Violence and Video Games - The Thoughts of a Teen

My teenage son was once an avid video game player, but in the past year he hasn't had as much time to play the video games he once enjoyed on a regular basis. Many of these games contained graphic violence, and although I wouldn't personally choose these games myself, and although some parents wouldn't agree, I've never stopped my teenagers from playing violent video games. I'm confident that my kids understand that video games are a form of entertainment, and although it isn't entertainment I would enjoy, I know they understand the difference between fantasy and reality. I've never been worried that video games containing violence would become an obsession or spark hidden rage from within.

I recently asked my teenage son his opinion on video games and violence, and I was impressed by what he had to say about this highly controversial subject. I asked him to write the following piece on violence and video games, and it contains facts and figures he complied, as well as his personal view.

When tragedies occur, people naturally look for explanations and reasons, and some choose to place blame where it doesn't necessarily belong. They tend to blame the obvious rather than searching for the root of the problem, and the following information written by my son provides insight into this touchy and contentious subject.

Searching for the Root of the Problem

School shootings and violence are becoming more and more of a problem in the United States, and school officials, law enforcement, parents, students, and the public in general are looking for reasons behind the ever-increasing acts of violence that occur. A number of people are under the assumption that a great deal of the violence in the United States stems from sources that might not actually be the root of the problem.

Because many perpetrators of violence were avid video game players, video game playing is thought to be the cause of increased aggression due to acts of realistic on-screen violence and isolation in the home. Evidence exists that shows this is true, but are video games the real problem, or does the blame lie somewhere else? Society wants to blame the video game industry for violence and laziness in children and young adults; however, the breakdown of the family unit is more likely to blame. Many parents are not taking an active role in the lives of their kids, and they are not spending much needed time with them. If kids and parents were spending more time together, kids would not have time to become so deeply engrossed in the world of violent video games.

Despite what some people think, video games have many positive attributes, and they help players learn, develop, and advance in a number of unapparent ways. For one thing, playing video games introduces kids to computer technology. They introduce amazing computerized worlds that have the potential to spark an interest in the science of computers. In addition, video games require kids to follow directions, and they encourage the sharpening of problem-solving skills. Multiple player games allow kids and parents to interact and play together, and they are entertaining and enjoyable. Video games also increase hand-eye coordination, and they improve dexterity. These are most certainly positive characteristics, and they offer more positive than negative attributes when played responsibly by those who do not have preexisting mental problems and a predilection for violence.

Although video games can greatly enhance the lives of those who play responsibly, they have negative effects as well. An addiction to video games could interfere with a healthy social life since many can be played alone. Those with a tendency toward violence could spark more aggressive behavior. Many video games center on killing and destruction in order to win. Games intertwine reality with fantasy, and those who try to escape into a fantasy world sometimes become confused as to what is real and what is not. These are very serious negative aspects of video gaming, but the question remains as to why a child would want to isolate themselves in a room and play video games until they can no longer tell the difference between fantasy and reality.

Some facts regarding video games might surprise the average American. The United States video game industry attained 10.5 billion dollars in sales in 2005. More than one third of avid video game enthusiasts are between the ages of 6 and 17 years of age. The Federal Trade Commission reported that 69% of unaccompanied 13-16 year olds were able to purchase mature rated video games. Video games rated M for mature are intended for game players ages 18 and older. On a study of 2,000 kids, only 21% claimed their parents set restrictions on the video games they play. Twelve percent of kids regularly play games they know their parents would not approve of, and they play without their parent's knowledge or consent. This information is basically saying that parents do not know what their children are doing behind closed doors, they do not know what their children are purchasing, and some parents do not even care what types of games their kids play.

As most are aware, in the small quiet town of Littleton Colorado, something completely unthinkable happened in 1999 at Columbine High School. Two teenage boys took several guns to school along with 76 bombs. Luckily the numerous bombs did not go off, but as most already know, this did not stop Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold from methodically snuffing out the lives of 13 innocent people. In the aftermath of this massacre, some wanted to outlaw video games as a solution to future problems related to those who commit crimes as a result of an obsession with violence. Both boys who committed the horrendous crime in Littleton Colorado were obsessed with the game Doom. This highly realistic game contains a lot of blood, a tremendous amount of lifelike gore, and limitless killing. Would these boys have killed so many people if this game had never been produced? The game could have been a small portion of their problems, but it certainly was not the main contributor to their deep-seeded troubles.

In Littleton Colorado before Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold went on their killing spree, many telltale signs were apparent, and many clues were provided as to what the future held at Columbine High School. Journals, videotapes, guns, and bombs were present in the bedrooms of these boys, but their parents never looked. Harris had even gone so far as to design a website containing hateful epithets that could have been investigated, but no one noticed or bothered to probe further. Had the parents paid attention to what these kids were doing on a regular basis, the tragedy in Littleton Colorado may never have happened, but hindsight is always 20/20, and no one can be sure if the outcome would have been different if parental involvement had existed in the lives of these highly troubled teens. It is likely if the parents had monitored their kids more closely they could have been stopped from committing a horrific crime that will forever be engrained in the minds of everyone in Littleton Colorado as well as the rest of the world.

Instead of simply blaming video games for the bloodshed at Columbine High School, many questions must be raised. How did Harris and Klebold obtain the weapons they used to carry out their deadly acts of violence in the first place? Since they were not of legal age to purchase weapons they must have obtained them from an adult. This fact has nothing to do with video games, and minors being able to obtain guns have nothing to do with video games. Irresponsible adults were the problem, and if the parents had been more responsible, this massacre may have never happened. The adults responsible for making weapons available are partly to blame, and not the weapons themselves or the video games the boys played.

Contrary to popular belief, the effects of video games on aggression are not aggravating in nature. Some gamers play video games of their choice to channel their anger in a way that is not harmful to themselves or anyone else. People can choose to take out their anger on the person they have a problem with, or they can take it out on a fictional being in a video game. Which scenario is worse? People need to focus on the actual causes of problems rather than blaming killings on games played by mentally disturbed individuals like those who committed the horrendous acts of violence at Columbine High School.

Parents cannot control everything kids do, nor can they monitor kids twenty-four hours a day, but they should be aware of what their kids are doing under their roof. If weapons were not readily available, and if parents checked in on their kids on a regular basis to see what they are doing, acts of violence could be avoided. Is it the fault of the video game that kids might chose to take guns to school and murder fellow students and faculty? Is it not possible that kids who commit crimes of this nature are mentally ill to begin with? Simply playing video games no matter how violent those games are does not create a killer.

Although many parents work and have responsibilities outside the home, they need to take a few minutes of their time each and every day to see what is going on in the lives of their children. If the parents of Harris and Klebold had taken the time to look into what their kids did behind closed doors, it is probable that the tragedy at Columbine High School would have never occurred. The parents would have discovered the kids had serious problems, and these problems would have been addressed and prevented. Video games do not cause kids to kill.