Slashdot Mirror
BBC Argues Games Don't Cause Violence
RandBlade writes "BBC News has an article on the argued link between violent games and real violence. It examines both scientific evidence, different theories and the facts in order to conclude 'that it is trite and irresponsible of ill-informed commentators to claim that games like Grand Theft Auto are central to terrible crime.'" It's good to know that gamers are not all killing machines lying in wait, or that E3 is not the most potentially dangerous convention ever.
So this article is complete and utter shit. The only comparison that would work is a country before and after exposure to computer games. Or raising one set of kids with and one set of kids without. Comparing across cultures is pointless. There are to many other factors. Perhaps they should study who are commiting the crimes. Is their a shift to game playing teens? Or all the murders in NY mafia hits? Or commited by women tired of being beaten up by their husbands? If there is a shift from mafia hits to kids killing each other for copies of GTA then yeah I would say the link is clear. Until then don't confure the issue with statistics.
However there has been a country that until quit recently had a ban on TV and therefore console games. Some kingdom in asia, to lazy to check its name. They allowed tv and have since seen a rise in crime. Of course it was discussed on slashdot and the same people that don't think games can cause violence didn't think the tv could have anything to do with it.
I ask these people this. Have you listened to kids who play games like GTA? It is like hearing a bunch or miniature rappers talk. They are not talking about a game they are talking about a fantasy world of violence and bloodshed.
And it is not just shooters. When I was young and saw StarWars I wanted to be Han Solo or Luke Skywalker. Why do so many people want to play an evil character in Star Wars games then? Last time I checked roleplaying is about acting out fantasies that are impossible in real life. Is it me or do I distrust someone whose fantasie is killing everything in sight let alone selling a young girl into slavery or setting her best friend to kill her?
Perhaps I am just an old softie but if you play an RPG like Knights of the old republic and can make the evil choices and have fun then you are sick.
So do I think violent games make normal people violent? No. I do not have desire to go killing people for money or fun in real life but then I do not have that desire in games either. I do not kill someone in an rpg just to get some extra credits or deny someone in need credits even if it doesn't give experience points. I hate the goodness rating as it is more accuratly not being a complete asshole rating. Unarmed girl begs for her life and you kill her for 300 credits wich in game is about 1 clip of ammo? Game should not give you points for not killing her, instead the door should burst open the moment you raise your gun and you are shotdown in a hail of fire by the real hero of the game. Then it should lock the controls and you can watch the real hero complete the quest.
So if you play GTA and kill a minimum of people and do professianal job then perhaps you are unaffected by the game play. If you go putting holes in their body parts to make them die slowly or gain extra gore well then excuse me while I call the padded wagon to take you away.
Oh and the good players in rpg if you think the evil is about choice? Then think about this there are more roles to play then good or evil. Why can't I let the young girl keep her money and instead ask for a kiss as a reward eh? I wanna play a dirty old knight in slightly rusty armor!
MMO Quests are like orgasms:
You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.
Considering the BBC's track record, I don't think the BBC's support of this opinion is very helpful.
I think most of us can see the general public views violent video images and violent actions as being linked. One way to sell papers is to wave around a controvertial opinion, like disagreeing with "known facts."