Video Games Don't Kill People, Crazy People Kill People

Video games have been a major part of my life from a young age. Today many people accuse gamers of being violent or being loners. They say that we gamers are at risk of becoming violent and that such events like Columbine were triggered due to the nature of games. Well, I whole heartedly disagree with that.

While games are used as an escape and can often be violent I have never found myself with the impulse to kill somebody due to playing violent games. Almost everybody I know plays games... men, women, kids, Jesus even the old folks are doing it now. Just because games are violent doesn't mean that those that play them will be as well! When Donkey Kong came out were there people on buildings throwing wood barrels at fat Italian plumbers? I don't think so, but if there was it could only be seen as comedy! When Mario Brothers came out was there an increase in kidnappings of Princesses? No. When Zelda came out was there a boom in boomerang and sword sales? No. So why then are people assuming that because there are more violent games out that kids are going to become psychos? What proof do they bring that even show that people are at risk by playing games?

When I was younger I was told I would go blind from playing games. I was told that video games will make me dumb. Now they say if you play games your problem solving abilities are much higher than those who don't play games. If we play violent video games and get rid of our darkest urges in a virtual world, isn't it then possible that due to doing that we are less at risk of being violent in society?

I have played pretty much every big release game since 1990 and I can't say I am any more violent than the old guy across the road. When I play baseball I know I don't have to pull out a sword and fight for my stolen base ala Base Wars. I know when I go to the bar they aren't going to just slide my beer down the counter ala Tapper. Everyone knows these things. Nobody thinks games are real.

Anyone accused of doing something wrong and claiming they did it due to video games has one real excuse. The excuse is that they are CRAZY. Nobody kills a man without going crazy. Video games do not make people crazy. While they might be annoying, some might be really bad, in the end games are just that... they are games! They are meant as entertainment. They do not tell you how to live your life. If you want to smash little Jimmy's head in with a bowling ball think about it before you do it. If you think it's a good idea then put the ball down and go see a doctor. Otherwise you will continue to give a bad name to those of us who actually love what we do. I love to play games. I love to watch people play games. Most of all I love to escape into a good game. However I will never finish a game and start hunting my neighbour. Just think about your actions people... that's all you need to do.