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Geek Culture / Stephen King defending video games

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Accoun
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Posted: 9th Apr 2008 12:11
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http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20188502,00.html
Here you have a link to King's essay (or what it was called in english) about violence in games... Everything is known to people who play them, but still good, that someone as famous is writing it, cause people are often listening to famous more tan to someone they never heard about....

Make games, not war.
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SunnyKatt
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Posted: 9th Apr 2008 13:36
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Good for him! Defending the violence in videogames! Well done, Steven King.

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flashing snall
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Posted: 9th Apr 2008 14:05
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wooo. i love his books, and he makes good points in his article.


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Deathead
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Posted: 9th Apr 2008 14:10 Edited at: 9th Apr 2008 14:10
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GO STEPHEN!!He has lots of good points in there.

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Insanity Complex
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Posted: 9th Apr 2008 14:18
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Maybe eventually people will start to listen. I doubt it, but one can always hope...


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White Fang 12
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Posted: 9th Apr 2008 14:41
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I know people think violence in video games makes people violent people blame video games the first chance they get.Yesterday on the new a group of teenaged girls beat up anouther girl. and some doctor says it because there decsnstised to violence because of video games, I think it's because people have stopped caring what there kids do,i'm not saying everyone has but alot have.

I'm a noob help will be accepted
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Roxas
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Posted: 9th Apr 2008 16:17
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Nowdays youngus has too much rules and ppl are taking too good care of them (Security wise) so these kind of things happens...

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Digital Awakening
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Posted: 9th Apr 2008 16:45 Edited at: 9th Apr 2008 16:46
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A really good column, I didn't know King wrote columns. I think he points out some good things such as the existing game rating system, parents not really carrying about their kids and the whole gun policy thing. The ban is even unconstitutional so it's even more strange that it's even proposed. Especially with this kind of content:

Quote: "According to the proposed bill, violent videogames are pornographic and have no redeeming social merit. The vid-critics claim they exist for one reason and one reason only, so kids can experience the vicarious thrill of killing."


It's kinda funny to compare US with their little neighbor Japan. In Japan kids watch all kinds of violent anime. Just take Naruto for example, which is about 12 year olds beating each other up; heavily censored here in the west (US imports). They don't have the same problem with mass killings over there.

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greenlig
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Posted: 10th Apr 2008 04:47
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This could get political quick, but there was an interesting comment left on the column. One poster said something to the effect of "I love my guns, if everyone had guns then gun related crime would drop. Who would dare pull a gun and start shooting in a crowded mall if they knew all the other people were carrying guns too and that they would be shot straight away? An dead man! That's who!"

What idiot actually thinks that? I think RIGHT THERE, the problem lies. Being gun crazy, and having the right to bear arms.

0.02

greenlig

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SunnyKatt
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Posted: 10th Apr 2008 12:53
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Well, I dont love guns, but if everyone had guns then people wouldnt attack near as often because they'd get slaughtered. However, political protests might get out of hand. Extra defense for the presedent, eh?

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Zappo
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Posted: 10th Apr 2008 13:09
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"If you shoot me, I'll shoot you". Yeah, that'll work!


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SunnyKatt
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Posted: 10th Apr 2008 13:21
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The jails won't be nearly as full!

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Digital Awakening
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Posted: 10th Apr 2008 15:25
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Since this thread seem to be derailing (and that's a current problem on this board) I would like to point out that this is not the discussion for America's gun policy but about King's column on violent computer games. I know mine may have been partly out of line but please let's stick with the topic.

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tha_rami
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Posted: 10th Apr 2008 18:09
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Yeah, because everyone has guns to shoot each other, everyone needs guns to shoot each other. Real smart policy. Let's go back to the Wild West.

In any case, no protests will work. Adults don't know how to deal with gaming and gaming is what the respectless hippie culture was for them, or even that devilish Jazz music.


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jinzai
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Posted: 10th Apr 2008 18:29
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The political machine responsible for that type of legislation (The type that seeks to regulate behavior by regulating personal rights) in the US is primarily ran by Tipper Gore, the wife of the former VP. That same machine is not going to be impressed by Mr. King's eloquent defense, since they also blame his books and movies for the same thing.

My opinion...and this extends to the violent incident mentioned above, is that the disrespect shown by adults toward legitimate authority is what drives teenagers to disrespect human life in the US. Desensitization is a ridiculous word in the first place. I have seen alot of violence in my time on earth, but it does not make it any easier for me to see suffering of any type. You get desensitized by committing violent acts, not seeing them.

A lack of personal responsibility for one's actions and a deep resentment for any sort of authority is the best way to make your children act as if they weren't human in the first place, imo.

I don't think it is political at all because core behavior is not controllable by legislation, but rather by the common consent of civilized human beings.
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Seppuku Arts
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Posted: 10th Apr 2008 19:36
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When something new and scary comes out you get concerned nutters going over the top (remember the court cases against heavy metal? Well they're doing it to black metal now and accept heavy metal) But each generations of scared people who have no real perspective on the matter rages war on something different.

Video games will win, as each generation of nutters came to accept they saw that the problems aren't caused by the thing they're complaining about, but deeper and more serious things. (family issues is a big one in the UK) At least the likes of Stephen King are saying to the people out there that it's not as bad as they think...mind you 60 years a go Stephen King would have been called a sicko himself.

"Experience never provides its judgments with true or strict universality; but only (through induction) with assumed and comparative universality." - Immanuel Kant
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Darth Kiwi
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Posted: 10th Apr 2008 20:16
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Quote: "Video games will win, as each generation of nutters came to accept they saw that the problems aren't caused by the thing they're complaining about,"

There's the problem right there: Seppuku hit the nail on the head. Violent video games are a symptom rather than cause of violence. Banning all violent games is papering over the cracks, rather than fixing the wall.

I'm in favour of ratings to some extent (because I'd rather not have 8 year olds unwittingly stumble upon sex scenes) but there is a limit to the mothering and pandering of the state.

I'm not actually a Kiwi, I just randomly thought it up one day.
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Digital Awakening
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Posted: 10th Apr 2008 22:09 Edited at: 11th Apr 2008 12:35
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Quote: "Violent video games are a symptom rather than cause of violence."


I don't think violent video games are a symptom exactly. Yes, it's a known fact that the real world affects what type of games we play; wars tend to make war games sell. But we humans have been entertained by violence throughout history, take Colosseum as an example. Video games is just another form of media, but it's not yet old enough to be called art; wait another 30+ years and see.

When I was a little kid, before anyone had even heard about such a thing as a graphics card, we used to play what could be considered as death match with toy guns. Cowboys and Indians used to be popular in US. What's more desensetising: "killing" your friends with a toy gun in your hand or in front of a computer?

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xplosys
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Posted: 10th Apr 2008 22:34
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I don't know what "desenseetising" means, but I also played "Cops and Robbers", "Cowboys and Indians", etc as a kid and there weren't any home computers then. We learned it from TV and radio. I guess before that they learned it from books and before that from spoken stories.

Strangely enough, people have tried to stop all of those forms of media too. As long as we look for something to blame instead of doing what we should be doing - parenting, there will always be something under fire.

Best.

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SunnyKatt
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Posted: 10th Apr 2008 22:36
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I think they are a symptom, theyre modeled off of the real world. If the real world is violent, what will videogames have in them?
What is violence!

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bobert
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Posted: 10th Apr 2008 23:49
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Another big thing in violent videogames is the fact that half of them arent based on the real world as apposed to real storys with complex characters. Have you ever seen a cyborg killing aliens? [Halo series] Or a fuzzy alien beating up robots? [Rachet and Clank series] sure now and then there is games based off of real life like Call Of Duty 4. Basicly most violent games have actual purpose.

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SunnyKatt
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Posted: 11th Apr 2008 00:04
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But it is still based on the real world to an extent with things like physics and vegetation etc.

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Libervurto
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Posted: 11th Apr 2008 03:15
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videogames are the newest scapegoat
if you're a politician and there's an outbreak of violence, it's much easier to blame games rather than admit the cause was bad policing or a lack of government funding and education for those who become criminals.
the "monkey see, monkey do" idea is ridiculous
games that contain violence are age restricted so hopefully all above age are able to make their own decisions.
it's like saying "i ate a banana and then killed someone, therefore bananas make you kill."

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Zdrok
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Posted: 11th Apr 2008 03:20
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Quote: "Basicly most violent games have actual purpose."

Which is entertainment.
I've played (and still play) violent video games since I first played Medal of Honor: Frontline, and I have never, ever had the notion of killing someone. Stupid government laws--maybe someday they'll learn how to actually run this country instead of whining about stupid things. Violence in video games is not real, you'd have to be an idiot to think it is.

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SunnyKatt
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Posted: 11th Apr 2008 04:29
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Quote: "Violence in video games is not real, you'd have to be an idiot to think it is."


Word.

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Digital Awakening
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Posted: 11th Apr 2008 12:43 Edited at: 11th Apr 2008 12:44
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xplosys:
"desensetising" (look Google knew the right spelling although FF didn't)
Means that you blunt your senses. By seeing a lot of violence you become less sensitive and you react less upon seeing more violence. The conclusion would then be that if you kill a lot of people in a video game your senses would become so blunt that you could actually kill someone.

OBese87:
I think that's part of the problem, the other is a lack of understanding. The funny thing is that they look at what the criminals play. Heck, they are people too, don't they think they would play one of the worlds most popular games; what would they expect them to play considering their criminal interest?

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Zdrok
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Posted: 11th Apr 2008 14:42
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@ Digital Awakening: I actually disagree with that definition. I'm not saying it's wrong, but, like I said, I'm still sensitive to some things, although my response to stimuli has dropped a tad bit, but I'm still human. I can still eat, drink, and do everyday normal things. My senses are not blunt, my mind's too sharp to become blunt (meaning I could be a genius, everyone--except for mentally ill people, sorry if I offended anyone--can).

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Digital Awakening
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Posted: 11th Apr 2008 15:46
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I'm just describing the word and what conclusion could be drawn from it. I'm not saying that you become completely desensetised by playing games. It's well known that we see a lot of horrible things in the news on TV these days and we react less and less to what we see. If it's actually desensetising or there's some other reason (like we can't do anything about it anyway) I would like to know.

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xplosys
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Posted: 11th Apr 2008 16:44
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Quote: "xplosys:
"desensetising" (look Google knew the right spelling although FF didn't)
Means that you blunt your senses."


It's so difficult to be sarcastic around here. LOL

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bitJericho
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Posted: 12th Apr 2008 01:02
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Quote: "Means that you blunt your senses. By seeing a lot of violence you become less sensitive and you react less upon seeing more violence. The conclusion would then be that if you kill a lot of people in a video game your senses would become so blunt that you could actually kill someone."


I'm less sensitive to violence, therefore I'm violent?

That doesn't make any sense. How about, I'm less sensitive to violence, therefore I don't cry when I watch the news

Just cuz you can hack watching make believe violence does not mean you can watch real life violence.

Go watch some real life violence and let me know how you fare


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Insanity Complex
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Posted: 12th Apr 2008 03:35
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Even seeing real life violence on TV isn't comparable to seeing real life violence. So basically...what jerico said but a bit different

Go watch some real life violence, in person, especially if people you know are involved, and see how you do.

I'll tell you, I have yet to be phased by seeing violence on TV, real or not, but seeing stuff go down in person, tends to bother me, or wreck me if someone I care about is involved. To me, sensitivity to violence is heavily reliant to how 'connected' to it you are, so your reaction to TV/Video Games/Movies isn't a gauge at all.


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Digital Awakening
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Posted: 12th Apr 2008 12:35
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Again: That was not my personal opinion...

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