So. Here we go again.
A 17 yr old boy brutally kills a 14 yr old boy and the killer’s parents blame it on the game “Manhunt”. Now they, and the victim’s parents, want to ban a whole selection of violent games.
Okay then.
I have a few thoughts about this.
- If someone is going to hurt or kill another human being then they’re going to do it anyway. They don’t need instruction from a computer game, a role-playing game, a comic book, a film or from television.
- The boy must have had some kind of psychological issues because it’s just not done to kill someone else, even if he did get the idea from a game, or book, or comic, or film…
- He was seventeen years old. The game had an eighteen certificate. Only one year out, but then that’s the law.
- The parents must be held responsible to a certain degree. Period.
- Why ban the game? It’s just another knee-jerk reaction which serves no long term purpose. There will alway be another violent game. There will always be another violent death. The game will always be blamed.
- Yeah, and the guy’s 17 for crying out loud. If he doesn’t know the difference between fantasy and reality then this should have been picked up long before now.
- What were is parents doing? Did they raise him correctly, instilling in him any kind of moral code? You, know the kind of moral code which says THAT KILLING PEOPLE IS WRONG.
and finally…
- I play computer games, some violent, some not. I play(ed) role-playing games, I’m not a devil-worshipper. I listen to (amongst other things) Heavy Metal music. I read comics. I enjoy Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror books, films and television. I have not harmed another human being in all my years on this planet (Okay, this isn’t strictly true but I’m pretty sure they deserved some of it…). I have never tortured animals. I don’t hate people. Generally I’m quite an nice chap.
Sorry, I was building up to quite a rant there.
It’s just that if you’re going to ban computer games for being violent then go all the way.
Why not ban violent films, books, games, and comics.
Ban soap operas. They’re full of horrendous people doing horrible things to each other.
Ban Big Brother. This time they’re encouraging negative behaviour.
And once all these things have been banned, you will still find violent behaviour in our society. Because if someone has it in their mind to brutally kill another human being, they’ll find an excuse from somewhere.
BigAl
I find it interesting that with one death people can justify banning a whole load of games on substantial evidence, and yet thousands of people die every year as a direct result of smoking, and we’re struggling to justify even a small ban on smoking in public places, let alone banning cigarettes altogether.
I guess the gaming industry hasn’t given enough money to the economy yet.
I agree with what you are saying Al….banning the game is alot of nonsense..but I have seen the game in question and it does beg the question – why do people make such games and why is there a market for mindless violence?
Moral codes indeed, parents alone are not responsible for that.extrenal agencies play a significant role too……..after 2 major wars this century and the rest it is not suprising that moral code are what they are! I think we should just ban humans and that would solve all our problem.thay are tha cancer that infests our beutiful planet!
Love the new site much better
argh. i hate this talk of banning games. it is silly. it wont happen cause if it does there would be a revolt. And if games get banned it would move onto to movies then TV, then well all be like no violence atall…………………………
ok but blaming a game is stupid and i agree with AL that parents should buy thier kids these games (me hides my vice-city) and expect to blame that game on the outcome.
and anyway if they ban games, ill miss the new GTA and metl gear soild 3
I also agree with AL, banning games would do no good, that isn’t the root of the problem, the fact is is that the boy must have had a serious problem, and i don’t think a game could cause such a thing. In fact, i find playing violent games releases my anger, because i don’t think i would get away with shooting someone in real life becaue me and my friend are playing a “deathmatch”….unless i blame it on a game…….
if i were to go about killing folks, i think i’d want to have a shot being a sniper.
james bond/tom clancy vid games certainly have encouraged me in this… and so have movies and funfair games.
fortunately i’ve never really had access to this kind of weaponry.
could you post a link for the story you’re referring to al?
I play the Sims fairly regularly. Following the argument through, I’d want to control the lives of the people around me. Actually, they may have a point…
This is my first visit to the site! Wahay! I listened to a long radio programme about this whole thing.I agree partly with Mitch, but not about banning humans as I think God might have something to say about that, redemption and all. I think we should channel all our agression against the real Enemy who tries to use everything he can to kick us in the teeth. So let’s do some spiritual warfare. After all, I think there might be something in my hunting genes…