My mom's pastor is saying that ppl should boycott violent video games.isn't that the parent's job?

Question

he's saying games like Grand Theft Auto and Hitman teach kids to be violent. shouldn't the emphasis be on parents knowing where their kids are,what they're doing, and what they're playing, instead of saying "well, let's just close our eyes n pretend it's not there"?

Answer 1

Exactly. The parents should know what their kids are playing and not allow the kids to have those games if they are inappropriate. Not fair to boycott games that aren't inappropriate for adults to play, even if some don't like the games. I'm not into violent games full of blood and gore, but I have no issue with some other adult enjoying such a game...because it is a GAME.

For the kids, until they clearly learn the difference in fantasy and reality, and aren't jaded by seeing people killed or brutalized in various ways on television, games, or movies, then I question how wise it is to allow them to view such things...how does it affect their view of the world and human life in general?

Answer 2

Agreed.  Legally speaking, a (random age) 13 year old child cannot purchase the GTA series.  Most times its the parent who buys them without reading the ESRB warnings.  There's a reason the ESRB was formed.

If anyone has seen the old "cowboy-shoot'em-up" movies from the fifties-sixties and the shows kids watched, they could get violent.  People have been watching violent shows and movies for decades.  Now granted those may not be video games but my point is that kids are not going to become crazy and violent by playing video games alone.

Many of these kids who are in the media for violence were usually:

A) abused in some form

B) horribly picked on and tormented to the point of snapping

C) people with histories of violent behavior

Answer 3

Well there is a thing  called ESRB content rating, If the parent buys the game for the child they should blame the parent not the game. Also its not just games that make people violent its movies, tv, and music so don't blame just video games. Also i think people who have mental problems or people who can't tell fantasy from reallity should not play these games. Normal gamers should have the right to play these games(If they are old enough).

Answer 4

I'm sure they teach some people to be violent. That's why they're rated Mature and such for mature people who know better than to do such things they see on tv and video games.

But that is the parents job, the pastor can't really take away the video games. I think violent games are okay as long as the kid really is mature.

And not very influencial.

Answer 5

Certainly it should be, but our society is fast moving to a no fault system, where the blame is always pushed off onto someone else.

Smokers blame the tobacco companies

Fat people Blame McDonalds

Parents blame the game manufacturers and the Movie studios

These violent video games aren't made for children. They even have ratings now, and most major game stores will not sell adult games to people under 17 without a parent there.

The break down in the family structure is to blame.