Video games are bad: Heres why

reply to post by jacktorrance


balance is the key, anything in moderation is not bad, and comments like what the parents made sound bad, but people should not assume, even i am guilty of letting the kids watch the t.v. for a few hours or go on a game for a while, sometimes there are jobs that need doing and very limited time to do them in, so yes sometimes it is good that you can sit the kids down for a few hours to watch or play something whilst you actually get that job/jobs done.

we should not assume parents are bad parents for doing that from time to time. it is when it is constant, everyday and over the top these things are problems. remember some parents work most of the day then have numerous hosework/caring jobs to do in the limited time they have before going to bed. so sometimes the only way to get things done is by keeping the kids happy long enough to do them. balance is the key.

Its interesting. I'll go watch a violent and kind of disturbed movie and there will be little kids there and the whole theatre will laugh at the part that makes a joke about someone's death because we established we don't like that person or something for example. But I'm like..really? When I was very young I wanted all the violence I could get but a little philosophy shifted my mind.

This is the society we live in man. I think you're right to show at least one side of it though. This is what we need, to lay it out in the open and discuss the value of it.

It's serious $%% man. I almost joined the army because I thought it would be fun but then I was like nahhh.. I don't want to murder people or be the questionable government's puppet.

But we really really do get off on fighting. My room-mate was telling me about this awesome tank and how its lined with explosives intended to deflect some of the impact and save the crew. My mind just tangled in knots and I was like what the hell man that makes no sense!! And he's like yeah actually it makes plenty of sense.. and i'm like no man... its logical but it aint rational.. we live in a society where somewhere down the line we felt different to an extreme extent with one another and so we developed these explosives to THROW and shoot and violently and terribly blow each other apart and we've designed these moving boxes to drive around in and shoot the very things the box is made of. Let the madness stop!!! what the hell are we doing!? haha

Video games are the tip of the iceberg. There's a lot more going on. We're at war with each other when there's a war with our own psyche. You gotta zen out that %^&.!

reply to post by BoneMosaic


And there is bean bag ammo for shotguns that only knocks people unconscious instead of killing them, and in the Honest Hearts DLC there's a taser-like weapon that can be used to knock people out rather than killing them.

Originally posted by Hiasyouwant
Please let us not argue about "its the parents". These days parents are children, kids themselves. So lets face the fact that games will get into the hands of kids, teens, and your drunk uncle bill.

Video games or virtual reality are inherently bad and extremely detrimental to society. I will share some of my feelings and gatherings, and hopefully you can do the same. There are so many games out there, with so much content, not through years of gaming have I even scratched the surface. I'll show you what I've gathered as well as share some of my own experiences and takes on things.

Just a quick personal experience I had while at a local fun arcade. There was a pretty cool flight simulation game, with a man of eastern descent, wearing a remember 9/11 shirt. This man played this game for HOURS. Sorry if that was a tasteless way to begin, but its something I'll never forget. Could I blame the guy? Video games are ultimately simulators. Haven't you ever thought, what would this be like? I have.

Anyone can create, anyone can play
Anyone can create a game, and anyone can play a game. A group of psychopaths could create a game, and maybe they have, and guess what: it gets put out for all the world to play.

Take quick glimpse of Silent Hill.



You just had a glimpse. Now imagine not just a glimpse, but a fantasy land full of bodies, disembowels, crucifixions, and pools of blood on top of the creepiest music you've ever heard of. Could you imagine some sorts of psychological affects on a child/teen? I'm not going to find every gory and violent picture, you get it.

Unmatched, Detached, Doomed
Many game's offer characters we love, characters we hate, ten fold over movies and the like. In a video game, one is the killer, one is the elf, that character becomes a part of you, and you a part of it. When was the last time you found your palms and feet sweating because of a picture, or a movie? I could turn some games right now and literally be immersed, physically and mentally. My senses are heightened, and I tell you adrenalines-a-flowin. Palms and feet sweaty and all. I am detached, and immersed in that world. Nothing in this world matters. That's a problem folks. For someone to tell me this hasn't been shaping our psyche would be silly. There could be hundreds or thousands of murderers who was given a fantasy, and that fantasy wasn't good enough anymore. So they act out, violently, sadistically.

BILL: But haven’t little boys been playing soldiers and going “boom” ever since the first toys were carved from wood?
DR. DAVE: You, and unfortunately parents, are clueless about what creates the video game addiction. What separates Doom from other video games and toys is one big point. They are deliberately programmed to make the player a “first person shooter”

Dr. Dave there is talking about the columbine shootings, both the kids played Doom and Grand Theft Auto.

But it was the nature of that violence that turned heads. Set in the "near future," the shooter puts the player in firefights in Afghanistan and, at least once, lets them join forces with terrorists. One scene puts the player in the position of deciding whether to join in as an ally guns down innocent civilians in an airport.

Oh wonderful, it's the most advanced shooter in existence, and I can plant bombs and join the terrorirsts. These days, even the military train with games.

Depending on your preferences, you can have sex with someone who is older or younger than you — perhaps much older or younger. In fact, if your virtual character is an adult, you can have sex with a virtual character who is a child. If you did that in the real world, most of us would agree that you did something seriously wrong. But is it seriously wrong to have virtual sex with a virtual child?

Yay, thanks second life!

Need I even mention BioShock, where you hunt little girls which by the way are protected by "bigdaddys"
How about www.littlelacysurprisepageant.com, its website in GTA IV, you know; the internet in GTA.

Reality Sucks
I contest! When do these gross fantasies on games cross over into real life? More often than we're aware of I'd assume. Weather its imagining this game is your life, or this game truly being your life, or part of your very fiber, The Virtual world is outdoes that of our cognitive reality. Provides us with gross simulations, and as future technologies come about I'd assume video games will have nothing to do with "video" at all, and just be complete mind simulation like in Minority Report.. Ah.. and you thought that the avatar blues was bad... Instead of furthering our own race, we must level our virtual characters instead, get fat and drink mountain dew. And

I'm going to end with this quote its speaking of Super Columbine Massacre RPG and a victims response to playing it.

Richard Castaldo, 24, one of the students injured that day, had a different take. He is paralyzed from the waist down after being shot. He's a gamer — he wants to be a sound engineer for games — and he's played the Columbine game. There are some parts that were tough for him, he said, but he thought the game has a unique take on that day: "It's weird for me to say this, I guess, but there's something about it that I appreciated, seeing the game from the killers' perspective."

There you have it, hes a gamer! He freaking appreciated seeing it from the killers perspective! Need I say more?
Can anyone really argue that video games/virtual-reality is in anyway GOOD for us, or not terrible for our society? I just want to be like Mario.. fool with pipes and chase mushrooms all day.

articles.cnn.com...
www.nydailynews.com...
www.giantbomb.com...
seattletimes.nwsource.com...
addictions.about.com...

edit on 1-7-2011 by Hiasyouwant because: (no reason given)

edit on 1-7-2011 by Hiasyouwant because: (no reason given)

edit on 1-7-2011 by Hiasyouwant because: I can't spell.

You don't understand the point of these games.They are made to make you feel disgusted and afraid,they are made to make you feel uncomfortable.
The only down side to playing games is, it turns you into a vegetable slowly and you will probably wear glasses.
When you work 10-12 hours a day and you come home wanting to drink a beer and play a video game, no one can tell you otherwise.
People that confuse reality with virtual life are already damaged inside.
I've never seen any of my friends pretending to kill orcs or hunt the undead.
There is this one guy that talks in his sleep and one night he yelled kill the orcs.

Yes, video games may be excessively violent. That's why there are ratings on them just like for movies. Whenever there are movies ratings it is up to the PARENTS to decide if there child should see that movie. The same goes for video games. Any games rated Mature you literally have to show an ID to purchase it. Im sick of these kids when they get in trouble saying oh its not my fault its that video game, or its the music. Thats ridiculous. Wake up parents! Teach your children right from wrong and teach them more than just shifting blame

I dont think they are as bad as the OP makes it out to be.

Usually,like everything, it has its advantages and disatvantages,pros and cons,or whatever you want to call it.

reply to post by BillyBoBBizWorth


I agree, I mean I played violent games growing up, and I have a clean record, never been arrested or gotten a ticket. Also, I have a great career in a field I love. I was raised by a good family where we were taught consequences.

Anyone can write a gory, violent, "psychotic" novel. Everyone can read said novel. Insert film, play, television show, etc. in place of "videogame" and your statement is still true.

Since there are studies both advocating and decrying the effects of violent videogames, I'm going to have to defer to my own experience and say that an unstable, violent mind can be pushed into committing violent acts by almost anything. That isn't the trigger’s "fault," though, and in my opinion is no reason to censor art. The supreme court has ruled that videogames are art, and as such receive the same first ammendment protections as any other form of media.

I've been gaming for over 20 years, since well before I reached the age of reason. This has included the most violent, gory, psychologically disturbing, immersive games I can think of. And I didn't just play them in small doses or occasionally. I love disturbing, dark art forms. I seek such experiences out, and have played them for hours upon hours, for years. I don't think I can honestly say I only played them in moderation.

And guess what? I'm a pacifist and a humanist. Given that, I have to conclude that violent, disturbing art is not the problem. The people susceptible to being triggered and their mental instability are. But that’s merely my personal opinion.

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reply to post by Hiasyouwant


OP selects arguably the worst qualities of something, then generalizes it to every video game ever made.

That's the summary, folks.

This same technique can be done for anything in existence. From ice cream, to air, to the chair you're sitting in. If you don't like or agree with something simply take the worst quality, ignore any and all benefits, or that other non-offending items may exist (ignorance is bliss), and present your case against.

Thank your for sharing, OP, it's been educational.

Video games are simply the modern form of books/novels. You will find the same depravity, violence and psychopathic nature in many thriller/horror novels, yet kids are encouraged to read in order to broaden their education and culture. The modern video game is not just a pointless colourful waste of time as were the games of the earlier generations, they are a story line packed with adventure and brought to life.

The modern video game encourages imagination and creativity just as much as its novel/book counterpart. The major problem here is that most people who are against video games have simply fallen behind the times and manifest their technophobia as misguided outrage towards mediums they no longer understand.

Give me a break OP.

reply to post by AceWombat04


exactly Ace, its not the video games or any other media for that matter that is the problem its the people themselves

reply to post by kindred


Some of the best bloodiest, gore-fest movies came out before all this newfangled technology. Take a look at some of the Fulci movies (Lucio Fulci, who happened to inspire the writer of Hostel, Eli Roth). Look at some of the movies Tom Savini has worked on. Blood and guts, and lots of it, without a lot of CGI.

People are fascinated by blood and gore and the macabre, and always have been. Not because we are inherently evil, but because it's something most of us are not around in our day to day lives. It's interesting, and a little bit of a mystery. Also, because it's taboo. (To everyone that follows the Bible..do you think Eve really wanted that apple simply because it would give her knowledge? I doubt it. I think it's probably because it was forbidden, ..so it was interesting.)

Originally posted by ABWarrior58
reply to post by AceWombat04

 

exactly Ace, its not the video games or any other media for that matter that is the problem its the people themselves

Exactly. I did a research paper on this once, In all the studies done, there has been no conclusive evidence proving that video games cause violence. However, the benefits to playing video games is overwhelming.
Naturally violent people may be attracted to video games, but it is not the cause of their violence.

A hundred years ago kids were fighting, getting into gangs etc etc and those kids were just called 'naughty kids' guns werent as easily available back then but kids still stabbed and bludgeoned each other should they be put into that situation.
All that's really happened is that (particularly in the us) the streets are awash with guns and that it was inevitable that some kid, somewhere would take one of these guns, flip out and start shooting.
I remember when columbine first happened and that it was being blamed on the singer/group Marilyn Manson, now your saying its video games, in the uk the murder of James Bulger (R.I.P) was put down to the childs play movies. We live in a blame culture, nothings ever anyones fault, if you think your kids a bit unhinged then maybe you shouldnt sit him down at 12 and let him play any rated 18 game involving guns and murder, theres parental guidance labels on music cds, listen to the songs first and see if its appropriate, watch the rated r movie first, its not hard people.
I have 2 children, i dont think either have 'anger issues' but i take responsibility of what they witness on the tv and listen to.

I agree, I mean I played violent games growing up, and I have a clean record, never been arrested or gotten a ticket. Also, I have a great career in a field I love. I was raised by a good family where we were taught consequences.

Good to hear ABWarrior58,my point in life right now is very,very simular, i havnt gone out and been stupid silly,ive kept to myself and consider myself straight and honest in the way of society, and i play video games time to time.
One i like is NavyField,which is like battleships online but based around WWII ships of the time.Its about war obviously but its not hurting anyone,and it involves things like adjusting angles when adjusting your naval guns and anti-aircraft guns,controlling ship speed,direction,angle.Controlling scouts planes when searching for enemy ships or offensive planes when in the helm of a aircraft carrier,controlling the depth and speed when in the helm of a submarine,as well as navigating with limited oxygen(obviously) whilst submerged.
So your doing alot of things,your multitasking,your working with numbers alot,your switching to other sections of the map,your telling your comrades coordinates for torps,planes and ships, the list literally goes on.
Now wouldnt you think that things like that are more educational rather than any negative effects?

Another simple example is flight simulators,and what are flight simulators for? education and experience,and its the same thing as the game i mentioned before, except a fun factor which i get from NavyField.
Do you honestly think there is anything wrong with me playing Navyfield? seriously?
Someone could argue about other games like FPS(first person shooter) games or such, but thats within parents control to dictate which games or anything else is appropriate for their children,when they arent under their parents care then they can play which ever games they like and come to a conclusion by themselves on whether THEY think it is appropriate or not,they take responsibility of their own decisions,simple.

Video games are simply the modern form of books/novels

I also agree with Adens0's entires post, you go back in time throughout our history and theres nastier stuff than we will ever see in video games.

And again, it aint hurting anyone,war is a bigger problem than video games in my opinion.

Cheers

Too much of anything is bad. There were people hurting and killing each other before video games and there would still be people hurting and killing each other if you took video games away. You take away video games and you'll still have people like you blaming movies for our problems. You take away movies and you'll still have people like you blaming books for our problems. It would go on and on. At some point you have to stop and face reality. Human beings are capable of both good and evil. Stop giving the evil people excuses for being evil.