Violent in Video Games - Essay Example

Topic: Violent video games have inured their users to real life violence. You: I do believe that violent video games have inured users to real life violence. As we can see today especially on the news, there are so many senseless shootings everywhere and mostly because of the influence of these violent video games. Your Opponent: I disagree. It has not been proven yet that these violent video games were the cause of any of these shootings. In fact, most of the shooters either have a personal problem or a mental problem. You: While it is true that personal problems or mental problems plagued the minds of these shooters, it was shown in studies that the ones who play for extended periods of time tend to be more aggressive. That, coupled with their personal or mental problems, would push these individuals over the edge. Your Opponent: You say those who play for extended periods of time, what about those who only play for limited periods of time? Are they also in danger of being pushed over the edge of their wits? I don’t think so. You: Well, let’s face it. Video games are quite addictive. I myself have tried once to stop at the middle of a game, but I cannot. I kept on saying one more game until I’ve noticed that I already have extended for several hours more than my intended time of playing. Indeed, these violent video games are so addictive that most players neglect their studies, work, social life, and even their health. Your Opponent: Let’s just say that there is some truth in video games as being addictive, but that still doesn’t prove that violent video games have accustomed their users to real life violence. Even the Entertainment Software Association argued that researchers have not established a link between media violence and real-life violence (Pow, MailOnline). You: Then let us go deeper into our discussion and take the case of the Sandy Hook massacre that happened in December 14, 2012. Adam Lanza, the shooter, was reported to be obsessed with shooter’s game Call of Duty wherein the game uses assault weapons similar to the Bushmaster AR-15 that Adam Lanza used in shooting his mother, 20 innocent children, and 6 school staffs (Pow, MailOnline). Your Opponent: It was indeed a very traumatic incident, but still, there is no direct link between the violent video games and the mass murder. About 80% of Americans play video games and you cannot say that these players would become mass murderers, can you? You: That would be absurd if that’s your analogy. What I am trying to point out here is that violent video games have so much realism in them that players are absorbed into the virtual world and reliving them in the real world. That, I think, is where the danger lies. Your Opponent: The realism in these games is solely for entertainment purposes. It is not the intention of the creators of these violent video games to inflict harm on anyone or to put anybody in danger. I, as a player, and all the other players know that these games are just games and that’s that. You: You cannot say that these games are just games when the violence contained in them are too bloody and horrendous for the human mind to comprehend. Even game designer Warren Spector says, “I do believe that we are fetishizing violence and now in some cases actually combining it with an adolescent approach to sexuality. I just think it’s in bad taste. Ultimately, I think it will cause us trouble. The ultra violence has to stop” (Pow, MailOnline). Your Opponent: Too realistic or not, these violent video games are just the same as other forms of media and entertainment that are protected by the First Amendment particularly the freedom of speech and you cannot just put a stop to its production unless someone could provide evidence linking these violent video games to crimes committed. You: Evidence? If you want evidence, then open your eyes wide open including your mind. The evidence is overflowing. Let us go back to the case of the Sandy Hook massacre where Adam Lanza wore black from head to foot and in full battle gear with his weapons and ammunitions strapped to his pocket vest, just like the main character in his favorite video game, before he went on a killing spree. It goes the same with James Holmes who, according to police, wore tactical clothing, complete with a gas mask and a ballistic helmet, and stormed into the Colorado Theater and threw smoke bombs before indiscriminately firing into the audience. It was as if he was in a war of some sort. As I have said earlier, what they experienced in the virtual world they are reliving it in the real world. Need I say more? Your Opponent: Those are just conjectures and cannot be taken as real evidence. Really, these talks about violent video games as being the cause of these mass shootings and massacres are just jargons. You: I strongly disagree with that. Human lives lost in these mass shootings and massacres cannot be taken lightly and if there is the slightest evidence that there is a connection with these violent games and these senseless shootings, it should be taken seriously and be dealt with accordingly so that no more lives would be wasted. Your Opponent: Please don’t misunderstand me. I also value human lives just like you do. But, let us not be misled by insinuating articles in newspapers and the web that are quick to blame violent video games when something goes wrong in the society especially the youth. You: If you ask me, that is just one tiny positive thing on violent video games as compared with the grave effects that they do to society and please remember, these effects are irreversible. Your Opponent: These “tiny” positive effects, as you call it, put the youth away from the streets, from drugs, and from bad influences that could lead them to commit crimes. You: They may be away from the streets and drugs, but the bad influence is staring them right in the eye like a monster that’s ready to devour them any minute, and once this “monster” has consumed them, they would act like one and do unimaginable crimes. It should be stopped. Your Opponent: But stopping the production, sale, and use of these games – even temporarily- is unconstitutional; therefore, it could not be allowed. Such act would hinder the freedom of speech. You: Oh! Please, don’t patronize me. You speak of unconstitutionality, the freedom of speech? What about the victims of these senseless shootings, these senseless massacres? Did they even have their right? Did they even have the chance to exercise their freedom of speech when they were brutally gunned down? What about their right to live? Your Opponent: I am not patronizing you and I am not patronizing anyone. I am just pointing out the impossibility of putting a stop to these kinds of video games because it is not legal according to the First Amendment. You: Then I think it is the right time for us, for the legislators in particular, to review our law. I think it should be specifically indicated and incorporated in our constitution what types of entertainment are allowed and what types should be banned. Your Opponent: These video games are never intended to corrupt others. Their creators’ only purpose is to provide entertainment. If some individuals cannot take the violence contained in these games, then they don’t need to play it. It’s as simple as that. You: Please, let us not play innocent here anymore. We cannot deny the fact that these addictive games create a path between the virtual world and the real world, and once the player stumbles into that path because he is pushed over the edge by his personal problems or his mental problems, it would be a point of no return for him. One last thing that I would like to emphasize here is that if there is the slightest possibility that these violent video games have something to do with these senseless killings, which I strongly believe they do, then these games should be banned once and for all for the sake of humanity. Your Opponent: I also want to leave a final word on this. Let us not fear the technology around us. Let us embrace it because they are created to help us live a more comfortable life. These violent video games, as I’ve said earlier, are just games and nothing more. They are only made for enjoyment. Let us keep in mind that we are in control of our own lives. We are in control of these technologies and not the other way around. Works Cited Pow, Helen. “Should Call of Duty be banned? Sandy Hook massacre reignites debae over violent video games that arm players with automatic weapons.” Mail Online. 12 December 2012. n. pag. Web. 12 March 2014. Read More