Video Games Make Kids Fat, Violent And Criminal

from the and-what-do-documentaries-do? dept

A new documentary in Sweden is getting some attention for claiming to show that video games make kids fat, aggressive and violent to the point of committing criminal acts. Of course, there’s no actual evidence that this is true, but they do find a lot of people to quote who say it might be true. Oddly, the article doesn’t say much about the documentary itself – but focuses on a panel discussion after a preview of the movie. It would be a lot more interesting if there were more information about the actual movie being discussed. In the meantime, wouldn’t we be better served with studies that actually show what the impact is, rather than sensationalistic documentaries that are trying to prove a point? Maybe someone should make a documentary about the impact of these sorts of documentaries instead.


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Comments on “Video Games Make Kids Fat, Violent And Criminal”

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25 Comments
Mike (profile) says:

Re: Ah yes, the industry line

Or maybe, just maybe, the reason people don’t make those video games is they know they wouldn’t sell, because most people don’t want to play a video game like that.

Anyway, nowhere did I say that video games cannot influence anyone’s behaviors. I did say, however, that there’s isn’t much evidence that they do, and a documentary saying they do should at least back up that claim.

dorpus says:

Re: Re: Ah yes, the industry line

“Or maybe, just maybe, the reason people don’t make those video games is they know they wouldn’t sell, because most people don’t want to play a video game like that.”

People in polite society are obliged to say that such games/movies “won’t sell”. Been in a video store lately? Last time I went, seemed like every single movie on the wall had sex or violence in it, explicit or implicit.

“Anyway, nowhere did I say that video games cannot influence anyone’s behaviors. I did say, however, that there’s isn’t much evidence that they do, and a documentary saying they do should at least back up that claim.”

That’s just it. As long as the video game industry refrains from making exceedingly antisocial games, they can claim “lack of evidence”. They know how to play the game of brinksmanship.

Anonymous Coward says:

Re: Re: Re: Ah yes, the industry line

the video game industry also refrains from making games that involve killing children, raping people, etc.
….
People in polite society are obliged to say that such games/movies “won’t sell”.

Just because YOU want such games doesn’t mean that they would sell to others.

Anonymous Coward says:

Re: Re: Re: Ah yes, the industry line

“People in polite society are obliged to say that such games/movies “won’t sell”. Been in a video store lately? Last time I went, seemed like every single movie on the wall had sex or violence in it, explicit or implicit.”

HAHA!! This guy is crazy.. You aren’t making any sense.

“That’s just it. As long as the video game industry refrains from making exceedingly antisocial games, they can claim “lack of evidence”. They know how to play the game of brinksmanship.”

Ok.. i no longer think this guy is serious… replying to him makes me feel stupid.

mini shocker says:

Re: Ah yes, the industry line

I don’t think that video games influence any body to be violent.I think that if a child would want to kill some one that is all in their head. I play at least six hours a day and I don’t want to kill some one. I do play fisrt person shooters. I think that if you want to kill some one or rape some one htat it is all in your head. I think that you need help if you want to do that sort of things.

Cameron Lindsey says:

totally absurd

no way is any of that true. i have been playing video games since i was six and now I’m 16 and i have never been aggressive or violent or criminal. i only play games that are rated E, T, and M. and only E if they are good. not many people like the G ones since they suck. any way off topic.

concerned citizen says:

the evidence they ignore

science has already fully proven that people in normal states of minds and normal situations do not commit extremely violent crimes (assault with intent to kill, aggrivated assault, murder, rape, ect.) acts against other people… the evidence that the right-wing extremists seem to forget is that any and all persons accused of extremely violent crimes who use a defense along the lines of “video-games made me attack/kill/rape that person” is that all of the said accused were either under the influence of narcotics when they commited the crimes or were later found to be mentally unstable… do your homework people, it makes a much more effective argument

Alysha says:

violence in video games

I’m 20 and my parents use to tell me to play video games. If i came home from high school made or pissed off the first thing my dad would do was hand me a video game controller and tell me to go beat the shit out of something.

I’m not violent and i wouldn’t ever hurt somebody intentionally… yet when i am upset i play violent video games. So explain to me how that works?

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