Critique on Do Video Games Kill? This article “Do Video Games Kill” by Karen Sternheimer addresses the wide spread idea; video games are the cause for “young killers” (210). Sternheimer believes concern for the influence video games may have on youth is spiraling out of control. She put most of the blame for this out of control concern on the media. She also writes some about politicians and the Juvenile Justice system.
“The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives estimates that there are more than 215 million guns in the hands of private citizens. That's a gun for almost every man, woman and child in our country” (Mackin, 1). The fact that there are just about as many guns as there are people in the United States makes you wonder what kind of impression our society is giving the youth of the future. The problem isn’t always as bad as it seems sometimes the negative affects of the media will be a lesser violent act, but that’s exactly my point. What starts as one small act of violence maybe as a kid hitting another child
In this article, McGoey starts by talking about the violence that have taken place in our schools in the recent years. He does not feel that the solution to America’s problem is as easy and blunt as banning all guns nor adding more regulation because it would easily increase the black market(2). To stop such horrific violence, it must be pulled out at the roots. Careful look at the past incidents shows that evidence of potential violence is found in different areas of the ones that are committing such acts; home, computer, notebook, and school lockers (7). Video games have become more real than ever before.
Mother Jones says that since children will see, on average, 200,000 acts of violence on televsion before they are 18 it must be television's fault. But then, why is it in other countries children are exposed to the same televsion, but crime rate and murder isn't nearly as high amoung teenagers? So it can't be television, it has to be a different source in their life. It is no coinincedence that crime is higher in certain areas and within certain races, eventhough they are exposed to the same media. Even within the same cities, "murder rate among black teens in Washington, D.C., is twenty-five times higher than that of white teens living a few Metro stops away."
Violence in Mass Media: Do Violent Video Games Contribute to Youth Violence? Tracy Brown January 18, 2013 English Composition III Dr. Kay South University Recent shooting tragedies have sparked the controversial topic of whether playing violent video games has contributed to the increasing youth violence in today’s society. Video games are a very popular form of entertainment for today’s youth, which in turn has raised the question whether playing violent video games causes negative effects on children; this will be the topic addressed. Most popular video games feature aggressiveness or violence as the primary theme in the game but most parents do not restrict the types of games they are allowed to play. Critics of violent video games argue that these games desensitize players to violence, reward players for simulating violence, and teach children that violence is an acceptable way to resolve conflict.
Statistics have shown that the violence among young people is increasing every year. Many people blame musicians and other types of artists who portray negative actions as something positive. Others might blame the parents for not watching over their children. But many people fall short to bring up technology as an issue. With the new DVD that shows sex and violence or computers that gives kids access to unauthorized sites, technology is something that many parents need to look out for.
Every bad experience or violent act that has been seen in the public somehow will get linked to violent video games causing the violent acts of the people that do the crimes. In 1994, a system was put together to help rate video games to help keep underage children from being able to play these games that are rated inappropriate for their ages, this board is called the ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board) ("Esrb History", n.d.). However, even though this guideline was put into place some adults will purchase the games that are rated for mature audiences for their younger children. Some research will prove the opposite of the violent actions coming from playing a video game such as the video game will calm down a person or even kids that play video games that are on the honor roll in school. What is the meaning of violence?
Unfortunately, many of today’s television programs are violent. So does TV influence kids that violence, drugs, alcohol and sex are ok? How much violence, drug references, alcohol usage, and sex references does the average American child come across? How much of this do they take in? Hundreds of studies have found that children and teenagers that watch television may: • Become “immune” or numb to the horror of violence • Gradually accept violence as a way to solve problems • Imitate the violence they observe on television; and • Identify with certain characters, victims and/or victimizers Also, Extensive viewing of television violence by children causes greater aggressiveness.
Because of this possibility, parents should assume responsibility for evaluating video games and should prohibit young teenagers from purchasing those that are especially violent. Myself being a parent I do research the games my kids want to buy. To begin with, a number of authorities claim that playing a violent video game does present a threat to the user’s psychological health. As early as 1983, Geoffrey and Elizabeth Loftus, in their book Mind at Play: The Psychology of Video Games, warned about the dangers of violent video games: “Although we can never be sure in any individual case, a substantial body of evidence indicates that viewing excessive violence on the screen is associated with aggression and violent behavior among children and teenagers.” More recently, studies have measured changes in behavior and emotional responses to video
Seventy-nine percent of children play video games, and at least sixty percent of middle school boys have played one or more mature rated game. Some psychologists suggest that video games are positive- they are creating an alternate reality for adolescents to release their anger. However, studies have consistently proven that violent video games cause more aggressive behavior and, overall, are negatively affecting America’s youth. The debate whether or not video games are positive or negative has been a major controversy in the U.S. ever since Columbine, a tragic school shooting in 1999. News spread that one of the gunmen, Dylan Klebold, spent much of his time playing violent video games.