G4's Adam Sessler Interviews "Grand Theft Childhood" Authors
G4's Adam Sessler Interviews "Grand Theft Childhood" Authors
April 17, 2008
Gamers will definitely want to catch Adam Sessler's G4 interview with Lawrence Kutner and Cheryl Olson, authors of Grand Theft Childhood, a new book that is gaining enormous attention in gaming circles.Discussing concerns that violent video games cause real-world violence, Kutner said there's "absolutely no evidence for that."
The authors also viewed video games as a "marker of social competence," noting that boys who didn't play video games were at a higher risk for getting into fights and having other problems at school.
The authors did note that boys and girls who play only violent games for 15+ hours per week have a higher likelihood of getting into trouble at school.
All in all, Grand Theft Childhood goes a long way toward debunking past criticism of games by researchers, pundits and media opportunists.
A PUBLICATION OF THE ECA
SUBSCRIBE
LOGIN
Copyright © 2007 ECA. All rights reserved.
Game Politics and Game Politics logo are trademarks of the ECA.
Game Politics and Game Politics logo are trademarks of the ECA.
Comments
Now, the title does sound like something JT would write. Hopefully, that will help reach non-gamers and anti-gaming extremists.
Agreed... I saw it last night, though I definetly agree on the 'preaching to the choir'; but its not like failx noise would ever have them on. :(
PS: Don't hold your breath as far as Fox Noise is concerned. They will not give them air-time or they will not get a fair shake if they do get air-time.
Fat chance in hell of them getting on anything but G4 then
Its not like their is anything good on G4 anymore anyways, they combined g4 and tech tv, and proceeded to completely destroy them both and piss on the remains.
The only good thing left IS X-play, which is great, but the rest of the lineup... well... I would rather watch static.
They do know about the Milgram Experiment right!???!
You know the one that found that the majority of the population will torture and kill people if told to do so by an authority figure...
I now don't trust those studies at all...
It'd be nice if a major news network would do an interview with them. It'd be a good story "hint hint at any networks that read this blog." They should try and get on the Colbert Report or The Daily Show if they haven't already. The Colbert Bump does wonders. I'd be slightly nervous if Fox "News" wanted to interview them though as I'm sure it would be spun into oblivion.
Colbert would be great and give them endless book sales, but even then the message wouldn't be getting out to the people who need to hear it; the parents. I would love to see these guys sit down with one of the morning news shows and get 5-10 minutes just to talk about all of their findings, and explain them all. Get some facts in the mainstream instead of reactionary nonsense.
We've got a properly done study that says what we've been saying all along. It's time to use it.
I don't remember the details or which journal articles has that kind of results or elaboration on not playing video games.
So this is my elaboration: video games are being played by practically every kid. So not having one might mean possible troubles: ridicule or ostracism from those who have video games, a lack of common ground with other kids or one less means of social bonding with others. If you think of the amount of time kids playing together on video games, at least there's some benefit of friendship.
They did NOT say that playing violent games, even in an extreme excess made kids more aggressive, they said that one extreme of boys and girls that played them extensively were at a greater risk, but they were clearly trying to keep open the point of view that those kids were like that before, and even if they weren't, it was a rare exception as most of the kids who played even excessively were not effected in the same way at all.
@Delin
Agreed, but its important that WE have the knowledge, this is one more big hit we have to pit against any anti-game pissant who chooses to engage us in debate.
Now I also do some volunteer work at the Humane society. I do not treat the animals with any sort of cruelty at all. Usually, before I go to the Humane Society shelter, I play Gears of War with Chainsaws and all. I don't feel in anyway violent.
I remember awhile ago telling Jack Thompson about this via email. He just replied "Why don't you tell the familys of the victims of Columbine that you think the fact that you volunteer at the Humane Society will bring their children back" :P
It's almost like whether or not someone plays violent video games, that person could get more aggressive. Like the playing of violent video games is irrelevant to figuring out why people get more aggressive.
It's basically the gamer's MTV.
oh.. right.. it doesn't fit into his mold of "truth" even it's more true than ANYTHING he has ever spouted!
I overdosed on intelligence. I liked it.
At any rate, this book sounds like damned good reading. I'll be picking up a copy.
Besides he wouldn't do it without being paid so... whatever. :P
My son plays a lot of Halo, which they would classify as a violent videogame I imagine. However, about half of his time playing Halo is spent building things in forge and being silly. Games are moving beyond our ability to classify them so simply as either violent or non-violent.
Second, when they say that "the kids who don't play videogames at all are at greater risk for getting into trouble. It says something about their social relationships," they should distinguish between single player and multiplayer, online game experiences.
Post new comment