Survey Finds Most Americans Believe Games Cause Violence

[Whytewulf]

I will state in general, which I am sure I will get destroyed for, that I think violence in video games can lead to a more violent society. It's my opinion, but I think any form of violence can lead to a more violent society. That's why it should be regulated. Step one, the parents, they should decide what their kids can and cannot handle. Step 2, help the parents, by providing warnings on media. Step 3, create a penality system for idiot parents and stores that go around the system.

I may be blasted and thats fine. But I think certain people are subject to certain tendencies. And young people have less impulse control and can't always differentiate the difference. Heck, WWE is a great example of something the parents should consule their children on.

But as Exterminas stated, I am not certain the questions were worded well.

 

[SaturdayS]

I want to say: "Survey sponsored by ____ church." but I don't want to assume all churches hate games and I don't care enough to know which ones obviously do.

 

[LastMondaysHangover]

Only 1000 Adults? That's kind of a small sample number if you ask me. Even more so if the survey was taken in only one area....

 

[kaizen2468]

1 in 4 Americans are retarded. So I can believe 3/4ths believing what the media has been shoving down their throats for the past 5 or more years.

 

[samsonguy920]

How in the world are opinion polls supposed to be evidence to anything other than how uninformed a lot of people can be?

Not to mention these days 1000 people are hardly a decent chunk of the demographics. This Rasmussen runs online surveys and only takes 1000? Sounds like he only chose choice bits to me.

 

[Delusibeta]

It's America, they like to be contraversial to pretend they're still the big boys in the world, as long as their game laws don't come into the UN and then good ol' England I'll be happy as Larry*

I hope that was "gun laws" you ment, because the current UK games legislation is more restrictive than California's proposed law. It's just that a) the UK law was introduced in pretty much day dot, or at least day Kombat, so retailers don't knee-jerk remove 18+ rated games (unlike the US) and b) there's nothing that requires the UK government to equate video games to porn in order to pass said law, unlike the US.

 

[mr_rubino]

Not to mention that even that kind of behavior can be dealt with a quick slap to the back of the head from his dad. (yes US is the only country where parents go to jail for disciplining their kids with slaps)

Not that that has ever happened, but I'll transport myself to that dimension for a second:
Yeah, next thing you know, a guy won't be able to smack his wife or kick his dog.

 

[OANST]

Survey says: Escapist writer uses anecdotal evidence to make himself look smart in latest aggressive, ill-informed article.

Survey says: Fact-averse faceless internet person attacks article blindly without reading it because he has no argument.

Survey says: Using anecdotal evidence to prove your point is a sign of not having point. Just because a fact is a fact doesn't mean that it means whatever it is that you want it to mean just because you want it to.

 

[Yopaz]

This makes me kinda sad. When something like this hits the news most look at the 54% rather than the 1000 participants. This is not a good survey, nor is it surprising with the constant brainwash the media offers from time to time about violent video games causing violence. After all the bashing of video games some have to start believing it to be true, they're not stupid, just brainwashed. This is simply another example of the brainwash procedure. Learn to spot it or be sucked in.

 

[spartan1077]

Wasn't there a survey that said 1/4 americans are mentally handicapped?

Seriously though, I don't see how people can think that videogames make people more violent. I know some really violent people, and they have never touched a videogame. And others were violent before they started playing. I think video games more release frustration than make it.

 

[loc978]

Rasmussen Reports survey method: Pulse Opinion Research calls random listed phone numbers in the middle of the day with an automated touch-tone survey featuring a prerecorded voice.

Riddle me this: who the hell doesn't hang up on that crap immediately? What we're talking about here is 54% of those people.
Oh, also, they have to have a land phone line to participate. They're not allowed to call cell phones. That pretty much rules out most of Generation X or anyone younger.

 

[Azuaron]

Everyone's missing what I think is the most important, and the most hope filled, part of the survey results:

5% of people think the government should be responsible for regulating vg violence
71% think parents should be responsible

Hell yes. I don't care what people think about video games contributing to violence, as long as they recognize parents should be responsible for limiting children's exposure.

 

[Fuselage]

I want to say: "Survey sponsored by ____ church." but I don't want to assume all churches hate games and I don't care enough to know which ones obviously do.

A local Church was giving out Super Mario Galaxy for Christmas so yeah.

 

[SelectivelyEvil13]

And an astounding 67% of Americans believe that Pac-Man will eat them in their sleep.

Look at the questions from the survey:

3* Should states be allowed to prohibit the sale or rental of violent video games to minors?
-> Nobody will dissagree on this. But it doesn't say anything about games in general.

I find this question especially humorous for multiple reasons:
1. If you are a parent concerned over violent video games, WTF are you doing when Timothy brings over Grand Theft-freaking-Auto to play on the Xbox you bought him? They must be incompetent parents if they need the state to dictate what their own child can and cannot play.
2. What constitutes as a "violent" video game regarding the threshold at which a game is restricted? And who gets to decide for that matter? These types of sanctimonious twats would censor the word "suck" on television.
3. I wonder what the view of these individuals is regarding violent films. You know, like the types where human actors are shown being decapitated, vivisected, tortured, maimed, ect.?
4. These are probably the same people who dissent against big government involvement. Don't take our guns, but take our virtual ones! Oh I love [hate] these hypocritical jackasses. No matter one's view on gun rights, you have to be pretty thick to honestly think that the ownership of a device that can blow your f---ing head off somehow does not contribute to any violence.

 

[sheogoraththemad]

come on people let's get a facepalm combo going!

 

[Exterminas]

No matter one's view on gun rights, you have to be pretty thick to honestly think that the ownership of a device that can blow your f---ing head off somehow does not contribute to any violence.

Exactly.
I always wonder wheather or not "violence in society" or anything like that. Includes violent fantasies or thoughts. That would mean the News would also contribute to that. If I think about a war in a distant land, and imagine myself to be a soldier there, I think violent thoughts.

 

[T-Bone24]

Only 1000 people? That's hardly representative of 310,000,000 people. It's not even a fair survey, as Exterminas has pointed out:

Look at the questions from the survey:


1* How concerned are you about the level of violence in many video games today?
-> Everybody should be concerned about the degree of violence in media! Doesn't mean it's a bad thing! I am concerned about fire, because it can get out of hand.




2* Do violent video games lead to more violence in our society?
-> Hell sure. More violent games equal more violent games. Meaning violence in the society. Doesn't ask If I think the games cause anything, especially doesn't ask about violent behavior. What the hell is "violence in our society"? Video Games caused the war in Iraq? Hell no.


3* Should states be allowed to prohibit the sale or rental of violent video games to minors?
-> Nobody will dissagree on this. But it doesn't say anything about games in general.


This survey doesn't ask about any real connections. It is so incredibly vague that with questions of this style you can "proof" any belief.

"Do you believe there is a connection between cheese and the moon?"
50% believe that the moon is made of cheese!

Let's not jump to conclusions about people believing video games are harmful just let. I think we need to stop being so kneejerk.

 

[-Drifter-]

Survey says: Escapist writer uses anecdotal evidence to make himself look smart in latest aggressive, ill-informed article.

Survey says: Fact-averse faceless internet person attacks article blindly without reading it because he has no argument.

Survey says: Using anecdotal evidence to prove your point is a sign of not having point. Just because a fact is a fact doesn't mean that it means whatever it is that you want it to mean just because you want it to.

Survey says: Shut up, the both of you.

 

[D Moness]

Only 1000 Adults? That's kind of a small sample number if you ask me. Even more so if the survey was taken in only one area....

My thoughts exactly. I mean for an average town a survey this small would be laughed at. 1000 people questioned can not even represent a large country as America