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The Political Games Surrounding Video Games

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the good-sense-versus-fascism dept.

Rayonic writes "We all know the issue surrounding those who want to ban violent games, but a TechCentralStation editorial asks - can playing war games influence your political sensibilities? The media, for instance, are usually very ignorant of what goes on during military maneuvers. But a few days of playing Ghost Recon or America's Army might make you more knowledgeable than the average reporter (or even lawmaker), as the writer argues that 'the spread of military knowledge via wargaming might lead to political changes in the way war is perceived by Americans'."

5 of 95 comments (clear)

  1. Sounds familiar... by WinnipegDragon · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Maybe I'm being reactionary, but if 'playing war games can influenece you politcally', are you not opening yourself up to the slippery slope that ends with 'playing video games can make you violent'?

    Video games that people play tend to be a product of their leanings, not the other way around. People who like violence will play violent video games, and fantasy nerds (myself included) will play RPGs. In this case, people who play war games probably like strategy and tactics.

    Chalk this one up to the media looking for scapegoats and excuses to explain personal behaviours yet again.

    1. Re:Sounds familiar... by hal2814 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I don't think this is the same thing. The political influence mentioned in the article is more like a court case where the jury once though one thing but in light of new evidence (which in this case may or may not be factual) they have changed their mind.

      The games-leads-to-violence scenario leads us to believe that upon initially watching a violent act we may feel one way but after seeing that act performed many times, we now think it is ok.

      So the real difference is more like "Oh, if that's how military operations are performed, I'm not so opposed to them." vs. "It's ok to kill because I see it in that game all the time." Personally, I don't think there's anything wrong with changing your mind about a issue becasue you've researched the issue further, but I do wonder how accurate a viewpoint these people would be getting solely by playing video games.

  2. I think you missed the point of the article... by *weasel · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Actually it sounds like this article is suggesting that realistic military games actually educate the gamers on what warfare is like.

    The thrust of the article is that political second-guessing of military strategy and reaction would be easily identifiable by such educated gamers. Educated gamers know that sending more troops to Iraq would not necessarily mitigate the dangers of roadside bombs and ambushes -- it'd simply present more targets. Also, they'd be more willing to judge the failure or success of a military engagement on the broader scope, and not just make a gut decision influenced by the most recently reported good or bad news.

    I don't know that such education could change a gamer's personal politics but, like any education, it certainly increases the accuracy of their BS detector.

    --
    // "Can't clowns and pirates just -try- to get along?"
  3. Re:Substitute... by WyerByter · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Well, I pity you that you have never learned anything from a book, movie or television show that has changed your outlook on life and thus potentially changed your political views. Either your mind is closed, so open as to hold nothing or you chose material that does not challenge you preconcived notions.

    --

    This signiture copied from somewhere.
  4. Re:Article is a troll against Democrats by JavaLord · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I am a Democrat, and I enjoy violent video games as much as the next guy. In fact, if I had been asked to guess, I would have guessed the Republicans were against it.

    Republicans who haven't been hijacked by the religious right wouldn't care what video games you play either. Real republicans are for less government involvments, it's too bad there haven't been any real republicans in my lifetime. :)

    I'm sure congressmen and senators on both sides of the political platform are against violence in videogames. Why? It's a sexy issue to draw women voters to them. "Look we are protecting the CHILDREN!". They should focus their attention on eliminating violence/bullying in schools if they really want to protect children. Do they really think that colombine was cause by doom, or because two kids were teased until they couldn't take it anymore?