convenient scapegoat for lazy parents when their already crazy children go nuts. They want a babysitter, then blame the babysitter. Video games have proven to be cathartic. Not only that they help with puzzle solving skills, reading, critical thinking, social interactions, and reflexes.
Studies found that people who have violent tendencies were so before they played video games, some of whom were already on medication. It's like cursing, it isn't bad but actually rather therapeutic.
I despise violence and I play many violent games. Now does it desensitize us? Arguable. We may react differently to death because of it, but it doesn't mean we will kill. People aren't generally stupid enough to think that someone will come back to life if you kill them and give them a green mushroom. And yes; it IS a form of expression thus protected under the First Amendment.
They blamed movies, music, then video games. Once they loose this battle they'll move on to the next target.

Not to mention that is a self regulation market as proven by the ESRB.


If you want to blame video games for violence then blame guns for murder.