Colorado Students Create Balanced Look at Video Game Violence Issues
Colorado Students Create Balanced Look at Video Game Violence Issues
November 13, 2007
Given the amount of rhetoric on both sides of the video game violence issue, it's great to see young people approach the topic with an open mind.
And that's exactly what Jake Lackner, Katie Aldworth and Maxine Gallegos have done. The trio, students at the Denver School of the Arts, recently interviewed a mixed bag of researchers, activists and media types (including GP) about game violence. The result, a well-done documentary, is now available on YouTube.
Interviewees included Andrew Bub aka GamerDad, Fordham Media Studies Prof. Paul Levinson, Josh Golin of the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, Jay Senter of Common Sense Media and Dr. Doug Gentile of Iowa State University. Friends, parents, teachers and siblings were also interviewed.
Paul Levinson offers his own thoughts on the project.
And that's exactly what Jake Lackner, Katie Aldworth and Maxine Gallegos have done. The trio, students at the Denver School of the Arts, recently interviewed a mixed bag of researchers, activists and media types (including GP) about game violence. The result, a well-done documentary, is now available on YouTube.
Interviewees included Andrew Bub aka GamerDad, Fordham Media Studies Prof. Paul Levinson, Josh Golin of the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, Jay Senter of Common Sense Media and Dr. Doug Gentile of Iowa State University. Friends, parents, teachers and siblings were also interviewed.
Paul Levinson offers his own thoughts on the project.
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Posted 11/07/09 at 04:27pm
ZippyDSMlee: man I got alot of junk and dup files too >< god I need orginization...and no not the knee capping media mafia kind :P
ZippyDSMlee: man I got alot of junk and dup files too >< god I need orginization...and no not the knee capping media mafia kind :P
Posted 11/07/09 at 04:26pm
ZippyDSMlee: replaced :P
ZippyDSMlee: replaced :P
Posted 11/07/09 at 04:23pm
ZippyDSMlee: beemoh:hey its like 60GB porn,400GB anime 100GB games and crap I have took from all my DVDs, I hate waiting on dvds to install stuff..... oh and 40GB of my porn was in the found.000 folder...mostly corrupted.... least I got names of wut needs to be repa
ZippyDSMlee: beemoh:hey its like 60GB porn,400GB anime 100GB games and crap I have took from all my DVDs, I hate waiting on dvds to install stuff..... oh and 40GB of my porn was in the found.000 folder...mostly corrupted.... least I got names of wut needs to be repa
Posted 11/07/09 at 04:18pm
beemoh: @Zip: ...and you'd have to spend all that time re-downloading that porn?
beemoh: @Zip: ...and you'd have to spend all that time re-downloading that porn?
Posted 11/07/09 at 03:34pm
ZippyDSMlee: ggrrrrr......vista lost one of my hard drives and I had a heart attack thinking I lost 1TB of data....
ZippyDSMlee: ggrrrrr......vista lost one of my hard drives and I had a heart attack thinking I lost 1TB of data....
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:58am
JDKJ: Which could be explained by both (a) and (b).
JDKJ: Which could be explained by both (a) and (b).
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:56am
Austin_Lewis: JDKJ: You forgot C) the fact that, for some reason, every time he did something that would suggest he shouldn't be in the military, let alone an officer, higher ups ignored it or let it slide.
Austin_Lewis: JDKJ: You forgot C) the fact that, for some reason, every time he did something that would suggest he shouldn't be in the military, let alone an officer, higher ups ignored it or let it slide.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:51am
JDKJ: Part of the problem is, I believe, that (a) the Army had a lot of time and money already invested in him and which they were unwilling to simply write-off and (b) an increasing need for the type of skills and services he provided.
JDKJ: Part of the problem is, I believe, that (a) the Army had a lot of time and money already invested in him and which they were unwilling to simply write-off and (b) an increasing need for the type of skills and services he provided.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:48am
JDKJ: And that even if he was begging not to get cut loose, he was apparently a real good candidate for being cut loose, anyway.
JDKJ: And that even if he was begging not to get cut loose, he was apparently a real good candidate for being cut loose, anyway.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:11am
JDKJ: @chada: And while Kennedy once noted that there's usually more than enough blame for everyone to get a slice, the possibility that the Army was unwilling to cut loose someone who was asking to get cut loose could be a factor.
JDKJ: @chada: And while Kennedy once noted that there's usually more than enough blame for everyone to get a slice, the possibility that the Army was unwilling to cut loose someone who was asking to get cut loose could be a factor.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:07am
ZippyDSMlee: *noms on his feet*..nomnomnomnom*droooll* ...wuuutttttt uuu looking at?
ZippyDSMlee: *noms on his feet*..nomnomnomnom*droooll* ...wuuutttttt uuu looking at?
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:05am
JDKJ: I'm no psychologist, but I'm told that crazy people have a tendency to do crazy things.
JDKJ: I'm no psychologist, but I'm told that crazy people have a tendency to do crazy things.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:03am
chadachada321: Whoops, was out of the convo for awhile. I do wonder what type of ammo he used etc, but the real issue is WHY he did it, not HOW
chadachada321: Whoops, was out of the convo for awhile. I do wonder what type of ammo he used etc, but the real issue is WHY he did it, not HOW
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:56am
JDKJ: But if it turns out that they actually did, they'll have Hell to pay.
JDKJ: But if it turns out that they actually did, they'll have Hell to pay.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:45am
JDKJ: And I'd tend to rule out the possibilty of FN Herstal supplying restricted ammunition to someone merely because they're ordering it from a military base.
JDKJ: And I'd tend to rule out the possibilty of FN Herstal supplying restricted ammunition to someone merely because they're ordering it from a military base.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:37am
JDKJ: I know you don't leave your gated community and get around much in dark alleys, so you may be surprised to learn that there's this thing called "the black market" where, if you've got enough money, ain't too much of anything which can't be bought.
JDKJ: I know you don't leave your gated community and get around much in dark alleys, so you may be surprised to learn that there's this thing called "the black market" where, if you've got enough money, ain't too much of anything which can't be bought.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:36am
Austin_Lewis: Or, maybe he or someone else at the base ordered the SS190 from FN Herstal.
Austin_Lewis: Or, maybe he or someone else at the base ordered the SS190 from FN Herstal.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:32am
Austin_Lewis: the hands of private owners. They run about 300 dollars minimum for a box of 50, and boxes of AP 5.7 are extremely scarce, mainly residing in the hands of Class III stores or individuals who for one reason or another got a demo box of it.
Austin_Lewis: the hands of private owners. They run about 300 dollars minimum for a box of 50, and boxes of AP 5.7 are extremely scarce, mainly residing in the hands of Class III stores or individuals who for one reason or another got a demo box of it.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:30am
Austin_Lewis: There are other firearms that fire the 5.7. However, I too would like to know where he got the ammo and what kind was used. Maybe Hasan, planning not to live through this, went out and bought one the boxes of SS190 that are floating around in
Austin_Lewis: There are other firearms that fire the 5.7. However, I too would like to know where he got the ammo and what kind was used. Maybe Hasan, planning not to live through this, went out and bought one the boxes of SS190 that are floating around in
Posted 11/07/09 at 08:44am
JDKJ: And it isn't yet clear what type of ammunition Hasan used. It's strange that he purchased a gun but didn't purchase ammunition for it at the same place and time. Especially because the calibre required is peculiar to the actual gun.
JDKJ: And it isn't yet clear what type of ammunition Hasan used. It's strange that he purchased a gun but didn't purchase ammunition for it at the same place and time. Especially because the calibre required is peculiar to the actual gun.
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Comments
No, at least not outright. his comment on it is usually "Moral Kombat will be great. I'm in it" which, well, is where I got that.
Why is it that the moment an article is on here even remotely linked to the argument about violence in them, a particular person has to do the forum equivalent of jumping up and down and screaming 'look at me!'?
not as long as we have the 1st amendment
Heres hoping Spencer Halpins work is able to have this level of balance or better, while having a higher production value.
Either way, Good work all around. We needs more stuff like this.
The parent child interviews were a nice touch.
I also like the parent-child interview, especially how parents are concerned. But my question to a mom, what are the negativity are you talking about? I know what she's trying to say, but I could be mistaken. what's with the word "incite"?
And I do hate people (Golin) using confirmatory studies to support their cause, but I do like GP's and Levinson's balanced point of view.
i wish I could find Dr.Gentile's study, it's probably in his recent book. Oh to the kids who made the film, Dr.Gentile is not a doctor, but a doctor of psychology. So psychologist is more appropriate.
@RelaxGuy
Yes, I heard it too, probably refering to kids getting fatter and fatter.
Golin, though, seems to be parroting exactly everything JT's been saying, which I guess shouldn't surprise me since he's been working with them, no doubt coaching them to say these very things.
"We wouldn't be satsified with 40% sales of alchohol or cigarettes to minors." Well sorry, but it can and does happen. Unfortunate fact of life. We have laws and policies in place for that though just like there are for video games. The difference is, games are not proven to have tangible negative physiological effects regardless of what anyone says, and thus they are not considered to be as dangerous as alcohol or tobacco. As has been pointed out, the laws that keep getting drafted which in effect treat games like these substances (or porn of that matter) is why they keep failing.
I found it amusing that the parents and kids have two totally different viewpoints. Considering that it's the kids themselves who actually play these games, I'm more inclined to believe what they say. The parents (especially the two moms) stuck me as overprotective and a little out of touch.
And again, when we get to aggression, they always fail to state just what do they mean by that? Aggression is not necessarily a bad thing, yet it's painted in a way to somehow mean bad. Is this somehow part of the trend to try and raise a generation of pussies? If video games tought me anything, it's not to be afraid; go out there and take a chance. Don't be afraid to go after someone who's bothering you, or go after something you want. Stand up for yourself. At least that's how it was with me.
All in all, not as good as Moral Kombat, but still pretty decent for a student film. :)
Overall, it was a good video, somewhat unbalanced, as everyone else already agrees, though.
Parental concern is a good thing, though. That was one thing that struck me as a fantastic move. Interview the whole family and you see the big picture. The Mother is over-concerned, the father doesn't really mind, and the sister doesn't see any problem at all. Most of the people making a big deal out of this whole controversy are often mis-informed parents anyways.
But I agree that aggression and violence seem to be used interchangedly. Aggression is a positive atribute for people to have. Aggressive people make the best leaders as they get things done. When aggression is left unchecked and turned into violent or abusive behavior then it is bad.
Aggression itself is good.
Ignoring the fact that these are controlled substances by law, and video games are not... just like movies are not... Take the metaphor one step further, most of society feels it's ok for a parent to let their kid have some wine on a special occasion, but would cry foul if they handed their kid a cigarette. So even cigarettes and alcohol are not equivalent comparisons...
I thought it was well presented. They balanced it quite well. Talking about censorship, and how it shouldn't be marketed to children, but then mentioning that it can be bought by children. Talking about effects, causing more aggression, but then throwing a wrench into that by saying that you can't really link increased aggression to increased violence.
The parents were a nice touch. Concerned about the content, but not panicky and fearing their child was going to turn into a serial killer, and not defaulting to that "well my child is perfect, but I'm worried about OTHER people's children".
Well done.
The seem to act as if anything below 100% is unacceptable and means total failure.
I too find that the way the anti-game activist’s trumpet the 42% failure rate in video game rating enforcement to be odd. I have yet to hear any of these people even address the issue of movie failure rates. Sure theatres failure rate is only 35% but the retail side it is 71%. Surely that needs to be addressed.
Cherry picking my friend. Ignore data that is detrimental to your case.
Sometimes though, shouting "but those guys are worse" doesn't help your side, but makes it sound like you're making excuses. Just a thought.
It's good when talking about differences in media, but it shouldn't be brought up in a "well if you want to regulate us you need to regulate them too" kind of way. More a "You've agreed that they don't need regulation, why treat us any differently?"
It's all in the wording.
If only 'real' expositional media outlets would present such comprehensive and unbiased coverage.
I am not really a fan of the whole "Regulate everyone equally" debate. I just bring it up as I have looked through most of their sites (CSM PTC NIMF CCFC) and have found very little about the movie side of that report. The most that I have found is the generic review of the FTC Report. They blast them all, then procede to campaign against the video game industry.
I am not trying to scape goat. I am most concerned with the video game industry's numbers as that is the one I am directly involved in. The movie and music numbers don't mean much to me outside the fact that I am a parent that monitors my children's media intake and those numbers are meaningless to me. In fact as a parent the video game numbers are meaningless to me. It is only because I work in the game industry that I am concerned with the numbers.
Jack Didn't get interviewed, Dennis did. He's likely throwing tantrums.
Almost all the parents in that were complete and utter morons. The makers didn't try to counter their views either.
Sixaxis FTW!
Why don't parents remember this? The very same issues were raised when they were kids.
Noticed that as well. Rather expected JBT to jump at the chance to once again say... well the same things he has said over and over.... hhmm. Now I wonder why he was not chosen for the interviews.... could it be?
Yeah I am sure jackie is irked. Bet being skipped over is as painful to him as his giving birth to an armadillo breech presentation (backend first) such a shame.
Subject:
Nice done overall. Seems to be a fair cross-section and none leading questions. Yeah the adults were... well not in the loop.
@ Jabrwock
You summed it up well.
The parents were a nice touch. Concerned about the content, but not panicky and fearing their child was going to turn into a serial killer, and not defaulting to that “well my child is perfect, but I’m worried about OTHER people’s children”.
There are all to many adults/parents that are like that. Wonder how long one can live in denial. "No no not my child, he/she is perfect... your child though." Those are the parents that buy the games for the kid just so they do not need to deal with them then turn around and blame society for putting the games in the hands of the kids.
I'll tell you what I learned from violent video games: how to out think your opponent. There is a lot of strategy that goes into a good multiplayer FPS; a lot of psychological warfare.
yeah, thats right, RTS does improve logical thought and quick, and correct managerial decisions, whereas FPS increases spatial awareness and immediate responses. these cannot be denied to be good things.
Pretty good since he considers himself the sole reason for seeing Moral Kombat
Good god, I hope not. He already has enough of a 3-year-old-in-a-suit reputation. Besides, I would hope he still has some sense of perspective. He's refused to discuss issues with individuals basically because it's small time, I would hope he would think same of little you-tube movies. Besides, they interviewed Dennis, right off that bat I would think that would dissuade jack-o for fear of catching dennis'es "censor-in-chief-cooties".
I agree. Try playing Myst, better for logical thinking. I think I got into programming thanks to this game.
@kurisu7885
Did he REALLY said that? (I also wonder what he really said in the metalgearsolid.org affair) If that's true, I never thought I'd see someone as delusional, loathable and egocentircal in a lifetime. I'm really looking forward to the moment Jackie boy will be disbarred, because it's sure that he's one-of-a-kind.
excellent work!
We disagreed because videogames have a possible effect over a long period of time that is not physical (it's mental/psychological) whereas cigarettes and alcohol are direct, immediate physical affects. I would be more apt to look into that argument further if he had compared it to R or even X rated movies and other pornography. Even then it falls mostly onto parents to do the policing.
November 13th, 2007 at 4:36 pm
The real question that should be on everyone’s minds is “How long until this video gets a DMCA take down notice?”
I completely disagree. The REAL question is what kind of person names their kid Zane?
to the study that was done on 5th graders...dont do studies on 5th graders do studies on humans who have fully developed their brain so they are more level headed
a good ending statement would be to tell parents to be responsible for their kids and not to blame it on video games cause they are the ones who let their kids play the game
*in a rough pirate voice* Over yander the waves and hills I see! The Horsemen they do ride! He comes for me, the white whale! Hark, thar he blows, out behind and to the rear!
Dennis, thanks again for posting this.
Mr. Golin has forgotten more about video game-induced violence than you will ever know. But then he's a total moron on the faculty at Harvard, right?
By the way, Mr. Golin uses his real name, unlike cowards like Black Manta.
Oh, and Dennis, check out 07-21256. Hooah!
You guys did a good job and got to interview people who care about the issue. It is good to see kids like me actully care about this issue. Althought most of the people seemed anti-game, but it seems balanced. Keep on doing great work like this and you could be great players in this big debate of violence in games.
Ben
Sometimes I do wonder if you're the real john bruce thompson as your online name claim to be or maybe you're just a troll. Dennis? Is he THE jack Thompson?
I agree with Jake; even if you didn't like the video or thought it wasn't balanced enough, I appreciate the fact that so many people have watched our film. I also really appreciate all the feedback. Thank you.
Thanks for posting this Dennis.
You know you only want our real names so you can mentaly molest our children.
simple as that
by 2012 videogames will be heavily restricted. and games like halo 3 will be unable to even be produced in the united states.
Its not nessarly the games that is causing the problem. but your upset that you cant beat the game, or that guy keeps appearing out of no wear killing you.
I've seen it many times on both sides.
Some guy is "owning" the entire server. You come in and keep killing him. It doesnt help that the server was filled with inbred retarded players, and him... So you begin to own the server. He cant accept this. He was owning, and now he is losing. Thus he gets grumpy, and we get "Angry German Kid"
With RE4, anyone gets angery when some little midgit laughs at them and demands that they obey them.
With me, RE4 and FPS release the tension i get from playing Mario.
Foxing platforms! Why is there so much jumping!
in 2012
We wont even be allowed to think of outer space. The Borg will assumilate us. We must resist, no mater how futile it is.
Feelings will be banned, anyone who feels will be a sense offender and burt alive.
"Mr. Golin has forgotten more about video game-induced violence than you will ever know."
I guess that goes for a lot of people who oppose computer games and try and legislate. Afterall, who else would try and pass through more laws after 9 have already been struck down but a person who has such a bad memory that he forgets most of what he knows about game-induced violence?
...
Who else but a greedy, snide, arrogant, rude, pathetic, ambulance-chasing, money-grabbing, attention-seeking, self-obcessed lawyer and his chronies...
I'm using my real name. So you can't call me a coward. Feel free to harass me, though, since that's obviously the reason you're demanding the other users use their real names.
But be warned: I don't live in the United States.
And what the fuck is that supposed to mean? You once called someone else from a prestigous college "overeducated." So which way do you want it? Be consistent. Then again, you never are.
I've said it before, Jack. I'm not giving you my name because you threatened to sue me last year. Or have you forgotten more than you will ever know, douchebag?
Now go back and sit in the corner like a good boy and continue sulking because Dennis got interviewed and you didn't.
You know, just so I wouldn’t have to go through a third party if I wanted to offer to debate on his campus or something.
Andrew Eisen
"Mr. Golin has forgotten more about video game-induced violence than you will ever know. But then he’s a total moron on the faculty at Harvard, right?"
Harvard is a lot more prestegious than your redneck Vanderbilt. Oh right, they're 'overeducated,' as you like to put it, right? If by 'overeducated' you mean 'never heard of Jack Thompson,' than yeah. They know you're a pile a filth, like every sane person who makes more OR less money than you.
"By the way, Mr. Golin uses his real name, unlike cowards like Black Manta."
Mr. Golin is talking to a reporter in real life, not posting on the internet where any sicko can look up the name and potentially find his personal information and either steal his identity, or much, much worse. It's called a right to privacy. You don't give out that information in real life, the internet is not an exception.
"Hey, Paul Levinson, want to debate this issue on your campus? I’d be happy to. email dennis@gamepolitics.com, and he’ll give you my email."
You post your e-mail address like it's going out of style as it is. I don't think he cares.
As for the other two comments... brainless, as usual. Crawl back under the rock you came from, and don't speak unless you have something useful and on-topic to say. If you want Dennis to look at another FRIVOLOUS filing you made, mail him, don't clutter the comments with it.
It is not the real Jack Thompson.
Andrew Eisen
Trying to remind Jack Thompson of something is waste of time. The Virginia Tech affair proves it.
I said it before and I'll say it again: he a incompetent lawyer can only remember his name because every gamer and Florida bar lawyer is yelling it in anger.
And, JT, I'm using my real first name. I usually only disclose my full name to those I trust and I DON'T trust you. And even if I DID told you, you couldn't be able to use it: I live in Canada.
And I'm sure that the lastest JT comment is bogus. Even JT on his best day couldn't wrote it. That's the sort of hyperbole you write on purpose.
Speaking of which, i forgot to mention something to Jack. You're saying we're all cowards, yet you're telling Levinson (who probably doesn't even read this blog) to go through Dennis to get your e-mail. Hypocrite.
Andrew Eisen
You have less of a life than JT himself. Pardon the bluntness, but GTFO.
I know Dennis IP bans posers. Just stating a fact.
My comment was not aimed at you. It was aimed at the faux Thompson who has in the past posted under the name "Dave."
Andrew Eisen
You realize, Jack, that the more you ask for people's real names, the higher chance you have of being sued for harassment... Black Manta actually has the legal grounds to do such a thing, but chooses not to, while you on the other hand threaten to sue everyone who doesn't agree with you... so who's the bigger man.
Fuck get over yourselves.
Anyway, I find the woman "Brigitte Baehre" incredibly uninformed. The choice quote that got me was :"...except how to shoot the person better."
Good thing she's not talking about actual pistols and rifles, or even something like a crossbow, because if THAT was the insinuation, she's got some serious reality checks to make at which I'd question her ability to be a parent.
She'd probably be a Leland Yee supporter if I didn't know any better.
____________________________________________________________
Either way, the film was good and fairly balanced. I'm glad it was leaned SLIGHTLY tword the critics so it could bring up a decent discussion from the other side. After all, if it even SEEMS like we have a slight edge over people like Thompson, well, everybody on that side is going to think it's total shit.
For future reference though, you didn't use the REALLY violent games. GTA is bad, but Postal 2 would probably get more attention. I don't know wether that's the kind of attention that the film seeks, so use only if you want. In other newes, this was really hard to type out because for some reason I'm flailing around my hands on the keyboard like some sort of dipfuck.
No.
Besides, I don't have a high horse...I have a throne.
Nah, those last two posts are already gone, pushed into the filter by Dennis. While it's sad how easy it can be to emulate his behavior, the real Jack is never, ever, quite as blunt as those fake posts.
Surely a discerning mother can realize that what makes 'Gears of War,' 'Grand Theft Auto,' or 'Metal Gear Solid' popular games is not the act of killing itself; it is all about presentation. This is why 'Postal' more or less tanked while 'Halo' has an unprecedented following. This is also why watching 'The Departed' is a gripping experience in comparison to an episode of 'Cops.' As the discourse around games evolves, more parents will realize that there is more to their child's entertainment that polygons of carnage. Sadly, not all parents will....
By your response, you must be the fake Jack that loves him some ban hammer. That is what happens when you impersonate anyone on GP. Even John Bruce himself.
So deal with it.
How can you tell? You can create a random Thompson comment generator quite easily. Select some random posters and make insulting off-topic comments to them, insert "accomplishments" and "evidence," include a link acquired from a news feed including some kind of crime (does not need to be related to children, technology, or anything else relevant), and end with a good ol' fashioned insult to the military.
Might as well ban the real Jack, he's as useless as Bioshock on an ENIAC.
Keep trying Dennis. When you ban this proxy, I'll just switch to another one and sort forth. It's impossible to keep me out. I was just having a joke around, so really Dennis, get over yourself.
i'll be good, now.
I'm not sure if this is Jack or not. But whomever it is has admitted that they will break Gamepolitics rules as they please (which actual Jack has threatened Dennis with legal action in the case of not removing fake Jack's fast enought), and that they are going to harass Dennis and this site in general.
Sounds like legal action level stuff to me.
Shut up. We know the real Jack isn't smart enough to capitalize his own name (from past real postings from you here)
If you want to joke around and impersonate Jack, then post your name as "fake Jack" or something else obvious. It is not the fact that you are playing around with satire or parody, it is the fact that you are not trying to differentiate yourself from the real Jack.
Dennis my not be able to get in trouble over you, but that does not mean that he has to like having you here. So you can get past an IP block. Big deal. You are a big boy now.
My advice to you, is to grow up and "get over yourself."
You really don't know Jack very well.
An increase in aggression over a school year in...what were they, fifth graders? They're starting to go through puberty. They're getting fed up with school and the other kids that they find annoying. It's getting closer to summer.
All of those are excellent reasons for kids to become more aggressive over the course of a school year. They didn't say how they knew what kind of games the kids played, or how violent the games were. Were the games Realistic Violence? Fantasy Violence? Cartoon Violence? I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt that they were actually ESRB rated to have some kind of 'violence' as a content descriptor.
That's interesting. I just looked up Madden, and they're all rated E for everyone with no content descriptors...despite football being a very violent game.
Anyhow, back on my original topic... there's all sorts of reasons for kids to get more aggressive over the course of a school year. Just because there's a LINK does not mean it is a CAUSAL link.
Everyone seems to forget that part. I bet more than half of the violent people eat Cheerios, but is that a CAUSAL link to their violence? *probably* not. (I mean, yeah, there's always a CHANCE that somebody'll be set off by a bowl of Cheerios...) There's also a link between reckless drivers and people who play high speed driving games like Burnout. Does that mean people who play the games then BECOME reckless drivers? Well, that's a question mark right now. But PROBABLY no, PROBABLY the people who are likely to drive recklessly are drawn to the games where they CAN drive recklessly..and may in fact get rewarded for it.
In a few years, when the kids who watched Finding Nemo get into high school start shooting up the place, will the onus still be on video games? Or will they blame the Disney Corporation? Because obviously they'd all watched Finding Nemo and the like...there'd be a definite link between Finding Nemo and violence. People will realize for that however, that it's not a *causal* link.
Sigh.
Yes. With maturity you gain the knowledge of knowing when and where to joke around. Most of us are trying to appear to be somewhat mature and intelligent rather than live up to the claims by Thompson that games fry ones frontal lobes. You acting the fool makes us all seem fools.