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teenink
Jan. 4 at 6:36 pm
Three weeks ago, there was a mass shooting at Sandy Hook, CT. 26 casualties; 20 children, six adults. Recently, I heard that the shooter played violent video games. Now, many people are blaming violent games on the whole incident. In addition, they are even blaming other media as well. Do you think that's true? I would like to hear your opinions.
Jan. 4 at 7:28 pm
I don't think they were the sole cause, but I do think they contributed. Violent video games (and books, and movies) contribute to a desensitized culture. I'm not saying we need to ban all video games or totally remove all violence in films and literature, just that it's socially responsible to tone it down a little.
Jan. 5 at 5:19 pm
Violent video games have absolutely nothing to do with real life violence. By no means do the video games promote or instill a culture of violence within us.
I've seen far too many people play violent video games (the majority of games on the market) and turn out just fine, without a criminal record.
Mental issues are the cause of mass shootings and violence in general.
Jan. 6 at 12:04 am
There are many issues with the idea of violent video games causeing someone to kill a person. First and foremost, most teenagers play violent video games. That's just the way it is. Yet not every teenager is shooting up a school. This makes me believe that there must be another factor which caused the shooting other than the video games. Next, I wonder if blaming the video games is really about blaming the video games and stopping violence. If it was about stopping violence than there are many other ways go about it. Imagine the enormous consequences banning these video games would have. Now, I am an enormous believer that instead of playing a football video game kids should actually go out and play football. However, taking away their right to play that video game doesn't just stop them from playing the video game. (and it doesn't necessarily even assure that they won't play the video game) Rather, soon they will outlaw violent movies. Then they will outlaw anything that could be considered violent at all. Soon freedom of speech will just be a dream. I suppose the question that I'm asking in light of your question is - Is the IDEA that violent games MIGHT have caused this shooting worth giving up the freedom of speech and publication?
Jan. 6 at 5:27 pm
The problem here is that we're only human. Animals are naturally violent, it helps them survive. Now with society, government, and media, we are fighting against nature and it makes people nuts. By trying to hold people to "human" standards instead of realistic animal standards, we cause depression, psychotic breaks, excessive violence, and general hysteria. Our lifestyle is more to blame then anything else.
Jan. 6 at 7:40 pm
Millions of teenagers play video games without killing people, that's true.
Millions of people live with mental problems without killing people. Millions of people own guns without going out on mass shootings. That doesn't mean that mental issues and guns are never a factor.
Jan. 7 at 7:27 pm
First of all,
The Sandy Hook School shooting was not done by a student. It was an adult, and video games had nothing to do with it, he had a mental instability and a childhood where he was constantly exposed to firearms.
On topic:
When people say "violent videogames" I feel they're being a little prejudiced against the medium. Let's just say "violent media", becaues movies and music and literature and everything else with violence in it is just as effective in my opinion.
I would have to say that yes, how you let violence in media affect you is a factor.
As to whether harsher restrictions should be put on violent media, get me harsher restrictions on gun control and influential substances in school and half a dozen other factors that are more to blame first.
Jan. 7 at 11:43 pm
Personally I doubt that we can blame these kinds of events on video games because it has happened before, and there a number of people who play some of the most violent video games and have never even thought about harming another person. Things like this happen because some people need help that they just don't have.
Jan. 10 at 7:38 pm
No.
Breece:
I don't know if being exposed to firearms is really a factor either. I think that assumption underestimates people a lot. I've been exposed to firearms my entire life too, and it hasn't really had an effect on my psychology . . . that I can tell. Unless you meant his using firearms just made him more effective at massacre, in which case disregard everything I said.
Sorla:
I'm sorry, but you're wrong. Even from an evolutionary standpoint humans are societal creatures. Biology (not civil society) occasionally creates nutcases, and it's society's job to get those people medical attention.
Jan. 11 at 1:46 pm
Video games are common but they aren't the cause. They are just the Way some lunatics express their insanity. Like how some people think their Jesus if Christianity didn't exist they'd still be insane but Express it with a different delusion
Jan. 11 at 1:49 pm
Collin I'd argue that capitalistic alienation played a role. What used to be community issues are now individual problems. Then theirs meritocracy if you fail its your fault, that causes anxiety and depression.
