Voted. Id be happy to chip in my two bobs worth if u wana hear it mate, i did an essay on this myself only a few weeks ago.

Voted.

I am a gamer, Xbox 360 and love games, although don't have as much time for them these days!

I think the issue here with computer games is that they 'do' put ideas in children's heads that were not there before. The larger issue is how children react to these ideas. Whilst similar to the effect of watching a movie, this is definitely different to movies in the respect that when watching a movie you are just the viewer watching what is in front of you, controlled by the movie makers. When you play a computer game you are the 'doer', and although still controlled by the makers, you are given some of this control and now have the ability to choose your actions. To kill or not to kill etc.

Whilst all this may well be fun (and it is!), I think that's where the real issue lies. Children are then taught that doing these things is fun, or can at least be a bordem solving avenue for amusement. In some cases (perhaps unstable children, in unstable environments etc.) this can transfer into real life. After all, all human beings initially learn by copying and reenactment. This is particularly prominent when growing up, as this is the time when people are most easily impacted by outside influences.

The above is part of the reason there is now certification for games. Much like movies I doubt this will really have much impact on who does and does not get to play them but it's good that the industry recognizes the potential risks.

All being said, I used to watch 18 movies when I was 9 or whatever and I don't think it had any major sort of effect on me, apart from desensitising me. I think that whilst we may be the ones discussing the subject we may not actually be the type of person to be affected by such influences at a young age. I think it's likely to be a minority here that have the potential to be affected and unfortunately we must cater for this sector to protect the masses.

Also, I wonder how much of a gender issue this is as well. 'Man' being a hunter/killer, carnivore at heart etc. Woman mainly being nest builders etc. etc. Surely the sexes are affected differently by playing violent video games? Whilst basic instincts are always going to be there, could it be possible that computer games can influence these instincts in certain individuals (boys)?

i failed my A levels because i was addicted to online PC gaming back in the late 90's

The problem with violent games and movies is and always has been down to one thing:

idiot parents who allow their kids to play games or watch films that they are not old or mature enough to be playing/watching.


Yes we may have watched 18 or R rated films like Alien when WE were 10, but in what way was that even remotely as sick as Hostel or the Saw series of films? No kid that I knew when I was 10 had access to a spaceship or an M16, and we were all quite unlikely to be torn to bits by a 9' tall alien.
But most houses do contain things like drills and saws

You also need to consider that the realism in movies and games is better than ever before - which is great! I love the blood spatters on the front of a car in GTA4 when you hit a pedestrian!

But I'm 30. Not 10. And IMO those ratings are more important than ever before...people need to obey them and shield impressionable kids from them, NOT ban everyone because 0.0000001 percent of parents are so irresponsible they let their pyschopathic kids with learning disabilities watch Saw 1-6 then wonder why they cut their siblings up in their sleep.[/rant]

EXACTLY!

Could not have put it any better.