Why the violent video game scape goat?

[HerCrazierHalf]

After every mass shooting a list of possible causes come up. Just like in the 90s, it seems the Texas Lt. Governor is beating this dead horse alone with a plethora of others.

As a consumer of such media I fail to see the possible cause-effect as have several studies

1. Do you believe a causal link between violent videogames/media exist?
2. If so, why?

 

[Shakuhachi]

causal link between violent videogames

Psychological Association acknowledged a correlation between “violent video game exposure and aggressive behavior” but stipulated that “not all aggression is violence” and that “insufficient research has examined whether violent video game use causes lethal violence.”

Donald Trump Takes on the Nonexistent Link Between Violent Video Games and Mass Shootings | The New Yorker

https://www.factcheck.org/2018/03/facts-media-violence/

 

[0Scarlett_nidiyilii]

• Do you believe a causal link between violent videogames/media exist?
• If so, why?

For healthy and well adjusted kids? No.

For kids on the edge? Yes. I think the violence of video games only confirms the idea for violence for a kid who already isn’t playing with a full deck.
If they’re already filled with rage, a violent video game won’t soothe and calm them, but reinforce their feelings.

 

[bmaz]

We have to look at many factors to understand why this is happening. Families have owned guns forever, yet, we didn’t see this kind of violence in schools until the 90’s. What has changed? More broken families, violent movies and tv shows, violent video games, out of control bullying happening at schools, social media etc. There are probably a multitude of reasons and one is violent video games. If you spend multiple hours at killing people every day on a game (that looks pretty real), it can have an effect on a still developing brain. And the other problem is the fact that parents don’t have many options of what to do if their child is mentally unstable.

 

[HerCrazierHalf]

I’d argue that one of the greatest lessons that boys learn on the way to manhood is how to manage their aggression. At some point, maybe many points we have all wanted to violent bludgeon another or worse, but our parents instilled the skills for defusing these urges safely.
As such wouldn’t violent media simply be a consequence free place for such aggression? This is an honest question because the arguments for fantasy violence leading to real is bizarre to me.

 

[IWantGod]

Do you believe a causal link between violent videogames/media exist?

We have to blame computer games otherwise we would have to admit that there is something wrong with society and the system. Scapegoating videos games means less money spent on actually changing things.

 

[Joe_5859]

I’m skeptical that any finger-pointing that happens following a mass shooting can actually bring us closer to the truth.

I think it’s human nature to look for scapegoats. When confronted with something so evil, our mind wants to find the reason—the simple explanation that can help us make sense of the senseless. And so we look to things like video games, guns, mental health, legislation, etc.

The truth is probably a little more complicated than finding that one thing in our culture that we could excise in order to make it all better. If only it were that simple.

It’s hard. Ever since Columbine, a “school shooting” is something that has entered into our collective consciousness and cultural lexicon as a “thing”. It’s hard to get rid of that. Those who are disenfranchised can latch on to that idea, let it fester, and eventually lead them to act on it.

 

[Daisy]

Some thoughts to add here;

My teenage daughter was aghast at how “all the boys at school are zombies” because they stay up all night and play Fortnight. As a mom of a teenage and preteen boys, I struggle with the video game battle as well. They will sneak it at all hours… I’ve gotten so that I carry the computer cord with me in my purse and put it under my pillow at night. Gah.

What worries me is that the line between IRL and virtual begins to fade when virtual becomes chronic. People who are unstable or medicated, whose brains have been going the motion of virtually shooting people day-in and day-out… um, yeah, I’m not surprised it has become a “thing” now.