Video games NOT inciting violence in kids?
by Ross Miller 
{ Jul 23rd 2005 at 12:15PM }
Game Revolution's Duke Ferris did a hefty bit of research, foraging
through countless studies about violence and video games, reading a number of charts and graphs from the Department of
Justice, and has come up with this conclusion: the era of kids who grew up with video games (from about 1993 and after)
has the least amount of violent crime rates ever recorded. It does not say that video games have caused these
nonviolent tendencies, but it certainly plays down the notion that video games have been a catalyst for crime.
What makes this article so great is its amount of evidence. If you do not believe even a sentence of his piece,
there is a link of a study or a statistic, from such reliable sources as the Department of Justice and the Surgeon
General. Plus, it's very easy to read and quite insightful. Check it out.
[Thanks, Nguyen]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Imp @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM
That is a fantastic amount of work.
It's intresting that the crime noted was at it's highest when PS1 came out (give or take of course).
Also, in the graph you chose to use as the image, it's 12 and over. So there is no age cap on the numbers?
Ross Miller @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM
Take a look at the article, there are a few more graphs, one that shows it by age range (14-17, for example). That's what you are probably looking for. I do highly reccomend checking out the article, as it is very interesting and very well-written.
But you're right, I should probably change it, and I think I will.
Mark Pereira @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM
It makes sense. With violent videogames, kids have a way to relieve any violent tendecies they may have against a real person, in the setting of a virtual world. Why this has never been touted as a defence is beyond me. It makes perfect sense. Get our your agressions with GTA!! The only reason kids/defense attorneys blame it on videogames is purely because they can and courts/society allow it. Sad, but people are typically stupid...
Karmakin @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM
Just a side note. The article mentions in how GTA, you get points for killing cops. That's not the case since 3, but before that, you did gain more points for killing cops. In fact, I remember playing the demo, time released, with my friends and seeing who could score the most points without being killed/caught. And yes, it did mostly involve running through cops.
The amazing thing is, that the modern GTA games are MUCH more unobscene than the old games. In fact, they get less obscene with each release. Yes, even including the Hot Coffee content. (Which really isn't obscene at all, to be honest)
Imp @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM
Less obscene?
I don't know about that.
You HAVE played GTA2, right? The whole top down, really can't see detail of your actions, classic.
xbox360-forums.com @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM
I've always gone along with the catalyst theory too. I really don't think that a video game could cause someone to be violent. They have to have problems outside of the gaming world to be unable to distinguish between games and real life, if they do become violent.
www.xbox360-forums.com
jimmy @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM
conservatives blame videogames and lobby for looser gun laws. Walmart sells rifles and shotguns but pulled GTA.
On the liberal side, dumb Hillary Clinton crusades against GTA while her husband shoved a cigar up an interns twat and blew a load over her dress.
And in the end adults who play games lose. Because this country is all about the youth and how they'll be corrupted. This is because of a fat-whore housewife metality that excludes rational individuals.
Kent @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM
Ive been posting these graphs on here for sometime. I didn't know itd be worth the trouble to make a article about it...
*sigh* I hope he found this out on his own or im gonna be pissed.
ben @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM
There have been no conservatives trying to ban video games. Only the liberals have tried. The only politicians who have even defended games are conservatives. Republicans stick up for the first ammendment. I really hate how people think it is republicans trying to ban games when it has been all democrats. You want proof? http://locopuyo.com/vgpoliticians.html
James @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM
Please no more liberal bashing, think about it. We don't care who is sticking up or not sticking up, well thats not true but the people's party we don't care about. The republicans want guns everywhere easily acessible blah blah and democrats don't want violent media blah blah. The only thing we care about is destroying Jack and his crazy band ok. No more crap about polotics!
jimmy @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM
Dear Ben, you reall are an ass
Parents television council is a conservative group closely aligned with many conservative politicians you dumb ass. And although the FCC doesn't regulate video games they have clamped down on televion and radio so bad that its all watered down dog shit.
In short, you link is worthless and you are a poorly informed ass.
why do you think wal-mart pulls items and censors cds? Because bible belting conservatives will throw a self righteous fit.
FEZIG @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM
I don't believe video games affect violence one way or the other in any major way on 99.9% of people.
I hate when articles try to select one thing and attribute major changes to it. For example people who try to rationalize the rise of cancer since 1900. More stress, more preservatives, high fat diet, less exercise, pollution, radiation, ozone, lack of vitamins, lack of sleep.
The same lower crime rate has been attributed to increased gun ownership, more job/schooling opportunities, more surveillance, better police tactics, less competitive/more cooperative attitudes, better parenting education, cultural awareness, anti drug campaigns, more prisons, longer prison terms etc.
Bottom line is that you can't single any one thing that caused the lower crime rates we have witnessed.
James @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM
Ok I've sent this article to Mr. Thompsone and here is his reply: Go to church read the bible. In response I write: I was kind enought to send you something to read why don't you send me the bible? He writes back: Go to church and read the bible. Real original huh? I reply: Thank you Mr. Thompson for your admission of defeat, I reserve the right to post our conversations on a blog or two. He has yet to respond as of this time but if he does (and I'm sure he will, anyone wanna guess what he says?) I will keep you informed.
Toxic Bomber @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM
Yeah I'm with jimmy (#11)
Ben, go read a damn book other then the Bible for a change, and before you get all "holyer-then-thou" in a debate...you might want to really get facts together that can stand up on their own, okay?
-Toxic
PS @James(#13)
Did you really think the man would have enough time to write an email more then once? He is far too busy rallying together the Christian, Catholic, Protestant "Coalition of Social Decency" at the moment to be bothered to actually THINK!
arrakisman @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM
#14 You should of responded by telling him you were Jewish/Muslim/Budist/Hidu or something. Pesonally a response like the one he gave is more offensive than simple antigamer attacks he is known to do.
ebp2k2 @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM
BLESPHEMY!
These videogames DO incite violence among kids, as I'm 100% sure eminent US Senators such as Clinton and Lieberman will not speak ill of things they do not understand...
if we can't trust US Senators, who can we trust?
haha.
on a more serious, note, I think videogames do desensitize players to violence... but no worse than watching TV or movies...
benhc911 @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM
the lower levels of crime may have nothing at all to do with video games as well though. (to the people who believe it helps relieve violent tendencies) It is possible that increased police presence/better tactics and paranoia (terrorism) leading to increased personal defence (karate, burgular alarms etc) might be the cause. Also, I didnt read to closly, but is this all crimes or just violent crimes, and are attempts included, because less pickpocketing and more murder... wouldnt be a good thing neh?
Finished.Law.School @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM
Violent videogames are great stress reliever.
KKGigs @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM
I'm not taking a position on whether playing video games affects violent crime. However, I'd like to point out that this graph is hardly evidence to support either position. When more than one variable causes an outcome like crime, which is surely the case, it would be entirely possible for playing video games to cause criminal activity and yet for us to still observe the graph in question. This could happen if the effect of playing video games was small in comparison to the opposite effect of another variable. As an example, consider the following relationship in which violent crime is slightly increased by playing video games and significantly decreased by another variable:
Violent Crime = 2(Playing Video Games) – 100(Other Variable)
Now suppose that both playing video games and the other variable increased each year beginning in 1993. Because of the larger, opposite effect of the other variable compared to playing video games, violent crime would decrease even though playing video games had a positive effect.
Ross Miller @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM
I fully agree. When I saw this article, my immediate reactions was "wow, video games do so much good for society" - because they probably don't - but I did think that video games were not as bad as everyone says. It affirmed that video games neither caused nor prevented violence - they were just there, a medium like movies or books. And if video games did indeed cause violence, then since the advent of SNES there have been amazing strides in the other variables to cancel that out.
GWing_02 @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM
#13 (James):
I emailed him earlier about an unrelated note and it seems to be all he's saying today... sent that phrase to me (with that capitalization) 3 times already (with each reply).
LaughingTarget @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM
There is no point in even talking to Thompson. Individuals with that level of fanaticism don't listen. It is like asking Bin Ladin to behave and play nice. All that matter are votes, and as the gaming audience gets an even larger portion of the voting public, it will all work itself out. The Clintons, Liebermans, and Schumers are on their way out. Society is changing and these people are not needed anymore, which explains their behavior. When the Clintons of our government vanish, Thompson will no longer have a voice people will listen to.
Video games neither helps nor hinders society. It is merely another form of entertainment. Chess is just as violent as it supposedly teaches people how to lead armies to kill. That particular game hasn't done anything to help commanders nor has it caused mass death.
Spike_J_Wolfwood @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM
Hell yah! It's about time someone stood up for the gaming community and used some solid data to back it up. It's especially sweet that all of the data was collected by government sources while politicians are usually the first to jump on the anti-gaming bandwagon.
schragnasher @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM
First off, im a Christian and i play lots of games, have since i was 6. I play, GTA Diablo , Doom what have you. Its not the Christians doing this, dont blame a whole group or you just sound like Thompson.
schragnasher @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM
Every group has its share of retards.
CaptSnuffy @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM
A well written piece with all the facts, right on!
joe @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM
sry #9 ben but there are conservatives trying ban violent videogames. ever heard of john mcain?
joe @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM
i emailed that jack thompson guy and he sounds very violoent. he threatened me and called me various names. some of these names include: clown , gamer thug, and so on etc. all i did was send him a link of the article. hmmmm...
Spike_J_Wolfwood @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM
Did you save the e-mail? You should post it somewhere.
Phil @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM
I thought a recent study showed a definitive link between the reduction of unwanted births (read: Affirmative Action) in the 70s and 80s and violence today. Now it could be that video games also kept kids distracted and at home, but just mentioning there may be other large-scale social factors at work.
shivani @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM
I think this article of Ferris' was very well written. It was concise and to the point. He purported his views in an honest, clean manner and used evidence that couldn't possibly be turned down. Statistics from the federal government and the Surgeon General cannot be false. He has started a revolution, a revolution to end the scamming of the video game industry. I don't play video games all that often myself, but I do not think they make kids go on violent rampages.
Mahj @ Dec 18th 2005 10:08PM
I'm doing a debate and my topic is video gaming does not increase the violence rate. As i've been doing more and more research, I really do agree violence & video gaming are totally different areas. Violence in ppl just happens on their own & it really depends on the person if they choose to commit any violence or not.
laterdays.