I know it's been a real point of controversy about whether video games can cause violence. I've always tended to believe it was unlikely in a normal person. In part because the violence was so unrealistic and because the characters were so cartoonish. But watching this promo spot for Halo 3 has me wondering about that. The soldiers look so realistic it's a little bit scary. And I can't help wondering if people might have more difficulty separating video game from reality as these games/characters become more realistic.
For what it's worth, I don't question that video games, movies, music, and other forms of media could set off a person who is close to snapping in the first place. But these people represent a tiny percentage of the population.
2007-09-24 21:51:56 · 9 answers · asked by Justin H 7 in Games & Recreation ➔ Video & Online Games
Here's the preview for Halo 3 I'm talking about. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjhSp7xGsMc
2007-09-24 21:52:19 · update #1
Andrew H: your point about movies is valid except that video games are interactive where movies are passive.
2007-09-24 22:01:31 · update #2
maybe kids will, a bit but I wont!!!!
2007-09-24 21:56:54 · answer #1 · answered by angelo manuel 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It possibly could. You remember all the controversy when Grand Theft Auto San Andreas come out, that case actually went all the way to the House of Representatives. As far as the game its self insighting violence I pretty much think you hit the nail on the head when you were talking about the effects on "normal" adults Vs. those who are already close to the edge. The only other factor is that, well parents let kids play these games when they are no where near the age limit the game suggests and are just looking for a scape goat when something goes wrong with their child, and it's just not video games. When Rob Zombie's Halloween came out I was there opening night, and was shocked at the amount of children in the audience even though they were accompanied by parents/adults even though it was rated R, and the worst part is they get freaked out and ruin the experience for the rest of the audience that has paid the $9.00 to see the film. In fact one woman actually had the gal to ask the manager for her money back because her child was scared of the film. It just seems that no one wants to take responsibility for their own action anymore especially when something doesn't go the way they want it too. Oh and she actually got her money back, What the *ell is that?
2007-09-24 22:15:50 · answer #2 · answered by jet_blackdawg 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Graphics alone won't change anything. People have been seeing movies with increasingly realistic special effects and higher octane action sequences for the past 80 years.
Trend wise, arrests for violent crime among youth has steadily increased
http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/youthviolence/surgeongeneral/SG_Site/chapter_images/Fig24.gif
As far as the youth is concerned, since videogames first began to become mainstream in the late 80s/early 90s, violent arrests for youths began to decline after a steady increase that lasted through the 70s and early 80s.
http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/youthviolence/surgeongeneral/SG_Site/chapter_images/Fig25.gif
Also, less high school students have been noted carrying weapons to and from school or elsewhere of all categories ranging from knives to handguns.
My own personal opinion is that no one is going to just flip out and become violent from playing videogames regardless of how violent and gruesome and realistic they become. Decadent media has been available for hundreds of years.
2007-09-24 22:09:47 · answer #3 · answered by shadowultimate 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes look at GTA when the last one was maded more teens whent steeling and crime rates whent up. As more teens play vilent games they get trained to beileve it's ok to do this stuff and so them to it. In my view I think the hightes rating a game should have is T or 13-15.
2007-09-24 22:07:16 · answer #4 · answered by numanuma201 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In my opinion, I believe that video game violence does have a significant contribution to the increase of aggressive behavior... Which may be the cause to real violence..
2007-09-24 22:14:25 · answer #5 · answered by kaya 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, and anyone who can't tell the difference between reality and a video game deserves to be shot them selfs, because they will just ruin it for the rest of us otherwise.
2007-09-25 09:48:37 · answer #6 · answered by The One Called Raz 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Its not the realistic nature of the game. It is the mindset and worldview they treach. The virtual actions become engraned and begin to happen in other situations.
2007-09-24 22:02:58 · answer #7 · answered by bahbdorje 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Games don't cause violence - people do. Still, they do desensitize people to the ugliness of the results of violence, and may cause people to feel less guilt when seeing it. Violent play causes people to react violently.
2007-09-24 22:00:58 · answer #8 · answered by Princess Picalilly 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
No, otherwise films woulds cause violence and they dont cause much. Maybe people just can't deal with the fact that their kids are vile?
2007-09-24 21:58:21 · answer #9 · answered by Ahpro 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋