Researcher Sees "Grand Theft Rationality" in GTA IV Controversy
Researcher Sees "Grand Theft Rationality" in GTA IV Controversy
May 19, 2008
Texas A&M professor Christopher Ferguson pens an op-ed on the Grand Theft Auto IV controversy for the Eureka Reporter:
Violent video games do not cause violent behavior. There are no good data at all to suggest that they do.... as the consumption of violent video games in our society has skyrocketed, violent crimes, including those among youths, have plummeted... We can be sure that violent video games are not sparking a youth violence epidemic because there is no youth violence epidemic.
In my own research, I have found that family violence exposure as a child and the individual’s innate (probably genetic) personality are related to violent criminal behaviors, but that violent video game exposure is not...
we need to give the current generation of youths more credit. Today’s youths are healthier in most respects than any other group of youths since the 1960s. Today’s youths are less likely to engage in violent crime, use drugs or alcohol, get pregnant, commit suicide or drop out of school than were youths of previous generations.
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LOGINGamePolitics ShoutBox
Posted 08/27/08 at 04:05pm
SimonBob: HB: I actually voted for the old Green party, back before the treehuggers took over from the small-c conservatives.
SimonBob: HB: I actually voted for the old Green party, back before the treehuggers took over from the small-c conservatives.
Posted 08/27/08 at 02:57pm
ZippyDSMlee: So bascily the 2 aprty setup is soemthign that has not evolved any....
ZippyDSMlee: So bascily the 2 aprty setup is soemthign that has not evolved any....
Posted 08/27/08 at 02:04pm
Dark Sovereign: @Joel: Their entitled to their bull like the rest of us are.
Dark Sovereign: @Joel: Their entitled to their bull like the rest of us are.
Posted 08/27/08 at 02:02pm
HarmlessBunny: Awww Jack is calling the Florida Bar: "The Florida Gay Bar". How mature! :D
HarmlessBunny: Awww Jack is calling the Florida Bar: "The Florida Gay Bar". How mature! :D
Posted 08/27/08 at 01:54pm
JoelWhy: Wow, I am so tired of these Hillary-worshippers who can't get over the fact that she lost. Dems keep finding new ways to lose.'
JoelWhy: Wow, I am so tired of these Hillary-worshippers who can't get over the fact that she lost. Dems keep finding new ways to lose.'
Posted 08/27/08 at 01:41pm
Dark Sovereign: @Harmlessbunny: We in America have something like forty of those parties. We have 5 parties that actually produce prez candies
Dark Sovereign: @Harmlessbunny: We in America have something like forty of those parties. We have 5 parties that actually produce prez candies
Posted 08/27/08 at 12:53pm
sortableturnip: JT needs help from the ACLU here: http://jaablog.jaablaw.com/2008/08/27/the-name-game.aspx
sortableturnip: JT needs help from the ACLU here: http://jaablog.jaablaw.com/2008/08/27/the-name-game.aspx
Posted 08/27/08 at 12:51pm
GryphonOsiris: However this is limited to five years.
GryphonOsiris: However this is limited to five years.
Posted 08/27/08 at 12:50pm
GryphonOsiris: @Chuma, actually, sarin kept in a binary form for things like self mixing shells can extend the life of the chemical.
GryphonOsiris: @Chuma, actually, sarin kept in a binary form for things like self mixing shells can extend the life of the chemical.
Posted 08/27/08 at 12:45pm
DarkTetsuya: @questionmark1987 I'm guessing they're waiting till his licensectomy this September... should be fun to watch ^^;
DarkTetsuya: @questionmark1987 I'm guessing they're waiting till his licensectomy this September... should be fun to watch ^^;
Posted 08/27/08 at 12:35pm
questionmark1987: SO at what point can webmasters start filing suit against Thompson for harrassment?
questionmark1987: SO at what point can webmasters start filing suit against Thompson for harrassment?
Posted 08/27/08 at 12:23pm
HarmlessBunny: OH OH OH http://jaablog.jaablaw.com/2008/08/26/whos-backing-who.aspx?pg=2&view=linear#Comment Jack gets priceless in here!
HarmlessBunny: OH OH OH http://jaablog.jaablaw.com/2008/08/26/whos-backing-who.aspx?pg=2&view=linear#Comment Jack gets priceless in here!
Posted 08/27/08 at 12:18pm
HarmlessBunny: For EZK: http://jaablog.jaablaw.com/2008/08/26/whos-backing-who.aspx#comment-1316308
HarmlessBunny: For EZK: http://jaablog.jaablaw.com/2008/08/26/whos-backing-who.aspx#comment-1316308
Posted 08/27/08 at 12:10pm
E. Zachary Knight: link please
E. Zachary Knight: link please
Posted 08/27/08 at 12:03pm
sortableturnip: JT is threatening the webmaster at JAABlog, saying he changed a word in his post so that it was mispelled HA HA HA!
sortableturnip: JT is threatening the webmaster at JAABlog, saying he changed a word in his post so that it was mispelled HA HA HA!
Posted 08/27/08 at 11:35am
HarmlessBunny: Well we in Canada to have the joke parties, like Bloc Quebecois and NDP (New Democrat Party) OH and the new "Green Party" :)
HarmlessBunny: Well we in Canada to have the joke parties, like Bloc Quebecois and NDP (New Democrat Party) OH and the new "Green Party" :)
Posted 08/27/08 at 11:07am
Talouin: @Azhrarn: It's the same in Canada. Only two parties to form a federal gov't are Liberals and Conservatives.
Talouin: @Azhrarn: It's the same in Canada. Only two parties to form a federal gov't are Liberals and Conservatives.
Posted 08/27/08 at 10:42am
Zevorick: Yeah, but you can find a lot of things in Texas that don't count. I should know, i've lived here all my life.
Zevorick: Yeah, but you can find a lot of things in Texas that don't count. I should know, i've lived here all my life.
Posted 08/27/08 at 09:04am
sqlrob: wehrgeist - there have been more WMDs found in Tyler , Texas than Iraq
sqlrob: wehrgeist - there have been more WMDs found in Tyler , Texas than Iraq
Posted 08/27/08 at 08:16am
Azhrarn: So they have been effectively 2-party for a century now. (not counting coalitions of all parties)
Azhrarn: So they have been effectively 2-party for a century now. (not counting coalitions of all parties)
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Comments
More ammo.
-GRIZZAM PRIME(c)is property of the U.S. Marine Corp. Wetworks Dept., and also The Incredible Hulk-GRIZZAM PRIME is not to be associated with GRIZZAM 512 or any other GRIZZAM entity under penalty of law, so sayith ZARATHOS.
Sooo... what he is saying is... that jack Thompson's generation was far more violent, more likely to get pregnant and possibly more unhealthy than ours? interesting.... hmmmmm
Yes
---Oh sure, when a monkey does it, that's fine. But whenever I throw barrels at an Italian plumber, then its a hate crime! - Stephen Colbert
heh!
score one for proper video game research and ACTUAL intelligence...
HOORAH!
Moar ammo! DAKKA DAKKA DAKKA!
Dakka dakka dakka!
Jack Thompson´s press release in 3... 2... 1...
This is in spanish :lol http://thelostlevel.blogspot.com/
"First, violent video games do not cause violent behavior. There are no good data at all to suggest that they do."
This guy is a psychologist and yet he cannot even parse two parts of a sentence correctly. People in the media need to learn the rules of proper grammer. In addition, data comes under the singular 'is' as it encompasses a body of information, defined as a single whole.
Just saying. He makes an interesting point in any case.
Yeah, aren't it be hillarious!(joke)
-GRIZZAM PRIME(c)is property of the U.S. Marine Corp. Wetworks Dept., and also The Incredible Hulk-GRIZZAM PRIME is not to be associated with GRIZZAM 512 or any other GRIZZAM entity under penalty of law, so sayith ZARATHOS.
ACTUALLY, "data" is a plural noun referring to a collected body of information, and it's grammatically correct to use the phrase "data are". The singular form of data is "datum", which refers to a single piece of information from a collected body. In this case, the correct phrase is "datum is".
However, since the English language tends to change over the years from dialects and turns of phrase (which often spit in the face of proper grammar...), it is now also acceptable to use "data" as a singular noun, which is why "data is" has become so common.
... most likely in a corner rocking backwards and forwards with his fingers in his ears muttering to himself.
-ConstantNeophyte: always the newb, ALWAYS.
But this....this....
This makes way too much sense....
What is this guy smoking?
most likely something that doesn't kill his brain of any common sense
I go to Texas A&M and have attended a lecture or two by this professor, he does a lot of good work and certainly seems to know what he's talking about. I just wish stuff like this would get more press.
Is that really Jack thats posting? It doesn't sound like his regular banter.
Yeah, not enough spelling errors and libel.
It's him alright.
E. Zachary Knight
www.editorialgames.com
Unlikely. There was virtually no namecalling, and hardly any sensationalist words used in sentence construction. Either that's not JT, or he's been taking writing lessons (*gasp*).
The story of Jack Thompson:
Mrs.Thompson: OH MY GOD, I CAN FEEL THE HEAD!
Mr.Thompson:PUSH BABY PUSH!
Mrs.JT:HOOOOAH!!!!!
Mr.JT:Oh. My. God...He's beautiful...except for those narly jowls. And the fact that he has no thumbs...
Mrs.JT:Oh it's fine, I'm sure there will never be any form of entertainment that requires thumbs.
GRADE SCHOOL
JT:Teacher, Dennis keeps peddling his mental molestation! And when I tell him to stop he keeps telling me about the paper I wipe my butt on, The Constitution!
Teacher:What the fuck are you talking about?
HIGH SCHOOL
Dennis: Hey Jack, I got this sweet video game, wanna play?
No....(stares at his thumbless hands)
Dennis:Well alright then...
COLLEGE
JT: Hey Dennis the douche, check out my new thumbs!
Dennis:Nice. Shall we test them on some fighting games?
JT:Yes...PREPARE FOR THE VIRTUAL BEATDOWN!!!!!!
3 SECONDS LATER
JT: HOW DO I KICK? THIS IS FUCKIN' BULLSHIT!
Dennis: Calm down dude, just a game.
JT: ARRRRGH! (UNPLUGS DENNIS' CONTROLLER)
Dennis: Yeah. Real nice.
JT: EAT IT! HOOAH!
Dennis: Wow, you suck at this.
JT:NO I DON'T! YOU TAKE THAT BACK! THAT'S IT! I'LL SPEND THE REST OF MY LIFE FUCKING WITH VIDEO GAMES AND THOSE WHO PLAY THEM FOR AS LONG AS I LIVE!!!!!(Dramatic thunder in the background)
-GRIZZAM PRIME(c)is property of the U.S. Marine Corp. Wetworks Dept., and also The Incredible Hulk-GRIZZAM PRIME is not to be associated with GRIZZAM 512 or any other GRIZZAM entity under penalty of law, so sayith ZARATHOS.
*facepalm*
Dude. Grizzam. Could you, kinda, like... NOT do that?
GUFFAW'd
He's probably like my former abnormal psychology teacher, you would have to show them some studies from the APA to change their views.
Maybe we could get this guy to give the Keynote speech for E3. He is from Texas, after all...
The stats may be true but research of this kind is allways based on theories, call me a pessimist but for all we know the decline in violent youth crimes and pregnancies may work in unison with the rising of obesity.
Maybe so, but you're not denying that the game doesn't have anything to do with the issue.
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