Reply #187: Now that's a valid concern. [View All]

[The Doctor.]

Not because they lose the ability to distinguish between fantasy and reality, but because games can certainly glorify violent engagement.

While still in juvenile development, subjects that are exposed primarily to the low-risk/high-reward model of video games might not have the chance to grasp the real-world differences between play and deadly combat.

I knew a guy who thought that joining the Marines, bravely facing enemies with his brothers-in-arms, and putting his life on the line was somehow 'romantic' (not his word, mine... and it fits). He did one tour in Iraq (circa '91) and came back saying, "They were shooting at us and people fucking died for real! Fuck that man! I'm done!".

That's pretty close to his exact words.

We may be raising an entire new generation of volunteers. But they sure the hell aren't ready to be soldiers.