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Video game violence

  • 27-09-2013 03:23PM
    #1
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 326 ✭✭


    I was over in my brother's house for dinner recently and I joined my nephew on the couch as I waited for my sister in law to cook her trademark vile chicken casserole. My nephew was playing somd game called GTA. Honestly I was absolutely shocked by what I saw. The level of violence in the game was stomach-churning.

    It got me thinking about how violent young people are today and I wondered are they connected? When young boys are spending their time murdering virtual prostitutes in a darkened room instead of out playing hurling or soccer then is it any wonder that we have kids stabbing each other and boys with a very warped view on sexuality. Maybe I'm just a bit conservative but I'm not sure if these violent virtual masturbation games should be allowed.

    On the upside, the casserole was better than expected.


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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27,365 ✭✭✭✭super_furry


    True fact - Grand Theft Auto V is more violent than World War 2.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 33,733 ✭✭✭✭Myrddin


    It got me thinking about how violent young people are today and I wondered are they connected? When young boys are spending their time murdering virtual prostitutes in a darkened room instead of out playing hurling or soccer then is it any wonder that we have kids stabbing each other and boys with a very warped view on sexuality. Maybe I'm just a bit conservative but I'm not sure if these violent virtual masturbation games should be allowed.

    You're right. Before the advent of mature rated video games, & when everyone played hurling & soccer outside...violence & sexual crimes were virtually non existent.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,299 ✭✭✭✭The Backwards Man


    Who the heck are you OP, H.G. Wells?


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 42,734 CMod ✭✭✭✭ancapailldorcha


    Of course they're not connected. Both the UK and US governments have poured huge amounts of cash into investigating any possible connection and come up with nothing.
    Games are just this generation's scapegoat just like movies, comic books, heavy metal, rap music, etc...

    The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

    Leviticus 19:34



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 34,788 ✭✭✭✭krudler


    Here's a crazy notion, maybe parents should stop buying 18's rated adult themed games for their kids? Rockstar, the developers of the GTA franchise, have themselves gone on record saying "if you buy our games for your child then you're a terrible parent".

    They're games aimed at adults, marketed to adults. Simple as, too many parents still associate video games with being children's toys when the main demographic age of your average game is 27 or something.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,217 ✭✭✭maximoose


    Maybe I'm just a bit conservative

    bingo.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 186 ✭✭alwayssideways


    What age is your nephew? GTA has a Pegi 18 rating.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,461 ✭✭✭--Kaiser--


    I wonder what turned people into violent lunactics before there were video games? Card games? Hopscotch? See saws?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,707 ✭✭✭stimpson


    Casserole? What is this - the 1970's?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,389 ✭✭✭mattjack


    OP , be careful , the next casserole might contain more than chicken it.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 34,788 ✭✭✭✭krudler


    --Kaiser-- wrote: »
    I wonder what turned people into violent lunactics before there were video games? Card games? Hopscotch? See saws?

    Monopoly, wars have been started over less.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,578 ✭✭✭✭Turtwig


    GTA has stomach churning violence? Well apart from a scene involving pliers I don't think that's true. Lots of movies and games have been far more gruesome.

    The problem videogames have is that some parents still consider to be a toy just for kids. The notion that these could be for people over 30 doesn't cross some people's minds. Parents are first and foremost to blame for letting immature folk play such games. The content on games shouldn't be restricted. They're a form of art and entertainment.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,557 ✭✭✭KeithM89


    ...I'm not sure if these violent virtual masturbation games should be allowed.

    Oh for fuck sake!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,376 ✭✭✭Anyone


    Wait until the Occulus Rift is widely available.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,788 ✭✭✭✭ScumLord


    I was over in my brother's house for dinner recently and I joined my nephew on the couch as I waited for my sister in law to cook her trademark vile chicken casserole. My nephew was playing somd game called GTA. Honestly I was absolutely shocked by what I saw. The level of violence in the game was stomach-churning.
    Welcome to the 1990s, you're really going to enjoy berating GTA for all the worlds problems.
    It got me thinking about how violent young people are today and I wondered are they connected? When young boys are spending their time murdering virtual prostitutes in a darkened room instead of out playing hurling or soccer then is it any wonder that we have kids stabbing each other and boys with a very warped view on sexuality. Maybe I'm just a bit conservative but I'm not sure if these violent virtual masturbation games should be allowed.
    I played violent games as a child, and read violent comic books, watched violent films and I'm pretty much a pacifist. when I couldn't find enough violence to watch I'd draw my own violent comics. I grew out of it, just like most men do. Violence is nothing new and it's definitely a good thing boys restrict their violence to games rather than in real life with bullying.

    Penn & Teller once brought a kid that played violent shooting games out shooting one day, the boy ended up crying when the gun went off. Fake violence is nothing like real violence and I don't think the two are linked or similar at all.

    Having said al that GTA is a 18 rated game, your nephew shouldn't have had it.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 326 ✭✭Savoir.Faire


    What age is your nephew? GTA has a Pegi 18 rating.

    He's 9. He was driving a pickup truck in the game and the character was calling some female drug addict 'a crack smokin' ho'. He then stabbed an obese women in the face as he ran down the street.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,745 ✭✭✭kingtiger


    do you not think your brother is at fault for allowing your underage nephew to play and 18+ game?

    video games are not just for "kids" you know


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 34,788 ✭✭✭✭krudler


    Years ago I was working in retail when Vice City then San Andreas came out, naturally kids would want their parents to buy the games and we'd have to explain the content, most parents would hear about beating hookers to death and just go "oh right, they're not getting that" others would simply not give a flying fcuk.

    I've been a gamer since the mid 80's, and yeah we played stuff like Mortal Kombat and the like when we were early teens, but they're completely tame compared to the stuff in GTAV, not to mention the amount of sexual references in it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 34,788 ✭✭✭✭krudler


    He's 9. He was driving a pickup truck in the game and the character was calling some female drug addict 'a crack smokin' ho'. He then stabbed an obese women in the face as he ran down the street.

    And that's fairly tame by GTA standards. Ridiculous letting a 9 year old play it, it's 18s for a reason.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,652 ✭✭✭I am pie


    He's 9. He was driving a pickup truck in the game and the character was calling some female drug addict 'a crack smokin' ho'. He then stabbed an obese women in the face as he ran down the street.

    Did you mention to his parents that he is playing a game for adults or did you just start this thread on the apparent downfall of society instead?


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,193 ✭✭✭✭IvySlayer


    It got me thinking about how violent young people are today and I wondered are they connected? When young boys are spending their time murdering virtual prostitutes in a darkened room instead of out playing hurling or soccer then is it any wonder that we have kids stabbing each other and boys with a very warped view on sexuality. Maybe I'm just a bit conservative but I'm not sure if these violent virtual masturbation games should be allowed.

    I suppose you have evidence to back up your claims. Studies to show how this generation is more violent than previous ones with a direct correlation to video games

    And explain your second thing, I find most boys (and girls too ) have a very narrow view of sex in teenage years :pac: Has there been a huge outbreak of pimps in Ireland or something.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,707 ✭✭✭stimpson


    He's 9. He was driving a pickup truck in the game and the character was calling some female drug addict 'a crack smokin' ho'.

    In fairness, that ho does smoke a lot of crack.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 443 ✭✭Elbaston


    I was over in my brother's house for dinner recently and I joined my nephew on the couch as I waited for my sister in law to cook her trademark vile chicken casserole. My nephew was playing somd game called GTA. Honestly I was absolutely shocked by what I saw. The level of violence in the game was stomach-churning.

    It got me thinking about how violent young people are today and I wondered are they connected? When young boys are spending their time murdering virtual prostitutes in a darkened room instead of out playing hurling or soccer then is it any wonder that we have kids stabbing each other and boys with a very warped view on sexuality. Maybe I'm just a bit conservative but I'm not sure if these violent virtual masturbation games should be allowed.

    On the upside, the casserole was better than expected.

    obvious troll eats casserole.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 624 ✭✭✭boatbuilder


    I would guess that the vast majority of GTA games bought within the last week are for the use of 14-20 years olds.
    Same problem as there is with alcohol in this country - it seems totally acceptable to a lot of parents to allow their underage kids to get drunk at 15.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,578 ✭✭✭✭Turtwig


    Banning the game won't solve the problem of idiotic parenting.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 6,528 ✭✭✭TheIrishGrover


    Pray tell, what is this GAT or GTA game that you are on about? Is it a fun, lighthearted folly designed for whippersnappers of all ages........ or is it a game for adults with 18s labels ALL OVER the disc, box, posters, TV adverts, skywriting? The game, fifth in it's generation I believe, that has had worldwide saturation coverage on all media sources since it's recent launch?

    And what, may I inquire was the parents' response to their little delight playing such a game? Or were they complicit in said underager playing such a game? Oh, I DO hope we never hear about them complaining about the youth of today but I have a feeling we just might.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,442 ✭✭✭Sulla Felix


    He's 9. He was driving a pickup truck in the game and the character was calling some female drug addict 'a crack smokin' ho'. He then stabbed an obese women in the face as he ran down the street.

    So why is he being allowed to play the game? It's for adults and like other things that are for adults, parents shouldn't be slowing their children access.
    A little bit more personal responsibility ffs.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 10,919 ✭✭✭✭Pudsy33


    He's 9. He was driving a pickup truck in the game and the character was calling some female drug addict 'a crack smokin' ho'. He then stabbed an obese women in the face as he ran down the street.

    Blame the parents, not the game. Jesus christ. Parents need to stop blaming everyone but themselves.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 326 ✭✭Savoir.Faire


    I actually was also of the opinion that video games are for kids and teenagers?

    The idea that a grown man spends their time alone playing games is a little strange to me I must admit.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,744 ✭✭✭✭kylith


    I agree with the others; if your nephew is under 18 then your brother and his wife are terrible parents, as GTA has an 18 rating.

    There are many, many things that are more violent than GTA that you'd probably have no problem with your nephew watching/reading; comics, war movies, games he plays with his friends, cartoons... At least GTA doesn't make it look like no harm comes to someone if they get blown up, unlike Tom and Jerry cartoons.


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