As per Quejs post on the main board re this article

Article

Do people think the violence featured in games like Grand Theft Auto encourage or add fuel to an already aggressive society? Or are games like these a result of a society already fuelled with a violent appetite?

Discuss

In the same way that playing virtua tennis doesn't make me want to play tennis, and call of duty doesn't make me want to join the army, not at all. There will always be a clear link between the two, it's easy for people to blame something, but it gives people an excuse as opposed to being the fundamental reason behind it.

Perhaps the only link between the two in this is that it puts forward the idea, not that it promotes it, but that it makes people perhaps think about it. There will always be a minority of society who are mentally ill or sick individuals who perhaps are given the confidence to go out and commit crimes on the basis that they can do it on a game. But surely then the same can be said for ideas they would pick up in films, tv programs or even music.

I agree with Stubbsy on this (mostly). I think games/films/tv are simply used as an excuse for the ever increasing violent nature of society in general. I think it actually detracts from the real reasons, which are (in my opinion) that children in our society grow up now being used to having what they want given to them on a plate. This reduces their respect for the value of the things they have and inturn for the value of human life. Our society is just to demanding, both financially and mentally. This puts a massive strain on young people and some simply chose the easy way out (a life of crime). Add to that the fact that out justice system is way way way too soft on them and also factor in the obvious clash of differing cultures that is so widespred in this country.

I cant imagine the kids in Africa have much "Game time" when they are young but just look at what goes on over there. If someone is inclined to commit these crimes, they will do it regardless of what their "motivational tool" is. Violent games/films/tv are simply an easy target.

Violence has been widespread in cartoons since the invention of moving pictures. It is not a new phenomenon. The demand for these games must be there or they would not sell. If it is the games, where did it start? What fueled the demand for the first violent game?

if anything, I thing these games could be an outlet for people to vent their built up frustrations.

I think it's ridiculous to suggest that violent games fuel violent natures - people with violent natures will be violent anyhow, some people talk as if there was nocrime before video games. Also people don't apply the same principle to violent films or violent books (allthough the person does take a more active role in the games.)