How big of a deal do you find video game violence to be? (Weekly Poll)

This is a very opinionated matter, and everyone seems to have there own take on the issue. With the recent ban of Manhunt 2 in the UK, this topic has once again been brought up. Is violence in video games overdramatized? Do they teach kids/adults how to kill to a certain extent? Do you think that video games really do affect a person's mental state?

Let's hear what you guys have to say.

Not much to say on the subject, except for the fact that violence is everywhere, and video games are no different. People who target video games specifically *cough*JackThompson*cough* really need to open their eyes and realize that video games aren't the sole cause of violence in teens. In fact, there isn't even any hardcore evidence that points to anything, so how can we even know if video games are the cause of anything?

People need to lighten up and spend their time worrying about other things instead of violence in video games, as it's no different than any other kind of violence that can be seen by anyone.

I think all of the violence in videogames protest is complete BS and useless. There's violence in books, movies and on the TV so if you want to remove it from games, remove from everywhere else. I actually encourage violence in videogames (in some way). Allow me to explain:

Some say that violence in videogames is what causes many violence crimes such as (the best example yet) school shooting. While in some cases I can understand that the player is a homicide maniac and wants more and more violence. In that sort of case you need to remove anything that concerns violence from this person and not only the games. But in some cases (what you don't hear on TV), violent videogames help stress out somebody who's violent and as an example I have a story that hapenned to me once;

I was at school (Grade 8 ) and on that day I was stressed out because I failed miserably an exam because of a Friend who ''helped'' me study (he basically teached me the wrong stuff by purpose). So when I got back home I was really stressed and just felt like punching him non-stop next time I see him ... what has calmed me down ? Super Smash Bros Melee ! While not a too violent game it still has some violence in it and so playing many matches just calmed me down. If you wanna know the rest of the story ..... I made my (now ex-) friend fail his final exam nd thus his year :lol:, the same way he did for me.

So what I mean is that violent videogames aren't a big deal like many people like Jack Thompson (Satan) like to show it. But when you give it to mentally unstabled people, you're not really suppoed to be surprised :wink:. Don't you find it strange that only mentally unstable killers have been linked to videogames ? Well DON'T GIVE THEM THOSE GAMES !!! THEY CAN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOOD & BAD !

I'm sorry for the CAPS but I really had to take that out :P.

Personally,I think we need to have a game where you can chainsaw Jack Thompson's head off.:P:twisted:Also,every single parent who is whining to these lawyers and government officials complaining that video games corrupted their kid is a hippocrit.Why??Because they are still in total control of what their kids buy.And now I've just forgotten what I was going to say.......

I voted 'overdramatized' in the way that it should be controlled by the market. This is a parent issue. Parents should know what their children play, read and see. Their is a very simple way to do so: READ THE BACKTEXT! Simply by doing so, you get a rating, and a short summary on the content. No need to 24:7 monitor your kid. Just this.

When it comes to me, I say that nothing in a game could influence my behavior, even something as violent as Manhunt2. But I gave you this story on parents because it might influence children who just hit puberty or even younger. If I had chidren, my statement would be: 'They are not even allowed to know about the existance of anything like Manhunt 2.'

That's the only part I can sympatize with people who say games are dangerous. But actual outlawing a game is a bit over the top. Parent are responsible on this matter, not companies or governments.

Actually, lebanese_boy, when I dida thesis paper on this subject last year I read an article in a book that claimed that Super Smash Bros. was among one of the "dirty dozen" most violent video games. Of course, given that that article was written about five years ago, chances are that game no longer qualifies for that list :P

Anyway, my take on it is this: Its a problem, no doubt, but not any more so a problem than violence in TV or even in a book or painting. Your getting the same messages, just in a different way... isn't that the whole point of things like television anyway? Its essentially a book with images to display a storyline instead of words/pictures.

This is a problem that needs to be controlled, but only by the ESRB, or any other ratings board in the world. The government doesn't need to put this matter into their hands unless something drastically bad happens that gives us all a wake up call. To be honest, I agree with the decision to ban Manhunt 2 in the UK and Ireland if it really is as violent as it is depicted to be. Video game violence is something that we can control on our own, as parents, gamers, and individuals. The only people that can't determine what is real and what is fake after all, are those that are insane anyway. Right?

I voted 'overdramatized' in the way that it should be controlled by the market. This is a parent issue. Parents should know what their children play, read and see. Their is a very simple way to do so: READ THE BACKTEXT! Simply by doing so, you get a rating, and a short summary on the content. No need to 24:7 monitor your kid. Just this.

When it comes to me, I say that nothing in a game could influence my behavior, even something as violent as Manhunt2. But I gave you this story on parents because it might influence children who just hit puberty or even younger. If I had chidren, my statement would be: 'They are not even allowed to know about the existance of anything like Manhunt 2.'

That's the only part I can sympatize with people who say games are dangerous. But actual outlawing a game is a bit over the top. Parent are responsible on this matter, not companies or governments.

Majura

We can both agree on one thing: PARENTS ARE RESPONSABLE FOR THEIR KIDS

Compagnies have taken way too much responsability lately and frankly I think they can't anything more then just put the rating. Console producers have even inputed a program so that Parents can control what their kids play, I really can't see how much they can do more, they've already did a fantastic job. Now it's up for retailers to not sell M rated games to minor and for parents to actually look afte their kids.

Actually, lebanese_boy, when I dida thesis paper on this subject last year I read an article in a book that claimed that Super Smash Bros. was among one of the "dirty dozen" most violent video games. Of course, given that that article was written about five years ago, chances are that game no longer qualifies for that list :P

Anyway, my take on it is this: Its a problem, no doubt, but not any more so a problem than violence in TV or even in a book or painting. Your getting the same messages, just in a different way... isn't that the whole point of things like television anyway? Its essentially a book with images to display a storyline instead of words/pictures.

This is a problem that needs to be controlled, but only by the ESRB, or any other ratings board in the world. The government doesn't need to put this matter into their hands unless something drastically bad happens that gives us all a wake up call. To be honest, I agree with the decision to ban Manhunt 2 in the UK and Ireland if it really is as violent as it is depicted to be. Video game violence is something that we can control on our own, as parents, gamers, and individuals. The only people that can't determine what is real and what is fake after all, are those that are insane anyway. Right?

REVOLUTIONfreak

What ? That's just silly ! SSBM is being played by thousands of kids, where's the huge violence ?

I disagree with the ban of manhunt 2 ... tell you what: if you ban something like manhunt 2 then why don't ban movies like hostel or even porn which is more immoral then anything else :? ? Those European government ....

I do agree with many of you in the fact that parents are indeed the ones who should be responsible for controlling what their kids play. However, I also couple that with the fact that there is an insanely huge amount of incompetent parents. While many childrenin the 15-18 rangewill not be horrendously effected by this, especially with a parent there to help interpret and put it into perspective, most parents don't do it. This is sad and pathetic, but it's the way things are in our society. There are some people who should not be playing violent games even until their mid-20's because of their mental nature. Working in a group home myself, I see many of those types of kids. I about beat down one of our workers who thought it was a good idea to let a 13 year old boy who was beaten by his parents until he ran away play SOCOM.

It is because of these incompetent parents, the likes who blame everybody else for their child turning out badly, because they know their child is a perfect angel, who are to blame for the likes of this. The government is for the people, per se, and that is what people shift to. They whine about the controls placed upon them, but theircomplaining, fear, and lack of responsibility caused those controls to be put into place in the first place.

So yes, parents are the responsible party. It's about time they took that fact to heart, and did something about it so we don't have to deal with this sort of stupidity.