This is a rare minority, and I suspect many of them had mental health issues to begin with.
True, but sadly, it only takes one of the “rare minority” of any kind to do great harm, as we’ve seen most tragically in the last few days.
Regarding video games, there was a time when they were not part of growing up at all. Decades ago when these games were very new, a local teenager hooked on violent video games, callously murdered a much younger boy in the woods. It was a very famous case, and shocked the entire East Coast.
Few people had even heard of these strange video games at the time, but this teen was one of the rare minority who got caught up in the world of fantasy and war games, witches, and warlocks. He became de-sensitized to violence and became a fantasist/ sociopath.
Surprisingly, a little store where he purchased these games is still in business, even when these games are more easily found on the internet or at local malls now. Occasionally, I’ll drive by that store and each time I do, I say a prayer for the poor innocent victim of someone’s sick imagination, someone who was feeding on horror and war games who was completely de-sensitized, who chose to live out his murderous fantasies by taking the life of someone else’s son.
Of course it’s only a rare minority who become monsters by engaging in violent video games. And there are classic books which contain just as much mental imagery, so we must be cautious about how we choose to spend our spare time. There is something particularly alluring about videos that attracts like no other form of “entertainment.” We are visual beings. The more potent, the more possible harm or good. If I think of the beauty of a portrait of Our Lady, I am always inspired. The “Pieta” and lovely music soothe and inspire the soul. What place, in our Catholic life, do violent or lurid videos belong if at all?
There is a scripture that helps us all here,
“Let all thoughts be subject to Christ.” For that reason, each individual must decide for him or herself, or if under the age of eighteen, the parent must communicate to the child all the other possibilities open which would be time better spent: Catholic youth work, parish youth activities, loyal and regular Mass attendance. We all care deeply about all our daughters and all our sons. My rule of thumb has always been “If it doesn’t edify, find something that does.”
