The reason that Video Games get a bad rep is because parents in high places see commercials like this and assume that gamers of all ages are itching to run out and emulate the things they see in all video games.
In fact, here is a list of things these kids could be doing instead of playing video games:
1. Drugs. Although in all honesty they could be doing both but most likely are not. If a gamer is spending their own money on video games then the chances that they are also spending money on drugs is low. They are spending money on video games which they pay taxes on and generate income for employees and companies selling the games.
2. Having unprotected sex. If a teen is not playing video games then the chances that they are out engaging in activities of the sexual nature increase. Which in turn, increases the rate of pregnancy in teens and the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases. Therefore increasing the rate of high school dropouts, abortions, and the unemployment rate.
3. Causing trouble at school/work/life. Whether these parents/people in high places realize it or not, video games provide a healthy outlet for people that would otherwise have none. Instead of video games they could be causing trouble in school or elsewhere, possibly resulting to violence. Video games of all nature provide an outlet for stress, reducing the chances of an individual having a breakdown with potentially violent outcomes.
Despite the above reasons and more, there are still people like Jack Thompson(who was disbarred for making defamatory, false statements and attempted to humiliate, embarrass, harass or intimidate them) Joe Baca(used campaign funds to pay his daughter $27,000 and fund his sons campaigns.), Senator Hillary Clinton (Whitewater, Filegate, Travelgate, Husband sex scandal) out against video games and the sales of video games. It would appear as if their backgrounds are not exactly clean.
And yet, every time a shooting or killing spree happens, the first thing these people turn to are video games as demonstrated by the Columbine shooting or the more recent Aurora shooting. Criminal Profiler Pat Brown made a statement regarding the recent theater shooting that the killer played video games to prepare himself for the killing. Watch this clip.
So that’s 3 counts of using video games to prepare statements versus 1 count of video games didn’t cause this. Fair enough; she tried to take back her statement. However, what people walked away with from that segment is that video games caused this. The attention span of the normal American would not pull anything else from that.
Here are some facts about Pat Brown: She received a Masters Degree in Criminal Justice in 2007. 5 years ago. Five. She has never profiled a single case yet wrote a book on it. Every time she profiles a “criminal,” no one listens.
Why does it seem that every person against video games or that associates video games to horrible crimes seem to be using them to cover up their own horrible pasts or shortcomings?
You know what this says to me? This says that video games are harmless. They are nothing but a positive outlet for those who are interested in them. However, that is just one man’s opinions. Albeit, there are many out there that agree with me but the number of those that disagree are growing and the battle over video games is getting heavier.
What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below!
