Featured Is it ME, or do you think our police are out of control?

I have the distinct pleasure to annouce that I have never played a video game.

 

:thumbs::thumbs::thumbs:

 

I played PAC-man. LOL then again, I wasn't unaffected. I still eat Dots candies when I find them. Mmm, paper backing.

 

I can tell you first hand what my experience was, Gina. I was hooked on video games as a teen. An unhealthy level of hours a day. I loved (love) first person shooters. Halo, medal of honor, call of duty. Played them all. When it came time to shoot in real life, I still didn't want to.

Now, I understand that this is just my experience, others may vary. But do you realize that violent crime has been going down indirectly with more and more violent games being released? Coincidence? Maybe. But it's proof that violent games don't cause violence, otherwise the numbers would be going up.

Also, studies have shown that for about an hour after playing a violent video game, kids are more aggressive. But outside that hour, kids who play violent video games are less aggressive on average than those who don't play violent video games.

As much as people want to blame games, it's clear that it simply isn't so. Parents, lack of God, and the devaluing of human life via abortion I could see being to blame. But the evidence is against blaming video games.

 

I believe all those things contribute Sapper, but I do not believe the studies about video games because I have worked too long with teenagers and seen the results. I feel like the experience and what they say and do trumps studies by those who aren't actually living it, let alone the strongest evidence of all - the Scriptures ~ which tell us that what is in a man's heart is what he does.
Look at yourself and what you play, and what you do, which is pretty cool. I'm glad you're not hooked on GTa. Would you believe adults, even ones in the churches, give it to kids and say "Well I trust them not to go in the adult stuff." ?
Crazy.
No, it isn't logical at all that filling the brain with positive leads to negative, or filling it with negative would actually lead to a decrease in negative. Please think about that.

 

Blaming the game is easier.

My work with juvenile delinquents backs up your claims.

 

I tend to agree with Bro Curtis and Sapper Woody. I think the armchair psyhologist in people like to attribute causation to things that are mere coincidence. Blaming the video game is just scratching the surface of the deeper issues and psychology that cause criminal behavior.

 

I cannot help but wonder if they can be likened to flight simulators, which are essentially up scaled video games designed to replicate real-life scenarios.

 

I had a SEGA Genesis, used to play NHL, and Earthworm Jim, back in the old days. When my daughter was born, somehow I just stopped playing, and don't feel the need to shell out hundreds of $$ to play again.

 

Don't talk to cops. Why do you think they say 'Everything you say CAN and WILL be used AGAINST you in a court of law'? Uh? Think about it.

Because that is their intent.

Plead the fifth and realize that they do not have your best interest in mind, whether you are guilty or not. They have their best interest in mind, not yours.

 

If you truly believe they have no impact, there's no reason to believe any of them are wrong/sinful.
We serve a loving and logical Creator who advises us against sin because it impacts out actions, and those can also harm others.
It's just common sense.
I'm not trying to be argumentative, but don't get how you guys aren't seeing a connection here between the influences surrounding a person and how that affects a person.
It's so well documented that people who come out successful from poor influences are often held up in communities as role models.

 

There is a difference between sinful and making the leap that playing a "violent" video game makes one prone to criminal activity. I personally don't believe that a lot of these games send a good message but know that blaming them for the actions of another is overly simplistic.

 

I'm a bit troubled about the "sin" word. Playing "violent" video games is a sin ?

 

You don't find a number of violent games on the market sinful?

 

Lack of parenting, drugs, and the hysterical fear of mental illness, and refusing to get it treated, is far more responsible for violence than any video game ever will be. My oldest son is a typical 18 year old video gamer. He is a nice, kind hearted kid to the point I fear he will be taken advantage of in this world. Through the years dealing with his peers/friends, and coaching all ages of youth soccer, the violent kids had violent/domineering/abusive parent(s), and/or no father at home.

 

Could you answer the question please, and not respond with another question?

 

"A number" of violent video games isn't the same as "all". Shooting up rival gang members, hiring prostitutes, killing police; yes, those are sinful. But still not responsible for violent behavior.

Edited to add more content. Was on my phone when I posted earlier -

Violent video games are no different than violent movies, although some would argue that they are due to the player being the one who "pulls the trigger".

Let's look at some statistics (there are a lot of opinion pieces out there - I'm just going to focus on stats):

Since 1995, arrests for juvenile murders is down 71.9%; the arrest rate for all juvenile violent crimes is down 49.3%. In 2004, Secret Service findings disclosed that less than 1/8th of all school shooters showed interest in violent video games.

In 2005, the US had 2,279 murders committed by teenagers (27.9 per million residents) compared to 73 in Japan (3.1 per million). Per capita video game sales were $5.20 in the US compared to $47 in Japan. So, where there are more video game sales, there is less teenage murder.

Now, I am not going to sit here and say that violent games are NEVER a contributor. But I am saying that the cases are rare, and only when the individual is prone to violence anyway.

This is where parenting comes in. Know your kids. Make sure they can distinguish between killing a Nazi Zombie (Nambies, we like to call them) and killing a class-mate. Make sure that they aren't depressive, and sink their antisocial tendencies in a game. Check their rooms, make sure they don't have propaganda that would demonstrate a love for killing.

Parents are failing for not knowing their kids. It's not the game's fault. It's the parents' fault, with the responsibility ultimately lying with the child.

 

I think we're going to remain disagreed on that Sapper.
you might find this interesting though. I did once read a psychologist who spoke about how the military, in early wars, struggled with soldiers unable to pull the trigger.
They were able to help desensitize in training by using human looking targets for practice.
He noted the simulations used to help desensitize military and such are now available to all, and children grow up with it in video games. It can be used in a positive or negative way, but the influence is still there.