QOTW: Video Games & Violence
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QOTW: Video Games & Violence
| Mon, 04-23-2007 - 8:03am |
QOTW: Our board question of the week is regarding violent video games and if you think there is a correlation between tween/teens playing them and then acting out in violent ways?
Games like Grand Theft Auto and those that are very violent---do you allow your kids to play them?

There is absolutely a connection. People aren't born with instincts about right and wrong. Our innate instincts are about survival -- our own, preferably. Sometimes those instincts actually have to be "trained" out of us in order for us to function socially. So in order to create an orderly society, we have to create orderly activities, rules, consequences, etc. that steer us all toward social rather than our more natural anti-social behavior.
So the last thing kids need is anything that helps enforce (or re-inforce) anti-social behavior. While my children are reaching the age where they're going to be exposed to more and more of this type of thing, I am teaching them how to TURN AWAY, TURN IT OFF, REJECT IT! Just like we teach them to do with drugs and alcohol.
As far as upbringing, that's just the key to EVERYTHING with kids. Over thousands of years of human development, turning out like our parents is pretty much a given. So even when they're teenagers and they seem to be going opposite of whatever we parents think and do, in the end they're going to grow up to be just like us. So what we strongly discourage or encourage is having a very deep affect on them. That's why it's very important to be very consistently clear about our views on things like violence and warped sexuality (as well as drugs and alcohol).
Do I think there is a corrilation, yes. Do I think everyone who plays these games are affected, no. I think those who are loners, with a warped sense of reality will find something to foster their problems, like music, movies or games.
My kids can't play these types of games unless dh clears them first. If it is too graphic then no. If it is shooting aliens, or cartoonish then ok. We don't allow games that glorify the Mob or lawbreaking.
Ramona Mom to 2 great kids and wife to one wonderful hubby since 1990!
We don't have any game systems in our house nor do I plan to get any. We do have some computer games but we are really into Agatha Christie games, Sherlock Holmes and Nancy Drew. Games that make you use your brain to figure out puzzles and solve the mystery. No racing cars involved. She also has no interest in that and was disgusted with the boys on our street fighting over who would get to play some DS game on the weekend, they were all sitting around watching one kid play the game rather than really playing.
I think they are related. You can't solely blame violent games for all anti-social behaviour, but it certainly doesn't help. I just don't see the need for it. Why do we want to pretend to kill people? What kind of pleasure is in that? I know its pretend but I still don't understand. And if kids see characters wrestling or hitting other people with no real effect why not do it yourself? Younger ones don't really get that reality and fiction in games are two different things. So I think it can have an effect and like anything will cause some kids to act out more agressively and have no effect on other. Just like some kids who are abused beat their children, and others turn out the exact opposite. There is not determination yet as to why that happens, who know how the brain works.
Anyway, it wouldn't break my heart if they all disappeared. I don't think either kids OR adults need to play those types of games. (Lordy, I sound like my Grandmother. LOL)
Linda
mom to
Alex (16), Rachel (14), Matthew (12)
My kids don't play these games.
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On a parenting level----Yes I feel there is a direct correlation!
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I think there is a correlation. I feel that kids should have limits on this stuff. I was talking with my cycle instructor a while back and she told me her 11 year old boy played this game 5,6 hours a day at his father's. They are divorced. She said there is nothing she can do about it because she's not there to monitor it. Yikes! The boy will be in J.H. next year. Yikes again. He's starting to get into all sorts of trouble in 6th grade. I wonder why? Maybe it's a combo of the video games and the home life?
Another problem I see with the youth today is, they can't or won't play outside. They have to be entertained 24/7 and are bombarded with electronics.
I truly believe it depends on how a child is raised whether or not they will act out a violent video game or not.
My girls play a lot of video games and aren't really into the violent ones since they are more geared towards boys. However, if they said they wanted one of them we would discuss the rights and wrongs to it. I think my girls are smart enough (and brought up well enough) to know the difference between what is acceptable on a game and what is acceptable in real life. I sort of feel like the kids who act out the violence in the games were perhaps born with a violent tendancy OR were raised in an enviroment where violence was an acceptable behavior. I truly do NOT believe that these games will (or can) turn any normal, run of the mill child into a killer.
I definitely think that violent video games contributes to violence in children.