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Kyle B. from Tempe Arizona Says: I persoanlly think that some of the things said about violence in Video Games
TV Movies and more are ridiculous, i personally enjoy playing mortal combat
resadint evil and other games, the purpose of these is to help you escape
from realality, when nevs see's that the murders at columbine played doom
they jumped to blame video games, personally i think they where messed up in
the mind and video games did what it does for evryone lets them escape, now,
if he went around the campus shooting big spiders with machine guns on them
(boss in doom) i would say he got it from the game but notice it wasent, in
no way am i trying to make fun of he masacre in CO but a coincoidence is a
coincidence and nothing more
Shayna Silva Says: I believe that you are absolutely right about violence. It's not the video
games that are messing these kids up, it's the parents, peers and the
environment they live in. Like you said, people just don't get up and kill
others after playing Mortal Kombat or Doom. It takes a much longer time to
develop those problems. The parents and peers that pay no attention and make
fun of these kids have to get their act together.
Xenophager Says: I totally agree! it is not video games or movies that turned those kids to
kill, it was lack of parenting in teaching the person what is right and what
is wrong. I am only 14, have been playing video games since i was 3 and i
have never felt the need to be extremely violent because of the games. I
used to play video games all day when i was young, like for 5 (with brakes
for food) of playing violent games and then going to the park all happy, not
thinking i am going to go and rip the kids head off with my mighty axe. I
think the ratings r bs too. no one reads them except the parents. I think
there is only 1, read yes only 1 game that i think should be considered
violent, that game is Postal by running with scissors. a site for the game
is, www.gopostal.com if u download the game and play it u will know what i
mean. I think that gta is not violent. i think it is fun. u go get a big fat
bus go up to 100mph an hour and run over a guy and all it does is make a
squish sound. like whats that? doom always relaxed me. when i was pissed i
would go take my trusty rocket launcher my god mode and put the difficulty
to the really high one and just go and blast everything. after a while of
that i would be fine. well thats all i am going to say about that for now,
so i'll be going.
Dustin Bell Says: In response to violence in video games. Yes there is violence in video games...But to what point? I've seen four games that have violence on
them on the Nintendo 64. These games are, Shadows of the Empire, Goldeneye, Duke Nukem 64, and Quake. And Sega, well they haven't made a
game for at least six months. I read in a journalist colum that a family in Kentucky is suing Sega, Nintendi and Sony because their child was
involved in a gang that commited crimes, the child blamed it on influence by video games. I don't see why that Kentucky family is suing
Nintendo and Sega. Sony Playstation...They are the ones that sell violence. Almost every other game they sell, is filled with animated violence.
Sure, in my opinion animated violence has no influence on the children who play it. If this were true, North America would have a serious
school shouting every day. Millions of people play these games and one child of those millions of people goes on a killing rampage and blames
it on video games. If anything it is not console games that influence this...It is the arcades. Especially games such as time crisis. You pick up a
gun and shot people. Not use a joy stick to guide a character while they shoot. In arcade you actually pull the trigger. Sure video games might
have some small influence on a child. But that is what the rating system is for. It is the parents fault if an underage child is influenced by a
mature rated video game. I believe video games have little influence compared to the media. The media broadcasts live suicides, mass school
shootings ( my respects to the victims of Littleton Colorado. ) and other terrorism raids. I remember last year, NBC was playing sesame street
and aired a special news broadcast. It was a high speed car chase that ended in a tragic suicide. Imagine how many children from ages two to
five, were watching that. It is the media by far who influences violence in children, ( if at all children are influenced by it, in my opinion children
are not influenced by any media or entertainment, but if it is so, it is the media.) Children are mostly influenced by their parents. It is the parents
fault. Not the media.
Bhlaab Sayss: I believe that instead of violence coming FROM videogames, it comes from NOT
having them. Usually when I am really angered at something, I fire up my
N64, put in Goldeneye, and let all my aggression out on the virtual people,
not on people walking down the street. I'm not saying that if I couldn't
blow the crap out of a zombie, I'd take a gun and shoot everything I see.
I'm saying that violence in games is letting go to all kid's stress, not
adding to it. Now there are some games that take violence a little too far.
*cough*Mortal Kombat*cough* Those games try to make the violence the base of
the game. I never saw someone punch someone, and have it splurt blood across
the hallway. All of blaming video games for all these tragedies is because
the parents have no one else to blame, so they pick out the worst thing they
can think of. Now, there will be those who have no grip on reality, and jump
in front of trains because they see a TV show where a kid in an orange coat
dies every week. But for now: I'm going to try out the song of time on my
new ocarina.
Wade Bennet Says: I couldn't agree with you more. Ive thought ever since I saw news segments
about Mortal Kombat a few years ago that the world was goin to hell, and
apparently it has. I really think that all this crap about video game
violence causing people to kill would've been stopped if a few facts had
been pointed out first.
Keep in mind these arent correct but you understand.
There have been about 6 shootings at SIX schools.
there are only about 200,000,000 schools in the country, and i don't know of
any where somebody hasn't played a videogame.
This fact is about right. The percentage of students who have killed
people, when you take the time to figure it out, is something like this, "0.000001%" That means theres another perentage who played games and didnt screw up. "99.99999%"The way national news portrays the shooters makes us all look like a bunch
of little bastards who are going to kill somebody. Our school is trying to
get a dress code where everyone wears khaki pants and a white shirt
everyday. But that's life, since it's "for the good of the students".
Shogun Says: Well , you are correct about everything on this page I mean video games have nothing to do with violence and if violence shuld occur to
happen in video games today...... who are those to say that it was just the video games that did that, cause if the children wern't brought up
with love and a good sence of wrong and right and when to decide which one to use , it was most likely the parents falt or who ever was
responsible for those chilren or teens. I may only be 11 years old but I can tell anyone that asks me , my parents were and always will be
mine and my brothers and sisters biggest influence. So video games to me are just a hobby just a seconned life and just a game and if me at
my age can say that much when I'm still so young imagine what I can say about it when I'm a grand father.
Tim Williams Says: Indeed I agree with your viewpoint on the issues relating to video game
violence. When I play video games all I think about is having fun. Severely
censoring video games, making them corny, is definitely not the answer to
ending violence. The media is trying to make a story out of video game
violence which raises concerns to parents making them think that video games
are hurting their children. The media can persuade many people to believe
things if they are not educated on that topic. The politicians in Washington
D.C. grew up in a different time back when video games did not exist. They
probably have never put a controller in their hands and had fun with their
friends like we do. They do not understand that these games do not place
subliminal messages in young people's minds. Truly, video games do not cause
violence. Evil intentions from youngsters come from within; they not teach
teenagers to kill or injure some one else. Even though I personally do not
like DOOM, or Quake or any of those violent games, I would not blame them for
one's actions. How is it that some kids are violent when playing games (I
personally know no one that is or have I ever heard of that before) and others
or not? It is how they were raised by their parents. You can make many friends
through video games. All video games are are a make-up of complex programmed
codes and to be successful in them, you need to beat the code. This is not
real life. They are meant to entertain. I remember back when the first NES
came out of how on the news they had complaints from parents about Super Mario
jumping on a mushroom or a turtle and making it's shell fall off while making
a cartoony sound effect. They thought that was violent. Games are not meant to
be taken seriously and anyone who thinks that is how the world really is needs
to develop a sense of reality.
I really like how you recommend video games for lonliness. They do help. The
last video game I bought was Street Fighter Alpha 3 and before that, it's been
a couple years, truly, since I had bought video games. Actually Zelda which I
got for Christams is about as far back as I remember or the Japanese import of
Final Fantasy IV for the Playstation. It gets cloudy thinking of video games I
purchased before then. My best friend though kept me into them, calling me,
telling what new games he got and is looking forword to. So when I started
getting into them again, I remembered my childhood how I used to spend hours
in front of the tv playing. It is especially good now since I have a job that
I can afford these newer games coming out in the next century.
"A Fan" Says: I say I must agree with you. That is the most sense anyone has made about
this whole sorted event. Either you are just well educated, but I bet you
listin to Loveline. Anyway I just thought I would give you some input you
are right about just about every issue you faced I commend you. As a teen of
today I mostly agree with you It is just a game only a seriously desterbed
person would want to blow someone up.
TORLOBO Says: I Just want to say I agree with you in every way, it is the parent's fault
and not the video games. The same issue is with gun control:Limiting guns
will not take care of the problem,as the old saying goes:Guns don't kill
people,people kill people. Everyone in the world right now thinks more gun
control is the answer,but it's not. The real answer is in proper
parenting,not in taking away guns. As one of my teachers in school said "If
there is a wide manslaughter with samurai swords,are they going to take them
away?" No matter what weapon is taken away, people will still find another
weapon. We need to quit ignoring what the real problem is by trying to get
rid of guns or video games, etc. and come down hard on the real issue-
Improper parenting and neglect. The public schools don't help either:If you
want to talk about witchcraft that's fine,but mention anything about God,
morals, etc., and no, no, no, you can't do that.We live in a twisted society
with a wrong philosophy, and sadly we probably cant do anything about it.
Jerome Armstrong Says: I have a different viewpoint about violence in video games. I
encourage it. Not too much, but just a little bit. Why? Well, I
remember one day a friend of mine was hitting-on my girlfriend-hugging
her and s**t like that. The only problem was that I wasn't around when
it happened.
So what did i do? Actually, I played Resident Evil 2. The violence and
gore in that game was enough to take away my rage. Sure, i still want
to get even, but the violence in that video game was enough to keep me
at bay.
I consider myself a normal person. I have a B average in school, i
stay out of trouble, and so on. That's proof that whatever happened to
me can happen to anyone else.
ZFreak Says: 'm 13 and I have played every video game on your list of violent
games. I have seen Several horror movies, including the Halloween,
Scream, and Stephen King's series. I have seen violent tv shows such as
Charmed and Walker Texas Ranger. I have not EVER even pretended to kill
someone. I have NEVER even thought about killing someone. I have never
put on a white mask and kill my sister. I have never gone out side with
a stake in my hand looking for a warlock. I have not ever attempted or
thought about making a bomb for ANY reason. Around 10 to 14 it is easy
to get influenced in all sorts of things. But stuff like that I know is
fake. People just donot do that because of movies. In my opinion the
do it for attention. Think about it. I mean if there is a bully at
school, and "JOHN" always get picked on, but Mrs./Mr. "HALL" will not do
anything about it, "JOHN" will have to take matters into his own hands.
He may only intend to use a weapon he has on the bully, but other people
interrupt and he is forced to shoot more. This is what sometimes may
happen. And when the say why, the come up with a sorry-ass exuse of
Mrs./Mr. "HALL" would not do something about it. Well, you could tell
anybody. They just want the easy way out. I know that Video games, and
movies, etc.. Have nothing to do with it. But there are sites out
there, like the bomb cook book sites, and the home made grenades site.
There are so many sited that contribute that it is sickening. Being an
average person I say once again Video games, etc... have NOTHING to do
with this.
Rexicon1 Says: Hello I am a 14 Teenager from Florida. I live in the Suburbs of Miami where
it is always bright and shiny. Here in my small neighborhood the parents are
passing around an E-Mail about banning violence in Video games. One day I
recieved this E-Mail and i thought to myself
" Why, when these people could be teaching their kids about right and wrong,
about how to stay away from drugs and the like, are they sending around a
petition about video games?!" I play lots of Video Games, especially
Computer games (most of which are gory), and yet i am well liked i have good
friends and i live a pretty normal life. The government has to quit making
games the center of all that is evil. If the government wants to do
something its not putting an inch long warning that says "bad" on the box of
Resident Evil 2 that no one gives a box of crud about anyways. And parents
who think that the government is doing the right thing, well what they're
doing is about as useful as tying a carburator on a goat. My point is, STOP blaming video games, and START paying attention to
the parents.
Brian Says: Hey Video Gamer X! I'm Brian. My screen name used to be BethSCETTF
but now it is the obvious.
Anyway, your page on violence was incredible. All I hear about
anymore is the fact that movies, music and video games influence teenagers,
but not once have I heard anyone else besides myself speak against it. You
were absolutely right. After a tough day at school, I love to sit down and
play DOOM when my freinds can't come over. But does that make me want to go
tear sombody's head off with a freakin chainsaw? No. It calms me down, it
takes me out of the real world.
I am 15 years old and my mom has let me watch the most violent,
bloody, gory, and obsene movies on the face of the planet. Some may not call
that good parenting, but not once have I ever gotten into a fight (even
though I am 6'3" and 187 lbs. which is not fat), or wanted to kill someone in
cold blood. It makes me sick that parents, who often times rely on the TV as
a babysitter accuse it when their kids do something horendous. I say it's
there own fault for backing off and not wanting to take responsibility for
their own kids.
In fact, last thursday I was in a serious car wreck, where our Honda
broadsided a van, and it was the vans fault; they turned on a red. My face
is cut and scarred from the windshield (when I get a scanner I'll show you),
but I thank the good Lord that I didn't get a more serious injury. But in
games, movies, and songs, someone always takes revenge and kills the other
guy. But not once have I had the slightest urge to kill that driver in his
sleep.
Mike Wong Says: Hey, Video Gamer X! I read your article about video games and I think
that you're right. People are always blaming video games for no apparent
reason.
This is the speech I used for my school�s speech festival. For some
reason, I never made it past the semi finals, but it�s just politics,
mind you. Well, anyway, here it is:
Not a long time ago, you heard about the shootings in Colorado. After
that tragic incident, I noticed two disturbing items. The first was in
an American newspaper. It mentioned how the two gunmen were involved in
Dungeons and Dragons, but I really don�t see what that has to do with
the situation. Now, when was the last time you heard about some guy
who�s just committed this heinous crime that enjoyed tennis and walks in
the park? Never, right? Yet, now we hear about this two psychologically
unbalanced kids and D&D needs to be mentioned. Even if the article
doesn�t directly point out that playing D&D will mentally scar you,
that�s what the reader will think. Why don�t you see tennis mentioned?
Even if the killers played tennis everyday no one will ever mention it.
That�s because, to the general public tennis just doesn�t seem as evil
as D&D. The second disturbing item was on CNN. They had a short segment
on the murders and they commented that one of the gunmen really enjoyed
playing Doom. Then this so-called computer �expert� comes along and says
that D&D was a game where people killed each other with shotguns and
pipe bombs. Well, any idiot with half a brain whose ever played the game
knows that there aren�t pipe bombs in Doom. Duke Nukem, maybe, but
that�s not the point. The point is we have this �expert� here, being
watched all across the world giving away false information. What�s going
to happen when people who�ve never played the game heard about this?
Well, the conversation at the water cooler�s going to be about this game
that was the blueprints for the whole school shootings. After all, it
couldn�t just be a coincidence that the game let you kill people with
�pipe bombs� which really did happen. We gamers know the truth, but the
vast majority of people don�t. They�re not going to buy a copy of Doom
to find out for themselves. The sad truth is that too many people don�t
like to think these days. They want someone to think for them and
they�ll believe that anything the media says must be true. As a gamer, I
assure you that the violence depicted in these video games have little
impact on our world. If there weren�t violent video games, there would
be violent movies. If there weren�t violent movies, there would be
violent tv shows. If there weren�t violent tv shows, there would still
be violent books. If there weren�t violent books, there would still be
violent thoughts. And violent thoughts make people commit violent deeds.
While many of you would like to blame video games, musical tastes or
people�s clothing, try to remember what you learned in history class.
Did Jack the Ripper kill people because he liked wearing black? Did
playing too many fantasy games start World War 2? Did Adolf Hitler
murder six million Jews because he liked heavy metal? I don�t think so.
Murder is done on a daily basis in the US, or anywhere else for that
matter, and 99% of these murders never become news stories. I seriously
doubt that all of these murderers played video games or shaved their
heads. There are many reasons why kids are so violent these days, and
one of them is that their parents just aren�t doing a good job of
raising them. As humans, we don�t like to look at the fact that we
messed up. In our society, people think that their kids are perfect and
that they won�t go about killing people. But when it finally happens,
they want something to blame and video games are often the victims of
that blame. You know, in several states that want to ban violent video
games. So now the $100,000 question is �So we can watch all these
violent, gory movies yet we have to play games like Teletubbies? Well,
that makes a lot of sense(yeah right!). In my opinion, playing a violent
video game will release your anger and prevent you from attacking people
in a murderous rage. Of course, that�s just my opinion. You�ll have to
find out for yourself.
If you liked this article, then I will ask a favor of you: Please copy
this article and e-mail it to five of your friends, or in your case,
post it on your site! Your voice has to be heard! Long
live the gamer!
Kyle Says: You absoulutly need to send your VG Violence article to the CNN letter comment thing. Its all true. Exactly what i said when they where bitchin
about VG violence. I mean Twisted Metal for example, Im not going to attach weapons of mass destruction and tools of genocide to my car and
destroy every other car until im the last standing. Seriously, you should send it.
Yoda505 Says: I was reading you violence in video games thing and I agree with you
completely. Video games are about fun. From what I can tell all the people
who blow up their school or shoot teachers have mental disabilities. It is
still no reason, but you can't blame it on video games. I play Goldeneye all
the time and I think shooting my sister in a video game is much more fun than
shooting her for real would be. In a video game she keeps coming back ready
to lose, but in real life, once their gone their gone. (Not that I would
shoot anyone in real life anyway.)
(Name Witheld) Says: Good day and on to all of you. After seeing the pain people have suffered,
the pain people have caused, the pain people have received, it came to me,
what was all this around us here for, why are we forced to make these
decisions, for ourselves and everyone else everyday? And then one day,
walking home from school, alone, as always for I myself, am a very lonely
person, no friends at all, but back to my story, it came to me, the answer
to why it's all here. Why we go to school, why we are given the right to
choose, the right God gave us, the right only the few of races is given,
it's there to appreciate. Even though we all hate going to school(or most of
us), you should appreciate it, you've been given the right to an education.
Why are all the trees there, to appreciate their beauty and helpfulness. why
are the animals, the birds, and sea there, to appreciate, all things are
here to appreciate for their beauty. Now my point may not seem so clear at
this point in time so i'm going to quote someone, but I won't say who, a
great man said "Too many get caught up in dreaming of what everything could
be, don't fall into that trap, appreciate everything for what it is, and
appreciate what you have and never let it go." This quote is what gave me
the answer to my question. Now, lots of kid will kill people in shootings,
but why, your just going to ruin your life, you won't be able to appreciate
the sky, the trees, the wind blowing in your face on a cool summer night.
You won't be able to appreciate all this. you'll be stuck, in a prison of
despair, even if you don't get caught, you'll be stuck, in this prison, and
you won't be able to come out. So I say, is it worth it, is it worth all the
pain you'll go through, no If you say it is, then it because your have no
heart, it's like singing to control your fears, it will work, just think
that someone or some answer will come and rescue you, and you won't be
afraid, if you can't see the power to control yourself and your fears, then
your hearts already dead. please to everyone out there, don't kill or hurt,
you'll just be hurting others and yourself. I've had so many experiences
from from video games. But most from one, i won't say its name but you could
figure it out, I want to name one, a very important one to me because I
think of it when i'm lonely, which is a lot, and when i'm sad, it cheers me
up, and shows me that things will always be alright, and that their is a
safe way out. It was one I played recently, someone said that no, this man
can't he must decide, must decide between the one he cared for most and
everyone on the planet. But no their was another way, he saved everyone, not
just one or many, but everyone. He sacrificed his own powers, his great
powers designed to protect the planet so that everyone and himself could
live a happy life. He lived, but lost all his magic power, and was forced to
hide his identity from he world. so he became a new man born rom another,
and enjoyed it. It shows me theirs always a safe and good way out. No need
to kill or anything of the sort, people, just think of what you'll miss,
your friends, you family, your life, I am probably the loneliest person in
my town, but I don't appear to be, and when i'm lonely I turn to one source,
A source of light, video games, but nice ones, like RPGs. the characters
that develop, the story that develops, those adults can't take away my only
friends, because their not bad friends, their good friends that help us when
were lonely, they keep us form doing things like in columbine, they keep us
from, from the worst thing that we can do to destroy our lives, they keep us
from taking deep revenge.
Kaiou Michiru Says: Dear Video Gamer X,
Man, I agree with you totally. For a person who has been depressed (and put in a psychiatrical ward), I can say that video
games of any type have not made me want to kill somebody.
It is true... the people who have those chemical imbalances in their brains are the ones with the problem. They see things in a
distorted way... nothing is the same as it used to be. Those distorted views can make you think that yes, that game is real, and yes,
wouldn't I just love to do that same thing to my worst enemy...? I can say it for myself, I've thought that thought (just not through video games or TV or radio... just my own mind). You'll be happy to know that I'm on my way to recovery and I've only a year more until I'm off my meds. I've felt homicidal and suicidal. But it wasn't because my parents neglected me or abused me or anything like that. It was the
little things. The little things that built up so much tension... ... ... ... *sigh*
My main point is... the chemical imbalance is the whole reason. Yes, TV can be an influence, but not as much as one as some think. My mother has a bachelor's (in Arts) in psychology, so she has helped me out. I'd say that the small fights between my dad and I built up the tension. My school grades were bad; I couldn't keep them up anymore, I was an internet addict.. and when you
get jerked away from your addiction for 3 1/2 months straight, believe me you, that really brings you down. Especially if you had friends in a chatroom.
Video games aren't all that influencing (if you're a normal person). Shoot...how influencing can Zelda be, anyway? If it were
Mortal Kombat or something, then I'd understand. But Zelda? There's little blood (and that's at the end of the game), for one. No real gore, even. And I prefer that, too.
Well, now that I've said all I can think of, I bid thee farewell.
Illusion P Says: think it is a bunch of freaking BS for people to blame all the killings on games. I've been playing violent video games since like I was 5 or 6, games like Operation Wolf for example. I have never once wanted to kill someone in
the way of these video games, perhaps I have hated someone, but rarely think
about killing them in a very violent manner. It is just a way for parents and
adults to take the responsibility off themselves of sitting there kid down
and telling them that stuff is fake and there are consequences for killing
people. It is just a scape goat in my eyes. thanks for your time.
Justin Reilly Says: You're right Video Gamer X, video games are not the cause of this madness
with teenage violence and problems. To tell you the truth, I agree that it
is the parents. The problem is, the don't discipline their kids from an
early age. Think of this: When I was young, if I did something really
wrong or bad, I got a sharp and painful whap on the butt with a belt for it.
I learned not to do it again, because I did not want to face the
conciquences. Am I right? What is happening now is, since no one ever
disciplines their child anymore, the kids know that there are no
consiquences to there actions. The foundation of morals was never
established through discipline. It seems true that what is says in the
Bible "Spare the rod, spoil the child". You learn from consiquences, not
someone saying "Now dear, you don't want to do that. Mommy doesn't like it
when you do that." No. You show the kid why NOT to do it. This is just my
view.
ascgod3 Says: I completely agree with your opinions, Video Gamer X. I believe whole
heartedly, and any legit research into the issue will support this claim,
that the only people ever affected negatively by any form of entertainment
(whether it be video games, literature, movies, music, etc) are those people
who are already mentally and/or emotionally unhealthy. Any sane and balanced
person knows that all forms of art and entertainment are merely forums for
the imagination and the expression of feelings that all people experience,
and any attempt to blame developmental problems on entertainment venues is
equivalent to blaming schizophrenia on demonic possession. In the years to
come it will be up to us, the new generation of Americans, to protect our
rights of expression and recreation from modern day "witch
hunters", and it is a confrontation than is hurriedly being pushed our way.
Hopefully America will one day see the day where its citizens have the
responsibility and courage to face the true roots of its social problems, and
that is the quality of not only parenting, but social support and
appreciation for the individual. I thank you Video Gamer X, for giving us
video gamers a forum to express our opinions, and I would greatly suggest
that after acquiring a large amount of responses to your "Violence in Video
Games" page, that you proceed to do something worthwhile with them, like
forward them to government offices, so as to have our opinions read by those
who are ignorant as to the real issues at hand.
BIRDWELL says: Ok my veiw point is that the parents should take the time to see there kids. The video games have very little affect on me. I play
games like Turok, and Turok2 and I would never ever blow someone in half with a shotgun, that has exploive sheels in it. I think
Video games help the children to think. use there brain. The kids in the shooting were messed up, The parents never looked at
them. I think the only reason why they did this is that the parents never pay attenion to them. I know this becuase if I where the
mother or father I think I would see them making bombs. The kids wanted to prove something, this could have been solved by the
parents. So if your pointing your finger at video games,movies, tv, ect. you should be pointing at how the parents do.
Rob Brackett Says: I have to agree with everything on this page. Ive played every violent game that you can think of well mostly every one. and i
havent had the urge to go out and run someone over with a car for points or try to make a flame thrower out of an aresol can to
burn people. I belive that the kids involved in the Colombine Incident were messed up from the beginning, there could have been
numerous reasons! Drugs; alcohol; gang activity; or just plain old homocidal mania. maybe they were nuts. well my point is, have
the parents of those kids spoken in public yet? NO, well i dont think so anyway. And if those fat politicians can just sit there and
blame video games for all this and music I own all 3 korn cds and i listen to them for their talent, not to get a message to go kill
people. not that they even say that. My school is also making us wear uniforms because the high school was "too uncontrollable"
last year! BS! our principal says that the uniforms will decrease the violence. i go to a different school then all of my friends so
they will make fun of me even more kuz my schools already cracked up. well i just had to get this stuff off my chest thank you for
your time fellow gamers. and happy Quaking, Dooming, Halflifeing, TFing, Zeldaing and other videogaming
Steve Phillips Says: I feel, that more than anything, violence does not come from Video
games, but is an inherent trait that is part of a person's personality.
People with violent tendencies will do violent things, regardless of how
they are raised or what activities they enjoy.
Ohmygodimonfire Says: VGX I agree with your viewpoint completely. I thing that the entertainment
industry is an easy scapegoat for the parents who leave thier kids home for
12 hours a day and wonder why thier children show no affection toward anyone.
Keep the good work up.
Leif the Lucky Says: I agree with you. I am a10 year old Vidio Gamer and I have never wanted
to harm someone beacause of Vidio Games. The only thing thats bad about
gory Vidio Games is they think Me and all my friends are five year olds
and are going to have scary nightmares. One Word P-A-T-H-E-T-I-C. I am
sick and tired of kids of my age being called babies and I think every
one sould too. Well I have to go. Bye
Matt Breeden Says: i could not agree more with your statements. i wish that people could
understand everything that you have said, but chances are they won't.
blame is always placed somewhere and in violent situations games and
movies are considered to be a good scapegoat by politicians and many
parents, including my mom.
Adam Says: I totally agree with you. It isn't the video games or the movies doing this
stuff. It is the parents of the kids that do not love and care for them. It
is the parents of the kids that do not help them if they are in trouble. We
are here to have fun. Why would you or any other person that plays video
game think "Oh that is cool how all those people die in doom we need to go
see what would happen in real life" Or "Hey look at link how he kills those
bad guys with his sword. I wonder what would happen if i went and killed
people i know." I am 13 now and i started playing video games at the age of
2. At the age of 5 i was playing video games with violence and shooting in
them. They never affected me because my mom always said to me "You know
adam those video games aren't real." And most of the time YOU ARE THE GOOD
PERSON TRYING TO SAVE THE GOOD INOCENT PEOPLE. It is just plain stupid why
they are blaming it on video games.
Zorak20121 Says: This is ridiculous. I can't believe the media and parents are blaming music
and movies and video games when they should be blaming themselves. I play
some of the most violent video games (i.e. Quake 2, GTA, etc.) and listen
to a lot of heavy metal(i.e. Korn, Limp Bizkit, Rage Against the Machine,
etc.) and I wouldn't go around shooting at people. I believe the cause of
violence in children is probably a parents influence on or ignorance of their
children. I heard on the news that those kids at Columbine made a LOT of
noise when they were making the bombs, and the parents didn't even care.
and the media..., I can't believe these people, after blaming video games
for this.. they actually showed PICTURES of the shooting... corpses outside
of the school.. that kid coming out of the window with the blood on him.. and
I saw news coverage on the shooting in Arkansas.. where they showed the bodys
in body bags being carried away.. and BLOOD on the sidewalk. That is just
ridiculus. I belive you are exactly right in what you say.
NJDevils4 Says: Just like all of you who are reading this response right now, I'm a huge fan
of all types of video games, ranging from sports, to adventure, and even to
violent games (GASP!) such as Goldeneye. Now, I think that the whole reason
people are pointing to these video games as alleged causes is solely because
of the media, and the attention that they give to video games that "instigate
violent behavior among children and teenagers"
Just a few weeks ago, I was watching a TV magazine program (no specific
names), and I noticed that their top story was the increase of violence in
video games. This tells you one thing:
-Children and teenagers find these games more appealing than other games.
NOT because they like to play it and go out and kill someone.
If the person that is playing the game is normal (like most of you are--I
hope), then there will be NO physical reaction by the person. But, on the
other hand, if the person has gone through some type of outside
environmental, and household problems, it is most likely that the real reason
for that person to go out and brutally kill people is because of
household/environmental problems.
I am not saying that video games has NO affect what so ever on children and
teenagers, but I really think that parental problems, and other factors
really tend to get teens to be the way that we call "crazy."
WusOnSax34 Says: Violence In The Schools
Where's the blame?
With the recent shootings in two different schools in different parts of the
country, violence in schools has been a hot topic on the minds of people
everywhere. Politicians looking for public support shout, "GUN CONTROL" at
the top of their lungs. Does gun control stop violence? NO! Gun control
doesn't stop violence because anyone with a clean background can buy a gun
and still give it to a minor. Others shout that violence is caused by video
games and television. Does limiting violence in video games and television
stop violence? NO! I'm not defending this point because I am a big computer
and TV fan, but I still think they don't cause violence. I'm not even sure
that violence is caused by the people who commit the crimes either. Then
again, this point only applies to the first shooting(Columbine). I feel that
the real people to blame are the people around the criminals. In Colorado,
the two kids who opened fire were part of an "outcast" group called the
"Trenchcoat Mafia". Why were they in this group? My guess is that they were
made fun of and were looking for some friends in the twisted world of high
school. I deal with crap like this every day. I am a normal high schooler who
goes through the process of being chosen last in Gym class, or being
overlooked for a star athlete. Does it make me mad? Sure it does, but it
doesn't mean I will go out and kill these kids. I also blame the teachers. I
think that teachers at high schools should have more to do with happenings in
the school. At MHS, it seems to me that the teachers and students come from
different planets. Teachers don't even eat in the same room as us kids! But
in Columbine, repeated harrassment shouldn't have to be reported to the
school office to be noticed, as it is in most high schools. I think the
teachers should have noticed that these "Trenchcoat Mafia" members were
different from everyone else and if they had eyes, they should've seen the
evidence right in front of them. I also blame the parents. Sure, everyone
blames the parents so why don't I? Well I think that the parents must have
been brain dead. I can understand letting your kid take a liking to nazis,
but I know that my parents would never let me get my hands on a gun, let
alone as many as these kids had. In conclusion, what I'm saying is this.
Metal detectors and surveillance cameras don't stop violence because there
are ways around them. If YOU want to stop violence, YOU have to stop it.
Sailor Zelda Says: I totally agree with you. My question is WHERE ARE THE FREAKIN PARENTS? When I did things bad, like talk outta turn or act basically mean, I'd
get a scolding and a spanking. Its like training a cat not to claw the
furniture. Once they're trained not to do it again, they don't do it. It
was the same way with the spanking. My mom and dad are all distraught at
what happened and can't understand how parents won't at least fit some
time into their own children's lives. But not ONCE has my dad blamed it
on video games..cuz face it...he plays the same type of shoot em up
games and doesn't care about that. He says that kids should at least
know the difference that games AREN'T REAL and that there are just some
things you don't do...like murder....
N64unlimited Says: I wholeheartedly agree about your statement with legal authorities and
politicians pointing the finger at video games and movies that lead to these
horrible school shootings. Hey, my family and I LOVE violent video games. I
have a 3-year-old brother that is learning the buttons on Doom recently.
Quake 2 is my all-time favorite game, and first-person shooters seem to be
the ONLY thing my dad plays. But when I'm done, I don't have that urge to
kill, like everyone in the news media may think. Do I want to buy a plasma
rifle? No way. Do I want to go into a room with a BFG 9000 and destroy
everything? Absolutely not. I heard on the news that an amusement park
somewhere in Florida took out all of their arcade games that involve
violence. This is total bull$#!t. A person plays video games like that for
fun, not to commit crimes. I also think that pointing the finger at movies
and music is bull$#!t. It's not video games that's to balme. It is
DEFINITELY the neglect of the parents. How could you miss a firearm on top
of your son's dresser that's been there for some time? Why would you not
file a police report if your son made a pipe bomb?
Rush Says: I agree with you completely. I have played violent video Games and
watching violent TV for a long time. My parents grew up plating cops and
robbers. I fail to see how Goldeneye and Doom are any different. My
parents are usually there for me. Although they do not support Violent Video
Games, I still play them at friends, and even download them. My parents are
usually there for me. On the news, it said that the boys in the Colorado
shooting played Doom, and listened to a German heavy metal band called
Romstein. I have listened to their music for a while. There are no truly
violent lyrics or anything that would make me kill a dozen people at my
school. If there is any fault in this than it is THE PARENTS FAULT!!!!!! I
play and listen to all the same stuff they do and I am on the honor roll at
school, and in Civil Air Patrol, (an Air Force ROTC of sorts). So I think
that the blame should be taken off of the Video Games and be put in its
rightful place.
The MK Demon Says: I completely agree with you, and all of the other gamers out there, that
the source of America's problems is not video games, or the media in
general. The government, and most adults, for that matter, are quick to
find a scapegoat in things they don't understand. Do you think Senator
Joseph Lieberman has ever once took a controller in his hand, and felt what
it was like to have fun again? Video games are meant to be a way of
relaxing, and kicking back at the end of the day, playing alone, or maybe
with some friends. Most importantly, however, they are meant to be fun. I
doubt that programmers at ID software set out saying "Let's make a game
that'll warp kids minds. You know, make them kill each other and stuff."
Being and avid (and sane) gamer, I can tell you that I habe never played
video games, then had the urge to go kill a bunch of kids I don't like. On
the contrary, If kids I don't like are making me angry, I go kick back with
a controller in my hand and a pillow under my head. I mean come on! Any kid
that thinks he can grab a BFG 9000 and go frag some kid is seriously messed
up. A kid that tries to throw a fireball at the school principal is a kid
with mental difficulties. When you neglect a child, be irresponsible in
your parental duties, and let the kid do things he should be doing, then a
goddamn fly could set of this ticking time bomb of a child. Sure, maybe
each one of us becomes a little more desensitized everyu time we see some
virtual blood get splattered. But maybe all we're becoming desensitized to
is just that, virtual blood. Hell, our brain can distinguish when it's
sitting in a room playing Goldeneye from when we're sitting in the school
library. But when we see real life acts of violence, our brains know enough
to say "Hey, wait a minute, I'm not playing a game here", and were no more
desensitized to it than before we played Goldeneye. It's a classic case of
a few bad kids ruining it for the millions of good kids. These old men
trying to ruin it for everyone are about as knowledgeable to what kids are
like as a 90 year old grandmother living in Antarctica. The way I see it,
these governors and congressman are just riding on the ego trip that would
result in solving violence in America, but banning kids from buying them
isn't the way to do it, old men. I mean, would it be fair for a ten year
old to gripe about the ravages of age?
KiLliN ZrO Says: To add to your story/article, here in Florida, I was watching the "WFLX 29
(FOX) News" once and it was a few days after the Massacre in Colorado and
there was a scene where they were showing one of the boy's houses and police
and a bunch of authority people there, in that scene I saw a policeman
holding a "DOOM II Strategy Guide." The reporter said that there was an
excesive amount of violent video games found in the boy's house. And of
course quote "In my opinion the violent video games are to blame" said the
reporter. Just a little addition to your story there and I'm not a violent
video game hater I think that if you are dumb enough to act out the violence
then you need mental help.
Michael Schreck Says: I am 15 and have been playing video games for most of my life, but the best way to draw a conclusion from all the related factors to
these violence problems is to take all points of view into consideration and then make an educated statement. I do not think that
video games are to blame, yet there is something that is influencing people like us to commit such atrocities. From looking at
history, guns were much more readily available to young people 100 years ago, so it is my belief that they are not to blame.
Something has changed in the United States, and notice I say United States, because school shootings are not as prevalent in
other countries. I agree on that parenting is not what it used to be, and may be the largest factor, but until we find out what has
changed about us, why we have changed, and what we can do to fix it, America may be heading down the road to destruction.
[email protected] Says: I personally don't think videogames have anything to do with people killing
other people. If you ask me, I'd say it was absoltely no doubt, the parents
or whoever raised the child. The parents know they're guilty, but if they
admitted it then the parent would have to actually care. Obviously, if they
cared, they would know what videogames are: GAMES! But nooooooo, it seems it
doesn't work that way. Parents can't admit to their own failure, there's got
to be something to blame. Sure games
are bloody, but the fun in the game isn't the fact that you're shooting
someone up with your ZMG's or you're running someone over with a bus, it's
the fact that you're not actually doing it that makes it fun. The totally
messed up part of all of this is that the media is making all these kids that
shoot other kids national celebrites, and that's what these kids want. The
parents are sliding by it all with this twisted excuse that videogames have
something to do with murder. MURDER. And these old farts with nothing else to
do, seeing that the bug up their ass has already died, actually believe them!
If you think about it you probably know more about the world today than your
parents ever will by the time they die. Any kid can see through this case,
its just about as bad as O.J. Simpson not being guilty. I mean come on,
videogames can probably prevent you from killing someone. Whenever I'm mad or
stressed I bust out Goldeneye and take out my anger on the guards.
Videogames are the best stress reliever you can buy, and you can use it over
and over again. This whole violence thing is just plain F**KED UP! Now that
I've expressed myself I think I'll go murder the evil king of theives and
save Hyrule. ~
YOSHIJM64 Says: I think that all this talk of violence in video games in just plain stupid. I
mean every news channel has the same one picture of Doom. And in that picture
there are 2 ugly fat aliens and the player is holding a shotgun. Now blowing
up a ugly alien with a shotgun that will produce corny blood graphics doesn't
make me wanna shoot anybody. It makes me wanna barf ( after I eat ) and
stuff. And the ESRP is good too. It shows that producers aren't just making
games and putting them out. Now there making games and putting them through
an extra stage of testing so the game could get delayed some more so some old
guys can say this game is Kids-Adults and then no one really cares. And I
have proof that nobody cares. Any Link's Awakening fan with no life ( like me
) would have noticed that the Link's Awakening and LA Million Sellar box have
the same rating of K-A (kids-adults). Yet the DX version which only gets
harder with another level is E ( everyone ). But did anybody say
anything..NO! Just like that TV thing. There is a rating for every show in
the left hand corner. No this is also stupid. Parents put their kids to bed
an hour earlier then they normally would because they have a dumb rating
system that tells them too not let their kids watch it. If parents had more
control over their kids this wouldn't happen. And ripping out a heart doesn't
corrupt my mind into shooting some kid. Now I do belive that some movies are
pushing it just a little but hey if it says "rated R" listen to it and don't
let people of the wrong age enter. Plus you always see the news raving on
about Movies, TV, video games, but what about them? Have you ever seen a
happy thought on the news. In fact once the news started to report every
little school shooting or prank it started a new trend. I mean every city now
has at least 1 school that has a problem. I l ive in a quite town and
somebody gave a bomb threat but nothing serious. They had cops all over the
place but they knew it was fake and had kids go to school anyway. So just
like how Video Gamer X said that the parents are just looking for somebody to
blame, so are the news reporters. " Coming up, President Clinton enforces new
law too protect children from violence in video games, movies, tv, and other
entertainment."--- Do you hear anything about THEM. No of course not. They
just tell you that 2 kids dead and 1 badly wounded thanks too the game Doom.
In conclusion, I would like too say that if they really belive that video
games are so bad why don't they sit down and give them a try. I mean pulling
out my BFG9000 and charging it up for an hour to launch a green fire ball at
an alien that praticly makes me blind, doesn't make me wanna hurt anybody. (
Well maybe the producers for making it so bright ).
From,
nickelash12 Says: Regarding your article on violence in video games. I think you're right. Anybody who plays a game like Doom,
then goes out to try to kill someone needs help fast. You have to already be really out of it to think things in video
games are real. If a game can spark someone sick like that to go shoot someone, then so can just about anything
else, whether it's been aproved by parents and politicians who have no idea what their talking about or not. I'm a
twelve year old girl who personally enjoys a break from reality, wheather it's fishing in Zelda64, racing in Snowboard
Kids2, or play against my dad in Goldeneye, but that doesn't mean I then want to go out and and relive that game in
real life. Know why? I'm mentally stable. Politicians, etc., need to get their heads out of there butts and realize it's not
the games that make kids kill, but themselves, a.k.a. adults who don't treat a 16 year old any differently than a 10
year old, and vice versa. They need to get real, literally!
Troy Gunnell Says: I was in the middle of reading your page on "Violence in Video Games" and
coming up with my own reply/opinion in my head and I suddenly realized
somethings. I'll get to everything eventually, but let's just start off:
My name is Troy Gunnell. I am 17 years old and have played video games all
my life. My parents even have a picture of me playing with an Atari
controller (hooked into the system) when I was about 1 year old! The system
wasn't on, but you get the idea. I have a lot of the different systems and
many games, Zelda and Final Fantasy games are some of my favorites. So I
know something about video games.
I believe that video games do inspire violence like the Colorado shooting,
but I also believe that video games themselves don't do it. In fact, nothing
by itself does it. To create the kind of horrible events like that, a mix of
many things is required. Bad parenting is probably the first cause. When
parents pay little to no attention to their kids and don't teach them right
from wrong, how are they suppossed to know? How is helping the needy any
better than killing someone? People don't know the difference unless they
are taught it. Parents need to have a strong influence in a child's life and
teach them that hurting, killing, stealing, etc. are wrong. Without this
influence it is easy to see why someone would be influenced by the media,
video games, movies, etc. But people that understand right from wrong can
play video games all they want and not kill other people "just for the fun of
it." Like me and you.
A very good example of this is Japan. It would not surprise me if people
were saying stuff like "Japan is the root of all evil." I mean, many of
these video games are made in Japan, so why not blame them? That is stupid.
For one, the American companies didn't have to bring the games over here, but
they are not to blame either. Does anyone know what it is like in Japan? I
certainly don't know everything, I'm no expert, but Japan doesn't have nearly
the same amount of problems the US does. Japan is where many video games
originated and video games aren't the only place violence and gore are. It
is very prominent in their other entertainments. Take the Japanese animated
series, Dragonball Z. They have lots of blood and killing and violence. In
fact, there are somewhere around 190 fights in the entire series! These
fights span many episodes and take a lot of time. Large holes are blown in
chests, blood pours from mouths, arms and legs are ripped off, MANY people
die, but does all this happen in Japan? No! The children have a strong
sense of honor, values, and morals instilled in them from birth. It is
unlikely that young children even see this stuff. The point is that if
anything, Japan's media and video games, etc., are just as "bad" and more
likely "worse," yet they don't have near the crime rate we (USA) do. It all
has to do with a person's character.
In Mike Wong's reply to this topic, he mentioned that the two killers in
Columbine played Dungeons and Dragons and other replies mentioned that the
killers played Doom too. Mike Wong mentioned that we don't hear about the
killers that "play tennis and walk in the park." Well that reminded me of an
infamous serial killer, named Ted Bundy. He killed at least, at LEAST, 30
young women. It is possible that he killed upwards of 100! And yet, he
didn't have Doom. He didn't have Mortal Kombat. He didn't have Dungeons and
Dragons. He didn't wear trenchcoats, have tattoos, nose rings, dyed hair,
etc. He played tennis and walked in the park!! No one, even his family and
closest friends suspected him. Even a person who knew Bundy very well and
was also very involved in investigating the murders he committed never once
thought he did it. Bundy (and most serial killers) was very nice, "normal,"
and kind on the outside. He was the kind of person you would have no problem
liking. But he killed many young women and seemed to enjoy it. A good
example of why video games do NOT inspire this kind of thing to happen.
Generally, I don't think violence in video games is something that creates
massacres like Littleton. It is a combination of many things and video games
are really only a small part. Well, I think I'm done. I might have said
more, but I had to stop in the middle of writing and come back an hour later.
Oh well.
Thanks for creating the Odyssey of Hyrule, Video Gamer X! It's a great
website.
Two words: BULL S**T Yes there might be some violence in video games but theres violenc in movies
and TV shows also. They say violence shouldnt be on video games well what about cartoon shows
like Roadrunner and Wild-E Cioty, they get thrown off cliffs and servive what
if kids think the same and you cant say that kid know not to do that because
kids aloso know not to do what they see on video games. If some law banns
violance in video game it wouldn't help.
Comet Igotapenou Says: I read your violence in video games article. I attempted to commit
suicide on my 14th birthday with a .45, but I was stopped barely by the
neighbor's 14-year old girl, whom I now am dating. I know how violent
shootings like in Littleton, CO start. I attempted suicide because I felt
alone. Three of my friends joined my rival gang that didn't appreciate me
kicking their leader's ass 'cuz he pulled a knife on me. I have no backup
and I nearly died from a gang-banging with two ball bats and one perfectly
timed low blood sugar attack(I'm diabetic). My parents abandoned me as a
baby and died in a car crash, I'll never be able to see them or to even know
their names. My foster parent works two jobs and I rarely see him. When I
do, we usually argue. My point is, violence begins when nobody sees the
problems in a child's life. Why the hell should twelve children lose their
lives because nobody paid attention to one child's problems? If a child acts
strange, you should see what's going on - and correct it if something's
wrong.
The parents at Littleton didn't do this. So in order to cover their
asses, they have the idea to lay the smack down on video games. "Hey, let's
blame violence in video games to cover our RUDY-POO CANDY ASSES!"(I quote
The Rock, the next WWF champion, but let's not get into that.) Well, now
CNN, most major newspapers, Dateline NBC, and the such are blaming video
games. They have never came home pissed off and played Goldeneye or Metal
Gear Solid(my personal favorite stress-reliever) and seen how much better
they feel. After that day, I got pissed, called my girlfriend, and we play
multiplayer Goldeneye. This is the main purpose of video games - to relieve
stress.
On top of that, Goldeneye has little gore compared to some movies that
I've seen - some that come on right after the video game bashings! MGS has
little violence also - the object is to win WITHOUT VIOLENCE - so that game
is as violent as you can be.
But because a parent or two ignored a child's problems and he killed
twelve people and himself doesn't mean that video games must carry the
weight of April 20, 1999 for the rest of the life of its industry. Thank you
for listening, I hope this gets posted so all of the people out there can
hear my words - they can hear how it starts and how to prevent 4/20/99 from
never making an encore performance.
Mortal Kombat, however, is another story. If Midway ever reads this,
make MK5 and MK Gold for the Dreamcast less gory, or when my DC comes, I
won't stop to get MK Gold. Punching somebody and blood spurting across the
room doesn't happen in real life - I would know.
Pentiumfish Says: Hello VideoGamerX! I am Pentiumfish, a 12 year old computer-geek/mild
videogamer. After hearing all this crap on the news about VideoGame
violence, I really wanted to express my opinions somehow and make myself
heard. Your webpage seemse to be the best way yet.
First of all, let me just say, I encourage VideoGame violence. I encourage
to a certain extent though. I like it when the violence is moderate, like in
Goldeneye. But when it gets to Mortal Kombat where a guy is punched and
blood goes flying everywhere, that is just crap. But when the violence is
moderate, it can be a stress reliever. It's not like after you play the
game, you grab an Assault Rifle and blow the hell out of everyone you see.
You know why? Because you've gotten rid of your anger by killing the
animated characters. You might only want to kill the mail man with a
silenced pistol if you are an extremely obsessed videogamer. But before
extreme obsession, there is obsession, which could be noticed and helped
before the extremeties. So if there is a guy who blames his violence on
videogames, it's his/her parents fault for not noticing anything wrong! In
general, by no means should videogames be held responsible for the tragedies
at Columbine and by no means should they be considered objects that
influence death. These drunken politicians and senators are saying the
teenagers have no mind of their own; you want to know what not having a mind
of your own is? Read the book, "Wrinkle in Time," go to the part where they
are on "Camazotz." That is no mind. Everything done in unison, knowing what
will happen in about 3 minutes, etc. Is that what happens on Earth? No.
Alright then, I've said what I wanted to then.
Himster Says:
Let's think about something. Have murders just started? Have fights just
started? No. Violence have been here forever. But videogames have not
been here forever. Violence is not caused by videogames. Violence is
done from the persons personality. That is my comment
Xelnaga Says: People always want someone to blame except them selves. Why did you do it?
he told me too... People want to know why kids due bad things, not all kids
but certain, few, very few kids commit terrible crimes. What do they blame
it on... Video Games.
On TV I hear and see much worse. At 8 pm i heard the word "ass" at least 4
times. How many video games can you think of (off the top of your head) that
has cause words. Now, how many TV shows have cause words... Basically
everything execpt cartoons, the news, and education type programs.
Now try the same with Relistic Violent Behavior or Acts. Once again TV wins.
Now, which has interactive, problem solving, cordination, and skill needed?
See my point. Many Adults do not enjoy Video Games, however almost everyone
likes TV. Why blame it on something every onelikes? lets just blame i ton
the N64 and PSX.
I believe I have said enough and that you get my point... if not: they are
just blame other things than them and their "toys". No i am not bad mouthing
TV, i like TV i am just stating the facts.
Sabuya4442 Says: I saw the oppurtunity to publicly express my opinion about video game
violence on your site and decided to take it, as I have been anxiously
awaiting a time for my message to be heard.
I agree with you completely when it comes to all that stuff about how parents
decide to blame video games or music or movies for their children's
intellectual and moral shortcomings apparent when children decide to kill
children. I don't think these parents (and I use the term quite loosely) take
enough time to consider what THEY could have done to prevent this from
happening. If it truly WAS video games, why are they so quick to blame the
whole problem on video games AFTER the incident occured? If they KNOW the
problem is video games, then why don't they try a little harder to prevent
the child from playing the video game?
It is a shame that events such as the Colorado incident do happen. But even
if one or two incidents like this can be directly pointed to video games,
does that mean every other video gamer in the whole nation has to be punished
for it? Yes, tragedies will happen: but they are the fault of those who
commit the crimes, not those who happen to participate in a similar hobbies.
I hate to say this, but its time for some people to wake up and realize that
they have done a poor job of watching their children's habits. The way I see
it, if you can tell everyone in the world that it wasn't your fault, it was
the video game industry's the moment you are asked, then you knew what was
going on beforehand and it was your responsibility to handle it.
Don't substitute the video game industry's role in society for yours. Take
responsibility.
PJSlasher Says: One of the most important points to keep in mind about people blaming
violence on videogames is the survey group. a study was once done that showed
hot dogs and soft drinks were a cause of cancer, because all the children
with cancer surveyed had eaten hot dogs and drunk soft drinks. if children
are being desensitized to violence, i would blame the news much more than
video games. any time i shoot someone in goldeneye or kill ganon, i can tell
myself it is just a game and fake. When i look on the news and hear about
Columbine, Kosovo, shootings, rapes, murders, etc. I have to tell myself,
"This is real. This is the real world." Children are bombarded daily with
violence from the news, and that, if anything, desensitizes them.
Stephen Says: i totally agree with you on the matter of violence in video games. you are
also right that they are trying to take the blame off parents and putting it
on something as un-influentual as a video game. the government should get a
life and quit trying to be the ones to "save" the country from it's "peril".
if they want to stop violence among kids and teenagers, then maybe they
should stop over working the parents of america so that they can spend more
time with their children and teach them values instead of working them until
they drop, tax the snot out of their incomes with income taxes, sales taxes,
property taxes, utility taxes, and countless of other taxes while the
children of these hard-working, under-paid americans get easily influnced by
R-rated movies, dramatic tv shows, and harmless video games that would have
no effect on them if their parents weren't so tired out when they come from
work the can't even teach their kids proper morals! this country still is by
far the "land of the free", but politicians want to change that by starting
with video games. so i'm asking the government of the united states of
america to stop focusing on harmless things like video games to blame for
juvenile crimes and start focusing on their own flawed work program!
Sandy Ruby Says: Hey video gamer X, I read most of the stuff on this page and I agree with
almost all of it. No one with a normal psyche would feel the sudden need to
kill a roomful of people or even be negatively influenced after playing a
video game. I think that anyone who blames video games for all the crap
that some teens do, should try playing some Doom and see if they want to
kill someone afterwards. I've played violent games for over seven years and
I have never wanted to kill anyone nor have I ever seen anyone actually
influenced by games except my younger brother who gets very edgy and
irritable after playing. Before you think that that last statement
contradicts my original assertion that no one with a normal psyche is
influenced by games, you should know that my brother is not normal. I'm
serious, he has serious mental and emotional problems.
What I find even more ridiculous than the "violent games make you want to
kill people" theory, is the "violent games make you confuse them reality"
theory. I can't believe that some people actually believe that after
playing Doom, a kid will think that real life is like that and therefore
want to go shoot his worst enemy. Like I said before, if a person is
mentally healthy, then these games don't have that kind of an effect on
him/her. People who aren't healthy, well that's another story, but either
way, games are not the root of the problem. They are however, a great
scapegoat, and I think that we'll be hearing this crap about games being the
cause of all the world's problems for a long time. Most of our great
leaders and news personal just don't have the guts to look at the problem in
the face and realize that the parents are at fault, not the evil games. But
then, parents are who vote for the politicians so it's unlikely that in the
next presidential campaign you'll hear one thing about parents being at
fault for anything. Nor will you hear it on CNN since parents/adults are the
major audience. It's better to just find a good scapegoat. It gets you more
votes or higher ratings. And isn't that what America is all about anyway?
To put it more simply, you shouldn't belive everything you hear on TV
becasue most of it is just said to boost ratings anyway. You can call me
cynical if you like, but if you think about it, it makes sence. Those
insightful shows who show "experts" commetning on how teens confuse the real
world with their tv/computer screen, are just doing it because they know it
will get people to watch their show.
Julian O. Says: I highly agree with you! What makes kids turn to guns and killing is not
video games, but their parents who don't teach them better. I have played
video games for years, and although they are exciting, they never made me
feel compelled to punch, shoot, etc. another person. It really gets me mad
when people blame video games for kids turning to severe violence. Thank you
for writing this article, and sticking up for video games everywhere.
SFRusher Says: I get mad... I GET MAD A LOT! But you know what I do? Do I talk about
it? No, I don't want to be asked a billion questions... making me more
tense... Do I take my aggressions out on my friends? No... I don't wanna
go to jail. I put in my Goldeneye 007 or Turok N64 game and kill fake
people... that makes me happy... it gets my mind off of things... it
vents my anger... my frustration... also puzzling video games work. They
vent frustration... so how could those stupid fat cats in DC say what
makes humans kill? It's ridiculous... now pardon me while I go blast a
raptor's brains out with a plasma rifle!
CRASHMORE Says: This whole "video games are causing our kids to kill things" is crap. I noticed in Time magazine that Zelda64 got a
violence rating of 1 or 2. 5 was the highest and 0 was the lowest. I thought that was insane. If you think about it, there's really no violence in the game. The ratings systems are all tangled up in a bunch of fat polititions ill-thought opinions and over-protective parents concern for things that don't exist. What was worse was the lowest ranking game was something like "Hippity-hop Learns to Read." Give me a break! These "rational" people who know what's good for us are trying to shove things down our throat that we know are wrong. There have been three kids arrested at my school for making hit lists. They were all aimed at Preps. These are the kinds of kids whom the teachers think would never be mean to anyone. The populars get away with things others couldn't even dream of. Then they drive the poor kids crazy untill they try to kill them. for everyone whose read S. E. Hinton's The Outsiders, that's exacly what happens.
ChronicAche Says: I play games with violence in them all the time and I always have. I don't
want some fat, bald, video game hating CHUMP taking that away from me!!! I
in my entire life (14 years) have never killed anyone or even committed a
minor crime. The only time I ever see cops is in school for our drug
program. I think the real cause is parents bringing their kids up wrong
cause if they raise a kid and hit or hurt them, then that influences the kid.
The kid then goes out and breaks the law because he's mad at his parents for
hurting him. THAT'S how it happened and I think we should have stronger
child abuse laws instaed of putting a label on a video game that no one is
going to look at anyway. Ok, i'm getting way too serious for myself. "Go to
the petunia at once corncob!"
Terry Virnig Says: You are right it is just plain stupid of these people to accuse video games
of horrendous crimes. But I know why they do. Its because they don't
understand them. People are afraid of what they cannot understand. They
don't know why we play them so it naturally scares them. I live out in a
small town in Oregon on a farm, and here its the norm for people to go
hunting WITH THEIR CHILDREN with a 30 ot 30 rifle. The kids (8-13) go out
several times to shoot anything from pheasent to elk, and then the parents
are ever so supprised when their "wonderful" child goes out on a berserker
rampage. The parents then don't understand why the child did this, whats
the easiest explanation? Oh the kid has a N64 it must be that! It
couldn't be the parents! Oh yes it could be!
I mean I own Goldeneye and if I have a bad day at school I go home then
take it out on virtual people who AREN'T REALLY THERE! Adults just can't
seem to grasp the fact that we know that it is just a game and is not real.
I mean any sensible moron isn't going to play Goldeneye and then go and
kill somebody with a hunting knife. The parents just don't understand
because they never had video games when they were kids. And people are
scared of what they do not understand.
NyxFox Says: You know what I don't get is that people are running around saying that these
kids played the game DOOM in order to train themselves as assassins. Not
only does that sound unbelievably stupid, but people seem to be forgetting
that there is an organization out there that trains people to be killers,
teaches them how to use guns and other high tech death machines, and also
(this is the kicker) the trains get paid!!! And the American people are over
looking the horror this fiendish organization is creating, in fact, many
Americans support it!!! What is this group of blood lusting murderers??? It's
the ARMY!!! AHHHHHH!!!! OK, now that I'm past the crappy drama, I can make
my point. Not only do I fail to see how a video game turns someone into a
trained killer (guns and controllers are very different for those of you who
didn't notice) but I also fail to see how people think that without a video
game, these kids would not have shot up their school. News flash folks,
video games did not make violence. There was violence in the past, and it
will be there in the future. Hitler killed thousands of Jewish people, yet
he did not own a copy of Turok. I'm also willing to bet that the crazy guy
over in Yugoslavia doesn't have a play station. Perhaps we should be
wondering what kids (I think were under 17 or 18) were doing with a copy of
DOOM. Mom? Dad? Store owner? How are kids getting these games? hmmm? Know
I am a very peaceful person, heck I'd rather saw my own hands off than take a
life. And some times (usually when I'm stressed) yes, I like to rent turok 2
and blow the heck out of some dino mutants. This doesn't mean I'm going to
kill someone. I guess what my whole message boils down to is this:
Folks....It's just a game, get over it.
[email protected] Puts In: Why blame video games? That is just an excuse for parents not being
responsible enough to watch how they really are. We all have many faces, yet
can only show 1 to every group. that means I'm different at
Church than I am at home, but not too much. You can't call anything good or
evil, Their is a good and bad to everything. Parents and people blame video
games for their child's behavior because it makes them think that they did a
good job raising them. It's easy to blame inanimate objects because they
can't say, I didn't do it." So just think about that for a while.
The Jester Says: What the video gamers of America need right now are people like you
to stand up for all of the people who are afraid of punishment and
ridicule. Me, I am not one of those people who will stand on the side
lines and watch as the government tries to blame the mistakes of parents
on the video games that their children play. Although my web page is
down right now I have still been working hard to right the wrongs that
the government has done unjustly to us life long gamers. I love to play
video games, and because of that I have been ridiculed and made fun, but
it still did not stop me, instead it made me want to play more. There
are people and politicians out there that believe that gamers like me
and you will sit iddly by while they try to blame the problems of our
youths on what seems to be, in your words, "an easy scapegoat," well
there wrong! I spend most of the time I have either working or playing
video games, and I like to play violent games, why, because they are
envigorating, and I have the same attitude as you, sometimes they even
help me to settle down and vent some frustration. Well I am done for
now but you can be assured this isn't the last time you will hear from
The Jester.
Brad S. Comments: I completely agree with everything everyone says here. I mean, it's like
people think 'Oh, no, Johnny's playing Doom again, lock up all the
silverware.' That's ridiculous! They must have no one else to blame, so
they turn to the harmless little old Nintendo 64 or Playstation sitting in
the family room, point a finger, and say, 'That's why! That's the reason!'
Gimme a break, people. Take action for your own faults.
Chris Connor Explains: Hi! My name is Chris Conner. This is am E-mail regarding my opinions toward violence and video games. I would apriciate it if you could post this on your webpage.
My opinion- First off, your site is great. Anyway, I agree that videogames and movies
and other related things are not the problem. I think adults treat us as
little kids. I'm 13, and my parents think that if I watch South Park, I'm
going to see if I come back to life if I kill myself like some tard did a
while ago. They think that we have the common sense of a 2 year old. If you
stick an "M" rated game in front of a 2 year old, he might get an impression
that killing or violence is the right thing to do. But a 2 year old isn't
old enough to understand that. I think that parents and teachers(EC-K)
should teach common sense and explain to children that video games aren't
real. However, people that are around 6 years and up should know the
difference between right and wrong well enough to be able to make the
decision not to turn to violence. I admit that I haven't always made the
right decisions, and I can't blame a video game or movie for it because I
have a brain(like most living humans) and I (with big empasis on the I) was
the one to make the decision. Not the video game, or anyone else, just me.
Also, the parents must make sure that they are being good role-models for
kids, and that really goes for everyone. When I decide to play a violent
video game, like twisted metal, I play it mainly to blow up things. And
since I can blow up things in the game, I don't have to go out and wreck the
effle tower of destroy the city for real. Some times, I massacre pretend
monsters with my music stand at home, but they are fake monsters, and in
real life, I'm an unviolent person. I think if adults could understand that
most of us have common sense and know right from wrong, Things would be
alot smoother. In fact that brings me to another point. For example, You
ask mom if you can go to the party and Bob's house. Mom says no. you get
angry and decide to do something to get back. First, understand that Mom
most likely has a good reason not to let us go to Bob's, probably for saftey
issues, but in some cases, if Mom would not worry as much, and have trust in
the fact that you have common sense, alot of stress can be avoided.
In conclusion, I believe that video games and other related items are not
the cause of violence. It is the person's own ability to make the right
desision concerning violence and using their common sense. Parents should
teach their kids early in life common sense and should be good role models.
So the media sould realize that the video games are not at fault, the person
that made the disision to kill some one or rob the bank, or etc. is the only
one to be blamed.
In response to what others wrote-
For those of you that said parents are to blame, I can see where you are
coming from. Like I stated above, the parents should be raising their
children up right and setting good examples.
For those that said that the video game rating system is BS, I dis agree.
The system warns parents about the content of the game and helps them deside
if the game is apropriate for their kid. You most likely wouldn't give duke
nukem or DOOM or south park to a 3 year old. But also note I said that the
ratings are for the parents to decide what is best. When you go to block
buster, You can't rent R rated stuff of M rated games unless you are over
18 or with a parent. I think the media is being predgidest (i know i
butchered the spelling on that one) In thinking that if you are under 18,
you are stupid, and can make your own desisions. The employees shouldn't be
the ones deciding on what kind of person you are.
Jake Adds: I agree with you fully. Violent video games, TV, and movies could not
possibly be the reason that anyone would attack, maim, or shoot another
person. In this nation there are probably millions of high schools, and
at each one probably 900 or more students, and probably over 95% of these
students have played violent video games, seen violence on TV, and
watched violent movies at some time in their life. Yet how many of these
have gone on shcool shootings? Six. Bad parenting, easy access to
weapons, and social situations at school caused these. Not violence in TV
shows, movies, and video games. If, indeed, these demonstrations of
violence did cause violence, then there would be a whole lot more school
shootings than six. Probably, mearly every student would go on a shooting
if this were true. That certainly hasn't happened. What more likely
causes violence in students is bad parenting. Violence in video games, on
TV, and in the movies shouldn't cause violence in action if the parent
tells and shows the child that this is not a good way to behave. The role
model that a child sees in a parent is of much higher signifigance than
the charachters on TV and in video games. Parents should use this, and
show their children what they should be like.
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