A question about video games

[ribozyme]

I am an agnostic, but I am curious that if playing Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas could be considered some sort of venial sin? I personally enjoy running people over and killing people in that game, especially when I cheat It’s not a sin to innocent kill people in that game right?

 

[a_cermak]

Given that no actual people are killed and that none were injured to create the game, I suppose it would be a stretch to call it a sin. Could you be doing more productive things with your time? Probably. Now, if the game had excited you to the point where you want to try it out in real life, then perhaps sin comes into it (though I’d be more likely to suggest you go see a Dr than a priest at that point).

 

[dulcissima]

I sort of doubt it would be. Now this reminds me of my daughter’s friend when they were in elementary school. Her friend would play Roller Coaster Tycoon (or something similar) and desgn roller coasters that would drown people in ponds. Then she would play Sims and make her mom go skiing in a bikini. See, now that sounds worse, actually making the games do all of this stuff that it wasn’t even designed to do. Still, I think it is humorous rather than sinful. I don’t think that she was even entertaining thoughts that these kinds of things would be enjoyable in real life.

 

[Damascus]

I think its the cheating thing that gets me. You are only cheating yourself on your score that way. Try doing it without cheating. Maybe get a harder level game too. If you like killing things in video games, I’m sure you could find a ton out there that would fit that bill.

But, sin or not - um, who would you be sinning against?

 

[a_cermak]

I sort of doubt it would be. Now this reminds me of my daughter’s friend when they were in elementary school. Her friend would play Roller Coaster Tycoon (or something similar) and desgn roller coasters that would drown people in ponds. Then she would play Sims and make her mom go skiing in a bikini. See, now that sounds worse, actually making the games do all of this stuff that it wasn’t even designed to do. Still, I think it is humorous rather than sinful. I don’t think that she was even entertaining thoughts that these kinds of things would be enjoyable in real life.

That reminds me of me when I was young. It was before video games, but I had Barbies. So I had a Barbie and a Skipper and a Barbie townhome which had a Barbie pool. So I would have Skipper drown Barbie in the pool. I even put a marble in the Barbie’s head so she would sink appropriately. And yet, I have not, as yet, gone off on any mad drowning binges.

 

[Damascus]

That reminds me of me when I was young. It was before video games, but I had Barbies. So I had a Barbie and a Skipper and a Barbie townhome which had a Barbie pool. So I would have Skipper drown Barbie in the pool. I even put a marble in the Barbie’s head so she would sink appropriately. And yet, I have not, as yet, gone off on any mad drowning binges.

I got an image of Natile Wood in my head when I read your story.

 

[ribozyme]

I think its the cheating thing that gets me. You are only cheating yourself on your score that way. Try doing it without cheating. Maybe get a harder level game too. If you like killing things in video games, I’m sure you could find a ton out there that would fit that bill.

But, sin or not - um, who would you be sinning against?

If you want to go on a major killing spree in that game, you HAVE to cheat, unless you want the army chasing you for shooting down police helicopters.

Yes, I like that game precisely because it is mindless fun. There are a lot better things that I can do for intellectual stimulation.

 

[PseudoHermit_22]

I sort of doubt it would be. Now this reminds me of my daughter’s friend when they were in elementary school. Her friend would play Roller Coaster Tycoon (or something similar) and desgn roller coasters that would drown people in ponds. Still, I think it is humorous rather than sinful. I don’t think that she was even entertaining thoughts that these kinds of things would be enjoyable in real life.

This makes me feel a bit better – I have done some stuff like that in games (especially the Sims–those dumb looking charcter just invite that kind of attention ) and sometimes question the potential sinfulness of it. Half the fun for me is just seeing if the game designers built in a scenario to react to things like this.

Still, I think it is just a game and I am mature enough to make that distinction. Now I might worry if some young kid did this day after day… I think in general it is just one of those human things that people do – especially given our fallen nature. It sort of like laughing at physical comedy and things like that. If it was real life, the person might get hurt and it would not be good to laugh but since it is for entertainment it is a different case.

Hopefully this kind of thing is cathartic and not inspiring.

 

[PseudoHermit_22]

Now I might be biased since I am in the games industry, but I think as far as sin and games are concerned, content needs to be age-appropriate – if you are 8 and doing this in GTA then we have a problem. Also, if anything in a game (in general) is pornographic I think this is bad. Just like any other form of media.

The other sort of self-restraint I put on games for myself is the time spent playing them (as one above mentioned). If I spend more time on games than is reasonable for any type of entertainment, like watching TV, then I have a problem. I rarely play during the day on weekends; really I only play at night once my kids are asleep – usually my wife turns in pretty early too.

There is much more valuable activity for the salt of the earth to be engaged in (charity work for example.)

 

[Magicsilence]

I am an agnostic, but I am curious that if playing Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas could be considered some sort of venial sin? I personally enjoy running people over and killing people in that game, especially when I cheat It’s not a sin to innocent kill people in that game right?

I consider it a sin, because it is mindless violence. What good comes from it?

Its a bit like the arena in Roman times. Everyone watched people killing each other, but do you reckon St Paul ever went to any of these Arenas? I think not.

Peace and God Bless.

 

[Trelow]

Given that your bio says that you are 16, I reckon you shouldn’t be playing the game at all.

 

[PseudoHermit_22]

I consider it a sin, because it is mindless violence. What good comes from it?

Its a bit like the arena in Roman times. Everyone watched people killing each other, but do you reckon St Paul ever went to any of these Arenas? I think not.

Peace and God Bless.

I don’t agree that it is “a bit like the areana” at all. The arenas were real and real people died.

Yes, this is simulation of violence and I agree it is a pretty sick form of entertainment and for someone underaged it is not appropriate. But I am not sure if I would go so far as to say it is an actual sin. Though I have not completely ruled it out (and that’s a bit disturbing in itself.)

 

[Damascus]

Does this fall into the “near occasion of sin” category? I mean, you are placing yourself at RISK of this leading to sin ???

Maybe for some yes, for others no.

Maturity is a factor here.

 

[PseudoHermit_22]

Does this fall into the “near occasion of sin” category? I mean, you are placing yourself at RISK of this leading to sin ???

Maybe for some yes, for others no.

Maturity is a factor here.

I agree with that: I think for people who live in violence-prone communities or families it would be a bad thing.

I do agree no good comes from it, but then what form of entertainment does bring good? I don’t believe watching TV does any good either. That is part of the definition of entertainment – it is to some degree a waste of time. So as I said before, people should not engage in it to any great degree because there are more important things to do in this life.

 

[Damascus]

I agree with that: I think for people who live in violence-prone communities or families it would be a bad thing.

I do agree no good comes from it, but then what form of entertainment does bring good? I don’t believe watching TV does any good either. That is part of the definition of entertainment – it is to some degree a waste of time. So as I said before, people should not engage in it to any great degree because there are more important things to do in this life.

It just occured to me…What if this is an outlet for a mature person to get out their aggression? Like a punching bag?
Maybe for some people, this is a good thing.
Remember I said Maybe and SOME people.

 

[Scottgun]

Whether it is a sin or not depends on the person’s culpability. Grand Theft Auto (and yes, I’ve played the PS2 orginal version all the way through) is amazing gameplay-wise. But that is why it is all the more unacceptable. It is true glorification of and evangeliztion for violent criminal behavior. No, I don’t think it directly causes anyone to pick up a gun and kill, but it does poison the conscience. Bishop Sheen in one of his Life is Worth Living videos talked about a psychologial concept in which the ideas we expose ourselves to have real ramifications. I can’t remember what the concept was called. (idea-fixe? anyone?)

Scott

 

[Magicsilence]

I don’t agree that it is “a bit like the areana” at all. The arenas were real and real people died.

Yes, this is simulation of violence and I agree it is a pretty sick form of entertainment and for someone underaged it is not appropriate. But I am not sure if I would go so far as to say it is an actual sin. Though I have not completely ruled it out (and that’s a bit disturbing in itself.)

Greetings in the Lord.

If you are doing anything that would be sinful or immoral in “real life” then it has to be sinful, or at least putting yourself in the occasion of sin.

For example, premarital sex is wrong, would you think its ok to play games that do it?

Peace and God Bless.

 

[PseudoHermit_22]

Greetings in the Lord.

If you are doing anything that would be sinful or immoral in “real life” then it has to be sinful, or at least putting yourself in the occasion of sin.

For example, premarital sex is wrong, would you think its ok to play games that do it?

Peace and God Bless.

You make a very strong point. Do you think this extends to television and movies and books?

 

[ribozyme]

Whether it is a sin or not depends on the person’s culpability. Grand Theft Auto (and yes, I’ve played the PS2 orginal version all the way through) is amazing gameplay-wise. But that is why it is all the more unacceptable. It is true glorification of and evangeliztion for violent criminal behavior. No, I don’t think it directly causes anyone to pick up a gun and kill, but it does poison the conscience.

Scott

How does it poison the conscience? It is a highly addictive game though…