Do video games cause violence in children?

[Hatterleigh]

So with the recent shootings, some people have claimed video games are responsible for people going crazy and shooting people. Others claim that is false and not backed by studies. What do you guys think? I sort of feel like there isn't gonna be much anti-gamer sentiment on this forum but I have seen a lot of different people on here so at the very least I want to see where the thread goes

I for one think it's pretty obvious video games don't cause violence, at the very least for the general sane population, if anything this feels like something moms would say in the 90s, but I do enjoy the population of annoying odorous gamers getting rather flustered by this.

[Lancaster of Wessex]

It may exacerbate things for those who are mentally prone to wanting to commit such acts, but for the vast, vast majority, no, I don't think there's any real correlation.

[Page]

It may exacerbate things for those who are mentally prone to wanting to commit such acts, but for the vast, vast majority, no, I don't think there's any real correlation.

I don't even think it's fair to say it exacerbates things for violent people, because it isn't that violent video games make their desire to hurt people stronger, rather these people might seek it out to try to satiate that desire.

[Dresderstan]

No, next!

[The Two Jerseys]

Video games don't cause children to be violent.

They cause children to smoke.

But seriously though, some consistency in the "TV/movies/video games/whatever cause children to X" department would be appreciated...

[Northwest Slobovia]

No.

/Thread

Got it in two.

Honestly, I have to wonder why people keep starting "I don't believe in silly thing" threads. Boredom? Attention whoring? Long, hot summer days?

[LiberNovusAmericae]

My former Psychology Professor talked to me about it, and he stated yes it does increase aggression, but only a little bit, and only for a short amount of time. So, I would say no. A normal kid is not going to suddenly shoot up a school just because he or she played a violent video game.

[Kremlinian Russia]

People be saying video games are violent while I peacefully explore the galaxy in Elite Dangerous.

[Page]

People be saying video games are violent while I peacefully explore the galaxy in Elite Dangerous.

I spend 2/3 of my time in Red Dead choosing a perfect outfit for Arthur.

[The Huskar Social Union]

Yeah man, dont you remember hitler and goring playing some mario bros before they went and killing millions of people?

[Kremlinian Russia]

People be saying video games are violent while I peacefully explore the galaxy in Elite Dangerous.

I go to war as France against Germany all the time in EU4.

...

Woes this make me a warmonger?

As a Civilization AI, I say yes.

[Dresderstan]

No.

/Thread

Got it in two.

Honestly, I have to wonder why people keep starting "I don't believe in silly thing" threads. Boredom? Attention whoring? Long, hot summer days?

All three of them maybe?

People be saying video games are violent while I peacefully explore the galaxy in Elite Dangerous.

I go to war as France against Germany all the time in EU4.

...

Woes this make me a warmonger?

No, just like me killing gangsters and mobsters in GTA IV does not make me a serial killer gun for hire.

[Gormwood]

Let me know when mass shooters start dancing.

[Scomagia]

I've long heard the argument that video games make people violent. However, I have never seen actual evidence to that effect.

[Kenshiri]

No. Studies have actually shown that the majority of video games actually can decrease violence in teens.

I can't link the exact studies right now as I can't particularly find them, but if I do, I'd be sure to make a new edit.

I go to war as France against Germany all the time in EU4.

...

Woes this make me a warmonger?

No, just like me killing gangsters and mobsters in GTA IV does not make me a serial killer gun for hire.

I chopped down a tree in Minecraft! It must mean I'm for the exploitation and deforestation of the Amazon Rainforest!

Oh no, I choosed to play Germany in HOI4! It must mean I'm a Nazi!

[Pacomia]

Nah, I don’t think so. I know that after playing a violent video game, I don’t have the urge to go out and shoot people, and when I was a younger kid, I still didn’t. I can’t say if this goes for everyone, but I think that violent video games don’t actually make people violent. If anything, it could make them LESS violent, because it shows them the consequences of violence.

[Marxist Germany]

No

[Saiwania]

Its true that having a lot of video gaming in your life isn't healthy, it weakens someone's physical fitness, weakens social skills, is generally a huge time waster, and etc. It is too solitary and meaningless to real life. Even so, it is probably not to blame for violence. It is primarily Baby Boomers using it as a scapegoat or excuse to not do any increased regulation or legislation with regards to firearms.

[Juristonia]

Only when someone throws a blue shell when I was in FIRST PLACE FOR TWO FUCKING ROUNDS, BRANDON.

[Pacomia]

No. Studies have actually shown that the majority of video games actually can decrease violence in teens.

I can't link the exact studies right now as I can't particularly find them, but if I do, I'd be sure to make a new edit.



I chopped down a tree in Minecraft! It must mean I'm for the exploitation and deforestation of the Amazon Rainforest!

Oh no, I choosed to play Germany in HOI4! It must mean I'm a Nazi!

I only play Germany in most strategy games, occasionally France.

I like to play medium-sized nations. Makes it a lot more fun, in my opinion.

Games like HOI4 aren’t considered violent, although they have a lot more death than so-called “violent” video games. They’re just statistics on a screen. That’s part of the horror of DEFCON.

[Pacomia]

Only when someone throws a blue shell when I was in FIRST PLACE FOR TWO FUCKING ROUNDS, BRANDON.

Just reading this makes me go want to strangle Brandon. Mario Kart certainly makes people violent.

[Dresderstan]

I only play Germany in most strategy games, occasionally France.

I like to play medium-sized nations. Makes it a lot more fun, in my opinion.

Games like HOI4 aren’t considered violent, although they have a lot more death than so-called “violent” video games. They’re just statistics on a screen. That’s part of the horror of DEFCON.

I consider games like HOI4 and Civ to be more strategy based map games. Does it involve war and death, yes, but it's mostly a backdrop to how to take over certain locations on a map. And imo it's less violent than the violent video games like those of the GTA, RDR, Doom and MK series.

[Kremlinian Russia]

I consider games like HOI4 and Civ to be more strategy based map games. Does it involve war and death, yes, but it's mostly a backdrop to how to take over certain locations on a map. And imo it's less violent than the violent video games like those of the GTA, RDR, Doom and MK series.

True.

But it makes every death a statistic, ya know?

I like to press buttons and watch as 10 million Nazis throw themselves at my frontlines and die, only for Hitler to asspull another 10 million soldiers somehow.

[Dresderstan]

I consider games like HOI4 and Civ to be more strategy based map games. Does it involve war and death, yes, but it's mostly a backdrop to how to take over certain locations on a map. And imo it's less violent than the violent video games like those of the GTA, RDR, Doom and MK series.

True.

But it makes every death a statistic, ya know?

What's next the board game Risk gets banned because it encourages people to become a warmonger wanting to take over the world?

[Pacomia]

I consider games like HOI4 and Civ to be more strategy based map games. Does it involve war and death, yes, but it's mostly a backdrop to how to take over certain locations on a map. And imo it's less violent than the violent video games like those of the GTA, RDR, Doom and MK series.

True.

But it makes every death a statistic, ya know?

It desensitises you. You hear “230 deaths” and you think “Wow, not many casualties. My war had 9 million.