No Violent Video Games for Teens?
By Simon DiRienzo
Yes or No?
Many people believe that violent video games promote killings and fights in the outside world. Others think that they have nothing to do with shootings and killings, it's home life and mental stability that causes those things.
What Do I Think?
I think that violent video games have no effect and aren't too bad. Sure, there is some mature content and it's not the best for your brain, but I do not believe it effects in a violent fashion. I play war games and other more violent video games, and I'm not a violent person.
Con
According to the Committee on the Judiciary, kids will have seen 16,000 simulated murders and 200,000 acts of violence by the time they're eighteen. Video games and other media expose kids to violent words, images, and music. Parents say that after prolonged sittings of gaming, their children act out and are more crabby. Also, playing lots of video games as you age gets you into a routine. The repetition gets the ideas of killing and fighting deeper into your brain.
"Youngsters are shooting at people at a far higher rate than at any time in recent history." says James Q. Wilson, an expert on crime.
"Children are not born violent, they are made violent." states Dr. Sears.
"Youngsters are shooting at people at a far higher rate than at any time in recent history." says James Q. Wilson, an expert on crime.
"Children are not born violent, they are made violent." states Dr. Sears.
Pro
Most people who commit acts of violence consume less media than the average person. Also, there are different circumstances under which kids may have a negative impact outside of video games. For instance, during a study by Seth Gitter, kids had reduced levels of aggression when playing with a positive goal, like killing zombies to save a friend. Another study showed that when pre-existing emotional, family, and social problems were accounted for, any aggression-increasing effects of violent video games on kids disappeared.
“...it doesn't seem right to imply that there is a clear and known effect." says Pete Etchells.
James Gee describes game players as "active problem solvers who do not see mistakes as errors, but as opportunities for improvement. Players search for newer, better solutions to problems and challenges…"
Summary
Many people come to believe media and violent video games are the source to youth violence. Others think that there is no link between the two. Although kids may experience lots of violence and killings in video games, there is no evidence that there is a connection to aggressive behavior.
Conclusion
I still believe that violent video games cause no violence in kids. There is not enough evidence to prove otherwise, so I'm staying where I am. I do feel that video games aren't the best for your brain and physical health, and definitely think some violent video games are overly mature and graphic. Aside from this, they do not effect children in an aggressive way.