Video Games Normalize Killing?
Over on Joystiq, they have an interesting post dealing with a TV report on video games and how they “normalize” killing. It’s a great post that shows the idiocy of the sensationalist “news” media. Read it, then come back here for my own rant.
Look, I’m sure violent video games aren’t great for kids. That’s why they have a rating system in place. I’m also pretty damn sure that my brain gets more active when I’m playing a violent game, especially if it’s online. There’s nothing like the thrill of a really good match up on Halo or Call of Duty 4 to get me worked up and on my mind running. Killing in games certainly gets normalized because you do so much of it. Killing in real life? Not so much.
The news report has this brilliant insight to offer, “Research suggests that violent video games can make children feel different” and, “A brain scan of a teenager who has just played what was deemed a nonviolent video game was compared to the scan of a teen who had just spent 30 minutes playing a violent game.” This isn’t that hard to figure out. When you’re playing a game that is more intense and it’s kill or be killed, you’re most certainly going to feel differently than when your pushing the B button to get Mario to jump. Saying that these “different feelings” are going to desensitize you to real violence is a leap that’s too far to make. You get a feeling different feeling when you stub your toe than when I’m not clumsy, does that mean I’m desensitized to pain?
All this boils down to is adults who didn’t grow up on games are afraid of them. Just like their parents were afraid of Elvis’s sexual organs and in turn their parents were afraid of automobiles. Just like I’ll be afraid of my someday child’s interest in nude donkey rap. It’s all just a big cycle of fear and blame and it will eventually pass if we collectively and calmly dispel this kind of nonsense whenever we can.
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