• Question: do you think that violant computer games making us violant?

    Asked by cdtg to Andrew, Emma, Marianne on 15 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: anon

      anon answered on 14 Jun 2010:

      I don’t know. I think if you spend so long playing computer games that you don’t go out and meet people and see something of the world it could make you feel like you care a little less about your fellow man.

      I think we all have a personal responsibility not to actively harm each other and to try to do good (part of the Hippocratic oath for doctors) and I’m not sure I’d accept ‘ I just play so many computer games that i thought it would be alright to punch him in the face’ as an adequate excuse.

    • Photo: Andrew Maynard

      Andrew Maynard answered on 15 Jun 2010:

      Hi cdtg,

      This is actually a difficult question to answer, because a lot of people start by believing violent computer games lead to violent behaviour, then set out to find evidence for this belief. A number of studies have shown a weak link between violent games and aggressive behaviour, but these links are not conclusive.

      However, there are more issues here than just whether you can prove a link between violent computer games and violent behaviour. One is a concern that violent games don’t teach the consequences of actions. Another is that they encourage attitudes that are potentially socially destructive.

      I’m not aware of any studies that show clearly that violent games are harmless or harmful. But as my son would tell you, I don’t like him playing some violent computer games because they seem to encourage an unhealthy attitude towards other people.

      Am I wrong or right? I don’t know – what do you think?

    • Photo: Marianne Baker

      Marianne Baker answered on 15 Jun 2010:

      Hey cdtg,

      Do you mind if I direct you to my website to answer that?
      In one word, no!

      http://noodlemaz.wordpress.com/2010/03/18/guns-dont-kill-people-rabbids-do/

Comments