Of course mass media has an influence on society.

[karpool]

And of course violent content is going to have an effect on it's consumers. Look at how much money is spent on advertising. Look how the military inserts recruitment ads in movies. Propaganda works. Play a driver video game like MotorStorm for 6 hours straight and then get into a vehicle and drive a little ways. You will feel like you are still driving a car in the video game. Video games and movies have a profound effect on the brains neurochemistry and on society as whole and to say that violent video games and movies don't influence people's behavior is an uninformed opinion.

[1-Old-Man]

1. I am pleased to be the first to recommend reading of your post.

and I might add that for many people who have few meaningful social relationships and particularly for those who do not travel or read, the movies and television with their incessant violence are their only portal to an envisioned reality.

[karpool]

2. Can't imagine

Somebody whose electronic gadgets their only comfort in life.

[karpool]

3. bump

[samsingh]

4. kick

[randome]

5. For those who see gaming as a 'way of life' instead of just, well, a game...

...I would recommend some serious self-examination.

We've debated this issue many, many times already and I'm not trying to hijack your thread, but, seriously, there are people who spend the majority of their average day playing a game and think they are doing something worthwhile with their lives.

I understand the allure of the graphics and all but aren't there better things to do with one's life?

[Spider Jerusalem]

6. No

Not at all.

Other countries consume the same mass media. Popular culture across the English-speaking world is broadly similar with local variations. Canada doesn't have the USA's problem with gun violence and mass shootings. The UK doesn't. Nor do Ireland, New Zealand, or Australia.

[karpool]

7. Doesn't negate the fact that violent media is a root cause.

[Spider Jerusalem]

8. Not really

if it were you'd see much higher murder rates in countries outside the US with exposure to similar popular mass media. They aren't there. Because it's the guns. Not films or video games or music.

[karpool]

11. It's the combination

[Spider Jerusalem]

13. So get rid of the guns. Problem solved.

[randome]

16. That won't happen and everyone knows it.

If there is a juxtaposition between violent media and easy access to guns, why not address both? Greater restrictions on guns and some national effort to 'tone down' the violence in media, including hate radio, videogames and torture porn movies.

Not censorship, but something.

[Spider Jerusalem]

18. because violent media aren't the problem

guns are the problem. You can't kill 20 people with a Grand Theft Auto DVD.

[randome]

20. No one is saying that violent media CAUSES death.

But does it have an influence? I'm glad Biden's task force is at least willing to have that conversation. If nothing comes of it, I'm fine with that, too, but at least it was considered.

[Spider Jerusalem]

22. Less of an influence by far...

than ready availability of, and ease of access to, semi-automatic firearms with high-capacity magazines.

[randome]

23. I agree.

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. Tell me, is South Korea knee deep in blood?

Their video games put ours to shame.

Canada consumes the exact same crap...care to explain their violence stats?

Or are Americans somehow flawed? It might be...at that point what is the cause?

[rrneck]

9. Obsessive overconsumption is bad for you no matter what it is. nt

[randome]

12. Yes.

[Follow The Money]

10. I don't think it is specifically violent video games or movies however, we have a callous culture

Where money is gawd and anything stupid or controversial makes headlines, where any idiot can suddenly become a star, the dumber the better.

We have a culture where millions of people watched football as our friends and families were raped by the bankers and our government enabling of the theft of millions of homes, homes people worked for their entire lives.

We watch the Kardashians buy a purse for thousands of dollars, meanwhile millions who can't even afford food go bankrupt because of our out of control hospital costs.

We watch millions of homeless school children, millions of people starving and instead of stopping them our government is helping them get the loot in the car.

We watch big pharma poison people without being held accountable, quite possibly neurologically damaging people to the point they commit minor crimes and offenses and possibly horrible massacres and no one will even talk about it.

We have entire communities covering up crimes of bullies and rapists so it will not interfere with football games.

We have a sociopathic government hellbent on stealing retirements from social security recipients to pay for two wars they started based on lies and big government programs that directly violate our laws of the land.

We live in a callous clueless society, focused on material pursuit and power above all else. Look at corporate media-Where is the love?

The overall problems in our society have a much bigger influence than violence in video games and TV.

[Follow The Money]

15. With the rise in video game playing over decades, we would expect to see a rise in violent crimes

With the rise in video game playing over decades, we would expect to see a rise in violent crimes if your theory were to hold correct.

What we have seen is a drop in violent crimes over the last two decades.

What we have been seeing on the news is a rise in crazy madman massacres, which correlates with a rise in prescriptions for antidepressants and antipsychotics.

[0rganism]

17. people can tell the difference between fantasy and reality

I'm going to start posting this every time someone tries to pin our nation's problems with gun violence on mass media which is, for the most part, shared internationally.
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/jimquisition/6692-Desensitized-to-Violence
Take it up with Jim Sterling.

BTW, anyone who think's they're still in a video game after they finish playing has huge psychological problems only tangentially related to the games themselves. If this happens to you, seek help.

[KharmaTrain]

19. The All Or Nothing Game...

Unfortunately the "discussion" about serious gun control begins to break down as sides are drawn as to the causes...with different sides and interests protecting their turf while blaming the others. As usual, the truth and reality lies somewhere inbetween. I don't buy the NRA bullshit that its video games and Hollywood as the sole cause of the gun crazy society we live in...but there is some merit to the desensetizing effects that popular culture can and does have on our society. Most of us don't notice or realize it as it's been pervasive in our lives from the earliest ages but we do live in times where what is seen or experienced is far different than what our parents or grandparents or great grandparents experienced. Does this mean it's a major cause that makes someone snap? Of course not...but can it numb someone to basic human feelings when stretch beyond the breaking point? That should be taken into consideration in addition to the serious problems we have dealing with mental health in this country AND the easy access to high powered weaponry whose only purpose is to kill as many people as they can in as short a period of time as possible. The disconnect here is those who have a rigid opinion and refuse to look at all factors that have led to these massacres and, sadly, are sure to lead to more. The madness won't end until people talk to one another, not past.

[PoliticalBiker]

21. Major Media doesn't *report* public opinion...

... it is used by the wealty and powerful to SHAPE it.
Monopolizing of news outlets (ex. Murdoc) is a prime example.
You hear only what the news outlets (all owned by the same co., corp., magnate) wants you to hear. Regardless of it's bias... or adhearence to the truth.

Congress will do nothing about it though. They know enough not to slap the campaign cash hand that is keeping them in office.
Mega-corporations need to be broken up... and not just the media corps... banks, oil, medical, pharmaceutical, communications, etc.... all of them. Remember Ma Bell? Congress needs to have the balls to do that again. What was it? Taft-Hartley? Break up the monopolies... create competition again. Create good-paying jobs again.