Comments on: Because of Video Games I Now Like to Punch Strangers on the Street http://kulturblog.com/2008/05/05/because-of-video-games-i-now-like-to-punch-strangers-on-the-street/ A pop culture blog by Mormons but not about Mormonism Sat, 26 May 2012 14:16:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Rusty http://kulturblog.com/2008/05/05/because-of-video-games-i-now-like-to-punch-strangers-on-the-street/#comment-20024 Fri, 09 May 2008 00:07:43 +0000 http://www.kulturblog.com/2008/05/because-of-video-games-i-now-like-to-punch-strangers-on-the-street/#comment-20024 Here’s an interesting article, though a couple days late for this discussion:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24528625/

]]> By: John K. http://kulturblog.com/2008/05/05/because-of-video-games-i-now-like-to-punch-strangers-on-the-street/#comment-20023 Tue, 06 May 2008 00:49:55 +0000 http://www.kulturblog.com/2008/05/because-of-video-games-i-now-like-to-punch-strangers-on-the-street/#comment-20023 I think people who exercise violent behavior in connection with video games were wired to be violent in the first place. The vast majority of people who play these games exhibit no increase in violent behavior.

In fact, I believe in just the opposite. What little aggression I have in my life, I’m able to empty out into a video game. This allows me to live my life very peacefully. I also believe the same thing about “angry” music. I feel like listening to something that crystallizes some of my feelings end up helping me to address those feelings in a harmless way.

]]> By: Abby http://kulturblog.com/2008/05/05/because-of-video-games-i-now-like-to-punch-strangers-on-the-street/#comment-20022 Tue, 06 May 2008 00:04:39 +0000 http://www.kulturblog.com/2008/05/because-of-video-games-i-now-like-to-punch-strangers-on-the-street/#comment-20022 I agree with MCQ, huge difference when the character is a “person” and not a cartoon character.

Tracy – I’m right there with you!!

]]> By: Geoff J http://kulturblog.com/2008/05/05/because-of-video-games-i-now-like-to-punch-strangers-on-the-street/#comment-20021 Mon, 05 May 2008 23:50:54 +0000 http://www.kulturblog.com/2008/05/because-of-video-games-i-now-like-to-punch-strangers-on-the-street/#comment-20021 As for the general topic of violence in media — I tend to agree with those who say that such video games can work as training exercises whether we want to admit it or not.

BTW — Noisepie wrote and recorded a song about this very subject.

]]> By: MCQ http://kulturblog.com/2008/05/05/because-of-video-games-i-now-like-to-punch-strangers-on-the-street/#comment-20020 Mon, 05 May 2008 23:49:35 +0000 http://www.kulturblog.com/2008/05/because-of-video-games-i-now-like-to-punch-strangers-on-the-street/#comment-20020 There is something different about first person video games that gives me pause. When you’re controlling a character, it seems completely removed from you and “just a game.” When the character is you, not so much.

]]> By: Geoff J http://kulturblog.com/2008/05/05/because-of-video-games-i-now-like-to-punch-strangers-on-the-street/#comment-20019 Mon, 05 May 2008 23:49:25 +0000 http://www.kulturblog.com/2008/05/because-of-video-games-i-now-like-to-punch-strangers-on-the-street/#comment-20019 David J: Maybe I should have said “Oh my heck! They’re so AWESOME!”

I would have gone with something more along the lines of “they are chock full o’ awesomely awesome awesomeness!”…

]]> By: tracy m http://kulturblog.com/2008/05/05/because-of-video-games-i-now-like-to-punch-strangers-on-the-street/#comment-20018 Mon, 05 May 2008 23:28:46 +0000 http://www.kulturblog.com/2008/05/because-of-video-games-i-now-like-to-punch-strangers-on-the-street/#comment-20018 Hmmmm- something about being able to have sex with a prostitute and then shoot her/run her over/beat her with a bat makes GTA4 not something I want in my house.

And there should be little dispute over the desensitizing effect that would have.

That quote from Dan Houser, SG, does little to make me feel better!

]]> By: Dan http://kulturblog.com/2008/05/05/because-of-video-games-i-now-like-to-punch-strangers-on-the-street/#comment-20017 Mon, 05 May 2008 23:11:38 +0000 http://www.kulturblog.com/2008/05/because-of-video-games-i-now-like-to-punch-strangers-on-the-street/#comment-20017 Eric,

Dan, considering that the alternative is not knowing when to shoot your weapon, that can only be a good thing.

True, if you actually need to use a weapon. I don’t see a need for a weapon in the kind of society we have been creating here, where the state holds the monopoly on violence—or should at least—so that I trust my safety and the safety of my family to the police (which is what we pay them for). Most problems can be solved without the need of weapons, and for the ones that can’t, I leave it to the Lord to protect me and my family beyond my capabilities. He says to put our trust in Him. I don’t need weapons, or to learn how to use them. But that’s just my view. And it is tangential now to the main point here.

Games like these two focus too much on the violent aspects of the lives they depict. Give me a game like Civ (which, yes, it does contain violence), where I can build, rather than destroy. I loved the game Settlers II from a while back (there is an open source version called Widelands which isn’t too bad). The best part I loved about that game was learning how to manage resources and how to best build the roads for all the materials to easily travel without jamming up too much in various sections. I find this kind of game much more stimulating.

]]> By: jjohnsen http://kulturblog.com/2008/05/05/because-of-video-games-i-now-like-to-punch-strangers-on-the-street/#comment-20016 Mon, 05 May 2008 23:09:33 +0000 http://www.kulturblog.com/2008/05/because-of-video-games-i-now-like-to-punch-strangers-on-the-street/#comment-20016 Dan, kids don’t need video games to tell them that violence is the way to solve issues, the government does that every day. Unfortunately violence is how many issued are solved.

I haven’t played GTA4, but the first couple were pretty fun. Kind of a playable version of Godfather or Goodfellas. I have Wii now, so most of my videogaming involves my daughter and I trying to collect stars in Super Mario Galaxy. I have no problem with violent media for myself though, it hasn’t made me a violent person.

]]> By: Abby http://kulturblog.com/2008/05/05/because-of-video-games-i-now-like-to-punch-strangers-on-the-street/#comment-20015 Mon, 05 May 2008 22:30:18 +0000 http://www.kulturblog.com/2008/05/because-of-video-games-i-now-like-to-punch-strangers-on-the-street/#comment-20015 Exposure to violence, whether through video games, movies, real life experiences, etc. are sure to impact a developing mind. I’m not going to picket the game makers to stop, but we all have a choice and a different “tolerance” level of what we believe is acceptable and what we think is okay to let our children play.

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