NationStates Jolt Archive

Just a little thread to see what people think about violence, video games, and firearms. (Poll forthcoming)

Well seeing as there was violence long before the invention of guns or videogames, I doubt they are a large contributing cause to violence.

Video games contributing to violence is ridiculous, it's parenting, when the don't teach them to differentiate between reality and fantasy, or when parents don't pay attention and let their 12-year-olds play GTA when they could possibly look at the game and notice that M on the front that means "Mature" as in 17+.

Well seeing as there was violence long before the invention of guns or videogames, I doubt they are a large contributing cause to violence.

Well, seeing as there was death long before there was war, do you also doubt that war is a large contributing cause to death? Firearms definately increased the scope of violence, by a very large amount. You don't see that many gangs running around stabbing each other or shooting with bows and arrows, do you?

If I lay a gun on the table and tell it to kill you it won't do anything. People kill people. (and I agree w/the two other posts here)

Well, seeing as there was death long before there was war, do you also doubt that war is a large contributing cause to death? Firearms definately increased the scope of violence, by a very large amount. You don't see that many gangs running around stabbing each other or shooting with bows and arrows, do you?


Criminals will use whatever they can get, their determined, even if guns are illegal. So if we take away grannies 9mm.... congratulations you just killed granny because she followed the law.

If I lay a gun on the table and tell it to kill you it won't do anything. People kill people. (and I agree w/the two other posts here)

You're right. People kill people, guns don't. Let's just give tons of high-tech weapons to terrorists. While we're at it, let's give them nukes. After all, the guns won't affect anything. The terrorists kill people, not guns!

Well, seeing as there was death long before there was war, do you also doubt that war is a large contributing cause to death?

Actually, it isn't. Disease has killed loads more than war, and of course, old age has killed a hell of a lot more.

Criminals will use whatever they can get, their determined, even if guns are illegal. So if we take away grannies 9mm.... congratulations you just killed granny because she followed the law.

A very low percentage of murders are because of self-defense. And I wouldn't trust granny with a gun.

You don't see that many gangs running around stabbing each other

Well, you do.

Though admittedly it is less common.

Actually, it isn't. Disease has killed loads more than war, and of course, old age has killed a hell of a lot more.

Yeah, not the best example. But because x existed prior to y does not mean y does not affect x. That's completely illogical. If people cooked before ovens/microwaves were around, does that mean that ovens/microwaves do not have a significant effect on cooking?

Violent video games do desensitize children. However, they are only a part of much larger problem

violence,

Our culture thrives on it

video games,

Our culture thrives on them

and firearms.

Our culture thrives on them.

Well, seeing as there was death long before there was war, do you also doubt that war is a large contributing cause to death? Firearms definately increased the scope of violence, by a very large amount. You don't see that many gangs running around stabbing each other or shooting with bows and arrows, do you?

Far more people are killed with knives then as with guns, gangs do carry knives.

It's been proven for sure that violent video games lead to greater violence, even in the kindest people and in the subtlest ways.

Far more people are killed with knives then as with guns, gangs do carry knives.
Actually, more people are murdered with guns/other firearms in America, regardless of if gangs do/do not carry them.

Far more people are killed with knives then as with guns, gangs do carry knives.

And if a gang member is caught carrying a knife and they already have a rap sheet, possession of the knife is not automatic grounds for them going to jail. (Depending on jurisdiction, knife size/type, &c.)

Far more people are killed with knives then as with guns, gangs do carry knives.

In the US, at least, guns account for over 65% of murders. Far more people are killed with guns. Gangs may very well carry knives, but guns are cheap, easy to obtain, and much easier to kill with. They are the preferred method.

Actually, more people are murdered with guns/other firearms in America, regardless of if gangs do/do not carry them.

got stats?

got stats?

http://www.guncite.com/gun_control_gcgvinco.html

Well, seeing as there was death long before there was war, do you also doubt that war is a large contributing cause to death? Firearms definately increased the scope of violence, by a very large amount. You don't see that many gangs running around stabbing each other or shooting with bows and arrows, do you?

War may be a large cause of death within the last few thousand years (especially the last few hundred) it is not a large contributer to death in general. How many people have died since the existance of humankind from war? A minuscule amount when compared to the humber of people who have died from other causes I'm sure. War is a relatively new concept. Death has been around since the existnace of life.

its the evil of mankind that kills, guns are nothing but a tool humans use. they contribute in a way, but they are not the cause. nor are video games, they are the imagination of some person made into a game, they contribute in a small way but are once again, not the cause.

It's been proven for sure that violent video games lead to greater violence, even in the kindest people and in the subtlest ways.

Uh uh, proof please sir.

A minuscule amount when compared to the humber of people who have died from other causes I'm sure.

Yeah, that was a bad example. But your logic is flawed. Just because x existed before y does not mean that y did not impact x. So firearms may well have largely contributed to violence although violence was around before firearms.

Also, according to the FBI, in 2004 there were 8661 gun deaths and 1782 knife deaths.

http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/cius_04/offenses_reported/violent_crime/murder.html

It's been proven for sure that violent video games lead to greater violence, even in the kindest people and in the subtlest ways.
Only if by proven, you mean claimed.

It's been proven for sure that violent video games lead to greater violence, even in the kindest people and in the subtlest ways.

I'd like to see some proof of this. I've played violent video games for over 13 years, and I've never been in a fight, much less killed someone.

As for guns, they don't really contribute to violence, they just make it easier. If you really want to kill someone, it doesn't matter if you have a gun or a knife, you'll still do your best to kill them. Just because there are more murders commited with guns doesn't mean that the guns caused the murders. Guns are tools for killing, nothing more.

Video games may contribute to increased violence in some individuals, granted. However, they may also be useful in venting anger and thus contribute to reduced violence in others. The effect is dependant on the individual, and generalizations cannot be made.

Oh but your so wrong! Apparently guns have a will of their own! And just magically pop alive and kill people! Sarcasm for those who didn't pick it up... Dude is totally right, guns make it easier, nothing more. And as a psych student most of the hundreds of studies done prove that calm minded and quiet people are completely unaffected by media portayed violence, naturally aggressive people are only slightly more aggressive after viewing violent movies or playing games. :sniper:

It's been proven for sure that violent video games lead to greater violence, even in the kindest people and in the subtlest ways.

I'm sure, evidence kthxbai.

You're right. People kill people, guns don't. Let's just give tons of high-tech weapons to terrorists. While we're at it, let's give them nukes. After all, the guns won't affect anything. The terrorists kill people, not guns!


Yea, but the high-tech weapons aren't doin anything by themselves now are they? It takes the terrorists to use them to kill people. Thanks for making my point.

I find it interesting that violent crime in the US, particularly among those between the ages of 20 and 30 has been dropping off, while both violent video games and firearms have been expiriencing increases in sale....

Just throwing it out there.

I find it interesting that violent crime in the US, particularly among those between the ages of 20 and 30 has been dropping off, while both violent video games and firearms have been expiriencing increases in sale....

Just throwing it out there.


That and the place w/the highest crime rate in the US also happens to be the place with the most strict gun control laws (D.C.). Instead of pulling out of Iraq I think we should pull out of D.C..

Neither guns nor violent video games cuse/contribute to violence I had toy guns as a child and it has not effected me

Violent video games do desensitize children. However, they are only a part of much larger problem


When people say that something "desensitizes" children to violence, do you really mean that they are now accustomed to real violence? For example, that they would not be traumatized to be in a war zone and see people they know get bombed/shot/killed/raped/whatever? That in fact, they have the "thousand yard stare?" I don't think so, so what does "desensitize" really mean, in the context of a video game?

Yea, but the high-tech weapons aren't doin anything by themselves now are they? It takes the terrorists to use them to kill people. Thanks for making my point.

No, guns do not have a mind of their own. Thanks for pointing that out. You are saying that you would give terrorist high-tech weapons and nukes, then? Guns greatly increase the scope of violence possible. How is it even possible to think that guns do not contribute to violence? That is a completely absurd standpoint.

I had toy guns as a child

Real guns, not toy guns. My numerous water guns that I had as a child have not made me want to go on a killing spree.

That and the place w/the highest crime rate in the US also happens to be the place with the most strict gun control laws (D.C.). Instead of pulling out of Iraq I think we should pull out of D.C..

Yes, DC has a high crime rate, and the strict gun control laws were inacted to combat crime. And they worked. Quoting from:

http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/abstract/325/23/1615

the adoption of the gun-licensing law coincided with an abrupt decline in homicides by firearms (a reduction of 3.3 per month, or 25 percent)

Banning certain types of guns decreased firearm homicide by 25% per month. But why? Don't people kill people? This just proves my point that guns contribute to violence/homicide.