Do war games lessen the true horrors of war?

Question

My brother plays Call of Duty: A WWII game.

It makes me uneasy to have fun playing a game that is depecting true events in which millions of people died.

I hate hearing him casually say to his teammates, "Oh man, I got killed."

I've heard a quote that sums it up perfectly: "I thought about joining the military, but if I lagged out there, I could get killed!"

What do you think?

Answer 1

I think it makes you more ignorant to the horrors of war. You start thinking in terms of the game.

Just my 2 cents.

Answer 2

I don't think it lessens the horrors of real war. What it does is desensitized people, making violence easier. We learn by reversal. After a while your brain makes less and less of a distinction. What we see around is eventually becomes acceptable. Look in Nazi Germany. It wasn't just that there was a horrible leader, it was that he was able to coerce people into following him. People who look the other way or worse. It also leads people into reflexive thinking, which delays or eliminates moral decisionmaking. You don't think about whether something is right if you're too busy shooting at it.

Answer 3

I see your point because I have often suspected that TV violence desensitizes us to real human suffering and violence, and the daily news stats seem to bear this out. The thing with actual war though from a participant's perspective is that the fear, fatigue and adrenalin rushes are real, as is the carnage. There is a similar desensitization that takes place there, too, but the ever-present realization that your life is also in jeopardy keeps it real in ways few other experiences can. ( I don't recommend it, but it is true.)

Answer 4

you should look at the game Brothers in Arms. it really shows the horrors of war. and in Call of Duty 2: Big Red One, you actually feel sad when someone dies. check out those two games.

Answer 5

war game show the horror of war most game do