Article: Do violent games cause violent crimes?:

With the recent massacre at VA Tech University, there has been alot of speculation as to whether violent videogames were a factor. Actually violent videogames have been blamed for the past 20 years.. but my argument is that violent videogames might be a factor, but is in no way the reason people do violent things.

Many will argue that videogames, especially violent ones, desensitize gamers to the notion of death and violence. There are some very vocal and influential people, who are just as ignorant, that say videogames are a major factor in some of these horrendous acts of violence. Some even say that violent videogames are the direct cause of it. Many also want game companies to stop making violent videogames. Well lets look at these statements closely shall we...

"Violent videogames are the cause of these violent acts because they desensitize gamers to the idea of death and killing."

First of all.. games are merely a tool/medium/artform that is open to the public who CHOOSE to purchase it. You know whats more a cause of the killings than videogames? THE GUNS! To say that videogames are solely to blame is saying that there weren't any violent crimes being commited before videogames were invented. More people have been killed in the name of religion in the history of mankind than videogames ever did, but I don't see anyone blaming religion... is it just too touchy a subject?

"Violent videogames may not have been the sole cause, but it was a major factor. Some of these acts were even done in a game to practice for the real thing."

Well.. I admit that gaming could be a factor, but everything can be a "factor". Simply being a factor will never get game companies to stop making violent videogames. The fact remains that the transfer from playing a videogame to actually pulling the trigger or stabbing someone has to go through something that is ultimately flawed. The human brain. Sometimes we cause this to happen by allowing children to see violence early on in life and thus desensitizing that person, but this does not put the blame on gaming. It puts the blame on people. Humans are flawed...The real problem here is that we don't see the signs of violence early on, and when we do see the signs of violence we either don't report it, ignore it or are too lazy or scared to say anything. As for people who use videogames to "practice" or mentally prepare for violence... well gaming is a medium. Like art.. it can be used for many things.. this doesn't mean that game companies make games purposely to cause violent crimes. How come we aren't looking at places like shooting ranges or martial arts dojos or anything else that can be twisted into something violent or malicious?

"Videogames have been found as a common link to many major killing or act of violence in the past X years."

Well what most of these people may not know is.. the gaming market is just as big, if not bigger than the movie industry in both entertainment and business. Saying that gaming is a common factor is like saying, "They've all had computers, seen tv, seen a movie, had cars, ate fast food, etc." Finding a link of videogames is almost inevitable in this day and age.

In the end, social deviance can only be caused by society. To say that videogames encompass society is ignorance. It is merely a tiny fragment of our society. Its our lack of neighborly conduct today. Its our lack of interest in what our children sees or hears. Its our need to blame that keeps us from seeing the real problems. Its not the medium, its the people.