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Violent Video Games Only Affect Some People
An anonymous reader writes "The media would have you believe that violent video games will be the downfall of our civilization and the cause of moral decline in young people. A recent study suggests that most people aren't so easily influenced by the violence; instead, just a few bad apples are likely to react poorly, with everyone else showing little or no effect from playing these games."
The American Psychological Association has posted the academic paper (PDF) as well, in addition to a few related studies. One examines how games can be a force for good (PDF), and another looks at the motivations behind children playing such games (PDF).
Kurt Vonnegut once made an interesting comment regarding the Vietnam War. When he went to Europe in WWII, everyone just hoped that they wouldn't have to kill anyone. When kids went off to Vietnam, all the movies and media from the previous wars gave them very different expectations.
It was either in this interview in The Paris Review, or this one from Playboy. I can't remember which. Seems applicable, though.
When you're afraid to download music illegally in your own home, then the terrorists have won!
Even wars that are fought in the name of religion are usually fought in reality for land, money, power, and revenge. Just like all the other wars.
I prefer rogues to imbeciles because they sometimes take a rest.