Virtual Violence

Video games have made their mark in the world. With the rising of E-Sports and YouTube gamers, the development of this sub culture is no surprise, but should it really be encouraged? I'd argue that certain video games are encouraging violent behavior, even more than language that the "word police" believes is dangerous. According to the American Psychological Association, violent video games increases aggressive behavior, and decreases prosocial behavior. "Gung-ho advocates of politically correct language seem to think that simple suppression of a word or concept will magically make the problem disappear;" however, I highly doubt that simply changing the title of "Super Columbine Massacre RPG" to "Shooting Game" would change of it's implications (Kakutani). This "game" gives your common Joe (or Josephine)Vi the opportunity to play as Eric Harris or Dylan Klebold, the gunmen that killed 13 people in the Columbine Massacre. I find it hard to believe that anyone would play this for sheer enjoyment.  

There have been other studies that suggest the opposite, that it isn't video games, but other factors that are the true causes of violent behavior. While this could be true, I still believe that violence in games can have an affect on the way younger children behave. The exposer that it gives them to things like guns are combat just doesn't seem right to me. So instead of arguing about why idioms like "blown out of the water" are aggressive, why don't we find the actual sources of violence instead. 

The cover art for this video game