a thing

If irresponsible children can't play video games, why can irresponsible adults?

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Indigno

I'm sorry, but all of that videogames cause violence "scientific research" is complete horse shit. I have been playing FPS games since I was 6, and the only times I ever get in fights are when it's defensive (I'm weak, and I'm a PC nerd, what do you expect?). Even then, I've only ever been in maybe 4 fights. Ever.

All of this BS about violence and video games is from the columbine incident. "ZOMG THEY LISTEN TO HEAVY METAL AND PLAY SHOOT EM UP GAMES THEN THEY SHOT UP A SCHOOL!!! THAT MEANS THAT ALL FPS GAMERS ARE PSYCOPATHS!!! LOOK I HAVE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH!!!" my ass. I play FPS games, and I listen to heavy metal music. Lock me up, and the other 500 million people like me.

But you know what? from what I can tell, the jocks, rednecks, and preppies seem to beat on more people than gamers do. Probably because we don't have a superiority complex.

Another thing is that I noticed is that when I see a violent crime on the news, they never wait a second to point out that the person was a gamer, and yet they always seem to leave out that the person was a jock, etc. The fact is, you hear more about crimes from gamers only because THE MEDIA POINTS IT OUT. WE AREN'T ANY MORE VIOLENT THAN THE REST.

The fact is, people who play video games are probably less
likely to commit violent crimes. You know why? because most gamers are not very strong. Physically. I mean, between games and studies, we don't go do as much physical activity. And don't say that's another reason we should be banned, because the same goes for TV junkies and computer nerds.

Also, you say that we shouldn't play video games because we should be studying instead. WELL, according to that logic, you say we should be studying 24/7. So you should also ban us from:
TV
PC
Movies
going to the mall
going to the amusement park
weekends
vacation breaks
the telephone
sports
extracurricular activities
and anything else that's mildly entertaining

Look, you say that we should concentrate on studies, and I think that's a point. But regardless of that, we still have free time. But instead of vegging out in front of the television, we do something that at least makes us think about what we're doing. instead of just staring blankly at the set.

Mad_guy

I've had the pleasure of meeting some of my best friends, maybe the brightest people I've ever met, over video games. We've all been everywhere together from advanced PC gaming and the Xbox 360 to the Atari and Commodore 64. These are people who've clocked in so many hours playing Final Fantasy 10 it would make your head spin, one of my friend is almost breaking 100 xbox games. The funny thing is they're, as mentioned, some of the brightest, funniest and smartest people I've ever met. Most of us have plans to start programming together, having fun, just like we do these days.

I don't think I ever regret spending time playing video games; I have regret other things in life however like smoking. There're a lot worse things out there that can really mess up kids than a simple shooter like Half-life 2. Video games are peanuts compared to how many kids are fucked up over alcohol, drugs, rape, kidnapping, etc.. If the kid is so dependent on video games that it's come to the 'worst conclusion', he probably doesn't deserve to play the social interaction game.

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Ooble

Hmmm... let's see. I know this guy. When he was 12, he discovered Quake III Arena. It was an incredibly bloody game - hell, you could even blow up corpses with a rocket launcher.

That 12-year old was reading his PC magazine one day, and he found out Quake III was written learning C. Two days later, he had C for Dummies. He's now 17, is going to one of the top universities in the country to study computer science and makes websites for a living. He has an active social life, and still loves to gib the occasional cadaver in Quake IV.

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Indigno

Who doesn't?

Mad_guy

Quake IV is a disappointment in retrospect.

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Indigno

*GASP*

I love Quake 4 single player, but I do find the multiplayer ultralaggy.

Polyphemus_

Even if he is, you don't say it like that, as this is just a discussion. We don't want a flamewar, do we?

Arevos

It should be noted that there are also studies that say exactly the opposite. Frankly, it should really be up to the parents involved, but personally, I've never been convinced about the alleged violence video games stir up in the young. From an evolutionary point of view, our children are designed to grow up into effectively ruthless predators. The violence in video games could be seen as a release.

InfoGeek

Is that guy You?

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