This is something that I have been wanting to write about for some time now but have been putting it off for various reasons. That was until yesterday when I read a blog post from fellow Gamespotter dannyodwyer. His entry can be read HERE

There are some interesting points there. I suggest reading it before reading my post.

That led me back to my idea I have wanted to speak on and figured I should get in gear and speak on it.

I am in the US Army and have been in since 1999. I am currently in Iraq on my 2nd tour. Throughout my time in the Army I have been through tons of different kinds of training. Hands on stuff like land navigation, weapons handling, etc... I have also done a lot of digital training. What I mean by that is that the Army uses training aids that are similar to video games. Its used in this manner for many reasons but more importantly for its accuracy and efficiency. Take rifle marksmanship for instance. Normal marksmanship takes place on a regular rifle range where live ammo is used with paper type targets. The digital version would be various weapon types hooked up to a computer and you would shoot virtual targets on a really large screen. This has many advantages and disadvantages to it. It is kind of like a video game.

My point is that more and more I have realized that type of training has taken away the "realness" of the actual experience. Nothing can effectively replace the pop of a carbine or stench that the gunpowder scent leaves behind from firing real weapons. This also seems to desensitize Soldiers to the experience too.

Just like modern and historical warfighting games today. Most people I think can tell the difference between what is real and what is a game. The gaming industry takes a lot of heat for violence in games but I would like to think that a sensible person can distinguish between what is real and what is not.

So the digital warfighting we use in the Army is much like a game.

Imagine the emotional stress on a person that has to kill another person, perhaps on a regular basis. Someone such as a Soldier deployed to a combat area. Now compare that same situation to someone who says "drop the bomb" or something to that effect. Someone that it is behind a computer screen miles away from the actual target. Is the same level of emotional stress felt by the two different Soldiers? They are both killing someone. Or can the person behind the screen giving the word to drop the bomb slowly becoming desensitized due to the digital warfighting environment?

This topic was refreshed in my mind after reading about the Army using a Army video game in way that some could say is a recruitment tool. If the Army is targeting gamers by placing ads for the game on gaming sites and throughout the internet, could it be already hip to the desensitizing occurring in violent games already? I know it is a stretch but considering the amount of digital training I have been apart of and can recognize the difference between conventional and digital warfighting, it may be a possibility.

I personally think that any person with common sense and are logical would be able to differentiate between reality and fantasy. But not everyone is the same.

Can video games or digital warfighting in the military slowly desensitize people to violence and in turn make killing seem like a game, rather in a game setting or from a military training aspect?

Speak on it.

Peace-