Are Violent Games to Blame for Violence in Children?

[Han]

I'm sure everyone is aware of how media such as video games and movies are taken poorly when a crime is committed in young children.

Do you believe that games, such as GTA, are the cause of violence in children?
A brief explanation why?

 

[Napalm]

I don't think so at all. It's just people are trying to use violent vidya-games as ammunition for banning them. Well, if we made an exception there, we'd have to make exceptions for movies, pr0n, music, and so much more with media.

There is one game that can actually cause a kid to be bad; It's GTA. The only one that actually had a kid act out what he saw on a game. Why don't they just try to ban GTA instead a whole field of gaming?

 

[Han]

I don't think so at all. It's just people are trying to use violent vidya-games as ammunition for banning them. Well, if we made an exception there, we'd have to make exceptions for movies, pr0n, music, and so much more with media.

There is one game that can actually cause a kid to be bad; It's GTA. The only one that actually had a kid act out what he saw on a game. Why don't they just try to ban GTA instead a whole field of gaming?

To be fair, games like GTA have been certified as an 18+ - so children shouldn't be playing them anyway. The same goes for movies, porn (which the UK are trying to ban, haha), music and pretty much most types of media.

Anyone in their right mind would not try to act out the illegal/vicious acts because they saw it on a game, but obviously the whole world of gamers cannot be psych-tested. :\

 

[Ross]

To be fair, games like GTA have been certified as an 18+ - so children shouldn't be playing them anyway. The same goes for movies, porn (which the UK are trying to ban, haha), music and pretty much most types of media.

I agree, 18+'s should be just that, but the problem is 'PEGI' is just an advisory age.

I don't think violent games are to blame, it is more down to the parenting. I think it is a parents job to highlight to a child the differences between video games / movies / TV Shows and real life (and only let them play age appropriate games). If they are blaming violent games on children being violent, shouldn't they really blame 'Cooking Mama' on childhood obesity?