Video Games May Cause Violence

[Jimmy 2004]

As more and more video games come into the spotlight for their violent nature (Manhunt 2 springs to mind), a study carried out by L. Rowel Huesmann, a professor at the University of Michigan, claims to show a link between virtual and real-world violence. The study claims to show a strong correlation between on-screen violence and violent behaviour in adolescents and adults, based on more than 50 years of research on the effects of media violence. Huesmann said the following:
The research clearly shows that exposure to virtual violence increases the risk that both children and adults will behave aggressively. Children are also spending an increasingly large amount of time playing video games, most of which contain violence. Video game units are now present in 83 percent of homes with children.
I haven’t personally read through the publication, called the Journal of Adolescent Health (http://jahonline.org/), so whilst I’m not saying it’s wrong, I’d be interested to see how you can prove that a video game is the cause for violence and that it isn’t simply the case that violent natured people tend to play more violent video games.

Source: DailyTech (http://www.dailytech.com/Study+Video+Violence+Great+Risk+to+Public+Health/article9817.htm)

[ktr]

Damn you Jack Thompson...

[newbielives]

Video games, music, television, movies, cause violence, and I am not being sarcastic.
A little unfair singling out Video Games in my opinion.

[JoJoe]

They need to quit shifting the blame onto video games, music, television, etc. and start treating the source. Disturbed people.

[hat]

bullshit, that's all I can say.
40% of all children are abused in one way or another. It's most likely a bad case of abuse putting the kid under stress making him violent.

[Mandown]

This is the same crap that they said about violent movies, music... its not just that they listen or watch or play violent material. There are a lot of other factors that they don't clearly state, like a history of violent behavior. or how about crazy people, or maybe the family has had a history of mental illness. they never want to say that, its always the games the movies the music. When a person dies, was it just the fact that they were sick?

[Cold Storm]

So? Do this mean that the next time I play Halo 3 with "Grunt birthday party" on and then go to the store right afterwards I'd think the old man over the counter would have confetti when his head xplodes? I HIGHLY dought it.
How many of these studies does people need before they understand that we need to get something into schools about the difference between Virtual and Reality? I understand that violence in video games are making kids in life think its ok to go and beat up this person or do that thing to someone. But its us, the Generation X, that needs to look and see what we can do to help out. It's not until we do something will people see that we also want a better world, where people can sit down and play a game just to ether let off steam, or have some good old fun.
Well like he thinks... I'm off to play Unreal Tournament 3 and blow Up....off some steam!

[TheMailMan78]

Reading this makes me wanna slap my Mama!

[lemonadesoda]

I have to agree. Video games, through making violence part of our daily lives, even if virtual, does have a profound impact on our acceptance of certain behaviours.

We cannot single out video games though. There are many other sources of violence, whatever the source. I would even say that the more graphically real and engaging immersive storyline of a Hollywood movie is FAR worse, esp. films like hostel etc. at creating a "VALUE SHIFT" in society.

To all the people saying "get to the source"... well that's all well and good... but you cannot get to the source without first beating a path there.

I'm pleased there are people out there TRYING to put a check on how society degenerates. And I think we should SUPPORT THEM ... rather than ignoring or insulting their efforts.

Better to be at the table and guide the thinking than to leave it too late and let certain people in power become totalitarian. e.g. pick your political leader from the history books.

This deserves a POLL: http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=45663

[Ser-J]

Living on this earth causes violence...............

[tkpenalty]

bullshit, that's all I can say.
40% of all children are abused in one way or another. It's most likely a bad case of abuse putting the kid under stress making him violent.

Ignorant you are... if you havent heard about the port arthur massacre, ages ago, guy watches movie, guy massacres several towns. I'm not saying its common, but movies, etc DO have mental impacts. See, my friend's little brother, he's had several personality changes, is very restless and violently attacks people now. This is after they got cable TV, now can you say its bullshit?

[InfDamarvel]

Contra so made me want to kill people when I was little. And Mario made me want to be a plumber......This must be his knew background story for his video game.

[InfDamarvel]

Ignorant you are... if you havent heard about the port arthur massacre, ages ago, guy watches movie, guy massacres several towns. I'm not saying its common, but movies, etc DO have mental impacts. See, my friend's little brother, he's had several personality changes, is very restless and violently attacks people now. This is after they got cable TV, now can you say its bullshit?

Ignorant you are... if you havent heard about the port arthur massacre, ages ago, guy watches movie, guy massacres several towns. I'm not saying its common, but movies, etc DO have mental impacts. See, my friend's little brother, he's had several personality changes, is very restless and violently attacks people now. This is after they got cable TV, now can you say its bullshit?

Yes I can. My little cousin wanted to be a powe ranger, so he when he got into a fight he beat up people as if he was a power ranger. Must be the violence from the TV that did it. Or it could be that he lives in some Hood(Ghetto) in Baltimore. Maybe his surrounding's need to be changed. Or maybe just take away the power rangers that give him the heart to protect himself. So hard to figure out which is worse isnt it. (Hopefully you know what a real Hood looks like)

[jocksteeluk]

The study is right, always after playing pinball i always wanted to smash small silver balls and spin around violently just like in the game and after street fighter i always tried to do a yoga flame but always burnt my tongue trying with hot tea, perhaps the time has come where people have to take sanity tests to play games and watch violent films.

[FreedomEclipse]

this is as stupid as actually having rules in BF2.

most rules being:


- No baseraping
- No Artillery/attacking on Uncappable points
- No Carrier raping
- No spawn raping

but at the end of the day these people have to realise thats war & stinky arabs wont stop artillerying or dive bombing you on your carrier just because you think its unfair. its f**king war not a madhatters tea party.

I understand the rules are to help/let others enjoy the game also. but spawn raping & carrier dive bombing is so fun

-------------

I agree that its not the games which effects people but its the peoples minds that do. Disturbed muvaf**kers who play FPSs with enough intent to actually carry out the real thing where as the normal guys leave it at their Pc as soon as they walk away.

computer games dont breed violence its f**ked up people that f**k themselves up even more by playing violent games. Ive been a pretty heavy FPS nut for quite a few years, I use to play alot when i wasnt working, sometimes from 10pm to 6-7am straight on BF2 or COD etc. Ive done that for a good few years & even though my mum always tells me that violent games will mess my head up Id slap my mum because shes a b*tch & shes annoying not because im effected by a silly computer game that I enjoy Immensely on my x1800XT & 5.1 surround sound system for 3-4hrs a day.

at the end of the day I got to work for 8hrs, I come home & I play games to chill out rather then sitting in from of the tv with 300+ channels of crap to watch or reading a boring newspaper.

& my mums repsonce???


"well some people play card games on their pc. why dont you...??"

Its stupid questions like these which really really get on my nerves more then anything hence me say that Id slap my mum for being a b*tch instead of doing it because some dude in COD2 was beating up a prisoner.

not that Id actually slap my mum but I like saying because it makes me feel a little better about myself....... :( *sigh*

[3991vhtes]

I'm sick of these anti gaming politics. They worry about videogames causing violence, but not topics that are more serious. For example: The pedophiles on myspace.

[aximbigfan]

I'm sick of these anti gaming politics. They worry about videogames causing violence, but not topics that are more serious. For example: The pedophiles on myspace.

Dude, how is that a bad thing?

Pedos exist to thin out the number of emos, just like the police exist to thin out the number of hippies.:pimp:

Chris

[FreedomEclipse]

Dude, how is that a bad thing?

Pedos exist to thin out the number of emos, just like the police exist to thin out the number of hippies.:pimp:

Chris

hey dont diss hippies! they are cool mofo's. modern day working class heros aka tax evaders

[imperialreign]

I find it funny how all these studies about one area of the media seem to forget that environment is the primary breeder of violence.

If children grow up in violent neighborhoods, or with violent families, that's all they know . . .

Second up, is parent's who don't know how to teach their child to differentiate between fantasy and reality - and typically use the video games or TV as a form of babysitter. The kids grow up thinking that video games, movies and/or TV are real life, and that it's OK to act like that.

3rd, is the news media that glorify violence by constantly showing one negative thing after another. People have become so used to seeing violence every where that they become numb to it and start to accept it as a way of life - and that, in turn, can lead to violent behavior. Besides, in a city of 500,000 people, you can't tell me that there isn't enough good news to cover everyday.

and last, but not least, IMO, are all the politicians, parents, teachers, etc that just want a scapegoat to blame for the problem instead of actually trying to become involved and do something about it.


I mean, c'mon - I played Wolfenstein3D, Doom, Street Fighter, etc religiously when I was little - I turned out alright, as did the majority of my generation.

[rangerone766]

if violent video games breed violence and murder. baby dolls make girls sluts that want to have babies when they are 12.

and thats all i have to say about that.:banghead:

[Widjaja]

From a New Zealanders point of view.
Before GTA:-San Andreas which is about the time this stink about violent video games was kicked up, there was hip-hop videos.

Adolecent Maoris over here dis-own thier own culture and adopt what they see on music videos from the US because it gives a false impression of what it is like over there for the majority.

Come over here and here and you'll see them.
Rapping, Crumping, walking funny with one pant leg rolled up, break dancing, owning SUV's with 22" chrome rims putting themselves in serious financial debt , fighting, stabbing, shooting, amongst each other just because they live in a different suburb when they used to get along like best friends.
Ruining thier lives trying to achieve an unrealistic goal of being a 'high roller'.

Talking about violence from video games.:rolleyes:
Violence & corruption is from all medias.

It's not being able to comprehend the difference between fact and fiction.

[HAL7000]

Another old mundane argument that always resurrects itself. Most of the people who do these studies don't even game, plus they must choose those select who are violent prior to gaming to solidify there insane ideas.
Of course when the next killer walks up to you with his game gear and headset on wanting your money before he frags you silly with his keyboard, mouse or game controller, just hand it over.
IMHO, this has more to do with the environment and culture you were raised in and also those who may be missing a marble or two. Video games are just that, games. Supervision and parental control should be put into practice.

[erocker]

This is a bunch of crap. Makes me want to be violent.

[HAL7000]

This is a bunch of crap. Makes me want to be violent.

that is funny, thanks for posting that truth.........I agree:toast:

[Nemesis881]

video games cause violence? :wtf:

yea..and milk causes cancer.... ;)

[Ketxxx]

blablabla I've heard enough of this crap cant TPU filter this shit out? Theres always some whiney little twit somewhere bitching on about how games are evil yada yada yada

[Ravenas]

I agree with this, but for violence to occur you must already have something biologically or psychologically wrong with you.

[hat]

IMO I think it's just bad parenting. I was playing DOOM on a sega system when I was 2. I'm pretty sure I've chopped up a lot of monsters with a chainsaw in my younger years. But I hardly ever get into fights, even if I am perfectly justified to fight. The last fight I got into was in 7th grade, and all I did was hold the kids arms so he couldn't swing at me anymore.

[Widjaja]

Maybe these fools are complaining because they know they will be heavily scrutinzed and looked down upon by thier peers for play such games.

Maybe because of this they feel cheated.
How can they play violent games when it's socially wrong for someone of thier ages to be even playing games at all!

So maybe they are trying to take away our right to play violent games because they are deprived of it.

"What will my peers think. . . ."

[anticlutch]

Doctors should give parents a note when their children are born... *NOTICE* MAY NEED PARENTING! *NOTICE* :shadedshu

Screw these "studies". Most of them are probably biased from the get-go so no point in paying attention to them. Like it's been mentioned before, if they're going to start picking on video games for being violent, they should also take a look at TV, movies, the internet, and the radio (lol).

[Ser-J]

All I can say is that I have played lots of different video games, but it never made me violent, actually I personally think it makes u less violent. If video games, moves and other stuff like that makes someone more violent, then there is a deferent reason for that.

[newconroer]

What happens when you put a plate of cocaine in front of a drug addict? Most often they 'do' it. What happens when you give violent or 'disturbed' persons, a venue like violent video games? Most often they 'play' them.

While they may be mentally or emotionally 'disturbed' naturally, we're not helping the issue.

Should the rest of society,who are capable of differentiating between the real and virtual world, be hindered or 'suffer' because of the inabilities of naturally disturbed persons, who cannot exhibit moderation or an appropriate level of behavior?
Opinions will vary, yet if the answer is "no," then the question becomes, "Who will enforce such a belief?"


The people and groups of people that conduct this type of research have the intent of helping to educate others, to benefit society as a whole, so society CAN police itself, rather than having to resort to totalitarianism or dictatorship.



Ultimatley the worst part is the childish and immature responses to a subject that's been long talked about in the past two decades. You'd think people would either support it, or just be quiet.

[Wile E]

What happens when you put a plate of cocaine in front of a drug addict? Most often they 'do' it. What happens when you give violent or 'disturbed' persons, a venue like violent video games? Most often they 'play' them.

While they may be mentally or emotionally 'disturbed' naturally, we're not helping the issue.

Should the rest of society,who are capable of differentiating between the real and virtual world, be hindered or 'suffer' because of the inabilities of naturally disturbed persons, who cannot exhibit moderation or an appropriate level of behavior?
Opinions will vary, yet if the answer is "no," then the question becomes, "Who will enforce such a belief?"


The people and groups of people that conduct this type of research have the intent of helping to educate others, to benefit society as a whole, so society CAN police itself, rather than having to resort to totalitarianism or dictatorship.



Ultimatley the worst part is the childish and immature responses to a subject that's been long talked about in the past two decades. You'd think people would either support it, or just be quiet.No offense NC, but the cocaine analogy is a bad one. An illegal, CHEMICALLY addictive substance, in no way compares to a violent video game.

And my answer to the question is no. Society shouldn't be held accountable. The disturbed person was raised, or otherwise grew up, with a parent or guardian of some sort. It's in the hands of said parents/guardian to get help for the person before it's too late. Well, that's my opinion, anyway.

[imperialreign]

And my answer to the question is no. Society shouldn't be held accountable. The disturbed person was raised, or otherwise grew up, with a parent or guardian of some sort. It's in the hands of said parents/guardian to get help for the person before it's too late. Well, that's my opinion, anyway.

I have to agree with this, too. I've seen numerous examples of disturbed children that have sociopathic/psychotic traits, and it usually stems from influences from the family. Sometimes, the start of such behavior can be spawned from a split/divorced family, or it can be more complex than that.

My gf's yougest brother has had every label slapped on him, ranging from ADHD to Autistic, and his behavior has slowly been getting worse over the last few years. He's now 15, but displays 7 out of the 8 major traits of sociopaths or psychotic killers, and it all feeds back to when his mother left their father.

My mother works with the public school system, and I've seen some "distrubed" kids when I've been at the school helping my mother out, and when you meet the parents you can usually see why the child acts the way they do.