The Classic "Violence and Video Games"

It's easy to get into a heated debate on violence in videogames, where it comes from, who it's affecting, and what the parents are doing about it. Which is why we though of no better article to have as an opening on our blog section - than just that. We give it an honest, somewhat comical, and obtusely serious inspection on the effects of violence in video games.

For years now publicity has overtaken the ESRB ratings. A game gets so hyped up that you wouldn’t think of the Mature ratings that most games are slapped with these days. And so when young Timmy comes home pops GTA into his system what affect will this have on his mind? Some say none, and others say that this poor boy is a victim, that his fragile little mind is being warped and molded into some sort of killing machine. Of course does that mean violence is relevant in a game? Think of all the games you’ve played and imagine what they would be like without violence? Would the experience be as fun? Would you even still play video games?

Games like Doom, GTA and Counter-Strike have been attacked for ages now saying that the realism and the violence in these games are influencing children to go out and do crime. I seem to think that when you have no one to point the finger at, when you are so overwhelmed by your child’s crime and refuse to believe that young Timmy could do such a thing, you look at the one thing that might have influenced him the most. Video Games. And as soon as the person raises the alarm on the game the FDA plays the game looks at the violent content and will most probably remove the game. This instance happened to Rockstar Game’s Manhunt just a couple of weeks ago. The thing with this method is people don’t always follow their child around everywhere. They don’t go to school with them and they certainly don’t go to friend’s houses with them. So how can they blame virtual reality on an actual crime. What crime has it committed? If you kill someone in a video game do you get a happy joyous feeling that you have to go out and kill someone in real life? I don’t.

As I’ve said, stores seem to forget the meaning of the ESRB rating! M means 17+ and yet when a 15 year old kid shoots up a school they blame Counter-Strike or other M rated games. How can this be significant to the social status of the child you might ask? Simple, if a child is emotionally distraught then he is more likely to get a certain high from playing violent games. If you’re being picked on at school or anywhere, you will probably unknowingly take pleasure in violent video games. Our entire society is so biased. We continue to avoid the kids and the horrors they go through everyday. We get too wrapped up in ourselves and we forget that our kids are dieing out there. We need to talk with our kids and make sure everything is okay and do everything in your power to keep your kids happy. Happy kids don’t throw fits and will most certainly not commit crimes.

Another problem with this topic is, every kid is different. Some kids have problems deciphering the difference between fantasy and reality. The arguments go both ways and there is no proper way of solving this problem. Some kids are just crazy and weird but all this can be blamed on real life things. If a kid is anti-social and hates everything you can ask any shrink and he will probably tell you it’s from influence, but the influence of what? And so this treasure hunt starts. Fingers are pointed and everyone goes nuts trying to figure out what could possibly influence their young boy. All the while ignoring him. When your kid is in trouble sit down and talk to him. Almost everything can be settled with good closure and a stern talking to. Just don’t wait till the last minute, stop the problem before it starts. Sit down and play some of these games with your kids and explain to him what’s going on and. You can even attack the game while your playing it. Just say “Ah that’s sick”, “What did he just say? Don’t you ever say those words! Oh My God this is violent you better not do this at school young man!” It’s as easy as that you’d be amazed how well it work.

It’s very easy but if we continue to be so stubborn and ignore what goes on in our schools then we might just f#@k up the whole world. The kids are the future aren’t they? So why aren’t we trying to help them? I grew up playing violent games and my parents were well aware of what I was playing. And I turned out perfectly fine.

That’s why I can’t agree with some of the stuff I’m saying. Every kid is different and everyone needs his or her own special care. I hope my 2 cents helped and made you think.