Where do you think Japanese and South Korean tentacle rape games came from? They’ve got movies over there that would make the strongest Southern Baptists piss their pants and cry for Mommy.
1.5 million “assault weapons” in circulation in when the 1994 ban took effect (about 250,000 machine guns in circulation in 1986 when the machine gun ban took effect). There was a wave in purchases of assault weapons after machine gun ban 1986 but before the AWB in 1994.
About 4 million assault weapons in circulation today. IOW, we have bought almost double the existing stock of assault weapons in private hands in the ten years since the ban was lifted.
I don’t think that movies explain it either. Its not like the movies in other countries are any less violent than ours.
I don’t know where it comes from but we have had elevated murder rates in this country since inception. Maybe its our warrior worship. We elevate athletes in full contact sports to the top of the high school social pyramid in this country. In other countries the top of the social pyramid is occupied by the valedictorian and other top students. Whatever the case may be, I don’t think you can blame it on movies and video games when these things are just as prevalent in countries around the world.
I’m not placing the entire blame on violent video games and violent movies but I would include both in any legitimate attempt to reduce violence.
Because you have evidence of…what exactly?
Several of these monsters had been reported to play violent video games and watch violent movies. Several of them have also built bombs and were unable to deal with society without emotional or violent outbursts. I would all of these topics in any discussion on how to deal with or end violence.
Several? What percentage might that be, compared to the percentage of them that had easy access to guns at home? Let’s follow that chain of logic, though.
Violent video games and movies are popular-Pass.
All the cool kids do the popular things-Pass.
Most of these teen shooters are the popular kids in school-Fail.
There was the Columbine bombers/shooters, the Aurora, Co Batman Movie bomber/shooter, the Boston Marathon bombers, the Oklahoma City bombers. There have been mass stabbing and attacks using vehicles.
What do they all have in common? A mentally-defective individual who hates people and society. If you want to limit or curtail violence, you’re going to have to consider all of the possibilities instead of simply choosing to give some groups a pass.
That was a very fast response! Although It didn’t exact answer my question about the percentage of kids rather than just giving a list of kids that fit that profile, could you tell us what website you just accessed to get that info?
So easy access to guns is still on the table?
You know what else they all had in common? They probably consumed high fructose corn syrup, pissed in urinals standing up, wore clothing manufactured in foreign countries, recited the pledge of allegiance at some point in their lives, and were huge on breathing oxygen!
Violent movies and violent video games are near ubiquitous in certain demographics. It is a fantastically weak argument with a dearth of critical thinking if that is all you are basing your hypothesis on. Evidence of causation, or even correlation - got any?
Everything is on the table. There will be pros and cons for every item. Then there will be a need to reach a compromise.
If one side is operating on the assumption that all firearms must be removed from the hands of law abiding citizens, that compromise will be much harder to reach.
Correction: If one side is operating on the assumption that no added restrictions whatever are acceptable, and even the ones we have are excessive, because that can only lead to a slippery slope ending with total confiscation and tyranny, THEN that compromise will be that much harder to reach.
You’re welcome.
Once again, I’m saying they should be included in the discussion. You can chose to ignore any effect that violent video games and violent movies may have on the mindset of possibly mentally-defective potential mass-murdering monsters.
If you want to start with a pre-conceived notion of how to solve any problem, you might be surprised that your solution doesn’t actually solve the problem.
“Everything” is on the table, you say…but since you seem to want to focus on video games and movies, please show what you’ve got in the way of evidence that violent video games and violent movies are a real factor to consider.
I see no reason to thank you. If you want to make a statement, go ahead and make your statement. It’s OK. Pretending to “correct” my post shows a bit of laziness on your part. You can do better.
Focus on video games and movies??? I mentioned that violent video games and movies should be included in any discussion.
Everything is on the table. I would include violent video games and movies. You don’t have to include either.
It wasn’t pretending.
And the evidence you have to bring to the table concerning violent video games and violent movies is…?
Studies are still taking place (scientists gotta earn a living too) but this seems like a good place to start -
*A recent study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology reports that after three days of playing violent video games like “Call of Duty,” research subjects exhibited a spike in “hostile expectations” as compared to the group who played nonviolent games. As Science Daily reports:
After playing the game each day, participants took part in an exercise that measured their hostile expectations. They were given the beginning of a story, and then asked to list 20 things that the main character will do or say as the story unfolds. For example, in one story another driver crashes into the back of the main character’s car, causing significant damage. The researchers counted how many times the participants listed violent or aggressive actions and words that might occur.
The results showed that, after each day, those who played the violent games had an increase in their hostile expectations. In other words, after reading the beginning of the stories, they were more likely to think that the characters would react with aggression or violence*.
Violent video games: More playing time equals more aggression
Date: December 10, 2012
Source: Ohio State University
Summary: A new study provides the first experimental evidence that the negative effects of playing violent video games can accumulate over time.
Add accumulated aggression to the mommy-doesn’t-love-me or the Twinkie defense, toss in a little fertilizer and ammonium nitrate, tie the hands of teachers, doctors, police officers, fellow students, and you might end up with a serial killer or mass murdering monster.
Or you can claim that violent video games and violent movies should be given a pass. That will allow all of the other possibilities to claim they should be given a pass also. Aaaaandd you’re back to square 1.
So… what do YOU think we should do?