Boy Shoots Parents, Games Blamed

[Scottdau]

Re: Boy Shoots Parents, Games Blamed

Thanks for you responses. I work in J Hall and these kids I have are real life grand theft auto, so I am always interested why people play these games. I know I was really digging Saint Row and then I started thinking wait Scott you like killing people? It played with my mind for while. I agree about the action movie. Never thought about that. Maybe it is the animal beast in all us. I know it is fun people a hero or just someone that kicks ***!

[CMH]

Re: Boy Shoots Parents, Games Blamed

Thanks for you responses. I work in J Hall and these kids I have are real life grand theft auto, so I am always interested why people play these games. I know I was really digging Saint Row and then I started thinking wait Scott you like killing people? It played with my mind for while. I agree about the action movie. Never thought about that. Maybe it is the animal beast in all us. I know it is fun people a hero or just someone that kicks ***!

Lots of people read comic books. Lots and lots of people that never commit murder or anything close. Yet, those comic books are nothing but violence after violence after violence. That's essentially the theme of comics. Fight someone, beat them to hell, and then they live to fight again another time. Talk about a confused perspective on life.

Yet, no one ever says anything about comics. Maybe it's because they look like cartoons and video games are moving closer and closer to reality. Also, the biggest difference with video games compared to music, movies, books is the control. You make the character do what you want.

I can probably understand that argument, but it still doesn't eliminate the fact that there are several other forms of media and entertainment that promote death.

Another possible issue is that society always forgets how bad they were. As people get older they try to reflect back on their past and routinely believe that the new generation is worse. So, this period is facing a problem because video games seem to be a huge addition to the adolescent life-style. Yet, society forgets many things.

1. There are lots of people killing that don't even play video games. There are even young kids killing that don't play video games. What's their excuse?

2. Society is pretty much just as bad or as good in the past as it is today.

I was just watching Ken Burn's Baseball and 1908 New York had people climbing to the top of the elevated trains, stopping the train system for the entire day just to watch a game. When firefighters came to hose the people away, the people came back. They burned the walls of the stadium to get into games. They ran onto the field and beat up players, beat up each other.

Is 1908 really that much safer or better than 2008?

[Scottdau]

Re: Boy Shoots Parents, Games Blamed

Lots of people read comic books. Lots and lots of people that never commit murder or anything close. Yet, those comic books are nothing but violence after violence after violence. That's essentially the theme of comics. Fight someone, beat them to hell, and then they live to fight again another time. Talk about a confused perspective on life.

Yet, no one ever says anything about comics. Maybe it's because they look like cartoons and video games are moving closer and closer to reality. Also, the biggest difference with video games compared to music, movies, books is the control. You make the character do what you want.

I can probably understand that argument, but it still doesn't eliminate the fact that there are several other forms of media and entertainment that promote death.

Another possible issue is that society always forgets how bad they were. As people get older they try to reflect back on their past and routinely believe that the new generation is worse. So, this period is facing a problem because video games seem to be a huge addition to the adolescent life-style. Yet, society forgets many things.

1. There are lots of people killing that don't even play video games. There are even young kids killing that don't play video games. What's their excuse?

2. Society is pretty much just as bad or as good in the past as it is today.

I was just watching Ken Burn's Baseball and 1908 New York had people climbing to the top of the elevated trains, stopping the train system for the entire day just to watch a game. When firefighters came to hose the people away, the people came back. They burned the walls of the stadium to get into games. They ran onto the field and beat up players, beat up each other.

Is 1908 really that much safer or better than 2008?

The only thing that is difference nowadays people used guns more. And the internet and press is out there more.

[CMH]

Re: Boy Shoots Parents, Games Blamed

I can't answer the gun stat because I can't find suitable references to support that claim.

But, the internet and media definitely allows for more information to be released to the general public. This case, for example, probably would not have even been known by people in other stats about 20 years ago.

We wouldn't even be able to discuss it.

[Scottdau]

Re: Boy Shoots Parents, Games Blamed

When I mean gun I mean that is how people handle disputes now. Mostly just talking about gangs. Before it was the fist and knives now it is guns.

[slickdtc]

Re: Boy Shoots Parents, Games Blamed

Another ridiculous claim by people who think they know.

I really don't understand how picking up a controller and playing a game you control through these devices can translate over to picking up a gun and shooting your parents.

[daflyboys]

Re: Boy Shoots Parents, Games Blamed

Thanks for you responses. I work in J Hall and these kids I have are real life grand theft auto, so I am always interested why people play these games. I know I was really digging Saint Row and then I started thinking wait Scott you like killing people? It played with my mind for while. I agree about the action movie. Never thought about that. Maybe it is the animal beast in all us. I know it is fun people a hero or just someone that kicks ***!

I'm with you here, Scott. I deal with similar kids, but in a residential setting. I viewed a Godfather vid game a while ago and I just couldn't buy into that I'd be a character who would be virtually taking a shovel and trying to cave a guy's head in and then bury him alive. Sure, I watch similarly themed movies, but I think there's a difference between being a voyeur and then distancing yourself versus actually "taking part" in the action. Not that it's to blame, but I think it can contribute to diluting valuing human life or at least your ability to connect with other people, much like the other indirect ways youth interacts now. But it doesn't have to be a game with a killing or heinous theme. Even in sports gaming, people can meet up, not deal with each other face to face and more so, make direct physical contact. Accuse each other of mistreatment, manipulation, cheating, and then leave the arena of competition..... having resolved what? When we were younger and competed directly, we couldn't manipulate the contest. And if we tried to we were called out on the carpet for it and had to resolve it amongst others or risk that we could not be part of the group and chance losing that outlet. Now, if the opponent doesn't like our tactics, we can simply disconnect at the touch of the button and move on to the next contest.

Maybe I should finally blog.

[duke776]

Re: Boy Shoots Parents, Games Blamed

I've always thought that a God figure wouldn't be out of line judging people by how they act in video games (outside of forced progression). Somewhat of a "what would you do without laws" type of situation. Obviously it's not real, but just throwing it out just for fun.

I couldn't imagine actually killing someone in real life though, laws or not. I can do it in video games because well it's fun to cause havok with fake computer programmed video game characters, and as someone else said, it can relieve stress. I wouldn't find blowing up cars and commiting aggravated murder to be fun in real life. Just my opinion of course.

[Scottdau]

Re: Boy Shoots Parents, Games Blamed

Blowing up cars seem fun. As long as there is no one in the car. I would like to blow one up for real.