Originally posted by: Termagant
I believe it's a combination of things. But with an apparent higher American prevalence of homicidal people, perhaps curtailing violent media is the correct course of action. What's good for the goose isn't good for the gander if the British can control themselves better after viewing violence.
Originally posted by: Phokus
What an a-hole. However, he's nothing compared to those super a-holes, the phelps. I can't believe they're going to picket the funerals.
Originally posted by: Termagant
Despite how kooky Jack Thompson may be, he may be right in that violent video games and media are a bad influence.
As has been brought up in the inevitable gun control thread also on this forum. There is little correlation between gun laws and gun ownership and crime rates.
The question is why do these random killing sprees occur in the US seemingly more so than in other nations. The reason may be some unique American aggressiveness or repressed social frustration. I would say that exposure of individuals with these problems to violent media certainly does not help the situation.
I know this is an especially unpopular view on a computer nerd forum, and people will claim till the cows come home that they are not influenced by any media, but the truth is not so clear. The human subconscious is influenced and scarred by violence. I believe one of our other forum posters is a more influential and knowledgeable authority on psychology and could elaborate further.
Originally posted by: Phokus
Originally posted by: Termagant
Despite how kooky Jack Thompson may be, he may be right in that violent video games and media are a bad influence.
As has been brought up in the inevitable gun control thread also on this forum. There is little correlation between gun laws and gun ownership and crime rates.
The question is why do these random killing sprees occur in the US seemingly more so than in other nations. The reason may be some unique American aggressiveness or repressed social frustration. I would say that exposure of individuals with these problems to violent media certainly does not help the situation.
I know this is an especially unpopular view on a computer nerd forum, and people will claim till the cows come home that they are not influenced by any media, but the truth is not so clear. The human subconscious is influenced and scarred by violence. I believe one of our other forum posters is a more influential and knowledgeable authority on psychology and could elaborate further.
I would say social pressure, youth depression, etc. are probably more likely than violent video games. In Japan, kids commit suicide (they even have websites dedicated to it), in the USA, kids commit suicide and some go on rampages. It just manifests in different ways.
Originally posted by: Whoozyerdaddy
I just cruised Fox News to find the video. Apparently they thought he was an ass too. There are a ton of video clips on the shooting... none with Thompson.
You can't control what your "expert" is going to say on live TV but you sure as hell don't have to repeat it.
Originally posted by: Linflas
Originally posted by: Whoozyerdaddy
I just cruised Fox News to find the video. Apparently they thought he was an ass too. There are a ton of video clips on the shooting... none with Thompson.
You can't control what your "expert" is going to say on live TV but you sure as hell don't have to repeat it.
You can't control what they say but rather than put any self proclaimed "expert" on your airwaves to push an agenda you could take the time to do some quick research into person first. This happens on all news programs during incidents like this because the networks are all scrambling to be the one with some fresh new angle. This is why the Stern "Baba Booey" callers never have a problem getting themselves on the air during moments like this. These news organizations need to step back and take a close look at exactly how they determine who gets airtime during major live stories and what they can do to prevent groups and individuals such as Jack Thompson from slipping through and peddling their agenda as expert information.
It's competition for dead end meaningless jobs and lives with two parents chasing an ever more vanishing rainbow. Compete or die equals kill. America has lost its spiritual center and replaced it with 'get ahead of thy neighbor'. A no pity cold culture creates a no pity citizenry. Year by year, the need to make the next guy feel as bad as you do destroys humanity. We will awaken or we will go extinct. All any human being ever wanted was a life of meaning. You can't have that if you feel worthless. You can't become conscious of how worthless you feel as long as your whole life is designed to deny it. Thus is our cure always 180 degrees from where we search.Originally posted by: manowar821
To say that video games have a detrimental effect on kids is idiotic. They have the same video games in Canada, and look at their youth crime rate.
Also, GoPackGo made a good point with the man in the tower during the 60s. Where was his "GTA"?
You know what I'd argue? That video games are more like release. Therapeutic, even. I know after a crappy ass day, I feel like going home and blowing up some virtual buildings cars and people. I never think about hurting real people, though. ( except when it comes to mass-murdering jackasses and fascist pigs)
The problem is not kids playing video games, it's OUR AMERICAN KIDS, and how they INTERPRET the games. It's our parents, and it's our society. It's OUR fault, not the video game makers or movie makers. Take some f-ing responsibility.
Originally posted by: Moonbeam
It's competition for dead end meaningless jobs and lives with two parents chasing an ever more vanishing rainbow. Compete or die equals kill. America has lost its spiritual center and replaced it with 'get ahead of thy neighbor'. A no pity cold culture creates a no pity citizenry. Year by year, the need to make the next guy feel as bad as you do destroys humanity. We will awaken or we will go extinct. All any human being ever wanted was a life of meaning. You can't have that if you feel worthless. You can't become conscious of how worthless you feel as long as your whole life is designed to deny it. Thus is our cure always 180 degrees from where we search.Originally posted by: manowar821
To say that video games have a detrimental effect on kids is idiotic. They have the same video games in Canada, and look at their youth crime rate.
Also, GoPackGo made a good point with the man in the tower during the 60s. Where was his "GTA"?
You know what I'd argue? That video games are more like release. Therapeutic, even. I know after a crappy ass day, I feel like going home and blowing up some virtual buildings cars and people. I never think about hurting real people, though. ( except when it comes to mass-murdering jackasses and fascist pigs)
The problem is not kids playing video games, it's OUR AMERICAN KIDS, and how they INTERPRET the games. It's our parents, and it's our society. It's OUR fault, not the video game makers or movie makers. Take some f-ing responsibility.
So much rage because there is so much buried pain.
Originally posted by: Starbuck1975
Jack Thompson isn't the only attention whore exploiting the Virginia Tech shootings.
In flipping through the various news channels yesterday, all of them had supposed "experts" on school shootings, all of whom blamed either gun control, movies, popular media or videogames for the "culture of violence" in our society.
I don't recall her name, but there was one liberal commentator on MSNBC who correlated the Virginia Tech shootings to Imus, Mel Gibson and Kramer...in that our society has essentially become too tolerant of free speech and violence.
Conservatives and liberals will rally around the Virginia Tech shootings, both calling for increased censorship, increased control, increased restrictions...the only distinction...conservatives will do it in the name of Jesus and liberals will do it in the name of saving society from itself.
Originally posted by: nakedfrog
I can't wait until this creep is COMPLETELY discredited
and no one bothers to pay attention to him any longer.
*groan*Originally posted by: aswedc
Fox News called him a "school shooting expert".