What's your opinion on this?

[thesunisout]

A 14 year old kid murdered his father and brother in cold blood. He recounted the killing graphic detail and then commented on his love for Grand Theft Auto. This is what he said:

The boy, Eldon Samuel III, told police that he hated his brother and then launched into a conversation about his love of Grand Theft Auto, the video game.

At one point, Eldon went on to explain how he thought that Trevor, the character in notoriously violent Grand Theft Auto video games, was 'kinda cool' in how he shoots people to releave his anger.

Grand Theft Auto fan, Eldon Samuel III 14, 'killed his father and younger brother' | Mail Online

Do you think this shows a connection between violent video games and violent behavior in children? Why or why not?

 

[Chainless]

People will always find "reasons" to kill eachother. It was like that thousands of years before video games were even a thought.

 

[Affliction]

It's an isolated case. What is funny is people love to find a scapegoat...the game didn't make him do it. His mental history did.

 

[Bananagator]

Anyone who will go out and kill someone with no remorse must have something seriously wrong with them. People can blame video games, movies, and TV all they want but millions of people are exposed to the same stuff every day and don't commit murder.
This kid talks about the murder of his family members, and then goes on to casually talk about his favorite video game. Something isn't right there.
He mentions his father being abusive as well. That probably didn't help

I mean, I don't think kids should be playing violent video games but I don't think we should mark them as the cause for all cases of violence. Correlation is not causation.

 

[CounselorForChrist]

Mental illness is to blame. They would have done it no matter what the subject was.

 

[Mankin]

No one has found a direct causation between violent video games and violence. The kid was obviously disturbed. The video game is not the problem the mental illness the kid had is the issue.

 

[stellalunaCW]

You could argue that someone with a murderous streak is drawn to violent video games.

 

[CounselorForChrist]

Well men in general are drawn to them because it seems to be in our genes. Heck we watch Nascar for the crashes after all lol. BTW obviously not sayings its an excuse of course.

 

[thesunisout]

Let's say the kid was raised in a Christian home, was home schooled and didn't watch violent movies or play violent video games. Do you see the same scenario happening?

 

[Affliction]

Let's say the kid was raised in a Christian home, was home schooled and didn't watch violent movies or play violent video games. Do you see the same scenario happening?

Oh so you suggest that all of that is the key to preventing that. Raising them in a specifically Christian home, and not watching violent movies and video games. I'll bite your bait and say no but you have massive faults in that "logic" if it can be called that.

However it's almost as if you want to helicopter parent or advoate for it, which is just as if not worse considering the media isn't to blame and you should look at the child's history. The child's mental history. Ugh ugh ugh at people usin scapegoats.

 

[thesunisout]

Oh so you suggest that all of that is the key to preventing that. Raising them in a specifically Christian home, and not watching violent movies and video games. I'll bite your bait and say no but you have massive faults in that "logic" if it can be called that.

However it's almost as if you want to helicopter parent or advoate for it, which is just as if not worse considering the media isn't to blame and you should look at the child's history. The child's mental history. Ugh ugh ugh at people usin scapegoats.

If you say no then you have to acknowledge that its not just the kids mental illness. What do you think about this study that came out today?

Study: Children Exposed To Violent Video Games Retain Aggressive Behavior, Thoughts « CBS Detroit

 

[Affliction]

If you say no then you have to acknowledge that its not just the kids mental illness. What do you think about this study that came out today?

Study: Children Exposed To Violent Video Games Retain Aggressive Behavior, Thoughts « CBS Detroit

The issue is that it sounds to me like a black and white fallacy. The only thing you can take from this is the parents, however it suggests that helicopter parenting is something to be done in order to mitigate the issues. I agree that parenting is the first thing and foremost along with discussions with children about the games and such. Even I plan to implement such parenting values when/if I raise a family. I do agree with younger children not grasping the concepts as well and brain development.

In light of this removing the "problem" if it can be called that is NOT a solution. We all know (At least I hope) that when you restrict or forbid something...the opposite party will be exposed and it's not going to be known. Someone will want it more and actively search for it. This is why the ESRB was created - to act as a guide for parents. What's sad is that most people don't CHECK the guide or even worse - SOME Gamestop or EB Games' stores don't ID, while most do thankfully.

In conclusion restricting is not a proper way. Censorship (Which seems to fuel this article) is wrong. I agree with key points but feel that in light of society and the standards we hope to uphold for progressive purposes, it's something we should allow but with proper guidelines to prepare the next generation for accelerated learning, ethics, and values.