## Video games always get blamed

Post by Zandor » Tue Dec 25, 2012 11:57 pm

Why do video games always get the blame for School shootings or violint things. Answer
You are q immortal

### Re: Video games always get blamed

Post by Chris12 » Wed Dec 26, 2012 1:50 am

You know i was this close to making a very judgemental topic about the same thing I wasn't surprised by inbred idiots blaming games because i was expecting it, that didn't stop me from being angry about it because the media has been downright pathetic this time.
But to answer your question: Because they are an easy target and because blaming the things that actually are responsibly will get you lynched in the US. stupid people, usually out of touch with the times fear what they don't understand, thus they blame video games. The media is in competition with every other kind of media so it is in their best interest to blacked the name of video games and everything asociated with them. Then we have the political vulptures who try to pull boggyman card when it comes to video games to appeal to ''Joey dumbo'' and its ilk. Video games are about the only thing in America that doesn't have a powerfull lobby so politicians are free to blame them without getting their funding cutt.
Still the lengt people where willing to go to blame video games after the shooting in sandy hill disturbs me quite a bit. There was absolutely no link between the killer and the games being blamed and zero research was done by the media.
Honestly this really is one of the few discussion where i see no valid point for the other side. It is clearly a very black and white/ignorance vs inteligance conflict and those speaking in favor of games are 100% in the right.
I'd like to point people to this video. Its a really interesting video about the subject and the guy talking has clearly won a fan in me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uwAo8lcAC4

### Re: Video games always get blamed

Post by Zandor » Wed Dec 26, 2012 2:44 am

The people never take in account that people. Have mental issues
You are q immortal

### Re: Video games always get blamed

Post by mcsproot » Wed Dec 26, 2012 6:29 am

Having watched an episode of the GameOverthinker on this topic, I'll put in his opinion, which adds a nice extra dimension to this.
The reason is simple; mass media aka television is a media format that has to compete with social media, video games, computers etc, and anything that makes them (the competition) look bad is good for them.
It also doesn't help the fact that when the shooter survives they often say they played first person shooter games online (looking at you Breivik). Speaking of that, I heard that Norway banned ALL online gaming, including totally unrelated games like World of Warcraft. I don't know if they overturned such an over the top and stupid reaction yet or not.
But anyway, it seems to me that America takes the idea of Free Market way further than any other capitalist country. Having seen some US commercials on youtube, I can certainly say many of them would not be allowed to air in the UK, especially ones that outright degrade the competition (Genesis does what Nintendont etc). To add to this, it seems that in the US, you don't need to provide any actual evidence of your claims to say it, or at least nothing concrete. Something as flimsy as 'A killer played shooters games so that means that shooter games kill people' is considered to be ok as 'evidence' in terms of the media.
23 year old guy from the UK.
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### Re: Video games always get blamed

Post by Zandor » Wed Dec 26, 2012 11:52 pm

Alas,I do accept that when a person has played games like Cod and doom they do think about how to do this stuff BUT how in the heck do they know about whats going on inside the head???
You are q immortal

### Re: Video games always get blamed

Post by cloud » Thu Dec 27, 2012 7:18 am

Well, I play a lot of games. And I mean a lot. Now I can personally say that most games have a good amount of 'un realism' to help the player to distinguish between what they see in the game, and what they see out of the game when they are half asleep and forgot that are not playing games.......
So, yes their are a 'few' games which I can agree help to promote vilance, but I can happily say that other forms of media help a lot more, for example films, music, TV drams, these all help to promote it more. Well, films and TV shows aim to be realistic, so this makes them more bealivable, which in turns makes people more subjective to the ideas within them. Then as for music, their are the music videos which can easily be worth than the TV shows, as it is a statement.... but mainly it is the music itself which people listen to in the background, subconsically taking in the idea of the artiest.
You have to remember, it takes effort and thought to play a game, and they are a grate way of realising some anger, but all gamers that I know clearly know the difference between the game and real life. As pointed out before, I do believe this is other media trying to give gaming a bad name so their media is more well used.
Also you got to think of the other side of it all, music and gaming helps people to socialise a lot more than TV and films do. Gaming can help you to build leadership, team work, communication and coordination skills.
Oh, a TUG! Do I have to play alone?
First Fictional Story (chapters 0-18): Moved Closer by Bondage

### Re: Video games always get blamed

Post by Kyle » Thu Dec 27, 2012 10:09 am

Mario is why I jump on turtles.

### Re: Video games always get blamed

Post by Chris12 » Thu Dec 27, 2012 10:24 am

> Kyle wrote:Mario is why I jump on turtles.

And then throw the shells at other people

### Re: Video games always get blamed

Post by cloud » Thu Dec 27, 2012 10:40 am

> Chris12 wrote:

> > Kyle wrote:Mario is why I jump on turtles.

> And then throw the shells at other people

I bet only the small people
Oh, a TUG! Do I have to play alone?
First Fictional Story (chapters 0-18): Moved Closer by Bondage

### Re: Video games always get blamed

Post by TUfriend » Fri Dec 28, 2012 11:16 am

No joke, after getting assassins creed for Christmas, I really wanted to try free running.
Heil Toddman, the Wonderful Wizard of Odd
I'm a nerd with a dangerous side.
See my most recent TRUE story, "SPL Initiation", here.
Read my most recent FICTIONAL story, "The Birth of a Whovian", here

### Re: Video games always get blamed

Post by Jason Toddman » Fri Dec 28, 2012 12:46 pm

Videogames are an obvious target because the player gets to kill fake people (and/or animals, monsters, demons, evil aliens, and anything else that moves) in droves with NO legal repercussions. However, to blame videogames is overly simplistic, since movies and television have glorified violence for decades (even in cartoons - those Bugs Bunny cartoons are often pretty violent you know!), and certain radio programs and books have done so longer than that. Even before you had any of these though, you had Jack the Ripper, Lizzie Borden, Peter Kurten (aka the 'vampire of Dusseldorf), Billy the Kid (and a literal army of other 'bad men' in the Old West), Blackbeard (and a literal navy or other pirates), Bluebeard (a wife murderer, not a pirate), Torquemada, the Marquis de Sade, Vlad the Impaler (inspiration for Count Dracula), and a whole bunch of others... none of whom had ever even heard of a videogame!
Videogames are imo a therapeutic way for people to relieve aggressive feelings harmlessly. People who become more aggressive rather than less playing videogames or watching movies more likely had serious mental health / anti-social issues to begin with, like that bastard who shot up several firemen and policemen after burning down his house and setting fire to his whole neighborhood before killing himself. If HE was into videogames, I've yet to hear of it... but of course no one notices THAT!
I myself have killed God knows how many people in videogames like Fallout 3 and Skyrim, but I've never so much as struck a person unless they hit me first! I'm willing to bet most others who play videogames have no greater tendencies to violence either. Aggression stems from within, not from videogames!
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

### Re: Video games always get blamed

Post by drawscore » Fri Dec 28, 2012 2:24 pm

You should have heard the politically correct class screech like banshees when Death Race was introduced.
For those not familiar with this arcade game, the player maneuvered a car around the screen, attempting to hit "pedestrians." Every time he hit one, a cross would pop up.
Drawscore

### Re: Video games always get blamed

Post by Jason Toddman » Fri Dec 28, 2012 10:42 pm

> drawscore wrote:You should have heard the politically correct class screech like banshees when Death Race was introduced.
> For those not familiar with this arcade game, the player maneuvered a car around the screen, attempting to hit "pedestrians." Every time he hit one, a cross would pop up.
> Drawscore

Well, I consider games like that to be in questionable taste myself, but I've never advocated banning them - just rate them 'M' for Mature (as I believe they already are).
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

### Re: Video games always get blamed

Post by Zandor » Sat Dec 29, 2012 4:05 am

The thing is rateing them "M" wont do much. For most parants will buy their kids the games anyhow. Its called watching them to make sure they dont do things like in GTA for example. Tell me anyother ideas on how to stop this SHANANAGINS
You are q immortal

### Re: Video games always get blamed

Post by Jason Toddman » Sat Dec 29, 2012 7:12 am

The problem here is where do you draw the line between responsibility and freedom. It'd make much more sense to ban assault weapons than it would be to ban video games. Those people in Connecticut, Colorado, and New York weren't shooting people with video games, they used guns. But banning guns isn't the real answer either (or, at least, at best it'd solve only a part of the problem). Two people have been killed this month alone in New York alone just by simply being shoved off a subway platform in front of an oncoming train. There are no simple answers to this problem.
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

### Re: Video games always get blamed

Post by Kyle » Sat Dec 29, 2012 8:57 am

In my opinion the video game rating system is the most accurate one out there. I've actually seen video games rated M that had content that would have likely earned a PG-13 rating if they were a movie. The problem is almost nobody pays any attention to it.
We have a much deeper problem than guns in this country.

### Re: Video games always get blamed

Post by MHW » Sat Dec 29, 2012 11:50 am

> Jason Toddman wrote:The problem here is where do you draw the line between responsibility and freedom. It'd make much more sense to ban assault weapons than it would be to ban video games. Those people in Connecticut, Colorado, and New York weren't shooting people with video games, they used guns. But banning guns isn't the real answer either (or, at least, at best it'd solve only a part of the problem). Two people have been killed this month alone in New York alone just by simply being shoved off a subway platform in front of an oncoming train. There are no simple answers to this problem.

And the worst part about banning or controlling something like guns is that anyone disturbed enough to attack others with one, also will have no moral problem ignoring the laws that don't allow them access to said gun in the first place. It's simply reducing the liberty of the average citizen for the illusion of safety, when in reality the criminals aren't playing with the same rule book to begin with!

### Re: Video games always get blamed

Post by TUfriend » Sat Dec 29, 2012 12:08 pm

I think that, in online communities, the game should work to ban underaged players. I can't tell you how many twelve year olds have called me the f word, not knowing what it means, or that I actually am gay.
Heil Toddman, the Wonderful Wizard of Odd
I'm a nerd with a dangerous side.
See my most recent TRUE story, "SPL Initiation", here.
Read my most recent FICTIONAL story, "The Birth of a Whovian", here

### Re: Video games always get blamed

Post by Chris12 » Sat Dec 29, 2012 12:16 pm

Those kids are a huge pain indeed....i enjoy hunting them Online of course.
A good quality control at xbox live would be welcome, sadly when Halo 4 wanted to permentely ban people for being sexists it became clear i'm in a very tiny minority on that one.
I don't think parents buying such games for their kids is bad per se, my parents sometimes gave me stuff i couldn't buy myself. Giving your 4 year old gta probably is very bad parenting and a big no but giving it to a 15 year old isn't something i got much of a problem with, the parents just need to do a bit of research and have faith their kid will handle it well.

### Re: Video games always get blamed

Post by drawscore » Sat Dec 29, 2012 12:37 pm

Another rude game that had the politically correct bed wetters out in force, was "Custer's Revenge," which was sold mostly as a home game. I heard that there were some full sized arcade models made specifically for "Gentlemens Clubs," otherwise known as "titty bars," but I've never seen a full sized model.
The object of the game, is to maneuver a cartoon figure of Custer, wearing only boots and a hat, across the screen to an Indian maiden, wearing moccasins and a headband, and tied to a pole. "Custer" had to dodge arrows and maneuver around obstacles to get to his "prize," and, as with most other video games, it became more difficult with each level successfully completed.
There was an outcry over this game, which many thought exceeded the bounds of good taste, and after 6-12 months, it was withdrawn from the market. Still, a lot of them were sold, and if you think you might want one for your very own, check out eBay. I have seen them up for bids there.
Drawscore

### Re: Video games always get blamed

Post by Jason Toddman » Sat Dec 29, 2012 12:47 pm

Game sounds like it's in poor taste, but that's about the worst that can be said for it. I wouldn't compare it to games where the object is to shoot down cops and run over people and in general act like a terrorist. It's only mentally unbalanced people that can't handle games like that. I shoot raiders in the head in Fallout 3 or slice bad guys with a sword in Skyrim, but I don't have even the slightest desire to even so much as bitch-slap people in real life. Well, maybe occasionally I want to hit somebody, but I never actually DO it nor even consider doing it. It's not the games at fault; these people we read about are probably crazy and potentially violent to begin with!
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

### Re: Video games always get blamed

Post by Chris12 » Thu Jan 03, 2013 2:04 pm

Ugh, seems like some idiot town is holding some kind of ''book burning'' for violent video games and movies. Good god the stupidity is starting to hurt by now

### Re: Video games always get blamed

Post by Zandor » Thu Jan 03, 2013 2:15 pm

Really ks someone doing that JESUS that will hurt the envirooment more then help the youth. Us youth need a place to live ya know.
You are q immortal

### Re: Video games always get blamed

Post by Chris12 » Thu Jan 03, 2013 2:38 pm

Book burning is just an expression But they do collect violent video games and moves to destroy them.

### Re: Video games always get blamed

Post by NemesisPrime » Thu Jan 03, 2013 5:14 pm

> Chris12 wrote:Book burning is just an expression But they do collect violent video games and moves to destroy them.

Like how "Christians" gathered up all the Harry Potter books and burned them.
As a gamer myself that REALLY boils my blood.
Everyone speaks in multiple languages...But gag talk is universal and a sock in your mouth is the perfect translator!

### Re: Video games always get blamed

Post by drawscore » Thu Jan 03, 2013 5:50 pm

I think eating utensils should be blamed for making Michael Moore and Rosie O'Donnell fat.
Drawscore

### Re: Video games always get blamed

Post by Jason Toddman » Thu Jan 03, 2013 6:00 pm

And Fox News for making people ignorant!
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

### Re: Video games always get blamed

Post by Zandor » Thu Jan 03, 2013 6:25 pm

See,if they dont blame the actual person i will probaly be pissed along side alot of SANE gamers!!!!!
You are q immortal

### Re: Video games always get blamed

Post by drawscore » Fri Jan 04, 2013 1:25 am

>>>And Fox News for making people ignorant!<<<
Nah! That would be BSNBC and Current TV, which is soon to become al-Jazeera America. Yep, that's right! Al Gore is getting a 100 million payday from producers of oil, which he decrys, by selling the ratings-challenged Democrat/liberal mouthpiece to al-Jazeera, a mouthpiece for Hamas and al-Qieda.
The good thing, is that one cable network, Time-Warner, won't be carrying it. Presumably Bright House Networks, an offshoot of Time-Warner, won't be carrying it either. Now, if we could just dump another ratings-challenged network - the aforementioned BSNBC - it would improve cable systems nationwide.
And how the hell would you know, or even think, that Fox News makes people ignorant? By your own admission, you don't watch it, so you would have no direct knowledge. I can base my opinion of BSNBC and Current TV on first hand experience. I do watch them occasionally, just to see what the other side is up to. But you make disparaging remarks without first hand knowledge, which, in street vernacular, means you are talking out of your ass.
Drawscore

### Re: Video games always get blamed

Post by Jason Toddman » Fri Jan 04, 2013 7:37 am

[quote="drawscore"But you make disparaging remarks without first hand knowledge, which, in street vernacular, means you are talking out of your ass.
Drawscore[/quote]
You don't have to watch it much to get first-hand knowledge. When you consistently hear about people like Bill O'Reilly, Rush Limbaugh, or Sarah Palin spouting ridiculously racist, sexist or anti-science tripe, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that these people don't understand rocket science - or ANY kind of science - and foster the same arrogant attitudes (such as more guns and drilling for oil regardless of what it does to the environment) that are causing so much tragedy today.
And look who's talking about 'talking out of your ass'! YOU do it all the time, but that doesn't seem to bother YOU!
As for that Network sale, yeah I read about that yesterday. I DO agree with you however that this move is absolutely pathetic! No argument from me there!
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...