Kathryn Dougans
B. S. Radioactive Sheep Farm
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Posted - 2008.03.03 13:03:00 -
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Don't know what this is about specifically, haven't been paying much attention to the news recently.
However, violent games, just like violence in films and television probably have some measurable effect on people, it's part of their environment, it would be most odd if it didn't.
The thing that matters is how significant the effect is (in statistical terms and in absolute terms), and how it compares to other factors.
E.g. if domestic violence means 25% of children exposed to it become violent, while videogame violence means 1% of children exposed to it become violent, then while videogame violence has a noticeable effect, it shouldn't be the priority.
There's also the context of the violence. Where there is no real purpose or story, then it's just violence for violence sake. This also doesn't usually make a good game, film, TV programme etc.
Compare with sex scenes in films? When there's no story or purpose, the film board says "Prawn" and takes a dim view. When there is some point to it, the film board says "18 Certificate" and approves.
Also, it's probably mostly to do with parenting. Ineffective parenting that doesn't teach the child the context of the violence they are exposed to in films, TV, games etc. and so the child isn't as able to seperate them from reality. This is a bad thing.
Society in general has a problem as well. Whenever violence on TV, games, films is blamed for something, it usually seems to be the lower income groups involved. Lower income groups also tend to have more problems with ineffective parenting, esp. if the parents have to work long hours, leaving the child under others supervision. However, the Government is keen to get parents from these groups into working the long hours, which would make that problem worse.
So, it's just the Government attempting to create a diversion. Their policies (free childcare etc. intended to get people into work) create situations (children with no instruction) where violent games can have an effect, newspapers pick up on this and blow things out of proportion to sell newspapers, the Government points the Finger of Blame at videogames to divert attention.
Finally, some people are just jerks. Alcohol, TV, films, games, drugs, etc. are just the excuse, not the cause of their behaviour.
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