“VIOLENCE AMONG YOUNGSTERS”

Should we blame video games?

History of video gaming

The problem is…

The more elaborate and violent video games are getting, the more often can you hear an opinion that playing them is detrimental to the teenagers’ mental health and makes them more aggressive in real life.

Patrick Kierkegaard of the University of Essex, England

Incidents speculated CAUSED by video

games

1997 17-year old American Michael

Carneal killed  and injured 5 others in the High School shooting after playing Doom, Quake, and Resident Evil.

2003 18-year old American Devin

Moore shot and killed two policemen and a dispatcher after grabbing one of the officers' weapons following an arrest for the possession of a stolen vehicle. At trial, the defense claimed that Moore had been inspired by the video gameGrand Theft Auto

2008

17-year old American Steven Phillip killed 6 and injured 18 After playing Counter Strike.

Consequences

Some games are banned in other countries

Rationalizations of game violence

1. All of us know the difference

2. It is a parent’s responsibility

3. Games don’t kill people, people kill people

4.Other forms of media are worse than video games

5. There are a lot of games which are educational and good for our health

What I think…

On balance, the allegation that video games are the main factor that causes young people to be aggressive appears to be ungrounded and biased. Mass media’s frequent speculations on this topic distract our attention from the actual causes of violence and let the problem get worse.

CONCLUSION:

STOP BLAMING

VIDEO GAMES