Has videogame violence affected you?

[MiracleOfSound]

I love gore and violence, but real violence upsets me quite a bit, so no - in my case anyway it has not desensitised me.

Passion Of The Christ was the only fantasy violence I can remember being thoroughly shocked by.

 

[Ren3004]

It hasn't affected me in the slightest, and I'll strangle anyone who says otherwise.

 

[Schreck157]

I'm desensitized, but haven't lost many of the morals I hold to be true.

 

[Mudze]

Yes, actually, it has. It's made me a considerably less violent person over the past... What? 12-12 years?

 

[MetalDooley]

Nope.Been playing violent games for around 20 years now and while I can shrug off the most extreme violence in a game real life violence is still quite shocking.

 

[thatguy1]

Has videogame violence affected me? No, I played quite a few violent video games when I was younger, but eventually lost interest in them.

Have they desensetized me? NOOOOOO. I realized this recently when I was driving at night and ran over an unidentified small animal and, to say the least, FLIPPED SHIT. Calling parents, the whole ordeal.

 

[nekoali]

I certainly haven't been desensitized to real violence. I am also one of those people who loves shooters and such. I have no problem blowing off a virtual zombie's head in L4D, or anything like that. Though I do have to admit in watching the fatalities and such for the new Mortal Kombat game, they are kind of pushing my limit.. and I loved the original MK games.

In real life though, if anything I have become more sensitive to violence and horror than I used to be. I don't like fighting, I don't like death and even just hearing about stories of such second hand makes me feel terrible. So all those violent video games I play absolutely do not make me a violent person in real life.

 

[kidwithxboxlive]

No, I had this argument with my mum and I said 'Do I hit you, murder people or do violent things?'
She said no
Case Solved

 

[Rockchimp69]

It's affected me massively. I'm now really de-sensitised to videogame violence.

But real violence? If anything games just make me more shocked when it does happen.

 

[Proteus214]

Even through years of playing shooters and fighters, the sight of real wounds still makes me a bit squeamish. I almost fainted when I saw a girl's leg sliced to the bone by a ski up close. The sight of blood itself doesn't bother me as much as seeing real wounds and knowing that the person is probably in a lot of pain.

Watching hundreds of band guys get shot up in movies and games doesn't bother me nearly as much as watching Natalie Portman rip the skin off her finger from a hangnail in Black Swan.

 

[Titan Buttons]

I consider it senseless when the media discusses it amongst themselves. A lot of the time, there's just no one amongst them that plays videogames, and aren't trained psychiatric professionals, so no one is qualified or has any authority to make any comments about it. But from active gamers, we all say that there is no effect. Is this just because we want to defend our beloved hobby by saying nay to anything that could put it in a negative light?

Nah, I think we're just right.

What is also quite rediculous is that the media, or the people on it, disrregaurds all the Government surveys when the results condradict what they are trying to prove and make up polls based on random individuals opinions. But then those same people turn around and start using Government surveys when it proves there points.

 

[Titan Buttons]

It has. I'm more violent nowadays.

Really, do you mean you go around yelling and swearing at people or beating them up?

 

[Killertje]

Yes, violent videogames affect me. So do non violent video games, movies, books and real life experiences.

Would I headshot someone IRL because of any of this? No, because the rules in video games are different than in real life. As long as there are no permanent consequences to me killing someone in a game, and in fact I am rewarded for it, I will enjoy doing it. IRL however there ARE permanent consequences for killing someone, least of all the fact that the police will hunt me down and kick me into prison, but also, and more importantly, the knowledge that I ended a life. I would never do something like that unless I have a VERY good reason. Or because I'm rewarded for it and there are no permanent negative consequences for it, like in games...

 

[Gavmando]

Not at all. I dont kill things, not even bugs. And i'm a vegetarian because I dont want anything to die for me to live.

...But then I have been playing video games for 20 odd years, so i'm actually a homicidal maniac.

 

[Tohuvabohu]

Yes, actually, it has. It's made me a considerably less violent person over the past... What? 12-12 years?

Yes, actually, it has. It's made me a considerably less violent person over the past... What? 12-12 years?

I certainly haven't been desensitized to real violence. I am also one of those people who loves shooters and such. I have no problem blowing off a virtual zombie's head in L4D, or anything like that. Though I do have to admit in watching the fatalities and such for the new Mortal Kombat game, they are kind of pushing my limit.. and I loved the original MK games.

In real life though, if anything I have become more sensitive to violence and horror than I used to be. I don't like fighting, I don't like death and even just hearing about stories of such second hand makes me feel terrible. So all those violent video games I play absolutely do not make me a violent person in real life.

It's affected me massively. I'm now really de-sensitised to videogame violence.

But real violence? If anything games just make me more shocked when it does happen.

I'm compelled by these responses. Why do you think violence in videogames has actually made you more sensitive to real violence or less violent/aggressive overall?

Yes, violent videogames affect me. So do non violent video games, movies, books and real life experiences.

Would I headshot someone IRL because of any of this? No, because the rules in video games are different than in real life. As long as there are no permanent consequences to me killing someone in a game, and in fact I am rewarded for it, I will enjoy doing it. IRL however there ARE permanent consequences for killing someone, least of all the fact that the police will hunt me down and kick me into prison, but also, and more importantly, the knowledge that I ended a life. I would never do something like that unless I have a VERY good reason. Or because I'm rewarded for it and there are no permanent negative consequences for it, like in games...

Speaking of consequences, I remember something I heard from a study awhile back. Grand Theft Auto is a media favorite since it depicts urban/gang violence that can be as unhinged as the person playing it is. They say a game like this teaches young gamers how to be a criminal or some other bullshit claim.

But a study into this found the opposite was happening. They found out that from GTA, young gamers were learning many things that could be considered positive. Such as gang life is very dangerous and often impossible to escape once you are a part of it, the consequences of doing something wrong is the cops will come after you to capture or even kill you. I'd say that given the nature of GTA, these are pretty positive and valid lessons. Not that kids should be playing GTA, though.

 

[the-kitchen-slayer]

Sometimes, videogame violence can be pretty extreme. But I think even the most extreme videogame violence cannot EVER hold a candle to real life violence. They're not even in the same realm, and I don't think they ever will be.

Even as desensitized as I am, some videogame violence does make me recoil in shock. But it's an enjoyable shock.

I agree. Just look at the new Mortal Kombat. Over the top fatalities, which are more shocking from what is done instead of the reality of it. I mean, sheesh, people literally ripping other people's heads off? "Normal" humans? It's honestly more fun to see the flashy win and go "hah! your gibbed" than it is desensitizing. And the reason it's not desensitizing (at least, not very) is the fact it's fake, and we can tell between reality and fantasy. THAT is why real life violence is so much more shocking, because it's real. Not avatar's being torn apart, or blown to pieces, or hacked and mangled, but real people getting hurt, killed, maimed, etc.

But I am only one gamer and I'm sure others have some things to add about this. So I ask you dear reader, to think critically on your history playing videogames. Have you played them for a long time? Many violent ones? If you have, think really hard on how (if any) this kind of computer generated, albeit interactive, violence has affected you? Has this kind of violence done anything to you at all?

And is there any kind of valid grounds to these claims?

In my loooooooooong history of violent gaming (Diablo 2, Mortal Kombat, Legacy of Kain, etc, etc...) I've found all it's really done has removed the ability for horror movies to scare me (I still jump, but that's a startle, trust me, big difference), and that it's easier to accept the violence in the games. Reality and it's violence however, ho boy, those still shock me because it's not fake.

So, to sum it all up, in my experience, no ground to stand on. Reality wins this round. Just wish people would finally realize that.

 

[-Dragmire-]

There's always going to be someone bitching about video games, just be thankful it's not something more stupid, like if PETA were to protest against Mario's treatment of turtles. After all it desensitizes me to the decline of turtles in the real world.

Personally, if someone's going to complain about gaming, there are far better areas to focus on, mostly about proper parenting and moderation.
1.Parents have complained about video game violence quite a bit but on the other side of the spectrum you also have parents who use video games as a babysitter so they don't have to spend time/supervise them.

2. Gaming should not be the only activity/hobby the child has especially during key social development parts of a child's life. Real human interaction is required(online social life doesn't count) to know how act and how to problem solve situations that can't be simulated(conflict resolution). Someone who doesn't know how to deal with people will naturally avoid people, likely to an unhealthy degree.

 

[ToxicOranges]

It hasn't affected me in the past, it isnt affecting me now, and I think I have a strong enough mental capacity to know what IS and ISNT real. Just because I enjoy GTA doenst mean Im going to go psychopath the next time I head into the city.

Also, gore movies (in general) are far, FAR more violent than games. Games at the worst is blood and the occasional limb that flies off into the distance.

 

[Flailing Escapist]

No. But I'm going to kill you if you ask me that question again.

 

[Titan Buttons]

It has. I'm more violent nowadays.

Really, do you mean you go around yelling and swearing at people or beating them up?

No, but I resort to violence a lot quicker after playing video games.

Do you mean if someone is being an ass and making fun of you, your now more likely threaten to hit then or push them over then you once did?