New Book Cuts Through Violent Video Game Myths

Terry Bosky suggests a recent interview from Game Couch with one of the authors of an upcoming book which fights the "myths and hysteria" surrounding violent video games. Dr. Cheryl K. Olson explains how many of the studies linking aggression with video games were flawed or misguided, and she discusses some of her own findings. Quoting: "Until now, the most-publicized studies came from a small group of experimental psychologists, studying college students playing nonviolent or violent games for 15 minutes. It's debatable whether those studies are relevant to real children, playing self-selected games for their own reasons (not for cash or extra credit!), in social settings, over many years. But media reports and political rhetoric often ignore that distinction. Also, the most-published researchers have built their careers around media violence. Their studies were designed under the assumption that violent video games are harmful, which dictated the questions they asked and how they framed their results. Media violence is just a small part of what we do, so we could look at the issue with fresh eyes and no agenda."

aaargh.

[notgm]

this article makes me so mad at the biased video game researchers. i need to go down to my local ammunation, get strapped, and start taking them fools out.

Re:Maybe I read that wrong

[Anonymous Coward]

*** waits for Jack Thompson to claim that Cheryl K. Olson was "bought off" by the video game industry ***

Captcha: "balanced"

Alright, I admit it!

[edwardpickman]

I've developed violent tendencies towards zombies, trolls and robots.

Re:who cares?

[palegray.net]

I killed 15 people, 11 stray dogs, two parakeets and one goldfish after playing violent video games. And that was just last week. I blame it all on high resolution 3-d graphics putting thoughts in my head.

Re:Maybe I read that wrong

[Anonymous Coward]

Since the primary definition of "child" [reference.com] is "a person between birth and puberty", I would say no, I don't believe in the killing of these "unborn children".

Unless, that is, some people reach puberty while still in the womb. I know slashdot has a lot of people still living in their parents' basements, but that's a bit much. If you're 18 and still living in the womb, then yes, I support killing you.

Re:who cares?

[pizzach]

Lets do a comparison or three: If you play with cap guns, it is generally considered not violent if you pretend to shoot someone and they play dead. It may even be called cute. If you shoot a paintball gun with red paintballs it looks more violent, especially since the projectiles actually make an implact on their target and it leaves a red bloodish looking substance. But this example is no more violent than the capgun example. Now if you acutally shoot someone with a gun, it looks more violent still because they are writhing in pain, screaming and spewing blood everywhere. But we know that it actually isn't more violent even though it only appears more violent.

Re:who cares?

[Thexare Blademoon]

We were impressed by marble madness fake 3d,

I'm glad you were. I was too busy losing all the time. I still can't finish the last level, and getting through Silly (I think that was the name of it; the reversed gravity level) is still a bitch...

Re:aaargh.

[Jarik_Tentsu]

I'm waiting to see what Jack Thompson's reply to this would be...

"DON'T LISTEN TO THESE PSYCHOLOGISTS! THEY ARE GAMERS THEMSELVES!!!" or something.

~Jarik