Critical Miss: Gamer Science

[Lenin211]

This would be true if only the arguments that gaming causes violence were more like the first panel and less like FOX news propaganda.

 

[AngryFrenchCanadian]

That would be a great exposition of the double standard of some gamers if it weren't for the fact that most research on the subject seem to indicate that video games to not have any harmful effect on children age 5 and up. In fact, most research that claims otherwise has been proven to use a flawed methodology.

But I guess the comic warns about adopting an attitude where we would dismiss outright any research that is inconvenient to us while only acknowledging the papers that suit us best.

 

[ObsessiveSketch]

"Our study indicates PROVES that prolonged ANY exposure to violent ALL video games can exacerbate WILL CAUSE pre-existing social and mental difficulties DEFECTS *end sentence* and, in excess, can cause..."

^^^THIS is the argument gamers fight so hard against. If anyone were to say the exact statement in the comic, gamers would, of course, nitpick at things such as "Why aren't violent movies held to the same standard?"; "ANYthing 'in excess' is bad"; and "If they're pre-existing, then video games didn't CAUSE anything!", but we'd have to grumble and accept the facts.

The edited statement above is what fear-mongers sling left and right, and is completely devoid of any scientific merit. After hearing this same bias statement rehashed a hundred times, I think it's understandable that gamers have pre-sharpened pitchforks and ready-made torches sitting next to their computers.

 

[Mysnomer]

Is that Cory playing the stereotypical gamer?

Negatory, I like to think that I myself have elevated above reading too much into these studies unless there is some real interesting brain stuff. Behavior studies are fairly open to interpretation and there are so many variables usually not considered.

He also has much more prominent sideburns then I can really grow... mine are more or less wispy.

Yes, like all good internet users, I hastily posted something, and then went and did the research. I then noticed that he was missing your lip piercing, and your superior fashion sense. Also his eyes are...I dunno what that is, but it's creeping me out...

 

[ObsessiveSketch]

"Our study indicates PROVES that prolonged ANY exposure to violent ALL video games can exacerbate WILL CAUSE pre-existing social and mental difficulties DEFECTS *end sentence* and, in excess, can cause..."

^^^THIS is the argument gamers fight so hard against. If anyone were to say the exact statement in the comic, gamers would, of course, nitpick at things such as "Why aren't violent movies held to the same standard?"; "ANYthing 'in excess' is bad"; and "If they're pre-existing, then video games didn't CAUSE anything!", but we'd have to grumble and accept the facts.

The edited statement above is what fear-mongers sling left and right, and is completely devoid of any scientific merit. After hearing this same bias statement rehashed a hundred times, I think it's understandable that gamers have pre-sharpened pitchforks and ready-made torches sitting next to their computers.

I prefer flares. The fire is magnesium based so it can't be put out with water.

But torches are more convenient. You can make 4 of them with a stick and a lump of coal, and they burn forever!

 

[Xman490]

I'm pretty sure that the first one is true, since it doesn't generalize.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

In other words, we embrace the science we like, but call bullshit on the science we don't like.

 

[Wireframefool]

Of course people are going to react like that when something they love is being discredited. If you were to deconstruct or talk down upon a religion in a video, people of that religion are most likely going to react negatively to whoever made the point.

 

[The Random One]

YES

OH GOD YES

I think with this strip Critical Miss steals Zero Punctation's spot as 'Escapist content with opinions so similar to mine that I secretly believe it's made by a future version of me after traveling back in time'. It does mean I won't have to write Mogworld from memory in the futurepast, which is a relief.

 

[The Wooster]

YES

OH GOD YES

I think with this strip Critical Miss steals Zero Punctation's spot as 'Escapist content with opinions so similar to mine that I secretly believe it's made by a future version of me after traveling back in time'. It does mean I won't have to write Mogworld from memory in the futurepast, which is a relief.

THERE IS NO CANDY IN THE VAN.

 

[v3n0mat3]

I really hate that this is basically true...

I would be receptive to studies that proved violent video games had negative effects, if they just weren't based off bullshit theories, or had major holes.

 

[Harkonnen64]

Too true. Gamers are so quick to try to discredit or dismiss studies that come out in some way against their hobby, but herald pro-game studies as the truth. You can't have it both ways, guys.

except that most anti-game argumental studies often group gamers as an entire clump and only use gaming as a basis of their, at best, guesses.

I play my fair share of violent video games, everything from stomping on turtles to shooting up a meeting between two gangs, and yet Im not a violent person, nor has gaming caused any of my social disabilities, in fact the opposite, my social disabilities is what caused me to get into gaming [who needs friends when I have Mario!].


Sure, in order to get a full view of how video games affect the mind, we need to see both sides and be willing to make concessions, but much like Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, I don't see either side making concessions until the other admits they are wrong.

Basically, your middle paragraph put you into the pandering category this comic is addressing. Also, the Israeli Prime Minister just spoke before Congress a few days ago about how they would be willing to go so far as to allow the Palestinians land for their own state as part of a peace agreement.

In summary, don't talk about stuff you don't understand to make yourself sound smart.

 

[weirdee]

What if they were both true?

Having introverted stupid people flying around blowing up things for revenge

When will the violence end?!

 

[raankh]

But torches are more convenient. You can make 4 of them with a stick and a lump of coal, and they burn forever!

Lulz, Minecraft jokes are still funny ^^

DNF jokes aren't

 

[8bitlove2a03]

Makes me miss the day when I was capable of remaining willfully ignorant. Oh the memories....

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

Too true. Gamers are so quick to try to discredit or dismiss studies that come out in some way against their hobby, but herald pro-game studies as the truth. You can't have it both ways, guys.

To be fair, a lot of the anger is more directed at the fact that people would even consider games turn people into psychopaths when the ridiculously vast number of gamers would never kill anyone, not the study itself.

Either that or 90% of my friends are serial killers.

 

[PrinceofPersia]

Too true. Gamers are so quick to try to discredit or dismiss studies that come out in some way against their hobby, but herald pro-game studies as the truth. You can't have it both ways, guys.

Well, what are we supposed to say? "You know what? Maybe I really am just one more ragequit away from going postal with an SMG down the local mall." I don't buy it. If this was a serious issue, why don't we see horror stories revolving around gamers in the newspapers every day? Most news stories that feature "killer gamers", show us obviously highly unstable people, and who totally played Call of Duty that one time. Therefore, the only logical conclusion is that videogames turn people into mindless, unfit zombies, who sometimes recover just for long enough to become raging psychopaths.

Not having the majority of comments on a negative game article being "lalala, can't hear you", "Like psychology is a real science", and my personal favorite: "[insert anecdotal evidence that has no point or relevance]" would be a great start. You know how we prove we aren't all man-children? Respond rationally and sensibly to claims.

Like say Exterminas or MelasZepheos or Penn and Teller who present a rational reasonable arguments but get drowned out by the pundits and other talking heads who respond with a "Gaming is EVIL!" statements. You can make the most reasonable and rational argument you can make and still not everyone is going to agree with you. Plus there are people out there trying to push their own agenda behind faulty science.