My wife asked me this question this morning and I paused to think about her question.....Do today’s video games allow a person to think that they are invincible, un-stopable, or not living in the reality that their actions can NOT be reset like it can when playing a game?

Her question and follow up comments were very very interesting as we continue to see daily actions from people that I do not recall happening at today’s rate 20 to 30 years ago....

Thoughts???? Thanks Mark

Believe it or not, young job applicants for sworn Police positions will often cite video game skills as a skill which is (somehow) relevant to the job they are applying for.

(Source: an LEO friend -- sorry I don't have a more solid source, but I LOL when I heard this.)

I don't think they make a sane person feel they're invincible but I can see how gaming isolates people from what we consider societal norms. Personal interactions are the big thing. So I can see how kids can go into situations unprepared for the reality by believing they know everything they need to know from gaming and internet socializing.

The same thing was asked a few decades ago. I somehow managed to play Silent Hill and not once have the desire to impale a nurse with a drip stand, blow up an iron lung, or piss off a butcher in his lair during the wee hours of the night. The pyramid head guy in real life would be a badass MF, so I would not engage.

Self imposed isolation and getting lost on the influence of social media may lead to unusual thoughts and desires. Doping up kids doesn't help either.

If the current generation seems to be where the blame is placed, remember that they grew up during a time when there had always been social media.

The rate that news spreads with an agenda behind is nothing new. Driving stories for the desired narrative has been going on for 100+ years.

I don’t think they are going to drive one to insanity but I do think it can exacerbate somebody who already has issues.

I grew up playing army with friends and “killing” each other. I grew up with video games. I play Grand Theft Auto and do heinous video game stuff. I play shooter games. I grew up on 80s violent movies.

You want to know my thoughts on actual violence. It sickens me. But I have a firm grasp on reality vs. fantasy. I have a firm understanding and belief in the social contract. I was raised to be a good person, be helpful and generally respect folks. Just because I don’t agree with folks doesn’t mean I can’t respect them or at least let bygones be bygones and go a separate way.

We live in a world where many of those ideals have fallen by the wayside. Add in parents who never should have been parents, drugging our kids, and making EVERY kid think they are the center of the universe and here we are.

The sad and frightening thing is this is a problem that goes FAR beyond guns, games or movies. It’s a real societal problem.

I think playing violent video games, as well as watching violent movies, desensitizes us to the pain and suffering of others and causes us to lose sight of the sanctity of human life.

Does this mean that everyone who plays violent video games and watches violent movies turns into someone who doesn't care about others? No. But I believe it is a contributing factor to much of the violence we see in the world today.

Grosman’s book “On Killing” explains some of what you ask. People have been desensitized over the decades.

If anything desensitizes us, I would say it is more television and movies. Video games factor in too.

Blaming video games is no different than blaming guns.

People used to hack each other up with swords.

Isn't the murder rate actually going down year to year?

Did it creep up again?

the answer to this question hasn't changed in the past oh, 35 years or so.

Absolutely not.

No that was the transistor radio.

The 24/7 god awful media sure ain't helping.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
No that was the transistor radio.

and that blasted rock and roll music! And Elvis with his gyrations!

quote:

Originally posted by Rigby470:
I think playing violent video games, as well as watching violent movies, desensitizes us to the pain and suffering of others and causes us to lose sight of the sanctity of human life.

Does this mean that everyone who plays violent video games and watches violent movies turns into someone who doesn't care about others? No. But I believe it is a contributing factor to much of the violence we see in the world today.

Well stated and I agree.

Hundreds of thousands of people have played video games with no long term ill affects at all. So no I don't think video games are the cause of any of our current difficulties. Just as an aside, removing yourself from reality is kind of the point of playing a video game. When the game is over you would have to be pretty damn stupid or crazy not to realize that the game is over, and it's back to the real world.

I would suggest that those claiming video games have no effect read “On Killing”. He shows how killing has become easier over the years and gives reasons why and I think the principles behind it can apply here. I’m not saying that is the only reason these killings are happening but he does give some proof of why killing has become easier.

Personally, I believe it's a perfect storm. Think about it. Today's youth for the most part are not well educated, many have absentee parents who teach them nothing, many have severe emotional issues, most don't play sports, and most live in a virtual world most of the time (text, Facebook, Instagram, gaming, etc) totally devoid of guidelines and restrictions.

Is it just video games doing it to kids? No. But add in all the other pieces 'and' their immersion into video gaming (i.e. make believe) is to say the least, unhealthy.

You kids get off my lawn.

TV, movies, video games do give ideas that have to be debunked by real life ...
100lb woman beating up a grown man is my pet peeve of b.s..

I also know grown young men that spend thousands on freakin phone games. Totally obsessed and at the time 4.oo doesn't matter as long as they get to keep playing.
Also, instead of getting out there and finding a job they spend all day playing ..... It makes the anxiety go away.