Video game linked to murders?

[ls317]

(CBS) Imagine if the entertainment industry created a video game in which you could decapitate police officers, kill them with a sniper rifle, massacre them with a chainsaw, and set them on fire.
Think anyone would buy such a violent game?
They would, and they have. The game Grand Theft Auto has sold more than 35 million copies, with worldwide sales approaching $2 billion.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/06/17/60minutes/main702599.shtml

[noahmijo]

1. ::sigh::: this bullshit again

I get pissed because BOTH sides are guilty of attacking the video game industry putting the blame on it for crime.

Here's my question: Okay I grew up with access to assault weapons (my father was a Fed he had an FFL liscence) I played violent games all my life.

Now tell me why I didn't go blast up a school. Is it because my IQ is higher than these fucking morons?

No it's because I had PARENTING I was educated on the consequences of what such weapons could do and most importantly I was made to understand the difference between right and wrong, real and fiction.

Instead of going after video game companies you fucking leeching pieces of shit why don't you start going after the REAL source of crime (lack of parenting, poverty, ect)

PS if you think games like GTA can be summed up as this article puts it in its opening statements you're full of shit and much akin to someone who claims to be an expert on Italian Cars cause he some pictures of Ferraris in a magazine once.

[SouthernDem2004]

2. As a Police Officer I have to say...

I personally love the game. It is just that, a game.

[hnsez]

3. kids are naturally violent, parents teach them otherwise, or not

[BattyDem]

4. 35 million people play the game ...

One guy goes off the deep end ... and it's the game's fault??? :eyes:

This reminds me of the campaign against heavy metal music in the 1980's. One case comes to mind:

Two teenage boys were hanging out, drinking beer, smoking pot and listening to a Judas Priest album. They decide to take a shotgun and blow their heads off. One kid lived, but his face was gone. So they sued Judas Priest! Alcohol, pot and access to a shotgun - but it was the Judas Priest record caused the problem. Yeah ... right. :eyes:

There are certain people who are "on the edge" and something is going to push them over - it could be a game, or a song, or an article in the newspaper, or a TV show, or a book, or the neighbor's barking dog, or a traffic jam, or a bad day at work, etc. We can't eliminate everything that has even a hint of violence because a handful of people are crazy.

[ls317]

5. Who is to Blame?

As a parent of a 8 year old child who has wanted to play this game for quite some time. You have to teach your kids what is right and wrong bottom line.
Yes that child has some serious issues before hand. To blame his problems on a video game? the real question is how did the system fail him
I am sure there was warning signs along the way??

[BattyDem]

7. Exactly! A "normal" child (or even an adult) ...

doesn't become a monster after playing a video game! There was something wrong before that - either he wasn't taught the difference between right and wrong, or he never learned compassion, or he has no concept of fantasy vs. reality, or maybe he's been abused. Who knows? The point is - if this video game was the cause of a person's violence, then 35 million people would have killed someone!

[IChing]

6. Jack the ripper didn't have TV or video games n/t

[Bread and Circus]

8. Funnily, GTA is one of the highest rated games of all time...

Personally, I don't like the whole gangster thing. But as a creative piece, it's supposed to be good.

I say people should play it and judge for themselves.

Blaming violence on a video game seems like a cop-out and doesn't address the real problem.

[kiraboo]

9. I'm having a helluva time understanding why anybody would

defend such a game whether it leads to real-life violence or not. Are we not prolife in the broader sense? Do we not abhor unnecessary violence? I know that the response will be that "it's just a game." Frankly, I don't give a shit. Anybody who considers this "entertainment" is somebody I'd like to avoid. Policeperson or not.