Blaming Video Games

[Module88]

The other thread brought this up, so props to Road. We've all heard the stories- people who blame video games and say that they saw X in a game so they thought it was ok or whatever. What do you guys think? Is that an acceptable excuse? Do you think it's true/probable? Is it an acceptable defense?

[Corneo]

Maybe for younger kids that are playing GTA games. But you have to ask yourself how did these kids get hold of these games? Parents too cheap to hire a baby sitter so they buy a $50 game hoping it would keep their kids out of trouble? I however don't think there is any acceptable excuse. Even at the age of 12, I understood what death meant.

PS: I advocate parents hit their kids more. This would keep kids out of trouble. Not beating a child, but spanking.

[Sir EvilFreeSmeg]

I saw a dog banging another dog so I want to be a pimp. I want to beat ho's, deal drugs and generally be scum of the earth. Dont' blame me, the dog made me do it.

[Module88]

I saw a dog banging another dog so I want to be a pimp. I want to beat ho's, deal drugs and generally be scum of the earth. Dont' blame me, the dog made me do it.

It works in the courts sometimes, believe it or not.

[Corneo]

I saw a dog banging another dog so I want to be a pimp. I want to beat ho's, deal drugs and generally be scum of the earth. Dont' blame me, the dog made me do it.

Hahah. One can also argue that they saw 24 and now want to hurt scums of the earth. Don't blame them. Blame Jack Bauer.

[Sir EvilFreeSmeg]

Sure, blame Jack. You don't even know Jack! Mine's a better comparison anyway. It offends the sensitive

[Talga Vasternich]

The other thread brought this up, so props to Road. We've all heard the stories- people who blame video games and say that they saw X in a game so they thought it was ok or whatever. What do you guys think? Is that an acceptable excuse? Do you think it's true/probable? Is it an acceptable defense?

To answer your questions in order:
I try not to, it keeps me out of trouble.
No.
Yes/yes.
Only for the truly stupid.

[Veilside]

games are an easy scapegoat, they're a lot more violent than films and the general public know absolutely nothing about them except what's written in the media. i think that if someone tries to use videogames as an excuse for commiting a crime they deserve castration via a rusty spoon, that'll soon make people stop. games CANNOT teach someone to handle and shoot a gun though they may desensitise someone to violence, especially if played at a very young age.

[bladesyz]

games are an easy scapegoat, they're a lot more violent than films and the general public know absolutely nothing about them except what's written in the media. i think that if someone tries to use videogames as an excuse for commiting a crime they deserve castration via a rusty spoon, that'll soon make people stop. games CANNOT teach someone to handle and shoot a gun though they may desensitise someone to violence, especially if played at a very young age.

Games are an easy scapegoat because there's no powerful lobby industry to defend video games.

If you made the same comment about movies or hip-hop music, you get a ton of celebrities coming out against it. Meanwhile, the only people coming out to defend video games are internet forumites and webcomic artists.

[Veilside]

Games are an easy scapegoat because there's no powerful lobby industry to defend video games.

If you made the same comment about movies or hip-hop music, you get a ton of celebrities coming out against it. Meanwhile, the only people coming out to defend video games are internet forumites and webcomic artists.

and the countless developing and distributing companies along with the vast majority of gaming fans.