The Parents Guide to Violent Video Games - General

The Parents Guide to Violent Video Games: Right, you've just bought you kid a copy of Gears of War, and watching them play, you're regretting it. Don't worry, it's probably better for them to continue playing than to stop. The agression they display in games is them getting all of their anger out on virtual people or real people playing as virtual avatars. Contrary to popular belief, unless your child cannot seperate fantasy from reality, will decrease the liklihood of your child shooting up their school or punching their best mate in the face. Not allowing your kid to play games of an age rating of 16+ or 18+ may actually make them more violent because they're not taking it out on virtual people. If you think you are safeguarding your children by stopping them playing violent video games, you are very wrong. Acts of violence are sometimes linked to a build up of anger, depression, annoyance or being rejected and such. Kids talk about video games these days, you may think it sad, but it's true. Games such as Call of Duty and Gears of War are usually discussed a few times in a day. If your child cannot play these games, they may feel left out and then feel rejected, which may lead to violence. A survey that I conducted showed that people who played violent video games tend to be less violent than those who don't. The best tip I can give to introducing your child to violent video games is don't plunge them right in the deep end. Introduce the concept of violence and gore gradually. Restricting your child completely is never good. For example, let them have a game rated 12+ (Teen in America) and then see how they deal with that. Ask them if they can seperate it from fantasy and reality and ensure that, if it's a shooting game, that their actions will hurt real life people. If they understand this, it's probably safe to upgrade the game rating to one that is higher, repeat this until your child is allowed everything. If at any point of this, your child has nightmares or feel distressed or are acting unusually violent, be sure to remind them that the game is only that, a game. While it does happen in real life, conflict is never fun. However, the majority of people have no problem with violent video games, as long as they are introduced gradually. My definition of gradually is to introduce them to a game like Star Wars: Republic Commando first. It's a franchise that kids know as fantasy. Then up it to perhaps one of the Call of Duty games or maybe the Battlefield series and so forth. Unless you're sure your child can handle it, avoid games which incorporate fear as a main element. These may scare your child, but if they know that it is only fantasy, not reality, it's probably safe to let them play it. A horror game such as Penumbra may scare younger players, just as it scares older players due to it's claustrophobic environments and clever use of lighting and sound, your child may play this because they want to be scared. If they are scared after it, that's good, that's the games aim, but remind them that everything that happened in the game is fake and not real The will maintain your childs sanity and mental ability to think straight and seperate fantasy from reality. If introduced gradually, gaming can be a fun and safe hobby for your child, and they will still be mentally sound, and also, talking to people they don't know may be part of the game, don't worry about this. If they get to know one of the people and want to meet them, go with your child, don't let them go alone. Gaming is healthy, don't restrict your child, introduce them gradually and they'll be fine. There we are, no school shootings from your child, but they can still play violent video games for fun and entertainment. Just ensure they seperate fantasy from reality. [b]Written by Chris Thomson (Juggernog).[/b]

you aren't reaching your target audience on facepunch

Your avatar is fucking trippy man P.S - We dont need a guide, we all managed it just fine. Kudos to the effort though.

This would be useful if I were a parent.

A lot of the things you just claimed are fabricated as far as one can be considered with such a lack of sufficient evidence or sourcing, how can you make such claims without references? Another note, a survey is not a valid way of finding the answer to the question you were trying to answer, it is not a scientific method and therefore invalid. I do not mean to be negative out of spite, but I feel I must point out the blatant flaws with your guide, sorry.

[QUOTE=Juggernog;21124142]The Parents Guide to Violent Video Games: Right, you've just bought you kid a copy of Gears of War, and watching them play, you're regretting it. Don't worry, it's probably better for them to continue playing than to stop. The agression they display in games is them getting all of their anger out on virtual people or real people playing as virtual avatars. Contrary to popular belief, unless your child cannot seperate fantasy from reality, will decrease the liklihood of your child shooting up their school or punching their best mate in the face. Not allowing your kid to play games of an age rating of 16+ or 18+ may actually make them more violent because they're not taking it out on virtual people. If you think you are safeguarding your children by stopping them playing violent video games, you are very wrong. Acts of violence are sometimes linked to a build up of anger, depression, annoyance or being rejected and such. Kids talk about video games these days, you may think it sad, but it's true. Games such as Call of Duty and Gears of War are usually discussed a few times in a day. If your child cannot play these games, they may feel left out and then feel rejected, which may lead to violence. A survey that I conducted showed that people who played violent video games tend to be less violent than those who don't. The best tip I can give to introducing your child to violent video games is don't plunge them right in the deep end. Introduce the concept of violence and gore gradually. Restricting your child completely is never good. For example, let them have a game rated 12+ (Teen in America) and then see how they deal with that. Ask them if they can seperate it from fantasy and reality and ensure that, if it's a shooting game, that their actions will hurt real life people. If they understand this, it's probably safe to upgrade the game rating to one that is higher, repeat this until your child is allowed everything. If at any point of this, your child has nightmares or feel distressed or are acting unusually violent, be sure to remind them that the game is only that, a game. While it does happen in real life, conflict is never fun. However, the majority of people have no problem with violent video games, as long as they are introduced gradually. My definition of gradually is to introduce them to a game like Star Wars: Republic Commando first. It's a franchise that kids know as fantasy. Then up it to perhaps one of the Call of Duty games or maybe the Battlefield series and so forth. Unless you're sure your child can handle it, avoid games which incorporate fear as a main element. These may scare your child, but if they know that it is only fantasy, not reality, it's probably safe to let them play it. A horror game such as Penumbra may scare younger players, just as it scares older players due to it's claustrophobic environments and clever use of lighting and sound, your child may play this because they want to be scared. If they are scared after it, that's good, that's the games aim, but remind them that everything that happened in the game is fake and not real The will maintain your childs sanity and mental ability to think straight and seperate fantasy from reality. If introduced gradually, gaming can be a fun and safe hobby for your child, and they will still be mentally sound, and also, talking to people they don't know may be part of the game, don't worry about this. If they get to know one of the people and want to meet them, go with your child, don't let them go alone. Gaming is healthy, don't restrict your child, introduce them gradually and they'll be fine. There we are, no school shootings from your child, but they can still play violent video games for fun and entertainment. Just ensure they seperate fantasy from reality. [b]Written by Chris Thomson (Juggernog).[/b][/QUOTE] I completely agree with everything written here.

For some reason this made me smile.

Guide is not 100% accurate. It's better than giving your kids GTA at the age of 10 though.

It should be illegal for anyone under 18 to buy, own, or play a rated M game.

Atleast it works for me.

[QUOTE=Juggernog;21124279]Guide is not 100% accurate. It's better than giving your kids GTA at the age of 10 though.[/QUOTE] I can tell you young man, I was permitted access to a range of adult rated media at a very young age and with the exception of a schizophrenic mental illness and various other problems, I turned out fine.

Pfft, if the kid has parents who listens to the mad rants of Hillary Clinton, he'll problably go postal anyways...

[QUOTE=Hunterbrute;21124288]It should be illegal for anyone under 18 to buy, own, or play a rated M game.[/QUOTE] Under 17 and only when those games have Multiplayer capabilties.

[QUOTE=gufu;21124320]Under 17 and only when those games have Multiplayer capabilties.[/QUOTE] NO NO NO NO NO All the time banned for children cause they make people into murderers.

[QUOTE=Riutet;21124309]I can tell you young man, I was permitted access to a range of adult rated media at a very young age and with the exception of a schizophrenic mental illness and various other problems, I turned out fine.[/QUOTE] Hey, same. I mean, I didn't spend half my child hood in a bad neighbour hood or anything.

I'm glad you guys all agree.

Make kids play Portal, so they can use their brains to figure out puzzles.

[QUOTE=Baileyboys;21124455]Make kids play Portal, so they can use their brains to figure out puzzles.[/QUOTE] Portal doesnt use any brain power, its easy. Make kids play Doctor Brain.

[QUOTE=Baileyboys;21124455]Make kids play Portal, so they can use their brains to figure out puzzles.[/QUOTE] I'd agree with that.

Introduce them to Postal right away. That's my strategy.

What i noticed is you use the phrases "introduce gradually" and "separate fantasy from reality" too often. Not to say that i disagree, no, but you use them in 4 paragraphs out of 10 so it kinda gets old. Either try to word things differently or use them less. Apart from that, i like it. Edit: Also the user below me is correct. Citing some reliable sources would be a good idea if you're planning on doing something with this.

Interesting but not true. There's absolutely no science behind your posts.

I dunno, I agree with some of your points, but not all, could to tell us more about this survey you conducted?

[QUOTE=Juggernog;21124142]Not allowing your kid to play games of an age rating of 16+ or 18+ may actually make them more violent because they're not taking it out on virtual people.[/QUOTE] So before the invention of violent videogames, pretty much every child was a colossal psycho because they couldn't play Call of Duty? Also, just out of interest, do you actually have anything to back up what you've said? I'm not saying everything you've said is wrong, but I'm curious as to what you're basing this on.

While there is no science but I believe it to work.

Little concern for the factual basis of the statement appraisal for presenting ideas which are favourable regardless of truth.

[QUOTE=Hiccuper;21124574]I dunno, I agree with some of your points, but not all, could to tell us more about this survey you conducted?[/QUOTE] I asked random kids in the street of the same-ish age and gender the following questions Have you ever played a violent video game (16/18+)? Have you ever done anything particularly violent? I only got punched in the stomache once asking.

[QUOTE=Juggernog;21124578]While there is no science but I believe it to work.[/QUOTE] I'm sure the religious believe their rituals to work. Belief is not proof unfortunately.

Don't let twelve year olds play Penumbra, they wont sleep for a fucking fortnight, that game scares the piss out of me.

I still think WoW causes the most Homocide