Here we go (yet) again
by Robert Brim · in General Discussion · 12/02/2002 (7:44 pm) · 15 replies
Video Violence Damages Brain
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2002/12/2/213615.shtml
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2002/12/2/213615.shtml
About the author
#2
12/03/2002 (7:31 pm)
After your post jeremy, I have to wonder.
#3
12/03/2002 (8:19 pm)
Are you into violent games Jeremy?
#4
12/03/2002 (8:27 pm)
Way to strech the page!
#5
12/03/2002 (8:44 pm)
Jeremy, I'm really hoping that was clever tounge-in-cheek sarcasm you were attemtping to portray. But based on some of your previous posts, I'm guessing not...
#6
12/03/2002 (9:11 pm)
Ah. Mental note: Try harder to impress people that have nothing better to say but weak and unguided criticism.
#7
--Eric
12/03/2002 (10:01 pm)
Jeremy, your Onion post was "weak and unguided criticism". Look in the mirror, bub.--Eric
#8
12/03/2002 (10:23 pm)
What the hell are you talking about? You know what, it doesn't matter. It's amazing how much support some of the most insane remarks ever spouted get, and then people will bash someone cuz they stretched the window while in a weird mood. Way to pick your battles bud. By all means, continue... Boy this thread started out as something, but quickly became pointless. Sorry Rob...
#9
Robert: Very interesting article. I won't pretend to be the end-all in knowledge of the human psyche or biology. I may hope there is no real connection between video games and violence or health, but that doesn't mean it can't be real. To flat-out deny even the possibility would just be ignorant and irresponsible.
I've stated before that we, as game creators, have to take a certain moral responsibility when making the games. Just because we can make a game centered on the raping of women doesn't mean we should. It is too easy (and irresponsible) to say, "well I only make games--I don't make people (kill/rape/hate)."
In another thread someone said how he can't stand the terms "good" and "evil" and how everything is actually grey rather than black and white (I beg to differ--I think humans make the grey). While I do agree that life isn't always quite so clear cut, I believe our responsibility comes in helping to define those lines to kids that may already be having trouble in defining their own perspectives of 'right and wrong'. Check into studies on sublimal messages or brainwashing and see just how powerful video can be.
The point to this was that we should not totally dismiss such findings because we don't think or want them to be true. Be open to the possibility they could be.
--Eric
12/04/2002 (5:46 am)
I really wonder if Jeremy reads his own posts.Robert: Very interesting article. I won't pretend to be the end-all in knowledge of the human psyche or biology. I may hope there is no real connection between video games and violence or health, but that doesn't mean it can't be real. To flat-out deny even the possibility would just be ignorant and irresponsible.
I've stated before that we, as game creators, have to take a certain moral responsibility when making the games. Just because we can make a game centered on the raping of women doesn't mean we should. It is too easy (and irresponsible) to say, "well I only make games--I don't make people (kill/rape/hate)."
In another thread someone said how he can't stand the terms "good" and "evil" and how everything is actually grey rather than black and white (I beg to differ--I think humans make the grey). While I do agree that life isn't always quite so clear cut, I believe our responsibility comes in helping to define those lines to kids that may already be having trouble in defining their own perspectives of 'right and wrong'. Check into studies on sublimal messages or brainwashing and see just how powerful video can be.
The point to this was that we should not totally dismiss such findings because we don't think or want them to be true. Be open to the possibility they could be.
--Eric
#10
I agree with you.
Things I was thinking while reading this article though....
1. To me 19 people does not make an awesome test base when we are talking how many billions on the planet.
2. While game makers have a responsibility, SO DO THE PARENTS! Unfortunately, people who think they can and should raise our children better will jump on this to say parents do not need to be involved in what games they let their children buy and play.
3. People who look for things to hate and bring down will jump all over this.
12/04/2002 (6:55 am)
Eric,I agree with you.
Things I was thinking while reading this article though....
1. To me 19 people does not make an awesome test base when we are talking how many billions on the planet.
2. While game makers have a responsibility, SO DO THE PARENTS! Unfortunately, people who think they can and should raise our children better will jump on this to say parents do not need to be involved in what games they let their children buy and play.
3. People who look for things to hate and bring down will jump all over this.
#11
--Eric
12/04/2002 (7:40 am)
I feel the same, Robert. And you are correct: 19 just isn't a good base.--Eric
#12
anyone familar with REAL scientific methods would understand that just the ACT of OBSERVING something changes what you are observing. So any measuring this passivist wacko did is in of itself corrupting whatever he is trying to sideways prove.
12/05/2002 (12:02 pm)
who's to say that the MRI scanning did not cause the "changes" in the brain activity, or the flicker of the CRT they were watching, or something else, they were not even PLAYING the game but just WATCHING a pre-recorded tape, seems pretty shoddy "science" if you ask me.anyone familar with REAL scientific methods would understand that just the ACT of OBSERVING something changes what you are observing. So any measuring this passivist wacko did is in of itself corrupting whatever he is trying to sideways prove.
#13
"Letter from the Editor"
Rep. Joe Baca (D-Calif.) is poised to (re)introduce a new version of last year's bill (Protect Our Children from Video Game Sex and Violence Act of 2002) into the new Congress, which aims to CRIMINALIZE retailers who sell mature-rated games to minors.
...Jennifer Olsen continues...
One would be hard-pressed to fin anyone who thinks that children should buy age-inappropriate games intended for adult sensibilities, but we're letting ourselves be lumped in with pornography (which is illegal under federal law to peddle to minors, for understandable reasons), not movies, television, music, and other mainstream forms of entertainment (which remain self-regulating). It's a harmful association that we need to combat.
/end excerpt
I agree with Jennifer on this. The stigma surrounding this could haunt the gaming industry much like the D&D stigma has haunted table-top role-playing... becoming a sort of taboo.
-Robert
03/18/2003 (5:06 pm)
Source: Game Developer Magazine April '03"Letter from the Editor"
Rep. Joe Baca (D-Calif.) is poised to (re)introduce a new version of last year's bill (Protect Our Children from Video Game Sex and Violence Act of 2002) into the new Congress, which aims to CRIMINALIZE retailers who sell mature-rated games to minors.
...Jennifer Olsen continues...
One would be hard-pressed to fin anyone who thinks that children should buy age-inappropriate games intended for adult sensibilities, but we're letting ourselves be lumped in with pornography (which is illegal under federal law to peddle to minors, for understandable reasons), not movies, television, music, and other mainstream forms of entertainment (which remain self-regulating). It's a harmful association that we need to combat.
/end excerpt
I agree with Jennifer on this. The stigma surrounding this could haunt the gaming industry much like the D&D stigma has haunted table-top role-playing... becoming a sort of taboo.
-Robert
#14
What makes young people violent is prejudice, hate, isolation, indifference, ignorance. The rest is blindness of people who just don't want to see.
This kind of legal constraint really creeps me, I see a clear fascist inspiration in this. I bet those guys claim against violent games, but support real wars.
03/19/2003 (8:01 am)
In the '50s, the blame was on Rock And Roll. After that, the contraceptive pill was guilty, the communism, violent movies, and so on.What makes young people violent is prejudice, hate, isolation, indifference, ignorance. The rest is blindness of people who just don't want to see.
This kind of legal constraint really creeps me, I see a clear fascist inspiration in this. I bet those guys claim against violent games, but support real wars.
#15
-Eric
03/19/2003 (9:57 am)
What makes me violent is watching my favorite TV shows be replaced by Reality TV.-Eric
Torque Owner Jeremy Tilton