Video games don't teach violence. They just provide an outlet to those tendencies that are already present.

And yes many of my moms disagree with me.

yes, all violence is down to computer games, films, heavy metal music, even all those millennia before any of those were even created...

Don't forget Elvis Presley and his hip shaking.

edit: http://www.pophistorydig.com/topics/elvis-florida-1955-56/

Every 15 or so years this comes up. I'm not too worried.

When I was a kid I had to sit and listen to people tell me Pac Man was too violent. :P

Now if you'll excuse me, I just finished playing some GTA and now I have the uncontrollable urge to go blow up a building, kill a bunch of cops, and steal a fighter jet.

And the POTUS, who is the latest person to bring this stupid crap back up, doesn't care about the effect of violent games and movies. THIS is how upset he really is about that. :P

Video games don't kill people. People kill video games. At least in Soviet Russia.

2006: https://www.engadget.com/2006/08/23/violent-pac-man-researcher-responds/

2017: https://www.salon.com/2017/06/13/watch-psychologist-says-pac-man-is-just-as-violent-as-doom/

And the point I bring up during these conversations:

http://theconversation.com/areas-with-more-poker-machines-have-higher-rates-of-domestic-violence-66982

I found a quote once about how Iced Tea causes violence but can't find it right off. All google wants to look at is someone who had their kidneys fail because of it.

Holding a controller and knowing how to use a gun (load it and clean it) are completely abstracted away. I enjoy how Jim Sterling or ReviewTechUSA shows how holding a controller doesn't translate to a 'gun'. Also since games are sandboxed you can try things out that you would NEVER EVER EVER do. I mean running around with a bat beating the crap out of someone sounds fun... Getting beat by a group who don't like you being violent and having to live with the bruises, broken teeth, bones, etc... not something i want to experience :P Some of the high profile shootings recently are more the result of law enforcement not doing their job. Cruz said he wanted to be a professional school shooter, and he was called up 40 times to the police. He was also put on anti-depressants and SSRI's.

Now, while your mind is in an altered state, video games might have more of an effect; Perhaps we need a study on this combination. Mind you a sudden change in SSRI's (you have to change the dose VERY VERY slowly) or life change (parent/sibling/child dying) can make someone very violent/psychotic very suddenly.

i won't say violent video games had no effect. But i am 100% certain video games and guns are not the core/sole cause of shootings.

As for what we can do... Regulations of video games should happen, but i'm thinking of dealing with predatory and crappy practices (microtransactions, loot boxes, DRM, always-online). Adding a bunch of other regulations aren't going to do much because you'll probably work around it. Should you need a background check to get a video game? Seems silly and over the top. Although if someone got on mind altering drugs like SSRI's maybe having a stop to selling said video games at local stores and nearby towns, but that seems more if everyone is on the same page (and they won't be).

http://www.pointandclickbait.com/2018/03/huge-value/

Ultimately the real issue is the state of mental health care in this country. Back in the early 80s Reagan gutted mental health, turning out people who would have otherwise been receiving care and defunding treatment. It has yet to recover from that.

It's easier to blame video games rather than tackle the real problem. Why devote resources to mental health when it is easier to blame the evil spectre of gaming.

And a few hundred years ago we burned witches at the stake. Were video games to blame then? Was rock music?

If the government isn't looking after the health of it's people (and itself as a whole) why have a nation/laws at all?

Not dealing with valid issues slowly rots the entire country.

I agree, but it's easier to scapegoat. Dealing with real problems requires actual effort and resources. Congress is famous for doing nothing but empty postering and patting themselves on the back for it.

But to some folks which bathroom you use or if your 11 year old who for whatever reason has your credit card number buys a loot box in the game they're playing is a valid issue.

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