Australian Study "Confirms Dangers of Violent Videogames"

[ReservoirAngel]

So true. I played Saint's Row 2 last night and I've only just gotten home from my game-fuelled spree of killing grannies with samurai swords.

OT: Of course the study "confirms" it. Because if it didn't, they would have to pull their thumb out of their arse and find something else to blame for violence. Seriously, people who believe PAT (Passive Audience Theory) should not be allowed to render opinions on stuff like this, because PAT and everyone who thinks it is real is a fucking lunatic who, essentially, thinks humanity is too stupid to have free, independent thought.

 

[notimeforlulz]

OT: you're also right, social sciences have gone out of control. we need to get this shit under control. If we don't then humanity will never be able to survive.

Sounds like a killer movie, lets play lets write, if this kicks off start a new thread

ACT 1 SCENE 1
Social Scientist Scientist: I'm glad you're here, something incredible is happening
Federal Social Scientist Scientist, *from the bureau of science of social science*: Why? What's happened?
SSS (eerr godwins law, WAIT social scientist is SS, lets use that as a derogatory nick name through the film): "Come with me, you have to see these results"
* later *
FSSS: "It's the social science! It's... Mutating!"
SSS: " I know, and my climate model shows that if trashy 51% positive results keep getting published"
FSSS: "IT SHOWS WHAT! TELL ME MAN!"
SSS: " THAT ALL SCIENCE WILL BECOME INVALID"
FSSS: "NNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!"
*Writer's note: Actually that's pretty fucking heavy, let's make it more hollywood*
SSS: " AND then! The physics of our very universe will break "
FSSS: "What do you mean? How is that possible?"
SSS: "Listen to me very carefully now, because of these social science anomalies, our physics.... is mutating"
FSSS: "NNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! Wait what...? "

* Cut to generic nuclear family unit *

And I'll lift my pen and let you carry on

 

[Bobbity]

Not stating my opinion one way or the other, but I love that these articles on the Escapist about the effects of gaming are so unbelievably biased and belligerent.

 

[James Mann]

Haha, Australia... you paranoid island you...

 

[Ldude893]

CONFOUND these Australian anti-videogame researchers and 'experts'. THEY DRIVE ME TO DRINK.

Ah well, backlash and scrutiny is a trial that all new media in history face. Novels, films and comics all went through this phase; it's nothing new. Sooner or later, people are going to see that video games are no different than any other form of media.

 

[Uncompetative]

He's so right! The other day I played GTA IV and I became a sociopath who couldn't fathom human emotion, and I instantly realised that all those around me weren't real humans, merely shells, there for my amusement. More importantly it struck me that I'm not really human, merely a shell designed to get amusement from the abuse of other shells.

Then I played Viva Pinata and learned to love again.

Quite the reverse in my case. GTA IV continues to impress me with Rockstar's ambition and wit, whilst Viva Piñata left me sorely depressed at what had become of a formerly great developer: Rare.

 

[Danzavare]

The specifics of the study weren't revealed

In other words it hasn't been subject to peer review and has bypassed due academic process. Nothing to see here. Just another alarmist with no credibility; though it's rather concerning that a university appears to be able to get away with such tactics just because it's video games they're bashing.

The rest of Australia pretty much views Queensland as a tourist destination, and that's about it. They may not have much substance, but at least they can draw a crowd? >.>;

I did facepalm when I saw this on news. We've been pretty lucky in that we haven't had to put up with that nonsense on TV, well, until now that is.

 

[Atheist.]

It's true! I just got done playing Dark Souls and I recently lost all my humanity.

*Cry*

It's alright. Just go to the sewers and kill a bunch of those big ass rats. You'll get your humanity back in time.

 

[Stealthfighterx]

He's so right! The other day I played GTA IV and I became a sociopath who couldn't fathom human emotion, and I instantly realised that all those around me weren't real humans, merely shells, there for my amusement. More importantly it struck me that I'm not really human, merely a shell designed to get amusement from the abuse of other shells.

.

I watched The Matrix today and I feel the same way.

 

[Warped_Ghost]

Hitler was an artist and he also made the holocaust........
...wait if these scientific stats add up.......
ART WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HOLOCAUST!

 

[walrusaurus]

So i tried to find his study, but apparently he isn't/hasn't released it for peer review. Which pretty much tells you everything you need to know about whether or not this guy is totally full of shit.

It people like this, who make baseless 'scientific' claims in order to get some media attention, and therefore money, that add fuel to the anti-science nutjobs screaming about creationism, or 'global cooling'

 

[cross_breed]

This just in! Annoying man claims video games damage kids! No one cares!

 

[xEightBitPlayerx]

Funded by the Government of Australia.

 

[RollForInitiative]

That's cute. I'm a huge fan of violent and ultra-violent videogames but I'm also one of the politest and most considerate people I know. I'm really not seeing the supposed correlation here.

 

[walrusaurus]

Not stating my opinion one way or the other, but I love that these articles on the Escapist about the effects of gaming are so unbelievably biased and belligerent.

Thats not fair. I've seen plenty of discussions here on wide variety of topics, where people have legitimate intellectual discussions.

This however deserves no such thing. Its not peer reviewed. He's essentially come out and said, 'i have found conclusive evidence that X, but i'm not going to show what that evidence is because.... because.' I could send a letter to my local newspaper tomorrow, that says i've found conclusive evidence that wearing seatbelts causes cancer, but that i'm going to keep that earth shattering proof to myself, and it would have equivalent scientific veracity to what this guy is claiming.

 

[camrulez]

Lacking intelligence? Bull, I've been gaming since I was 6 and I have an IQ of 134. What a crock of shit.

 

[Cid Silverwing]

And this study is credible how? Peer review or GTFO. Flying fuckernauts crying wolf.

 

[Speakercone]

So i tried to find his study, but apparently he isn't/hasn't released it for peer review. Which pretty much tells you everything you need to know about whether or not this guy is totally full of shit.

Pretty much this. The media (I'm sorry to say it, but The Escapist included) needs to stop reporting on shit like this. In science, a non peer reviewed study is the equivalent of some guy handing out pamphlets in the street.

 

[Belaam]

My own study (specifics withheld) has indicated that for each achievement obtained in a FPS game, the player's Humanity takes 1d4 damage.

Players who attend church, watch 50s sitcoms, or willingly practice abstinence gain 1d6 Humanity per day of this behavior.

Players whose Humanity level drop below 0 take 1 Humanity damage a day unless treated and when they reach -10, go on a killing spree at their local school.

 

[ZippyDSMlee]

Trying to derive humanity from a kill or be killed situation = fail.