game violence vs. tv violence
 

Why do people insist on banning violent video game sales to minors when they can just walk into a PUBLIC library and rent gory pornographic movies?

because parents are lazy and dont want to blame their childrens future downfalls of their own horrible parenting.

a generalization, i know, but its true.

I've got to agree to an extent, perhaps parents have more faith in their children than they probably should have. I think I'm going to write a blog entry about this in my shiny new LQ blog that doesn't seem to be working as it should :p

Gory pornographic movies??? LOL. Viewing five minutes of american TV has just as much violence as any game, if not more But, What is more important than the violence is the context in which that violence is taking place.

And that IS the problem, too many games and tv shows/movies show graphic violence in the wrong context. They show violent killings with gore splattering all over the place, and than ask why kids today are messed up. Does that make sense to you? Sure a little violence in games is fine, but limit the blood and context.

I think that violence on tv and games has gone to far. It may not be a big deal to us anymore because we have gotten used to it. And the more violence on tv's and games the more in the real world. There are 20 times more prisons built now then 50 years ago.

I don't think thats really a relevant statistic. You have no proof that violence in tv and games is related at all. You just have numbers that don't mean anything.

Example, heres a real statistic.

Areas that have more churches per square mile have more murders.

Now do the churches have anything to with this? No. The area is just simply more populated, so ofcourse the chances of murder are going to increase. You have no concrete connection.

If art imitates life, let me pose this question to you.

Would there even be violence on t.v., if there was no violence in real life?

I don't agree with this either, think of how many more people there are now than 50 years ago, also I recently read a statistic that says that teen violence had decreased by half since 1980.

I believe the same standards should be applied to both, and TV as well. If you ban one, ban them all.

What is the proper context for violence ?

You see Discovery Channel showing you how missiles are fired and innocently telling you how do they function, but Al-Jazeera shows you where they fall. With the love for so-called "real TV" on much of the western world (and perhaps the rest of the world), why not feed on it too?

I think violence in TV is more dangerous than video games. At least with video games we feel some adrenaline and it may be even beneficial (there are reports on its use on kids with cancer and other terminal diseases), but TV builds a shield with the outside world that feeds you thought-patterns and "acceptable" ways of behaviour. It's 100% passive.

You can't bring down violence with statistics and it's impossible when those that try can't feel the whole culture around violence.

There's so many double standards too. I'm sure everyone knows about that "sex hack" in grand theft auto. The entire game has you running around murdering, mugging, dealing drugs, etc etc, but throwing some sex in is "going too far."

Also, you can show someone murder someone on TV, but God forbid someone says the "F" word.

It just doesn't add up.

I don't think that violence on tv and video games is necessarily bad - just the context in which it is presented. when you show someone killing somebody else, with gore flying all over the place, it has an effect on every one of us. For most people, it doesn't really affect us all that much, but for people that already have something loose, it "may" cause them to snap.



"God loves us, that's why he made Linux"

Let me get something straight....I like violence, blood, gore, etc in my games. I'm a fan of HL2 and Doom3. However, games, just like tv (in america, at least) have ratings. The ESRB ratings for games is kind of like the ratings for tv and movies....If parents want to blame the games/movies/tv....well......why are they ignoring the ratings and letting their children watch this stuff?

I do agree that the context matters greatly, but as with all things nowadays, there is no reason for the parents to blame anything or anyone but themselves. Sorry, and I'm not trying to start a flame war, but I think that people should use their heads sometimes. Just my two cents.

I think that tv and media have some control over the way we act, vote, think, etc. I believe that if we had no violent or liberal left TV and games. We would not have so much violence. There have been many studies like that below


Adolescents who watch more than three hours of TV daily are more likely to engage in aggressive behavior as adults, a new study says.
http://archives.cnn.com/2002/HEALTH/...s.tv.violence/

American children watch an average of three to fours hours of television daily. Television can be a powerful influence in developing value systems and shaping behavior. Unfortunately, much of today's television programming is violent. Hundreds of studies of the effects of TV violence on children and teenagers have found that children may:

* become "immune" to the horror of violence
* gradually accept violence as a way to solve problems
* imitate the violence they observe on television; and
* identify with certain characters, victims and/or victimizers

Extensive viewing of television violence by children causes greater aggressiveness. Sometimes, watching a single violent program can increase aggressiveness. Children who view shows in which violence is very realistic, frequently repeated or unpunished, are more likely to imitate what they see. Children with emotional, behavioral, learning or impulse control problems may be more easily influenced by TV violence. The impact of TV violence may be immediately evident in the child's behavior or may surface years later, and young people can even be affected when the family atmosphere shows no tendency toward violence.

http://www.aacap.org/publications/factsfam/violence.htm




In today's society violent acts occur commonly that can be linked to television or

movies. In December of 1993 a young ten year old child after watching an episode of

Beavis and Butthead went into his two year old sisters room and lit her baby crib on fire.

This not only burnt the house down , gave the ten year old kid serious third degree burns,

but also killed the two year old baby by burning to death(8). Also in October of 1993

after watching a movie intitled " The Program " a handful of college kids mimicking a

scene from the movie laid down in the middle of a busy intersection and dodged traffic.

This little sheraid killed two of the kids, gave another two serious injuries which put them

in the critical care unit of the hospital for a month before recovering , and gave one

student a fractured collar bone and multiple fractured ribs(15). Because of these two

incidents and many more television violence has been brought to the attention of the

citizens of the world. It has also grabbed the attention of the United States government.

[QUOTE=Envision5000]I think that tv and media have some control over the way we act, vote, think, etc. I believe that if we had no violent or liberal left TV and games. We would not have so much violence. There have been many studies like that below[QUOTE]

Not true, violent crime in teens has gone down by half since 1980.(government statistic)

I think that the Government has no place in controlling game content - I think that the game manufacturers need to take responsibility and do it themselves.


As for it affecting childrens minds and behavior, there are just as many credible studies that say exactly the opposite. I tend to aggree with the ones that support the theory, but only to a point. I think that depending on age and maturity level, certain levels of violence won't affect you. Very graphic violence however, does have some level of effect on all of us, and for people that are already close to the edge, may make them snap.

http://www.gov.state.ak.us/omb/2002s.../CrimeRate.jpg take a look at this image

Everyone has there opinion. I don't think that tv and game violence is a good thing. They can make great movies and games without a lot of violence.

because its easier for them to hit back at games. they think just kids play games and go out and do what they would on a game SAD! people dont understand they need to play the game first before they do anything!

And in a free country we have the freedom to watch or not watch and to prevent our own children from watching. If some nutjobs are going to mimmick something from a movie who cares, its not the governments job to stop them from acting like morons unless they are hurting someone else, I dont see a problem.

But this country is not as free as you think. I meet a Mexican a few months ago and he said that their is no freedom in this country. He said you can't drive drunk or pee in public.

Or how is this free. If you want a house you pay 400,000. And from then on your a slave to the banks and the government. Paying high taxes and loans for the rest of your life. While in some European countries when your 20 you have your own house and paid off. And taxes are about 200 dollars a year and not around 5,000 a year like here.

I don't want to be rude, but that sounds like something Stalin would say. Sure you pay a lot of money for stuff, but we have the freedom to say what we want be what we want and do what we want. You say that we can't pee or drink and drive? It seems to me that by doing that you would be taking away someone else's rights. As for taxes in europe that is not true. European countries are so far gone that they are starting to limit the freedom of speech. Would you rather trade the right to say and do what you want for a free house? I wouldn't.

Also, think of how rich the U.S. is. I see fat bums all the time. In the U.S. everyone can have a car, a house, a computer, and all the food they want if they get off their lazy butts and work.

People complain that the government should pay for and give us everything that we want, but they don't realize that by doing so we are heading towards one of two things - communism, or total complacancy and the inablility to better our lives.

Look at the health system in Europe - they have extremely low quality health care compared to the U.S., but you say that the government can do everything better.

A survey run by Gallup Polls recently said that 75% of Upper class people come from the lowest position of society - only 25% of the rich stay rich. Any people like you say that the rich just keep getting richer.

A word of advice:

If you want to be communist - move to China and leave the greatest nation on God's green earth as it is. A free nation with equal opportunity.

The US is becoming more communist every day. What do you thing does high taxes are going to. It supports housing, food, and cars for the poor. And then the rest goes to other social programs. 40 years ago taxes were a lot less and the living standard was better. There are fat people because of unhealthy food. There are people that go to other countries for health care because its a lot cheaper.

Cheaper health care doesn't mean better health care.

I am unsure on your postion - do you want the U.S. to cut out personal responsibility and feed everyone or do you think people need to take care of themselves?

I think that the more the government takes care of people unneccessarily(I'm not talking about limited time care and care for the elderly and infirm) The less people will want to work and our country will lose it's position as the most powerful and advanced nation in the world.

Look at Russia: Russia is a perfect example of what happens when the gov. takes over. Everyone could get everything for very cheap- but you couldn't find it anywhere. People starved, were persecuted, and tortured, all in the name of a "more quality existence" - does this make any sense to you?

True. The ban on discussing the Holocaust is senseless. In France, cryptography is illegal.

So-called "communist" states give you what they think you need, not what you want.

Not true. Quite the opposite... I don't know about the U.S., though.

China communist? China is becoming a big totalitarian capitalist (and polluting) state.

Can you explain this line to me?
Definition of Communism:

A government system where the government has total control over all industry and all aspects of life.

I think that defined the U.S.S.R.

Also, China is still communist in many ways - sure they are changing, but they still persecute Chrisians, and Jews kill whomever they feel like whenever they feel like it, and limit free speech - the 3 most horrible aspects of Communism - persecution, restricting free speech, and government sanctioned murder.


God Bless the U.S.A.

Source: http://www.ilstu.edu/class/hist127/terms.html
This is the best definition of a so-called communist state.

To me, in the economic level, there's communism and consumerism. No one is better than the other. No one guarantees true independence of the individual. Consumerist states don't work for the people. They work for the big industry lobbyists. It is these "industrialists" that want freedom to opress workers and pollute.

Why do so many companies have their stuff being done in China?

Looks at the communist media and stores in the US.

They don't want anyone to say Christmas anymore. In communist countries you could not talk about Christmas.

I used to go to ISU class of 2004. What program are you going through?

What I don't like about the U.S:

1- The easeness of any person of being sued for almost anything.

2- Gun's "rights" and the whole violent culture around gansta rap and military ideals based more around weapons than warrior honor.

3- The patent system. These guys from the industry want to patent forms of life too!

4- The health system as an industry. The labelization of every state of consciousness as a disease with a three (sometimes four) lettered word.

5- Christian fundamentalists who decry any single thing that is not their business.

6- Misguided patriotism based on the work of scientists.

None. It's the site I found out in the web :)

If you don't like the U.S. leave.(we have the freedom too. Oh wait did I say freedom?)

2. If you make guns illegal only criminals will have guns. Compare the crime rates in Europe and the U.S.

3. Every legal system has problems I think that you can sue for too many things too.

4. I am a Christian and I only decry things that have a profound effect on the freedoms of others. Also this is a 96% Christian country, If you go to a Muslim country you won't expect them to not have any mention of allah in their government. Most people in the U.S. agree.

5. Misguided patriotism based on the work of scientists? where did that come from. If you truly hate this country get your butt out of here or try to do something to change it. Don't complain and then not do anything about it.

Dan, Dont waste your time with some of these people. Go back and look at some older posts by certain people here and you will be amazed at the mentallity. I dont think that person is in the US anyway, or at least I hope not.
The same people who claim to be all for freedom of this and that are the same wackos that want to ban guns and religeon.

I don't live in the U.S. man. I wasn't being offensive though.

This is something that I don't believe. (In which thread must we discuss it?). Anyway, when I was in Portugal and Spain you never see crime related to guns. The weapons used are mostly knives and supposedly infected needles (they were obviouslly junkies).

96% christian? In any way, I don't support the dictatorship of majorities over minorities. I too decry things that have effect on individual freedom, and this is why I'm suspicious of christian efforts to invade on privacy of others.

Won't comment on it as it doesn't contribute nothing. Where did I get this one? Man, I don't see a link between technology and patriotism. Patriotism that isn't based on cultural facts isn't beautiful. Ask the nazis. What I like about the U.S.:
1- Metallica, Megadeth, Pantera, Slayer. Dylan Thomas, E.A. Poe, H.P. Lovecraft & Walt Whitman. Movies? Clockwork Orange, The shining, many others. But ennumerating them and saying "made in xxx", independently of country of origin, I'm turning them into imported things or commercial products.

Crime rates are a lot higher in the US than Europe.

And then after 30 years of working just to payoff your house. You get old and have to pay 1,000 dollars a month for drugs that only cost a few dollars to make. And the taxes double. You will have to sell your house and get a little apartment. Money used from selling the house 1/4 goes to taxes the rest is used to pay for your expensive health care and drugs each month till you die. Working like a slave till you die.

That is crap - if you work hard and save while you are young you will have plenty of money left over when you are old. The only old people I have ever met that didn't have enough money were people that were druggies or hippies when they were young.

You say our nation is incompetent - every government has it's problems but at least we have the backbone to defend ourselves unlike some other countries that let them kill cops and firefighters and then say that they are just "expressing their frustration"


Don't dis on my country and I won't dis on yours

If you don't live here you can't possibly understand the level of freedom we have

God bless the U.S.A. - The greatest nation on earth.

Now can we get back to the original topic?

Gas prices are a lot lower in the U.S.

[QUOTE=NEC5]Crime rates are a lot higher in the US than Europe.[/
QUOTE]

Thats not true.

I agree and could post hundreds of studies to prove it - but these people just hate the U.S. anyway so it isn't worth trying. If they want to they can do a search on LEGITAMENT studies and post them here.

However, can we please get back to the original topic, there are other forums here about this.

PS:
Why is it that people from countries whose butts we pulled out from under Nazi or communistic rule hate us? Maybe they are ashamed.

I remind all the participants about the title of this thread. It's 'game violence vs. tv violence'. If you want another political thread, create a new one or move to an existing one.

Oh, great. "Deutschland über alles!"

I forgot to say pathetic patriotism.

What is this freedom that prevents you from visiting Cuba while at the same time the (same) politicians smoke their tobbaco, and prevents americans (with or without some form of terminal cancer) from using pot ?

What is this freedom that can be traded for "security" ?

Americans can go to Cuba if they want too, I don't know where you got that from. I know a lot of people who have gone there. As for pot, having freedom means protecting the freedoms of others. People who smoke pot do crazy things that enfringe on the rights of others.

Trading freedom for security? What's that supposed to mean? We are the most free country on the face of the earth.

God Bless the U.S.A.

We are not the most free. Thats propaganda

This is topical?

I see this one has no chance to get back to the orginal topic. Closed, then.