Comments on: Psychotic Norwegians, and the Games They Play

By: Orion_NGC1976

Orion_NGC1976 — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:55:47 +0000

As with complex issues, it is not black and white and I think it is the same with the effects of video games; there is a lot of gray. For the most part I agree with you and agree with the comments here, but knowing how the brain works leads me to believe that we all are affected by games. It may not be in the form of directly becoming a cold-blooded murder.

Just because we know it is not real does not mean that it does not affect us. I do not play FPS games mainly for the way they make me feel. I can feel the effects, to a degree, of combat shock. Watching Platoon in a dark theater left me with the same feeling. People cry at movies. I do not watch A Clockwork Orange because there are several scenes that I just can’t bear to watch again. People cheer the “good guys” when they kill the “bad guys.”

As it has been said here in the comments that violent games and movies can have a desensitizing affect. I do not want to get to point where I feel OK playing FPS games. If I did, would I be more inclined to be OK with the US invading another country to remove the “bad guy” or with collateral damage (code for innocent deaths). I don’t want to find out the answer.

To different degrees we are desensitized to violence. To some it was already there, but our environment has an effect; nature and nurture. Multiple factors contribute and I think that it is wrong to not acknowledge the effects of games.

What we continuously choose to expose ourselves to, reinforces and deepens what is already inherent in us. As a man thinketh so is he.

It is not a simple issue. You are right that violence is inherent in man and that scapegoating complex issues with games is wrong, so is saying there are no harmful effects in games.

By: BONZO

BONZO — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 04:35:31 +0000

LOL THANK YOU!!!

By: FEMAELSTROM

FEMAELSTROM — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:02:46 +0000

p.s. If you need proof, look at the crazy guy in the first picture with the 2 guns, I gotta bad feeling about him.

By: FEMAELSTROM

FEMAELSTROM — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:01:17 +0000

Do I think that games directly cause people to be violent: No. I do think that to those who don’t have the tools in the tool box to deal with life, it can effect them. Viewing violence can desensitaze and make violence less distasteful to some, maybe even offer it up as a tool in the toolbox to deal with situatuions. Though it is pixel violence, we revel in the thought that we “got a headshot”. It’s simply another avenue to view and to a degree participate in violence. I believe it is akin to pornography and it’s influence on the sexually violent. Though there may not be a direct cause/ effect relation, it is still an influence. Am I calling on the government to start swinging the black bar of censorship. No. Also the start of censoring is the slipperiest of slopes that once we ban a game for violence, then comes the ‘whats next’ people. We have a ratings system that makes the parents a part of the system too. Indeed parents need to be a bigger factor, and often use games as babysitters. In addition, many stores I go to make me ,the consumer fully aware that a particular game is rated and for what.I don’t blame games, but I think that they can be a factor in the minds of the people without the ability to handle real life siuations well. Agree or disagree, it’s my opinion.

By: ElSkutto

ElSkutto — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:45:01 +0000

Organized religions kill more people than video games ever will.

By: BONZO

BONZO — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 05:31:22 +0000

hmmm wow did i spell censor with an S? fail…

By: BONZO

BONZO — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 00:11:12 +0000

I have to say i do wholeheartedly agree with ESRB ratings, exposure to violence does desensitize, I don’t feel it makes anyone a serial killer but parents still need to be parents and be conscious of what they expose their children to. Allow kids to mature at least, before exposing them to violence especially for entertainment. I can’t recall how often at Gamestop a clerk has started to explain the ratings to a parent buying a violent game to their under tween child just to be waved off and dismissed with annoyance. Good thing video games haven’t effected me cuz I’ve had a mad urge to smack the living snot out of these parents every time i see it. Thing is we are conscious enough not to buy a kid under 21 alcohol, a kid under 18 cigarettes, or a kid under 18 or 21 (whatever the law is in your state) porn, yet violent explicit content never even raises an eye brow. Its not the governments job to censor game developers, they are doing their job by putting the ESRB rating on the box, its up to parents to adhere to these rules as a fitting parent would to tobacco, alcohol, or pornography.

By: ted2112

ted2112 — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 23:28:11 +0000

As long as there is video games there will be questions about if they are bad. I know there not, you know there not, but it’s just to juicy a story for a 24 hour media to pass up.

My question is why are certain areas of commerce immune to criticism? This guy, totally cray kills people and they rush to blame video games. Drunk driving kills 10,839 people a year and that’s alright…Huh?

By: KrazyFace

KrazyFace — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 18:30:20 +0000

I have two little boys in my family that want to join the army and shoot people. When I was playing Fallout 3, they asked me one question about the game; can you shoot the children. When I gave them my PSP to play that had Jak and Daxter in it, they said it was a “baby’s game”. They were both 5 at that time.

Their mother lets them play CoD and MW daily. I’d say this kind of exposure can heavily influence young children.

But I have to agree Norse, unfortunately there are people who’re just born head-cases. I’m sure I saw a documentary about a scientist that actually found a part of the brain that when given the right stimulation will reveal our pre-disposition for us to murder. So if you have the money, time and desire you can find out if it resides within you.

Unless of course Genghis Khan had a time machine we still don’t know about, perhaps he somehow stole it from Hitler when Jack the Ripper invented it and went on that unsolved intergalactic, multidimensional killing spree that we still can’t solve…

By: Burbie52

Burbie52 — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 17:09:24 +0000

He is bug-nuts, end of story. Just look at his eyes they say it all.
Nice article Norse.

By: BONZO

BONZO — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 01:57:53 +0000

Yes thank you, I do not understand the government stepping in to sensor video games, when its a parent that should be conscious of what their children are being exposed to. Yet, the FDA goes unchallenged to approve the poison kids get fed in junk food, and the mood altering drugs parents seem to think they need to be on.