So David Cameron, the Conservative party leader, has reverted to Eighties thinking, blaming the rise of violence in the UK on video games, music and films. The Conservatives have just released a paper called ‘It’s Time To Fight Back’ which argues that depictions of ‘extreme, casual and callous violence’ have a ‘coarsening effect on the ethical sensibility of young people’. But his argument has already been dismissed by experts in the field, including one Prof Jeffrey Goldstein who responded saying that there was no link between mock violence in video games and real-life crime.
What do you guys think? Do you think that there is any link between in-game and real-life violence? Do you think the violence in computer games numbs you to reality? Or do you think this is a tired old argument and yet again they are looking for the answers in the wrong place? Let us know…
I think in some rare cases the two can be linked but thouse very few people should have been better controled for lack of a better word in the first place. I would also like to point out most people like David Cameron realy dont understand the media. I saw a thing on the net from US TV the other day where some guy from the US goverment was talking about all the games where you piss on women etc. What game is that i would like ot know. There is nothing like that in GTA etc. They need to under stand our media before they bash it. We are bigger than music now and I would think in 10 years or more years the movie industry will be looking up at us.
Comment by sarge mat — Aug 29, 2007 @ 4:24 pm
i believe that the few instances where violence has been a result of video game violence are not as black and white as people like Mr Cameron and some indivisuals in the meda assume. The instance a few years back where a youth killed a young boy with a hammer, Man-Hunt got the Back blast. a Number of school massacars in the US were blamed on Games like GTA. my problem with all these acusations are simple…..you have to be a pretty sick person to do these things, whether a game has been played thats violent or not….the problem is that Games are an easy target for people to blame when a tradgedy happens aswell as increasing crime….drug use…teen pregnacy…..abortions…..Poverty….its all the game industry’s fault…..sigh
Comment by Jason Pendlebury — Aug 29, 2007 @ 4:45 pm
How come books never get mentioned? IMHO books are alot worse. leave more to the imagination and inspire many films and games and music…
What a dick
Comment by Ollie — Aug 29, 2007 @ 4:46 pm
As his picture quite clearly shows
The guy is total numpty and is one of the biggest band wagon jumping politicians of all time…. He jumps on the eco bandwagon… he jumps on the hoody bandwagon….
With the latest violence in liverpool he is now jumping on another bandwagon…. He should be deplotred for such shallow and unconvincing behavour…..
Comment by DaveTheRave — Aug 29, 2007 @ 4:50 pm
As his picture quite clearly shows
The guy is total numpty and is one of the biggest band wagon jumping politicians of all time…. He jumps on the eco bandwagon… he jumps on the hoody bandwagon….
With the latest violence in Liverpool he is now jumping on another bandwagon…. He should be deplored for such shallow and unconvincing behavior…..
Dont waste your space on this fool
(Labour are no better by the way(
Comment by DaveTheRave — Aug 29, 2007 @ 4:51 pm
Sorry about the two posts… I got lost in a mni rant
Comment by DaveTheRave — Aug 29, 2007 @ 4:52 pm
I think we should assassinate him, and all those who oppose us gamers. It’s not games that are making me violent it’s people like him accusing the games.
Comment by Jordez — Aug 29, 2007 @ 4:55 pm
@2,3&4 haha. Its fine. We agree with you.
Comment by Three Speech — Aug 29, 2007 @ 4:55 pm
To be fair - Postal 2 you could “relieve” yourself on anyone you liked.
Fact is if anyone takes part in the blame game “teaching bad values this” “kids are more violent that”
Remember it matters not whether it’s mario or manhunt, SAW or HOSTEL, Playboy or Hustler
The world has been gradually becoming ever more violent with the social acceptance of adult rated goods and media within the mainstream.
It should be said that if you pick on one medium you have to pick on the rest - if SAW gets an 18 BBFC certificate and is allowed to be publicly consumed, if at 830am on BBC News24 i can watch the headlines -
“12 dead in terrorist bombing” - and subsequently view the explosions and crying parents whilst i chomp down on my weetabix and orange juice before work.
Or god forbid! if i sit in front of that very same television, press a few buttons and few the same exact style of horror, outputed via HDMI cable to the screen.
Bandwagons are a slippery slope to jump onto and they only lead downhill for the rest of us.
Just an opinion.
Comment by JohnSketch — Aug 29, 2007 @ 5:01 pm
This guy is an absolute fool. He has obviously looked at the News over the last few months and picked a Hot topic that he thinks (mis-guidedly) will win him votes.
As a voter, I have no cares about tackling violence in Games, films, or music. I think that there are 1 or 2 more serios issues that need addressing before this.
If it is an issue to look at, then why not just put some kind of law/act in place to regulate HOW games are distributed in shops, not WHETHER they are distributed in shops.
I want the ability to make my own mind up wherther a game is too violent for me or my kids…….not some suit whos closest experience to gaming is having keyed the numbers 55378008 into a calculator and turning it upside down ..grrr
Comment by Johnny5_Hull — Aug 29, 2007 @ 5:06 pm
Tell Dave to teach parents how to distunguish which game is and which is not suitable for kids. Simple as.
Comment by SAiLO — Aug 29, 2007 @ 5:42 pm
What a tit! As soon as video games become a widely accepted medium, they get attacked from all sides for any tiny little thing that happens. We saw this with movies back in the 70’s (Clockwork Orange being banned etc.). There’s a reason video games are now classified in the same way as movies. They’re not all appropriate for children, and parents need to take some responsibility and start realising that games are becoming more and more adult-oriented and not just for kids anymore. As for blaming video games for violent murders, I personally find that deplorable. I’ve played voilent video games for many years and have never once felt the urge to go and try it out in real life.Video games don’t breed murderers. They’re just sick, amoral human beings with no regard for life, and the media should be ashamed of itself for portraying it otherwise.
Comment by gaz231 — Aug 29, 2007 @ 5:49 pm
I think Cmaeron needs to stop worrying about video games and start giving the public some policies if he wants some votes. If Gordon Brown calls an election this autumn which they think he will, Labour win easily.
They can’t keep blaming video games for violence. The evidence isn’t there, and in the rare cases in which it’s been a factor, they need to think about the millions of people who play video games and dont go running around their community causing trouble.
I’m not a political person, but I’m not a fan of Labour for the University Tuition Fee thingy. I wanted the tories to talk proper politics, but sorry, you’ve just lost another voter. And there’s no way I’m voting for the Lib Dems! Cameron will be out by Christmas at this rate.
Comment by andy from ipswich — Aug 29, 2007 @ 6:09 pm
I’d never blame videogames for creating twisted individuals, but if someone already has murderous intent they could, potentially, make them more likely to carry out things they already thought about.
On a personal level, I’m not really comfortable with games like Manhunt and GTA. I’d rather settle back with a cutesy RPG and have fun rather than go on a crazy kill fest in a game. I’m not judging, but it does kind of make me wonder what kind of person can really create something like Manhunt or The Punisher without being a little bit… I dunno. Funny in the head.
Comment by Philbob — Aug 29, 2007 @ 6:11 pm
There is no link between video games and violence. Sure, some might get ideas from video games, but that doesn’t change the fact that they would have done it anyway.
If video games can be blamed for violence, so can movies, TV, books… they just like to blame it on games for some reason.
Comment by Tom Eccles — Aug 29, 2007 @ 6:47 pm
Great!
Who the hell do i vote for now.
Comment by SmokeJaguar — Aug 29, 2007 @ 7:18 pm
Without getting too political, the reason why our country is in such a mess is the softly softly approach that governmnet takes to dealing with antisocial behaviour. Teachers, police & even parents do not have the powers to control people these days. As for the link with media? This is a stale old arguement. anyone with any ounce of sanity can tell reality from fiction and likewise right from wrong. As 14 said, who we vote for now their all a shower of sh….
Comment by Terry — Aug 29, 2007 @ 7:33 pm
‘coarsening effect on the ethical sensibility of young people’.
As a sensible young person, ethically speaking - the mans a cunt.
Comment by Mick — Aug 29, 2007 @ 7:47 pm
Pathetic effort from the tories. They’ve just stepped back 20 years. Of course, they probably didn’t even consider the effects of the availablity of guns, growing civil dissatisfaction, immigration levels that have grown out of control, the racial and cultural tension that has grown since 9/11, a piss poor education system that is failing kids….I could go on.
Comment by russ — Aug 29, 2007 @ 7:49 pm
Cameron is probably right.
You kids will agree in 20 years time.
Comment by ~lee/ — Aug 29, 2007 @ 9:55 pm
Hmm 2 points 1- hasn’t cameron already destroyed any chance he will lead the country? so why are we listening to a word he says?
2- this arguement is the same one that has been used time and time again and if computer games influenced our behaviour we would all be munching “power” pills and listening to repetative beat music.
As Bill Hicks said ALL politicians are liars and murderers!
Comment by setarcosp — Aug 29, 2007 @ 10:45 pm
oh and @ 19″ immigration levels that have grown out of control” is also what cameron has been saying today and as we have a birth rate of 0.1% we’re gonna need the workers sooner or later
Comment by setarcosp — Aug 29, 2007 @ 10:50 pm
WHAT A COCK
sorry for not having anything constructive to say …these are the only words i could find in myself
Comment by metallicorphan — Aug 30, 2007 @ 6:11 am
Must be a slow day in parliment or somthing as they cant have anything better to talk about like you know wars, taxs, global warming, unemployment, crime, the NHS
What a ball bag, or as it has been stated already
COCK
Comment by Scorn — Aug 30, 2007 @ 8:03 am
lest we not forget that violence NEVER happened before the 20th century (when these mediums were introduced)
Comment by seedaripper1973 — Aug 30, 2007 @ 10:17 am
p.s and 19th century porn on very early film is NOT included
Comment by seedaripper1973 — Aug 30, 2007 @ 10:19 am
I downloaded a game today in which it graphically depicts your white character beating several individiuals (Mostly black or of ethnic origin) with metal pipes and stabbing them with 8 inch blades.
The game was “Streets of Rage 2 ” on XBLA which was originally release 15 odd years ago on the Mega Drive.
I played this game as a child and did not grow up to be a violent thug or a racist. Although if you realeased this game today with todays graphics, that is how it would be construed.
And why didn’t I grow up to be a twat?
Because I was taught the diffence between right and wrong and not to copy everything I saw on the screen. (Although, there was a couple of years when I thought I was Christian Slater from Heathers).
The rule is simple - don’t let your electronic equipment raise your children.
Comment by Chimpboy — Aug 30, 2007 @ 10:24 am
Look at his picture… what a cock!
Comment by Terry — Aug 30, 2007 @ 10:45 am
I think it is all down to how parents teach their children. But it would be foolish to say games don’t have an affect on people, because they do.
Comment by EH — Aug 30, 2007 @ 12:01 pm
@ 29 that has been the subject of many psychological studies and in every single one they were unable to prove ANY link to violence in any media to violence in real life
Comment by setarcosp — Aug 30, 2007 @ 6:35 pm
@30 I’m not saying it will lead to violence but playing games does effect people from fustration and anger to happy and making you feel a level of achivment (if you feel anything like this it means the game has effected you). But to say games will make you go on the street get a gun and shoot someone or even rob somone is just stupid(while it is possible), there are other reasons that are far more logical. Like you say though there is no real proof, and most violent people i.e people who rob, kill, ect probaly never even play games.
Comment by EH — Aug 30, 2007 @ 7:37 pm
This crazy violence in cities.. it all has to do with how healthy people eat… I’m serious! If I just had a bowl of carrots I would be way less likely to go apeshit on someone than if I just got jacked up on synthetic food like macdonals…
Comment by sycodude — Aug 30, 2007 @ 7:56 pm
A poor diet makes ppl go nuts… but the media desensitizes us to violence I admit, let’s just not close our minds and shut out all of the many potential factors.
Comment by sycodude — Aug 30, 2007 @ 7:57 pm
Here’s my 2p… If there is such a link between violent video games and violent behaviour, why aren’t there MORE attacks / murders? How many copies of the GTA series (to pick Jack ‘biggot’ Thompsons favourite) have been sold? Millions?
Surely there should have been a massive increase in car jackings at least…
Oh no, IT’S A GAME, IT’S NOT REAL!
Now those of us that can tell the difference between fact and fiction are being victimised and villified for wanting to have a little escapism.
Anyway the games that get me the most riled tend to be platformers, Crash Bandicoot - The Slipery Climb, had me bouncing the controller of the walls, but I didn’t want to go out on a rampage and Whack some Mo-Fo’s.
Yes there has to be regulation but that’s what the ERSB and other such bodies are for, if Mum / Dad buy their 10 year old a 15 rated game that’s their fault, not the retailers or the publisher / coders.
Would these same parents give that child unrestricted internet access?
Comment by Demibeard — Aug 30, 2007 @ 10:29 pm
there is a direct link between david cameron opening his dumb posh mouth, and me wanting to slap david cameron in his dumb posh mouth.
Comment by christraverse — Sep 2, 2007 @ 12:08 pm
I think you people should actually read the original source material before expressing your opinions. The quote in this article is taken out of context. The full original text reads:
“The second aspect of popular culture which causes concern is the content of films and video games which are marketed at children and young people, or accessible to them. Extreme, casual and callous violence in a context of social indifference and moral ambiguity – and in the absence of
positive, counterbalancing influences from family, community and the wider culture – has a coarsening
effect on the ethical sensibility of young people.”
First point: it mentions BOTH FILMS AND VIDEO GAMES and the concern is how they are marketed at YOUNG PEOPLE.
Now read the second sentence… properly. The whole thing. Are you saying you do not agree with this? He is not talking about anyone intelligent enough to post here. He’s talking about the sort of people you’ve probably never met, unless you, like them, have been in and out of the penal system since you were old enough to walk. He’s talking about the sort of people who live “in the absence of
positive, counterbalancing influences from family.”
I’m no fan of the tories, but I think he has a point. He’s not saying we should ban video games; he’s just saying that we need to look at how they are marketed.
Comment by HappySpaceInvader — Nov 19, 2007 @ 9:08 pm
Can any one have faith in this Old ETonian A**hole. The picture is accurate this guy is a space cadet wanting a ride on any passing bandwagon. P***k!
Comment by Cam is an A** — Dec 24, 2007 @ 11:20 pm
..so if the games cause violence …what’s he going to do about it… the party of business!? As if they would regulate the industry! one raised eyebrow from business and he would run a mile.
Just a shallow opportunist. All very well spouting rhetoric but in government he certainly would not challenge the industry.
Comment by eternal realist — Jul 16, 2008 @ 11:26 pm
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