Violent tendancies...?

[JayEgo]

Is increasing violence in films, television and computer games responsible in any way for the rise in human violence and crime involving weapons?

Do we view violence differently having been exposed to portrayals in the media?

Is the current trend to blame bloody computer games for real life acts of violence amongst the younger generation any different to blaming heavy metal music for suicides in teenagers?

Are we simply over exposed and becoming numb to what was previously considered wrong or are we still filled with horror at aggressive acts...?

Anyone wanna start us off...? :evil:

Ja¥son xx

[Jax]

Well Jayson, I can only speak for myself I guess, and I was watching movies like Commando from when I was about 7 years old and I'm perfectly fine - well I think so anyways! Perhaps the people that get affected by these things have a different chemical balance that makes them more predisposed to be affected by what they see?? I really don't know...

[JayEgo]

Well Jayson, I can only speak for myself I guess, and I was watching movies like Commando from when I was about 7 years old and I'm perfectly fine - well I think so anyways! <SNIp>So, that machine gun you keep under the bed is just for show - right? :evil:

I know what you mean from an individual point of view. I personally have never thought about acting out a fantasy derived from such films or games. But then, I've always tended to be a calm, rational sort! The only times I get really mad, it's all verbal rather than physical too!

Perhaps there's a chemical compound or genetic makeup that predisposes us to such tendancies... Or perhaps it's more cultural than simply being exposed...?

Ja¥son xx

[granath]

It may contribute a bit, in giving a sort of outlet for the violent tendencies that exist already. I don't think it causes any impulses that aren't there to start with.

Overexposure to it does make the mind go numb, but that's even more true for disturbing news images than what you know is not real, in feature films.

[AnnMarie]

I think it CAN have that effect. I don't believe it always does.

And when it all comes down to it, we have the choice of what we watch, what we let our children watch. Jax said she's watched some tough stuff from the age of seven, but I am betting her parents wouldn't have condoneed her acting out those movies for real.

So, basically, I guess I'm saying if someone has RL rules and guidelines they are expected to live by, and those are enforced, then no, the games and the movies shouldn't cause that person to suddenly become violent or disfunctional.

IS that as clear as mud, or what?

[Mausey]

My kids watched similar shows Jax and they're all normal. They weren't allowed to watch the movies by themselves and hubby and I always commented on what was happening and made sure the kids knew it was PRETEND. I believe that makes a difference, we didn't use the movies as a babysitter. Well ... maybe the disney movies :D but nothing violent.

[Milo]

I watch violent movies, play violent video games (but not GTA, it gets really boring running people over). Movies like Saving Pvt Ryan, if anything, have made me LESS likely to kill people. Even the games in which I kill people dont have any effect on me. I'm one of the most pacifistic (word?) people I know.

They may have some effect on some kids, but I think that its mainly hype. We always want to find something to blame.

[dae]

i play violent games, and get annoyed with people that think it makes me violent. the games can be an outlet, so instead of attacking a person in RL, you hurt a compuer made person. :noface:

[Bertrand]

I've watch violent movies and have played violent computer games since they were around and yes, I did play GTA. But I haven't went on a real rampage or kill anyone before. What I think the problem these days is that there are too many guns and too little control.

Why do so many parents blame GTA for causing child violence, why don't they blame themselves. That game IS rated M for Mature as in age 18+ so if you let your kids play it, partly its your fault. If you didn't tell your kids not to immitate Tommy Vercetti, well then, why should you blame the game producers?

[Mausey]

My 15 year old gets in a snit because there's a few games we won't let him play. :D He keeps telling us they aren't that bad. :roll: We just told him life's not fair, get used to it. He's survived so far. :D

[AnnMarie]

I've watch violent movies and have played violent computer games since they were around and yes, I did play GTA. But I haven't went on a real rampage or kill anyone before. What I think the problem these days is that there are too many guns and too little control.

Why do so many parents blame GTA for causing child violence, why don't they blame themselves. That game IS rated M for Mature as in age 18+ so if you let your kids play it, partly its your fault. If you didn't tell your kids not to immitate Tommy Vercetti, well then, why should you blame the game producers?


I dont' agree about the guns, Bertrand...but BOY do I agree with the second half of your post!

If parents aren't paying attention to what their kids are doing, they have NO ONE to blame but THEMSELVES when the kids start acting like social deviants and mass murderers.

[Feena_bronze_rider]

I see nothing wrong with watching violent movies and such but if you realy think "OH MAN I CAN"T WAIT TO GET OUT AND BEAT SOMONE UP!" Something is wrong with you....