When the game turns off so should the violence
Jun 20 '00
Have I have been an avid gamer ever since I was a young child, yes. Have I ever commited a violent crime, No. Why haven't I, because I know that once the game ends reality sets in and then it's over. Violent people are a very big problem in our society, violent video games aren't. If you are a parent concerned about video games there is a wide variety of ways to monitor what your child is doing as well.
First of all pay very close attention to the games that you purchase your child. The ESRB gives every single game that is released a "rating" very similar to movie ratings. A game that is suitable for all ages will get an "E" for Everybody, which means this is a pretty harmless title. A more adult game will get a "T" for teen which pretty much has content similar to what you can find on a late night cop show. The "M" rating is for Mature gamers only (or 17+ ages) this type of game usually has very graphic content and parents may want to be weary about buying this type of game for their child.
You should always rent a game before you buy. Not only is it a great way to give the game a spin, you can also judge first hand if the game is right for your child. Many video game stores will also let you try out games and give friendly advise on game content before before you buy.
As a parent it is also your job to try and teach your child what the difference between right and wrong is. The line between fiction and reality is a very thick one. The fact is that very few games really have realistic violence in them. It's is not often I am attacked by zombies while walking down the street or things like that.
I admit that there are some games that do go too far.It is those games where you as a parent must really influence your kids to show them that what they are doing on the screen isn't appropriate in real life.
There are some very easy answers to stop video game inspired violence. One would be to get rid of violent video games totally, but is that really a very wise choice. Look at it logically if we did get rid of violent video games then what would be next? The entertainment industry would lose all it's varied types of entertainment. Everything would be the same! The easy answer isn't always the right answer is it? We should concentrate on getting help for those who really do see video games as an extension of reality instead of getting rid of them all together.
If we did get rid of the "phoney" violence in our society it could even lead to people commiting violent crime as they have no where else to turn for it. Yes this is a cliche but violence has existed long before video games have. In nature and in society violence will always be there and video games is just a very easy target in which to place the blame.
Over all this is the kind of issue that can be argued forever. All I'm saying that if you are a concerned parent there are other ways to deal with it, other then writing angry letters to game devlopers. As a parent you have a certain duty to your child, which is to make sure they are safely monitored. It is up to you to keep a watchful eye on your child and let them play whatever you see as appropriate.
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Epinions.com ID:
4leggedchicken
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Member: Ian Pratt
Location: St.Paul, MN
Reviews written: 50
Trusted by: 21 members
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