Violence, it's not a new development; however, with the creation of television now anyone can watch someone getting hit by a car. It's not only T.V. that brings violence into focus, video games these days have become increasingly violent and the graphics are just that: graphic. Parents are obviously concerned about the effects on little Timmy if he is shooting someone in the head and watching the blood splatter on a beautifully rendered digital wall. The debate has raged since 1976 with “Death Race” but it really started in 1993 when “Mortal Combat” was released. The violence was astounding at the time with beheadings and spines ripped out of bodies. People everywhere wondered if violence in video games causes violence in the real world.
Just this year the debate continued when President Trump, several Republican lawmakers, video game industry representatives, and others met to discuss the implication video games have on the real world. The meeting was in response to the gunman who killed 17 people in Parkland, Florida who appears to have played violent video games. However, according to this graph from videogames.procon.org violent crimes and video game sales do not correlate. There have also been studies that show video games that do affect aggression levels. In truth, video games (and the media) have desensitized us to violence. What do you think though, is it because you play “Call of Duty” that you bashed that guys head in or because you already had problems to begin with? https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/soej.12139 https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/08/business/video-games-violence.html https://videogames.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=003627
43 Comments
Rachel
11/25/2018 09:08:07 am
I agree that video games have desensitized our world to violence. But, I also do not think that it is only video games. Movies and TV shows play a huge role as well. Not long ago, it would have been considered highly inappropriate to show someones head being cut off, or someone being shot. But now, Deadpool can do so and even break the 4th wall to tell the audience about it. I believe that the media in general is what has caused violence to become commonplace in our culture. It is interesting that the research showed no correlation between violent crimes and video games though. I hope that the data proves that even though the media has become more violent, we still have an established idea of what is a game and what is reality.
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Kelsey
11/25/2018 09:53:39 am
Nice, I like the Deadpool reference. Violence has become commonplace, but I think people still understand the difference between reality and the game, except a few individuals who have chose gaming as a lifestyle. I wonder if a gamer would be less affected by war than a non-gamer?
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Rachel
11/25/2018 07:32:26 pm
That is an interesting question. I think that gamers would be less affected by war simply because they are more accustomed to seeing the violence. Even if they are able to understand the difference between game and reality, their brains are still more desensitized to the horror.
Mckinlee
11/25/2018 07:03:22 pm
Violence has become commonplace nowadays. I think it wouldn’t be so hard to make sure hildren know what is game and what isn’t. You made quite a few good points!
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Challis
11/25/2018 07:47:15 pm
It is true most of us have come desnsitized to voilence but does that really make us more violent? I can easily watch action movie with fights and killing without thinking twice about it but I, myself, would never try to fight or kill someone.
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Kelsey Stansberry
11/25/2018 09:40:48 am
To be completely honest, I have never played a video game except for mario cart, once. My parents have never allowed it, and I do not think I would have time. Video games, TV, and social media all serve as an outlet. They are similar to drugs and alcohol because they take a person's mind off daily life. Like any kind of distraction, too much is never good. I do not think video games are harmful unless they are used too much. When people are plugged in and disengage from important social interactions, then they develop problems. Too much time gaming can distort a person's view between reality and the game. This is when violent video games become detrimental to society.
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Jesse B.
11/25/2018 12:35:14 pm
I can see why your parents chose to not allow video games because it can become a distraction if the habit is left unchecked. The comparison you make with drugs and alcohol is pretty good. What would be the first action you would take when trying to fix this crisis? Also, it is Mario Kart, not mario cart.
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Rachel
11/25/2018 07:36:03 pm
Nice correction Jess. But me too Kels. I have only ever played Mario Kart and Wii. I agree that video games can be fun, but they can also be harmful, like anything, if used incorrectly.
Katherine
11/25/2018 04:18:40 pm
I agree that when people miss important social interactions and instead turn to video games, they can get problems. If the mind is not mature enough to comprehend the line between video games and real life, then they can start to change their behavior.
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Sadie
11/25/2018 06:11:32 pm
I don't think I've ever experienced a SINGLE thing that passes the time as much as video games do. It just proves how much fun you're having. You think you've be playing for like 2 hours and then you check the clock... It is a good outlet if you use it wisely.
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Katherine
11/25/2018 10:40:35 am
I think that when a kid is younger, they shouldn't be allowed to play the violent video games. When people are younger, they are trying to learn how to behave and how to act. When someone misses normal socializing and plays the video games instead, they learn that that is the normal behavior. Violent video games and violent acts do not really correlate, but violent video games tend to cause more aggression. The aggression can even turn into more pushing, shoving, fighting, etc. The violent acts may come from that, but not solely the games. They come from family issues, social media, bullies, and other factors.
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Jesse B.
11/25/2018 12:40:04 pm
I agree with you 100 percent that young children should not be allowed to play these types of video games or watch those kinds of movies. The missed social time is also a great point that you bring up. You say that most violent acts happen because of a combination of factors, what do you think is the most important one to focus on fixing to decrease the amount of violence in our world?
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Katherine
11/25/2018 04:16:30 pm
I don't think that certain objects drive people to commit these crimes. Many people disagree, but I think that mental health issues is one of the most important factors. About 1 in 5 adults have some sort of mental health disorder, and with today's society they feel out of place, not getting the help they need. Having poor mental support drives kids to act upon the violent urges to get some help.
Sadie
11/25/2018 05:50:13 pm
We played 'Black Ops II: Zombies' when we were like 10 and our parents didn't like that. It was hilarious though because we had so much fun with it. Shortly after, I started watching 'The Walking Dead' and it kinda gave me nightmares and when I got the game, I got rid of it because it scared me too much. Lol
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Katarina
11/25/2018 06:56:19 pm
I agree. It may have a part but there are usually many underlying problems that lead to the violent behavior.
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Mckinlee
11/25/2018 06:58:19 pm
I agree that certain ages shouldn’t play certain games, hence why I think the ratings put on things like games and movies can be fairly important.
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Challis
11/25/2018 07:55:29 pm
That is a very good point. I would agree that children should not be able to play video games but i think banning them all together is extreme.
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Jesse B.
11/25/2018 12:22:29 pm
Do violent video games create violent people? Only if the minds of those people are not mature enough to realize that this behavior in real life is unacceptable. Examples of this can be with young children, but that is why there are ratings on video games. I do not believe that violent video games, movies, and tv shows are the problem, but the news and society that drives them to be produced. Since the Vietnam War, the first televised war, violence in media has been more present. I could not find very many cruel movies before 1955 (when the war started), but as the years go by, brutality in movies increases. Since there has been increased coverage of wars, crime, and other violent acts in the news, the world has become desensitized to how violence can affect people. Also, it is no secret that humans are naturally violent and we sometimes actually crave it, so these movies, tv shows, and video game provide an outlet for folks to get out their natural urges in a legal way. So, I believe that the increased news coverage of brutal acts has made people to be more violent and has driven others to create other forms of violence in video games, movies, tv shows, etc. If we are to do something about the violence in our culture, we have to start by making real-life violence uncommon by decreasing the news coverage of those acts.
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Katherine
11/25/2018 04:11:50 pm
I agree with you that the news coverage drives kids to continue the streaks of violence. Some kids just don't get the attention that they need/want, so when they see it on screen it makes it seem like they get that much more attention.
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Kelsey
11/25/2018 05:35:43 pm
Wow, I did not realize that the Vietnam War was the turning point in our society. I also did not think about how video games could serve as a violence outlet. It makes sense because sometimes I really feel like watching an action-packed, violent movie like "American Assassin" or "Kingsmen." It is very exciting and most people get an adrenaline rush out of these types of entertainment. Violent gaming should be used in balance and controlled to the right age group, not banned altogether.
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Conrad
11/25/2018 07:35:29 pm
I love the idea that its all a matter of maturity, once a child knows the difference between right and wrong it is perfectly fine to let children play these games. I do not believe they should be allowed to play an extreme amount, but a few hours here and there WILL not hurt anything.
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Sadie
11/25/2018 06:08:28 pm
I personally just played "Red Dead Redemption 2" for 7 hours straight until 3 in the morning and do not believe I wasted a single second in doing so. Playing video games, violent or not, makes me very happy. Normal people are not stupid enough to believe that they could have the talent or capabilities of a shooter in a video game anyway. Most of us are able to recognize that we are not superhuman. Those who cannot are the ones who need help. It would be wrong to deny someone something they truly care about just because it's virtually violent. It's all about the family situation and mental disorders.
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Katarina
11/25/2018 06:58:28 pm
I agree but those games may be better suited for someone your age or older, not the age of a some adolescent kid who has not figured out normal social situations.
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Katarina
11/25/2018 06:55:09 pm
I think violent behavior is partially due to video games. The biggest problem is mental health and the little people do to help those who have mental problems. The reason I place part of the blame on video games is it gives kids and teenagers a reward when they kill or harm something on video games. Which gives them an adrenaline rush. Due to this why wouldn’t the kids want to take it a step further and see what kind of rush they get from the real action. Although I don’t think violent video games is the main cause for murders. I don’t think they are the best idea for anyone.
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Sariah
11/25/2018 07:52:32 pm
The way you explain a video game is extremely intelligent. It puts it in the perspective that it is like a drug. Which it honestly is. It is to receive a adrenaline rush from something that if abused is harmful.
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Mckinlee
11/25/2018 06:56:58 pm
Videos have indeed allowed children to interact with a more violent side of life but I do not believe that they would be the sole cause of violence in children. I am sure that there are some cases where a child sees something in a game and decides to try it out themselves but that is not the same for every such case. I believe video games can even have positive benefits on children such as heightening their reaction times or coordination.
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Conrad
11/25/2018 07:32:01 pm
I think its all a matter of amount. Caffeine is perfectly fine in smaller dosages and I believe that video games such as Call of Duty are the same way.
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Brooke
11/25/2018 07:45:02 pm
I think video games are a way to find a scapegoat to place some blame towards the uprising acts of violence. They may not actually be the source of this violence, but it is a way for us to reconcile the rising acts.
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Bailey
11/25/2018 07:57:00 pm
They are definitely not the sole cause of violence. I am a naturally violently minded person, and tend to play violent video games a lot because they let me take out my aggression on something other than real people. If I didn't have the option to play video games where I could attack something other than my family, then I would probably have attacked a harmed family or people I see randomly on the street. There are definitely a lot of benefits to violent video games, at least in my opinion, as well as video games in general.
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Conrad
11/25/2018 07:30:04 pm
I believe that for a person to commit violence they cannot know the difference between right and wrong. This morale compass is not taught or gained through video games, but through parents and other real life occurrences. Now I agree that kids should not be allowed these games at a young age, or be allowed to play for too long, but I don't think they are the root cause of violence.
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Sariah
11/25/2018 07:49:08 pm
Your post reminded me of the real problem with video games and that is in fact addiction not so directly the violence itself. When I see children that are 2-3 years old that scream and cry about playing a game it honestly makes me not want my child to ever play video games. At least not at a young age so it does not consume their childhood. I feel a lot of kids in this new generation, especially in cities, where they do not have much to do outside, are missing out on their childhoods because video games consume their life.
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Brooke
11/25/2018 07:49:51 pm
Yes, the violence was always in the person, it's not the game that suddenly makes it manifest. Daily life is what is a real determining factor. Watching the t.v. for an excess amount of time is bad for anyone, so video games are not exempt .
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Bailey
11/25/2018 07:54:33 pm
I agree that if a person thinks that things seen in a game or on TV are acceptable in real life their moral compass isn't mature enough. However, I would argue that video games do not have a proven effect on violence in children and teenagers. Rather, familial and life circumstances have the negative effect.
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Brooke
11/25/2018 07:40:52 pm
Last year, I did a commonplace book about this topic. The results were clashing-- on one side, studies confirmed that criminals enjoy playing games where murder is the reward, such as an 18 year old shooter who based his attack off a game. On the other hand, it has also been proven that these games may act as a substitute to "keep kids off the streets and out of trouble." I believe it depends on the kid on whether or not they are influenced. The violence is already inside them; what matters is if it is awakened by playing the games or subdued.
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Jazz
11/25/2018 08:37:19 pm
I found similar results. In the same article that I posted about, the author stated that "The debate over video games has led to a serious split between different groups of researchers which was as much about politics as research findings." So it definitely makes sense that everyone is finding clashing results. Do you think that video games act as an activator or an outlet for violence?
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challis
11/25/2018 07:43:39 pm
I do not think there is much of a correlation. A violent person is often drawn to violent things so it is not the video games that made him that way, he likes playing them because he likes the violence aspect. Other people that are not generally aggressive, that still play video games just do it for the fun and they most likely have an understanding of what is real and what is right or wrong. I know plenty of people that have grown up playing violent video games and it has not made them psycho or unnecessarily voilent.
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Sariah
11/25/2018 07:44:31 pm
I have a strong fascination with mental state and what influences us as humans to perform a certain task. I believe that because people are so different a video game can and does mean something different. For instance kids who are already mentally disturbed because of certain things that have happened in their life could use a video game for violent tendencies. In other cases though a kid could just play it because they like the challenge of accomplishing things or solving puzzles. Yes there is violence in the video game still but a child who doesn’t have issues with violence won’t take what they do on the video game and use it violently. I also believe that in all honesty, things such as shootings, child abuse, homelessness, bullying, violence, etc. etc are because of mental issues a person may have. Therefore, awareness for mental illness should be what we are discussing instead of video games.
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Bailey
11/25/2018 07:48:08 pm
I have played violent video games since I was about four or five, maybe even earlier than that. Those of you who know me know that I tend to be a violently minded person. But according to my parents, I was like this before I played video games. I mean, I tried to drown one of my sisters in a pool when I was two or three, so that goes to show just how violent I can be anyways. In my experience though, I think that playing violent video games has helped to curb my rather malicious tendencies. Honestly, without violent video games I probably would've murdered a person or seven by now. In my opinion, violence caused by video games that contain substantial violence is unproven. Violent video games are available worldwide, but violence in children seems to be an mainly American occurrence, so I think that there is another factor responsible for childhood violence.
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Jazz
11/25/2018 08:40:57 pm
I love that you've mentioned that violence in America is more of a common occurrence than in other places. I could definitely see you fighting a couple people without an outlet for your violence.
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Saylor
11/25/2018 09:16:55 pm
You bring up a great point.american children are more violent because of the way we're raised. Honestly video games may be a small factor on why we are so violent, but many of use just grew up to be violent. That brings up some questions on why there is so much more violence in America?
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Jazz
11/25/2018 08:29:42 pm
Humans are instinctively violent by nature. Look at Rome, they built the Colosseum specifically for the purpose of pitting people against one another for their entertainment, and they are deified as one of the greatest civilizations of all time. H. H. Holmes, builder of the renowned murder mansion, was America's first known mass murderer, and video games were not around in the 1890's last time I checked. But before I continue, let's take a look at the statistics Kenna mentioned. The graph showed no direct correlation between violent video game sales and actual violence, so there should not even be an argument. Psychology Today states in their article "Can Video Games Cause Violence" that "there was a sharp rise in research studies examining the link between child violence and video games though the results were rarely consistent. Author Christopher J. Ferguson (...) pointed out that many scholars working in the area of child violence added to the moral panic with studies that were often flawed." I do not believe that digital violence can cause real life violence if the audience can recognize what is real and what is not.
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Saylor
11/25/2018 09:14:18 pm
I completely agree, you bring up some great points about our history also. Video games arent effecting violent people.
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Saylor
11/25/2018 09:13:08 pm
Violence is everywhere. It's not just going to be on the TV or in video games. TV shows and movies are one thing but there is violence even on the news. Controlling violent people is different then controlling society, people can be sent to jail or prison but it's going to be hard to shut down a digital game. Yes, people can take out any sort of it in video games, but that isn't going to effect the real world. There are acts of violence every second including on the streets where people might just happen to be walking by. Violent kids grew up with it. Thi king it's okay because of the way they were raised, not because of video games.
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