Do you guys/gals think that today's video games contribute to violent behavior?

[fastTa]

Is it actually a concern or just an excuse for bad parenting?

I'll tell you what I think after a few responses.

[Christopherrr]

Nope...it's all about your upbringing and your perspective on life and reality. That is of course directly affected by your parents.

[Blevyou know]

I'm 23 and have been growing up in this "gaming" generation. The games I was playing in the most critical time of my development still had a violent idea to them. The thing that worries me about today’s violent video games is the fact they are so realistic. Comparing today’s violent games (GTA, Silent Hills, all the war games, etc.) with yesteryears violent games (Kantra, Mortal Kombat, etc.) Today’s game are scary realistic. When some kid that is in the peak of there mental development is sitting in front of a TV playing these video games it raises my eyebrow. But, it all stems down to the parents. Kids that are too young shouldn't be playing them. I know mine won’t. I DO think these games may have some adverse affects with the younger kids.

[fastTa]

Nope...it's all about your upbringing and your perspective on life and reality. That is of course directly affected by your parents.

I know. I'm getting so tired of people complaining about video games, music videos, and music contributing to violence and overall bad behaviour. It's just silly rediculous. There is no excuse for bad parenting and that's the problem today. It has nothing to do with the video games or some song on the radio. I strongly believe it's all to do with how you are raised.

My youngest sister and little brother listen to all kinds of music, they grew up as the MTV generation, they were allowed to watch cable, they were allowed to play video games.... they were allowed to be kids. My youngest sister Kelsey is now a Freshman on a full scholarship to Georgia Southern. She was recently elected class Vice Pres. She is head of the board at her Sorority. She wants to evetually get into journalism or broadcasting. My Dad rubs shoulders with some big wigs in Georgia so he is opening some doors for her to pursue that avenue. My brother just got back from Greece on a soccer tournament. He is on the National Honor Society....yada yada yada. My point is they turned out great because we had really great parents. I really feel sorry for kids that have parents that steal their childhood from them thinking all the while they are actually doing their children good.

Many years ago when we were all young, my Dad cancelled our cable TV thinking that was the solution to keeping us kids from being "exposed" to the world. Well after the Pastor at our church convinced him that the worst thing he could have done was to cut off the world from his children, we got our cable back....thank God.

I just was curious to see how everyone felt on this board.

[Blevyou know]

I agree it's the parents to moderate it. But, taking them out of the picture. The video games would IMO become a problem.

edit: Would become a problem for the younger kids playing. The more influential aged kids.

[fastTa]

I agree it's the parents to moderate it. But, taking them out of the picture. The video games would IMO become a problem.

Yes, I agree, it is 100% the responsibility of the parents to monitor what their kids do, nobody elses. Whether it is on the internet, out in the backyard, in the living room, or in school. But, yes, you take the parents out of the picture (which is getting worse as time goes on) the kids will no longer have a parental figure proactively teaching them responsibility and good moral conviction.

I have played games like San Andreas, Bully, and Grand Theft Auto and I have shot cops, stole cars, and beat up hookers .....but I know it's all completely fake and I don't ever experience an uncontrollable urge to go replicate the same behaviour in real life. I think when kids are raised correctly, they will have the same common sense instilled into them.

[Blevyou know]

I have played games like San Andreas, Bully, and Grand Theft Auto and I have shot cops, stole cars, and beat up hookers .....but I know it's all completely fake and I don't ever experience an uncontrollable urge to go replicate the same behaviour in real life. I think when kids are raised correctly, they will have the same common sense instilled into them.

That's that. Bottom line.


I think with the realism of the GTA's and Bully, the ability to "copycat" the actions witnessed on screen is so much greater than the old video games. EX. Taking a baseball bat to a car and producing damage (GTA) is much easier to replicate then say....shooting fireballs from your hand (Mario). These kids with "fresh" influential minds see something so realistic/interesting on the screen they copycat/experiment with it. It's only human nature. The problem is SOME kids simply don't realize the things they are seeing aren't real and they should NOT try them.

BTW - I love these video games. But, I'm not a 12 year old. So don't worry!!

[Nightrage]

I've been playing video games my entire life (mainly violent ones like Tenchu, Doom, Grand Theft Auto, Mortal Kombat, etc), my girlfriend's brother lives on violent video games, most of the people I know have been playing violent video games for a good portion of their lives as well. People are always trying to point a finger at something. First it was rock music, then it was Marilyn Manson, now it's Grand Theft Auto. I've never done any of the crap you do in these games...except for that time I stole my dad's car, killed a few prostitutes and pulled a few driveby shootings

[fastTa]

Let me share a slightly different perspective on this. These kids that are out there commiting these crimes of violence most likely had a pre-existing biologically inherant tendency towards violence and crime in the first place. Humans, by nature, need someone or something to blame for the actions of the kids commiting these violent acts and/or crimes. With the help of the ever present maligned media machine, the video games, rap videos, and music are the first to be blamed.....all the while, the finger pointers are allowing the reality of the bona fide source of the violence to escape them...a genealogically inherant disposition coupled with their upbringing.

The divorce rate continues to sky rocket, single parents are working longer hours, moral conviction is slowly but surely slipping through our hands, and the kids are the unfortunate ones who are suffering the ill effects of all of this.

On a positive note, their are still some very good parents out there who love their children and make it a full time job to consciously educate them and and pass down a strong moral ethic and a powerful personal conviction. Those are the kids who can grow up just as any other kid, but aren't knocking off the local liquor store for $50 and a few packs of smokes.

[Y2KHAWK]

I raised 2 boys (single parent) in this generation and neither of them are criminals. As a parent it is the role of teaching "right from wrong" and unconditional love. It is ok to make mistakes but understand that that with mistakes there are punishments to go along with it and the punishment at home will be the worst!

It's an easy out for some. Except responsibility for your actions. (both parents and children)

['STANGETR]

To the point, I strongly believe the future of a child's behavoir starts right in the home with the parents. Also, I think there is a bigger problem of peer pressure these days affecting kids (trying to help my younger 14 yr old sis through it now), and it ain't from video games. In my area right now, we are having a HUGE problem of teens in gangs and everybody shooting at one another. Again, that is not a side effect of playing video games, that is from a lack of attention and proper upbringing in the home. -My 2 cents.

[Steel2686]

Great topic, Kev.

I agree with you... It's the upbringing more than anything. I played plenty of violent games as a kid (I'm sure my parents didn't realize how violent they were). To this day, I still play a few games a week. It's a fantastic stress reducer. I'm 33, and own an Xbox 360.

Example - I might have a stressful day at work. I come home, and I have three kids to care for until their bedtime (around 8:00) because my wife works the night shift. After 8:00, my nerves are a bit frayed at times. I pop in either Madden, NHL, or if it was a particularly stressful day... Call of Duty. Great war game, but extremely realistic. Nothing eases the tension better than mowing down Nazi's...

Would I let my 5, 3, or 2 year old even watch me play these games? No. Of course not. Would I let them play when they get old enough? Absolutely. I'll probably be playing right along side of them.

[ryan34]

Just another attempt at censorship....I think nothing should be "censored", but a rated tv/radio/gameing system that allows the parents to controll what their kids can and can't watch should be standard for most forms of entertainment. JMHO

[Y2KHAWK]

Kids need to know what the real world is like not the fairy tale. Parents can only protect a child so long. JMTC

[Joshu]

It is completely the Parent's issue here. When I worked in the electronics dept. at Kmart last year during winter break (needed some quick money for books) some parent asked for the 50 cent video game. Her kid was no more than 10 and I asked if it was for him. She replied "Yes", and I promptly told her we were sold out.
However, I do belive cartoons are getting more violent and TV in general is having a small effect. But video games no.