# Don't we have an obligation as a society to look at ways to ban violent computer shooter games? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 16, 2012, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-we-have-an-obligation-as-a-society-to-look-at-ways-to-ban-violent-computer-shooter-games/644210 "2012-12-16T19:49:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-we-have-an-obligation-as-a-society-to-look-at-ways-to-ban-violent-computer-shooter-games/644210/121 "2012-12-19T13:55:09Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I’m still waiting for someone to show me one single example of a person committing murder with a violent video game. I don’t know about with, but \*over \*? Well, I don’t know if you’ve ever played Mario Kart with all 4 players on the same couch but… shit goes down, man. I swear to god, the moment that first blue shell goes out, it is _on_. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-we-have-an-obligation-as-a-society-to-look-at-ways-to-ban-violent-computer-shooter-games/644210/122 "2012-12-19T14:08:04Z")
All those hours playing _Civilization_ ever did for me was make me want to build temples everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![destineal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@destineal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/destineal)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-we-have-an-obligation-as-a-society-to-look-at-ways-to-ban-violent-computer-shooter-games/644210/123 "2012-12-19T14:09:56Z")
They’ll have to pry the controller out of my cold, dead hands. ---
**Author:** ![destineal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@destineal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/destineal)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-we-have-an-obligation-as-a-society-to-look-at-ways-to-ban-violent-computer-shooter-games/644210/124 "2012-12-19T14:11:27Z")
In fact, I wouldn’t give up my PS3 even if it would guarantee that there would never be another video-game related massacre in the United States. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-we-have-an-obligation-as-a-society-to-look-at-ways-to-ban-violent-computer-shooter-games/644210/125 "2012-12-19T14:13:15Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > I admit, Oblivion did give me the urge to pick random flowers “for alchemy”. See! This is the kind of thing I’m talking about. Video games encourage wanton violation of wildflower regulations. How many games are you allowed to just wander into anyone’s house you want without knocking? Take items out of chests that are clearly not yours? Encourage you to mine and gather every bit of natural resources that you can with no thought to the effects on the environment? ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-we-have-an-obligation-as-a-society-to-look-at-ways-to-ban-violent-computer-shooter-games/644210/126 "2012-12-19T14:31:22Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > All those hours playing _Civilization_ ever did for me was make me want to build temples everywhere. Oh, who will stop the scourge of wannabe world-conquering dictators inspired by _Civilization_ and _Europa Universalis_? :mad: ---
**Author:** ![enomaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@enomaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enomaj)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-we-have-an-obligation-as-a-society-to-look-at-ways-to-ban-violent-computer-shooter-games/644210/127 "2012-12-19T15:13:00Z")
If the zombie apocalypse happens, Call of Duty players are ready. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-we-have-an-obligation-as-a-society-to-look-at-ways-to-ban-violent-computer-shooter-games/644210/128 "2012-12-19T15:57:17Z")
I’ve played Grand Theft Auto, all of them, and Saint’s Row 3. Never had the urge to beat people to death with a huge purple dildo. I did, however, hit a friend of mine with the ET game after he convinced me to buy it. Does that count? ---
**Author:** ![tagos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tagos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tagos)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-we-have-an-obligation-as-a-society-to-look-at-ways-to-ban-violent-computer-shooter-games/644210/129 "2012-12-19T16:13:55Z")
> [@destineal](#): > > In fact, I wouldn’t give up my PS3 even if it would guarantee that there would never be another video-game related massacre in the United States. I see what you did there! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-we-have-an-obligation-as-a-society-to-look-at-ways-to-ban-violent-computer-shooter-games/644210/130 "2012-12-19T16:44:04Z")
I’ve seen lots of nonsense posted on this board that was merely _on the level of_ believing in voo-doo magic – and now here’s an OP based on _ **literal** _ belief in the voo-doo magic principle of manipulating images in order to cause corresponding changes in the real world. What next? Banish evil from the world with the power of rainbow crystals? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-we-have-an-obligation-as-a-society-to-look-at-ways-to-ban-violent-computer-shooter-games/644210/131 "2012-12-19T17:08:37Z")
> [@enomaj](#): > > If the zombie apocalypse happens, Call of Duty players are ready. Left 4 Dead and Resident Evil players will be prepared as well. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-we-have-an-obligation-as-a-society-to-look-at-ways-to-ban-violent-computer-shooter-games/644210/132 "2012-12-19T17:11:27Z")
> [@chargerrich](#): > > I have to ask how anyone from politicians to the everyman can have a straight face discussion about something like banning violent video games as the first (over)reaction to a crime where some crazy person commits a crime and happened to play games. How politicians can do it is quite easy to explain: 1. Politicians who are on the side of the gun lobby find it useful to toss out a smoke screen until the current storm blows over. 2. Politicians who have some personal prejudice against video games, or are pandering to voters who do, find it useful to take advantage of any even remotely plausible opportunity to demonize them. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-we-have-an-obligation-as-a-society-to-look-at-ways-to-ban-violent-computer-shooter-games/644210/133 "2012-12-19T17:21:52Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > The press is now talking about violent games. I was a few days ahead of the curve. 😉 Italics added are mine. Damn, I wish that I could write this clearly and persuasively. Heck, if you could be that clear and persuasive, you could go from town to town collecting money to start up a band even if you didn’t know jack squat about music. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-we-have-an-obligation-as-a-society-to-look-at-ways-to-ban-violent-computer-shooter-games/644210/134 "2012-12-19T17:35:22Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > How many games are you allowed to **just wander into anyone’s house you want without knocking**? Take items out of chests that are clearly not yours? Encourage you to **mine and gather every bit of natural resources that you can with no thought to the effects on the environment**? That explains it – our politicians and business leaders have obviously been corrupted by video games. ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-we-have-an-obligation-as-a-society-to-look-at-ways-to-ban-violent-computer-shooter-games/644210/135 "2012-12-19T18:33:06Z")
> [@shijinn](#): > > Starcraft is a violent video game? It has hundreds of units gibbing and covering the battlefield in blood and cinematics that portray shootings and stabbings. The first game has a cinema where a guy gets impaled through his face. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-we-have-an-obligation-as-a-society-to-look-at-ways-to-ban-violent-computer-shooter-games/644210/136 "2012-12-19T19:48:34Z")
> [@marshmallow](#): > > It has hundreds of units gibbing and covering the battlefield in blood and cinematics that portray shootings and stabbings. The first game has a cinema where a guy gets impaled through his face. Exactly. And if [this](http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20090220033145/starcraft/images/e/ec/Drone_SC2_Rend2.jpg) doesn’t look like a child to you, you’re not trying hard enough. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-we-have-an-obligation-as-a-society-to-look-at-ways-to-ban-violent-computer-shooter-games/644210/137 "2012-12-19T19:59:47Z")
And more seriously, StarCraft is not a violent game. Most things splat in a cartoonish way, and one guy in a cutscene meeting a sticky end isn’t a big deal when you think about such scenes in PG/PG-13 movies. ---
**Author:** ![damagedgoods](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecd19e/32.png) [@damagedgoods](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/damagedgoods)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-we-have-an-obligation-as-a-society-to-look-at-ways-to-ban-violent-computer-shooter-games/644210/138 "2012-12-19T22:56:23Z")
Come on, please. We really don’t need congress or commitee’s or any legislation-We need alot LESS gov. control on ourselves.People will do the Right thing when they’re good,wrong thing when they’re Evil.Do you really thing banning anything (gun,vid’s,porn)would’ve stopped that fuck from killing innocent’s? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-we-have-an-obligation-as-a-society-to-look-at-ways-to-ban-violent-computer-shooter-games/644210/139 "2012-12-19T23:02:59Z")
> [@damagedgoods](#): > > People will do the Right thing when they’re good,wrong thing when they’re Evil. So your theory is that laws can’t do anything? > [@](#): > > Do you really thing banning anything (gun,vid’s,porn)would’ve stopped that fuck from killing innocent’s? Banning guns might have, yes - but that’s sort of a dodge because guns aren’t going to be banned. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-we-have-an-obligation-as-a-society-to-look-at-ways-to-ban-violent-computer-shooter-games/644210/140 "2012-12-19T23:05:34Z")
> [@damagedgoods](#): > > People will do the Right thing when they’re good,wrong thing when they’re Evil I think the nature vs. nurture debate is pretty darn settled on “nurture” by now when it comes to right and wrong, good and evil, ethical and unethical, and the predominance of one over the other among individuals. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-we-have-an-obligation-as-a-society-to-look-at-ways-to-ban-violent-computer-shooter-games/644210.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-we-have-an-obligation-as-a-society-to-look-at-ways-to-ban-violent-computer-shooter-games/644210.md?page=8)