Do War Games Desensitize Gamers?
I continually read articles that are basically against war games. Many articles claim that it sends the wrong message about war. They believe that we are creating a desensitized generation of Americans.
I have to disagree with them for the most part. War games are very realistic these days. A couple Socom II matches I had with friends were eerily similar to the combat I saw in real life. The game may be similar, but killing most certainly is not. Basically, what I have to say to these people is that it’s just like the movies. People know it’s a game and they know that movies are simply movies. Of course there are some individuals out there who can’t tell the difference and I would simply suggest psychological treatment for them and to just allow the mentally sane to continue playing their war games.
I could probably compare many of my combat situations with the 1st Cavalry Division or the 82nd Airborne to games, but they will never create a game that is the same as real war. And I truly believe that people are smart enough to realize there is a huge difference. Video games are also a great training tool for young soldiers. As a soldier, you have to be prepared for almost any situation and some of these games are technically close enough to combat that they are valuable tools.
As far as regular people playing, they just need to consider it a form of entertainment. It’s basically like any other game. We all want to be the hero and that’s exactly what games allow. To discuss banning these kinds of games is absurd and against everything America truly stands for. The groups and people against these games are stating that killing someone in a game desensitizes you to killing in real life. I saw combat in Kosovo and multiple places in the middle east during my time in the military. I can tell you that it’s a shame for anyone to try and compare killing someone in a game to killing in real life. Of course the press will always find some bolo soldier who makes a statement to the contrary. It’s a completely different situation. When I kill someone in Halo, they come back in 5-20 seconds.
March 12th, 2007 at 8:40 am
It is real life people need to just accept that geez! It is not like we are going to go out and start shooting people I for one am so against war but love fps and war game it is just fun!
March 12th, 2007 at 9:37 am
It is a bit desensitizing for some, I must agree. However, it’s not some huge epidemic that affects everyone. I do believe that it can effect some gamers, particularly young gamers who either don’t care or who don’t have guardians around. Still, I don’t think this means if you play a war game you’re gonna go out and kill some people without even blinking. Whatever, yo.
March 12th, 2007 at 10:22 am
Children aren’t supposed to be playing mature rated games anyway. If they are, the parents should be looked at, not the gaming industry. R-rated movies aren’t being banned, yet they show just as much death and destruction as a violent video game. Seen a horror movie lately ? I find that the blame is never properly attributed in the right direction. This litiginous society has created a ‘not me’ attitude. People have to learn to step up and accept the responsibility that comes with being an adult. That being said, I myself am a CMB. Child in Mans Body. I’ll be 36 in a few months, but still play video games just about every night. I just wait until my kids are in bed.
March 12th, 2007 at 10:33 am
All I have to say is I played doom when I was 8 and I am fine!
March 12th, 2007 at 11:42 am
I was in the Army for a good amount of time and I don’t wanna kill anyone lol.. maybe in Halo I do but not on the streets
March 12th, 2007 at 2:40 pm
Yes they de-sensitize you, no one has ever really said that they don’t. Will they turn you into a cold blooded killer? No. Will games make it so you can better cope with the idea of death and war? Yes, hence why the army uses them for training.
March 15th, 2007 at 7:40 pm
Densensitize, yes… but it isn’t the sole perpetrator. Movies and television are creating desensitized people as well, parents just like to say stuff against video games -_-
March 15th, 2007 at 7:50 pm
the real problem today in society comes down to family issues. When it comes to kids, they have become latch key kids who have a babysitter knows as the Xbox, the PS3 or the Wii or whatever.
It’s not the games that are the problem.. it’s how they are being used.
March 23rd, 2007 at 2:43 pm
I would say they do. But so does the local news. I don’t know which is worse.
March 29th, 2007 at 1:43 am
I saw a local news report today that showed actual dead bodies. I rest my case.