Games

Video Games' Influence is Insignificant

Finally, someone's speaking from an objective point of view

By Filip Truta, Games Editor

25th of April 2007, 08:42 GMT

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Every time a tragedy such as the Virginia Tech massacre occurs, professors, psychologists, lawyers and other authorized persons try to throw it on video games.

Some try harder, some not so hard and some succeed, while others don't, but the question always remains unanswered: are video games the main influential factor here? NexGeneration has an article on this, with Professor Patrick Markey's thoughts on the issue. His answer is simple. Yes, games are to blame for some tragedies, but very few of them. In fact, their number is so insignificant, that it's hard to even point one out.

"When you look at the research there's no question at all. Violent video games do cause aggression. It's so clear. You have to be dishonest not to see it. However, and this is a huge however, the effect is very, very small. It's not as if this is a light switch that either video games do or do not cause aggression. You have to think about the strength of that effect. Most people assume it has a really big effect, but what we find from research is it actually has a very tiny effect."

I guess he shut my mouth up too with this one. I always say that video games aren't at all the negative factor, but to be totally honest with you, video games are just as influential as music and film, if not even more influential. You see, with video games it's quite different because they generally put you in the shoes of a powerful character, with heavy artillery at your disposal, making you feel invincible. Combine that with personality issues and kids laughing at you in school and you've got your Virginia Tech shooter. But who is influenced and who is not? It's just too hard to make the difference. However, blokes like Jack Thompson can't do anything to stop it. It's just life.

TAGS:

Patrick Markey | Jack Thompson | Virginia Tech

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