Link Between Gaming and Violence

**Mousey** · Sep 16, 2008, 10:13 PM

I know there's been threads made on this already, but most of em are long dead so i'm starting a new one.
On sarcasticgamer.com i just watched a video that infuriated me.
A 40/50 something man by the name of Jack Thompson claiming to be a "Video game expert" is ranting on about links between gaming and real world violence. He also claims that GTA:SA is a "Crime Simulator" which people use to educate themselves in the ways of car jacking and street violence.

Jack Thompson about GTA:SA - Youtube

For starters how can he claim to be an expert on gaming if he doesn't even game himself? That's like me claiming to be an expert in astro physics when in reality i don't know [

] all about it.

Gaming is an outlet as Tony on the left rightly describes, it's entertaining, it's fun, it takes your mind off things and lets you kill time.
Carjacking, Street Violence, Stabbings, Shootings, Assassinations, Prositution and all other kindsa nasty all came before gaming. So why gaming is being blamed as the be all and end all of it is completely beyond me.

I play Counter Strike Source but i don't have an urge to don a balaclava and go shoot law enforcement and anti-terrorist organisation officers.
I play TF:2 as a Pyro but i don't have the urge to find a flamethrower and run around toasting people going "HUDDA HUDDA HUDDA".
I play CoD4 but don't scream god save the queen while i pop some melons with my P90.

Christ, what the hell is wrong with people these days. If they poured more money into the law enforcement agencies that try to stop this happening in the real world maybe then we'd have a safer place to live in, instead of doing the predictable government approach and find a scapegoat and put lots of money into mocking up studies that make it out as the cause.

What do you guys think?

Zardon · Sep 16, 2008, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mousey

Christ, what the hell is wrong with people these days. ?

In the past if people didnt know about something they researched it then made comments. Today thanks to the joys of the internet every idiot has an opinion and isnt afraid to show it, even if he doesn't know the subject on any level.

Metal music makes you worship satan and computer games breed violence. Its all very black and white apparently.

**Mousey** · Sep 16, 2008, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zardon

In the past if people didnt know about something they researched it then made comments. Today thanks to the joys of the internet every idiot has an opinion and isnt afraid to show it, even if he doesn't know the subject on any level.

Metal music makes you worship satan and computer games breed violence. Its all very black and white apparently.

And rock music makes me turn violent, yeah yeah i've heard it places

God forbid i download any Led Zepplin, i might just start playing gigs, getting drunk, snorting drugs and getting laid. (If only it was that easy. lol)
To be honest i think you might have just got it in one there Z, anonymity is a blessing and a curse so it seems.

GutterPunk · Sep 16, 2008, 10:34 PM

Hate this subject, it always makes me crazy!

My fave is mr thompson on the VA Tech shootings on how it is forensic evidence that since he was so calm shooting people it is because he rehearsed on a video game. LO freaking L. Give me a break, I can kill people all day playing halo 3, cod4 etc... but when I have a gun in my hand shooting skeet or trap... it is a whole different story. You have to physically do it to practice, a game can only give so much exerpience (just like flight sims... you may put 100,000 hours in flight sims but when you are in a plane it is a whole different story... you may be able to pull off a landing but you aren't going to be calm about it). dumb da dumb dumb dumbbbbbbbb

Judas · Sep 16, 2008, 10:48 PM

the relation between violence and video games is as much as violence and being in traffic/driving a car, in REAL life....

Falstaff · Sep 17, 2008, 06:34 AM

Hey Mousey,
I heard there is a direct link between Parkour and homegrown, can you confirm that?

Cow_160483 · Sep 17, 2008, 10:44 AM

What the heck is this ?? seriously I mean this guy "jack Thompson" how many games has he played? i bet you that he has not played any at all, he is just trying to make a name for himself and that's it. Any way i hope he gets run over by a car

lol

***craig5320*** · Sep 17, 2008, 10:52 AM

The only link between games and violence is that some people who are violent are also allowed to buy games.

Same sorta people that can't handle their drink, and just want a fight after alcohol, really sad.

As for GTA as a crime simulator, that guys just pissed he got arrested after trying to get the money back from his hooker. Should have pressed R1 faster buddy!

Actually come to think of it. There was a guy stood at the traffic lights next to my car yesterday randomly hitting Y on an xbox pad. Damn he must have been trying to car jack me GTA style.

cozumel · Sep 17, 2008, 11:16 AM

I do think that violent films/games etc has the potential to influence people who already have symptoms of mental health. But that just identifies the need for improved quality of healthcare in diagnosing and preventing 'ill' people becoming dangerous. Games & films can be a trigger for this small minority and there have been numerous (but extremely rare) convictions where the link and trigger been identified. I do believe that over 99% of violent crimes would have been committed regardless. The less than half per cent that remains I believe could have been influence by media they may have seen/played/watched.

I love games & films that that include gore, violence & death. Black Sabbath and other metal bands are great. I'd never dream of killing.

I don't believe in censorship except in extreme case.

Partizan · Sep 17, 2008, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by craig5320

The only link between games and violence is that some people who are violent are also allowed to buy games.

I agree.

I've been playing games since I was nine. I'm 32 now. All I got is a few speeding tickets (and no, I am not using streets for my rally course) Jack Thompson what are you gonna say now???

**Mousey** · Sep 17, 2008, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falstaff

Hey Mousey,
I heard there is a direct link between Parkour and homegrown, can you confirm that?

There's a link between Parkour and something of an adrenaline addiction in my case
but i think that's the same for a lot traceurs

I've found a lot of videos regarding jack thompson and his seemingly unstoppable hatred of video games, this guy just talks more and more complete horse shit in each video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ss6VK2t2LA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nvbhrCl5Ew

**MIG-31** · Sep 17, 2008, 05:22 PM

I have been playing games since the young age of 7... and some of them has been perhaps for the time quite gruesome.Mortal Kombat.. is one that i recall from the console days.And i am a touch older the 35 Years old and have never had any thoughts of hurting anyone in anyway.

I can never understand why certain people place the blame on TV/Movies/Games and recently Booze.But i will never say they don't show some sort of influence to somebody's Mental behavior.

Perhaps its just another excuse for the minority who tend to ruin things for the general public.

OmegaRED · Sep 17, 2008, 07:28 PM

Jack Thompson is pretty much a one man army when it comes to anti-gaming crusading. Fortunately for us gamers, he's a total nutjob and as far as I know about to be disbarred thanks to his own stupidity.

I've seen people just as violent and pissed off playing a kids game on the Wii as playing any GTA or CoD game...violence in games just doesn't make you violent in real life. Violent games probably do slowly desensitize you towards violence in real life but only at a fraction of the pace we get daily from violence on tv and movies.

IEMC · Sep 17, 2008, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mousey

A 40/50 something man by the name of Jack Thompson claiming to be a "Video game expert" is ranting on about links between gaming and real world violence.

Is this really your first experience with Thompson? He's notorious for being a video game hater. Nothing new.

**Mousey** · Sep 17, 2008, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IEMC

Is this really your first experience with Thompson? He's notorious for being a video game hater. Nothing new.

It is actually, we don't really get game haters in the uk tbh

People like him need a good kick in the teeth.
To be honest i wanna meet him just so i can watch him scream like a bitch and run for cover when i tell him i play counter strike

SeraphicSorcerer · Sep 17, 2008, 10:16 PM

Aggression is actually built into our genetic makeup, it's the primal part of our brain, Video games may be able to stimulate these regions but THEY DO NOT control them. People not using the rational side of their brain and then trying to use the games as a scapegoat to try and escape the death penalty.

Sep 16, 2008, 10:13 PM	#1
Mousey Synth's Long Lost Bro Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Web Design Hell Posts: 7,189 Rep Power: 245 System Specs	Link Between Gaming and Violence I know there's been threads made on this already, but most of em are long dead so i'm starting a new one. On sarcasticgamer.com i just watched a video that infuriated me. A 40/50 something man by the name of Jack Thompson claiming to be a "Video game expert" is ranting on about links between gaming and real world violence. He also claims that GTA:SA is a "Crime Simulator" which people use to educate themselves in the ways of car jacking and street violence. Jack Thompson about GTA:SA - Youtube For starters how can he claim to be an expert on gaming if he doesn't even game himself? That's like me claiming to be an expert in astro physics when in reality i don't know [] all about it. Gaming is an outlet as Tony on the left rightly describes, it's entertaining, it's fun, it takes your mind off things and lets you kill time. Carjacking, Street Violence, Stabbings, Shootings, Assassinations, Prositution and all other kindsa nasty all came before gaming. So why gaming is being blamed as the be all and end all of it is completely beyond me. I play Counter Strike Source but i don't have an urge to don a balaclava and go shoot law enforcement and anti-terrorist organisation officers. I play TF:2 as a Pyro but i don't have the urge to find a flamethrower and run around toasting people going "HUDDA HUDDA HUDDA". I play CoD4 but don't scream god save the queen while i pop some melons with my P90. Christ, what the hell is wrong with people these days. If they poured more money into the law enforcement agencies that try to stop this happening in the real world maybe then we'd have a safer place to live in, instead of doing the predictable government approach and find a scapegoat and put lots of money into mocking up studies that make it out as the cause. What do you guys think? __________________

Sep 16, 2008, 10:34 PM	#4
GutterPunk I = Greatest Dood Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nebraska Posts: 5,949 Rep Power: 71	Hate this subject, it always makes me crazy! My fave is mr thompson on the VA Tech shootings on how it is forensic evidence that since he was so calm shooting people it is because he rehearsed on a video game. LO freaking L. Give me a break, I can kill people all day playing halo 3, cod4 etc... but when I have a gun in my hand shooting skeet or trap... it is a whole different story. You have to physically do it to practice, a game can only give so much exerpience (just like flight sims... you may put 100,000 hours in flight sims but when you are in a plane it is a whole different story... you may be able to pull off a landing but you aren't going to be calm about it). dumb da dumb dumb dumbbbbbbbb __________________ Rock On \m/ Thank you Mousey for the Sig! --------------- Intel Core2Duo E6660 (3.4GHZ) ~ Tuniq Tower 120 ~ Enermax Galaxy 1000W ~ Corsair Dominator @ 1090MHZ 5-5-5-15 (OCZ XTC Modded Cooler)~ EVGA 8800GTX W/ HR-03 Plus 120MM ~ Asus DVD-RW LiteScribe ~ LG DVD-RW ~ Corsair Voyager 2GB ReadyBoost Drive ~ Vantec Nexus Fan Controller ~ ThermalTake Armor 25CM fan ~ Personal Finance Blog: Dent Your Debt

Sep 17, 2008, 06:34 AM	#6
Falstaff Old Codger Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: USAFA Posts: 19,048 Rep Power: 207	Hey Mousey, I heard there is a direct link between Parkour and homegrown, can you confirm that? __________________ "Inspiration is always a surprising visitor."

Sep 17, 2008, 10:44 AM	#7
Cow_160483 HH's only cow moooooo... Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: BOTSWANA Posts: 6,814 Rep Power: 300 System Specs	What the heck is this ?? seriously I mean this guy "jack Thompson" how many games has he played? i bet you that he has not played any at all, he is just trying to make a name for himself and that's it. Any way i hope he gets run over by a car lol __________________ Decode! Muhahahahah!

Sep 17, 2008, 10:52 AM	#8
*craig5320* HH Administrator Join Date: May 2002 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 8,566 Rep Power: 445 System Specs	The only link between games and violence is that some people who are violent are also allowed to buy games. Same sorta people that can't handle their drink, and just want a fight after alcohol, really sad. As for GTA as a crime simulator, that guys just pissed he got arrested after trying to get the money back from his hooker. Should have pressed R1 faster buddy! Actually come to think of it. There was a guy stood at the traffic lights next to my car yesterday randomly hitting Y on an xbox pad. Damn he must have been trying to car jack me GTA style. __________________ HardwareHeaven on Facebook

Sep 17, 2008, 11:16 AM	#9
cozumel I'm dangerous but cute... Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Under the waves... Posts: 3,577 Rep Power: 60 System Specs	I do think that violent films/games etc has the potential to influence people who already have symptoms of mental health. But that just identifies the need for improved quality of healthcare in diagnosing and preventing 'ill' people becoming dangerous. Games & films can be a trigger for this small minority and there have been numerous (but extremely rare) convictions where the link and trigger been identified. I do believe that over 99% of violent crimes would have been committed regardless. The less than half per cent that remains I believe could have been influence by media they may have seen/played/watched. I love games & films that that include gore, violence & death. Black Sabbath and other metal bands are great. I'd never dream of killing. I don't believe in censorship except in extreme case. __________________ Don't worry about money - Be a beach bum! Scuba Rocks

Sep 17, 2008, 05:22 PM	#12
MIG-31 HardwareHeaven News Mod Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Nottingham,UK Posts: 56,818 Rep Power: 471 System Specs	I have been playing games since the young age of 7... and some of them has been perhaps for the time quite gruesome.Mortal Kombat.. is one that i recall from the console days.And i am a touch older the 35 Years old and have never had any thoughts of hurting anyone in anyway. I can never understand why certain people place the blame on TV/Movies/Games and recently Booze.But i will never say they don't show some sort of influence to somebody's Mental behavior. Perhaps its just another excuse for the minority who tend to ruin things for the general public. __________________ Please Post Your News Submissions Here

Sep 17, 2008, 07:28 PM	#13
OmegaRED Relapsed Gamer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Ottawa , Canada Posts: 5,688 Rep Power: 173 System Specs	Jack Thompson is pretty much a one man army when it comes to anti-gaming crusading. Fortunately for us gamers, he's a total nutjob and as far as I know about to be disbarred thanks to his own stupidity. I've seen people just as violent and pissed off playing a kids game on the Wii as playing any GTA or CoD game...violence in games just doesn't make you violent in real life. Violent games probably do slowly desensitize you towards violence in real life but only at a fraction of the pace we get daily from violence on tv and movies. __________________ E Penis Specs: <------------- See System Specs

Sep 17, 2008, 10:16 PM	#16
SeraphicSorcerer HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 2,295 Rep Power: 156 System Specs	Aggression is actually built into our genetic makeup, it's the primal part of our brain, Video games may be able to stimulate these regions but THEY DO NOT control them. People not using the rational side of their brain and then trying to use the games as a scapegoat to try and escape the death penalty. __________________