Are Video games harmful?

[Joe in PNG]

Taken from here (http://http://pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?540-Book-On-Killing-by-Lt.-Col.-Dave-Grossman).

I found an article here (http://http://media.industrygamers.com/misc/GTC-updated-intro-standalone.pdf) by Cheryl K. Olson, Sc.D., Asst. Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

One point she makes: “There’s no evidence that any video games have contributed to or triggered any real—world crime or serious violence. Juvenile arrests continue to decline. Given the widespread use of video games among youth, include “Mature” rated games, we would expect to see some increase in crime statistics if such games were broadly harmful.”

[JodyH]

Tipper Gore was the originator of the "war on video games".
That right there tells you what kind of science is behind the theory.
:cool:

[Kyle Reese]

I'm the survivor of countless Gears of War marathons in Iraq and there's nothing wrong with me.

[John Ralston]

I played D&D as a kid, gobs of 1st person shooter games in college, and I have yet to kill anyone (or even assault them) - is't BS.

[JodyH]

I almost forgot the "War on Dungeons & Dragons".
Yet another attempt at shifting the blame off on someTHING instead of holding individuals accountable.

Let's see.
I played with mercury as a kid.
Played video games since Pong.
Played Dungeons & Dragons as a teen.
Started listening to Motley Crue, AC/DC, Krokus and Iron Maiden when I was a tween.
Was turned loose with a BB-gun at age 8, a .22 at age 10 and given a .357 magnum for my 17th birthday.

Damn... I'm a time bomb just waiting to kill!
:p

[Chipster]

I admit I partake in the occasional game of Call-of-Duty. My 12 year old son (and 98% of his friends) does as well. The great thing about it is my son won't even go hunting or fishing because he considers ALL life precious. I really don't think it has had any effect on him as of yet, but I also don't let him play the scenarios on the games (just online). It probably makes me a bad parent, but I hope our lifestyle, and morals, and our regular church attendance helps balance all of the other stuff out.

[JodyH]

My 8 year old finished the "Black Ops" single player missions in 2 days.
Everyone comments on how well behaved and responsible he is.
I've watched him interact with his friends, none of them show any violent tendencies and they all play "shoot 'em up" video games.
Of course they all have stable, involved, two parent homes.

[ToddG]

Admitting you played D&D is an automatic -2 to CHA.

[Joe in PNG]

Admitting you played D&D is an automatic -2 to CHA.

I wasn't cool enough to hang with the D&D guys in Jr High...

[MTechnik]

Admitting you played D&D is an automatic -2 to CHA.

Admitting you STILL play pen and paper D&D is a -4 to CHA.

[John Ralston]

Admitting you played D&D is an automatic -2 to CHA.

When I was a kid, we didn't have cool games that you played on TV, we had games (like D&D) and this thing we called...Outside :cool: