Metauser

Video games are the new wipping boy

September 20, 2006 Posted by mitch | politics, thoughts | 0 Comments

Yes, video games can be violent.  We as humans *ARE* violent.  Don't believe me?  Look at history.  Every form of communication humans have created during our existance on this planet, has depicted... wait for it... VIOLENCE.  From the earliest cave drawings, to even religious works such as the Bible.  Whats causing all the commotion now?  The guy in Montreal who *gasp* played violent video games.  Ask any one on the street, especially the younger demographic, and I'd beat it'd be easier to count those that haven't played some form of violent video game in their life.  Does this make them violent?  I'd say that that in and of itself does not.  Its typically other factors that lead to the tragedy's such as the latest Montreal incident.  The fact that he played these games is no more than a coincident.  I mean, he could just as well of eaten at a McDonalds and drove a Ford, and someone honked his horn at him on the freeway just before he did what he did.  Could they have caused this?  Not likely, but does that mean we need to ban any of these things too?  When does it stop? When can we stop blaming x product, and say blame the person that committed such acts?  Where does personal accountablity start?  After all that is what is really the problem.  No one wants to accept their own responcibilities.  Our rights (especially as Americans and any country that modeled their own constitutions after our original constitution [our changes to it since i'm less sure about]) have the freedom to do as we wish.  The only reason for government intrusion, and the purpose of the government at that point... is to prevent say one persons freedom to shoot a cannon in an area that would affect another persons life or property.  If said person had enough land and a cannon that they wished to shoot, and it all stayed within their property then they by all means nessisary should be allowed to exibit their freedom and shoot that cannon to their hearts content.

The point being of coarse freedom.  Every decade or so has their own explination for violence, rock 'n roll, and Elvis were two in the last century that were used to explain violence and crime.  However, I'm just sick that even after all of the unfounded aligations and the continuing attempts to try to limit the sale of video games, which are struck down because of violations to our right for freedom of speech.  Video games are a form of art, art depicts life, and life is violent.  Don't like it?  Don't buy it.  Nuf said.

The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. His own good, either physical or moral, is not sufficient warrant. -- John Stuart Mill(1806 - 1873)