I am doing a research essay for my college technical writing class and would like your input on this subject:

1. Is violence in video games bad for children?

2. Has gore and game content gone too far?

3. Would you let your children play games like unreal tournament and grand theft auto?

4. Do violent video games increase the violent tendancies in children.

PS: I am not trashing shooting games. I am an avid gamer, I am just talking about children up to about 15.

Violence is bad for anyone who cannot understand the nature of the source.

Game content is appropriately rated, in my (limited) experience

If my children were mature enough to understand the difference between games and reality, yes

Instability creates a situation where otherwise innefectual stimuli would create a problem.

1. Within limits, no. GTA and its ilk are at the edge of the envelope, but no.

2. Again, if anything has gone too far its GTA. But even that must be viewed in context. I'm disturbed by it implicit glorification of gangland warfare and utter disrepect for law. So how did it come to be ultra-controversial? Because of sex. Granted it wasn't loving sex. But after everything else in the game I find it humorous that everyone gets upset by the sexual content. Especially since it wasn't "in the game" but only revealed by a hack. Besides, what teenage boy didn't spend hours finding and using the topless Lara Croft patch?

3. My children do play, and have for years. My youngest daughter has actually become a pretty awesome player at FPS games. Especially Half-Life 2 Death Match. She's great, and her boyfriend's better. When they go onto a server together, its a bloodbath (virtually speaking, of course).

4. Violence is learned in many ways. Every human has a natural tendency to violence or violent expression. If children are raised to non-violence, then games can be a good outlet for an otherwise suppressed emotion. I am bothered by the on-line behavior of some cyber-punks. They take getting fragged way too personally. A good, well balanced person will remember that - at the end of the day - it's just a game.

1. Is violence in video games bad for children?

Yes, I believe so. I don't think having children see constant streams of violence without supervision is good for a child's sence of right or wrong.

2. Has gore and game content gone too far?

Gore? No, I don't see gore as real problem if you can stomach it. Content though bothers me. Violence I don't mind as much as sexual content. I don't want to be watching porn while playing GTA or DOOM or any other game for that matter.

3. Would you let your children play games like unreal tournament and grand theft auto?

That would depend on their age. I would let my children play unreal as long as they we're past the age of say 10 or 11. GTA on the other hand they would have to be in the mid to late teens (14+).

4. Do violent video games increase the violent tendancies in children.

I don't think so if they are properly supervisioned while and/or after playing them. If a child is to young I don't believe they will understand the difference between what is right or wrong, proper behavior and what you should not do in real life.

I have never understood this. Why is someone getting their head blown off more acceptable than a pair of tits?

The human body and sexuality is natural. A .44 to the head is not.

Good, somebody else said it first!

Because the head blown off is fake and the tits... oh nevermind.

To be perfectly honest, I can't explain why I feel that way.

Is it alright if I use quotes from your posts for my paper? Appreciate your help!


















"If it wasn't for Microsoft, the world would be perfect.";

Another question, what do you think is worse for children? violence or sexuality?

Well, I think you can gleam my answer to this...

I grew up in the 70's watching Bugs Bunny and played just about every video game known. I was physically, mentally and emotionally abused by my stepfather, witnessed the rest of my family being assulted and abused. All this before the age of 10. I've shot guns, done drugs, andd drank heavily.

To this day, I've never been arrested. And have never hurt anyone else. I don't want to. Never have.

Stupid kids are a threat whether they view violence or not. Thats what I think.

I have one 7 year old nephew that loves to play GTA3, UT, and Quake3. He's the greatest, kindest kid you could want. H'es polite, curtious, will not cuss, does anything that you ask him to and doesn't complain. He never says goodbye without a hug and always prays to Jesus. He's just not an angy kid, period.

On the other hand, my other nephew from another brother has parents who are wierd religious nuts and he's not allowed to do ANYTHING. No video games period. No birthday parties, no candy, no playing with other neighborhood kids, no this, and no that, and you're all going to hell type people.
This other nephew is so mad all the time. He threatens other kids at school, trashes his room in fits of rage, hits, doesn't mind. A real problem child.

Bottom line, stupid PARENTS will always blame others for their kids mal actions. My religeous nut in-laws WILL do it eventually when their kid ends up in jail. They WILL point their finger at "the sins of our society". And there will be all kinds of "studies" and special interest groups that will back them up. But in the end, it's all a bunch of bullcrap.

Stupid kids should not view violence.

Sex and Violence. Both integral parts of the human condition. The former is a good thing and yet we desperately try to hide it from our childen, something which does them no good at all. The latter is always bad, and yet we glory in it continuously on our TV screens, often to their psycological detriment.

What a screwed up species we are!

I love the way you think Sadly it's so true and it's not limited to kids.

1. Is violence in video games bad for children?

It really depends on the child. Would you want a 15 year old child molester playing a game like GTA? Not me. Kids who are under 13 probably shouldn't play games with moderate to intense violence. I don't think a little would hurt them. Once again, it all depends on the maturity level of the child.

2. Has gore and game content gone too far?

It's gone about as far as movie content has. In some cases, I don't think it's gone too far. I think the sex in video games has gone too far, though.

3. Would you let your children play games like unreal tournament and grand theft auto?

Hell no. Not until age 13-15 (depending on maturity level).

4. Do violent video games increase the violent tendancies in children?

Depends on the child.