Violent Video Games: Good or Bad For Society?

Did you know the US army gives away a free video game that simulates what it is like as a US soldier? It true, I have it and its not that great. To think all I needed to do to get it was register my name at the draft bureau.

here is the game: Americas Army

 

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I would say that even baseball has the potential for triggering aggression, as does a certain cartoon, where a guy goes postal every time he eats a can of spinach. Shoot em up video games, probably more so.

In the past, this was simply accepted, but combined with an emphasis on respect for authority, with the aggression being channeled into the military.

Now, our society has less respect for authority, but more effective means of stimulating violence, along with better access to technical information, via the internet. The result is increased gang activity, and ameteur terrorists.

I'm all for questioning authority when necessary. However, our prisons are full of the kinds of people who will walk on the grass, just because there's a sign that says, "don't walk on the grass." I don't think that's what Thoreau had in mind.

I'm not a Christian myself, but I do think the strong emphasis on Christian morals, which was promoted by such organizations as the boy scouts, once did much to curb excessive violence. I think it would help, if we could have something like that now, minus the gay bashing, and the insistence that everyone believe the Earth was created in six days. I think the fundamentalists have some valid points, but that doesn't mean we're going to solve the problem, by posting the Ten Commandments in the classroom.

I see nothing wrong with violent video games, in the hands of responsible adults, but I do think we need to recognize that certain influences are harmful to children, and they need to be protected from them.

If a twelve year old boy is allowed to view pornagraphic movies, we shouldn't be too surprised, if he decides to try some of that stuff out on his younger sister. I don't hink nudity per se is the problem, as long as it's presented with the right attitude.

If you're a parent, and you allow your kids to watch professional wrestling, I'd say you're asking for trouble. A five year old can't be expected to understand that, if he bounces his little brother on his head, he isn't going to just get up again.

As for video games, I think they are a more effective medium than the technologies of the past, but the underlying problem is not a new one.

 

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Definately Good!

My opinion on computer games is that there good, and they (for me) are a good way to relax.

But some plots on games may have things of a criminal nature (such as the Grand Theft Auto series) but all in all, there part of entertainment. And the mojity of them are based on movies or something that has happened in movies.

So if movies can has crime/violence in them then i see no reason why computer games can't, because nowadays there are age restrictions on the games that contain violence just as there is on movies.

 

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"Were they just innocent amusements caught up in the times, or were the kids of the Greatest Generation* being trained without their knowing it?"

** the kids have a head start on eye to hand co- ordination, yep! he'll make an Excellent F16 pilot one day.

"I think that violence is part of human nature. These games exploit that part of our nature, as do most contact sports.'

**Soccer, Football, and boxing are accepted forms of besting an opponent. Dog fighting, and Chicken Fighting all show a premeditated killing element, Those people should try vidio games..

"who is to say wars will not be fought over the World wide web? We have the programs, so why not just use it?"

**It is here, the times are here, so it must be dealt with. I see good and bad, mostly more good if......

"The video games help a lot. If it werent for them, I would have probably been in a bell tower somewhere.... who knows? All I know is that if you can descern between role-play, and real life. Then you have absolutely no problem..."

**this is true.

"Kids grow up to be violent because they weren't treated correctly by their family.'

**This is B/S... a Copout!

"I doubt that violent games make you a violent person."

**Like the fans of the superbowl losers? trashing a town and burning cars? or the deadly European Soccer Games?

"I would say that even baseball has the potential for triggering aggression,"

**True...

prisons are full of the kinds of people who will walk on the grass, just because there's a sign that says, "don't walk on the grass."

**Rebels and Renegades, purely Evil, me first people, shortcuts, cheap way to stardom, and those who were at the wrong place, wrong time.. not everybody is Guilty, thanks to our Judicial System.. Gung Ho Prosecutors play Games too!


****Lots of good replies here, Truth also. I think Violence comes from the Heart. Myself, I do not play Games when it comes to killing anything. nor would I want to enjoy it. To me it is a sick mind that wishes to see blood and guts splatter, and "Winning" over another living creature is not my cup of tea either! Games that simulate such patterns ... maybe they are a neccessary evil?

 

YA BLOOD AND GUTS!!! GOD BLESS DOOMIII AND UT2003!

Yet I also am a certified wildlife rehabilitate and could not hurt anything REAL even if I had to. That and I’m a pussy and could not beat Stephen Hawkins in a box ring.

 

Well for what it's worth....
I think the good or bad thing is spurious, the subjective morality argument applies. Now as human beings are pack animals we all have desire for valdation and status. Back in the day murder was a popular way of gaining status. It still is in some parts of town but most people have moved on from that and gain status from less risky activities. My personal opinion is that young men have particular problems with status and also with testosterone, this situation is a games designers wet dream. Video games are a function of society and are as "good" or "bad" as the society that coded them. I personally wonder what Iraqi games designers are working on at the moment (apart from leaving town).
"good or bad?"
Up to you.

 

I've read about this topic for years now in books, magazines, on the net, etc. A scientific theory as to why some people become violent and/or morbid has to do with peoples genes;
I once read that people who seem to lack their father's genes are more prone to violence, and therefore buy violent games. They may not influence them at all. I'm not sure whether this is still a theory, and there isn't much evidence to back this up. (I myself think it's just a bogus idea).

 

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I don't know. I just happened to come across it in some magazine article. It's a pretty stupid theory I guess.

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Genes have nothing to do with this! People, by nature, are violent. Throughout the ages people have fought and killed for various reasons; whether it be money, land, or revenge.
Video games just help people vent their anger and frustration on a screen with pixels rather than a living being. It's not our fault that some crazed idiot who happened to be playing video games decided to go trigger happy and kill people. It's not like all killers are video game zombies. We here all these people b***h'n about how violent video games are and how violent they make people but we forget about the more deadly killers like Saddam Hussain or the Unabomber or Osama who, more than likely, never played a video game in their lives. It's outrageous, placing us in the same category as them. The nerve of those b*****ds!

 

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I don't know. I think supervision and parenting is the answer. Two 'youngsters' can play the same game and one can understand that it is a game and not get any appetite for violence because they understand that there are consequences for their actions, while the other (i would say one without guidance) could go out and commit attrocities.

 

And how would he be able to commit these attrocities? He would have to get a gun in the first place (Kids can just as easily learn to preform martial combat on T.V. as on video games). And, let's say for example, he was playing Halo or Doom. Do you know of anyplace where this kid could accquire a mini-gun or rocket launcher? And even if he did get his hands on a gun, how would he know how to operate it? The games don't show it (trust me. The way they load gun is soooo fake). No. Parent supervision, although it may be helpful, is not the answer.

 

Never once when i was a child watching "Power Rangers" did i thnk to myself it would be fun to go outside, turn into a gigantic robotic dinosaur, and kill mutant things that always came back to life in the next episode.

Parents blame their childrens violence on video games becasue they can't face the fact that their probably the ones that the children hate, and any violence that they had in their heart, the parents COULD have stopped and cured, but they didn't.

I mean cmon kids have played "cowboys and indians" or some other make belive war game for ages.

 

Sorry. I was thinking about that wrestling incident with that kid and his litle sister.

 

I agree shadowpuppet I may self have been playing violent video games since young child hood, ever since my mother gained a addiction for Wolfinstin 3D but My mother was always there for me and taught me proper social behavior and the difference between a CG sprit dieing and real death. It improper parenting that cause violent not the games, the games only give ideas to the egomaniac children that would not be if there parents raise them right to begin with.

 

War games are good well they helped me when this guy broke in to my house and i used moves i did in tom clancys somthing i cant remmember what its called but i used the moves and i knocked the guy out and he said he dident even hear me.

 

nukem,

wow so your gaming finger is that strong from over use that you can kill a man with it??? can you crush walnuts bear handed to?

 

Im guessing your all right but the real questions is, Why would people commit crimes cause of games? How are games, today good for youth or for the society? Please anwser




___________
G Unit Dawg

 

They are good for most people. That's exactly right, it looks realistic and people can see just how you can't actually "re-spawn" in real life.

Video games like that show how fragile life can be, and are a fun competitive way to get anger out. ( in the case of those gang members anyway)

All in all, I would suggest learning an instrument over learning to play video games.

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noob