Violent Video Games Affect on Youth Today Essay -- essays research pap

In the more recent times it seems as if America’s youth is becoming more violent. Concern for those aspects in our society which influence violent acts has become an issue since the tragedy at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999. Many feel one aspect of today’s society affecting our nation’s youth in a negative manner is video games. Is this form of entertainment really a factor in teen violence? I think not. We should blame the parents for teen violence, not video games.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  John Holts article, â€Å"Kinds of Discipline† states that the youth watch very carefully what people around them are doing and want to do the same. The example of these grownups is contagious (490). Now days the media makes it seem like it’s alright for the youth to be watching these violent movies and playing these violent video games as long as they have their parents permission.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  For some reason, though, video games are approached differently. Joshua Quittner, author of â€Å"Are Video Games Really so Bad?† states the idea of one’s child controlling an electronic character whose main objective is to steal cars and kill police officers is socially dangerous. Studies have shown that kids do not actually have illusions of doing these things (52). Kids do know that killing is bad. We all have morals implanted genetically; they just need to be strengthened through parental guidance.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Royal Van horn showed in his 1999 article, â€Å"Violence and Video Games,† a large stance on the issue is not one of influencing kids actions. David Grossman, a retired Lieutenant Colonel for the U.S. Army and former professor of psychology at West Point believes it is the desensitization parents should be concerned with. It is not in human nature to kill one another and for this reason soldiers must be trained to shoot on instinct (173). In fact, only one-fifth of all American soldiers in WWII never fired their rifle (Quittner 52). For that reason, simulators similar to video games such as Doom and Quake have been used to train soldiers how to kill without thinking. This may be true, but the simulators used show real soldiers in enemy uniforms, and users are told to take a single head shot at all enemies in the room. Games like Quake and Doom however similar require numerous shots to kill an enemy and do not distinguish between wher... ...g up playing these types of Video games, I have come to realize how much it makes me pay attention to the little details, and work things out quicker.. These types of games can be very helpful for the future generations to use as a learning tool. I believe it is a benefit to our society if we have a generation of youths that are quick problem solvers and have increased hand-eye coordination in this computer based age we are living in now. children sense around them this culture, this network of agreements, customs, habits, and rules binding adults together. They want to understand it and be a part of it (Holt, 490). In conclusion, stop blaming the video games and do something about it. Set a good example for your kids. Works Cited Cesarone, Bernard. â€Å"Video Games and Children.† Emergency Librarian. 22.3: 31-32 Schroeder, Ken. â€Å"Halving Fun.† Education Digest. 63.1: 73-74 Van Horn, Royal. â€Å"Violence and Video Games.† Phi Delta Kappa. 81.2: 173-174 Enders, Deborah. â€Å"Video Violence: Where does the Buck Stop.† Amusement Business. 107.22 (March 20, 1995): 27-28 Quittner, Joshua, and Maryanne Murray Buechner. â€Å"Are Video Games Really so Bad?† Time South Pacific 19. (May 10, 1999): 50-55 Violent Video Games Affect on Youth Today Essay -- essays research pap In the more recent times it seems as if America’s youth is becoming more violent. Concern for those aspects in our society which influence violent acts has become an issue since the tragedy at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999. Many feel one aspect of today’s society affecting our nation’s youth in a negative manner is video games. Is this form of entertainment really a factor in teen violence? I think not. We should blame the parents for teen violence, not video games.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  John Holts article, â€Å"Kinds of Discipline† states that the youth watch very carefully what people around them are doing and want to do the same. The example of these grownups is contagious (490). Now days the media makes it seem like it’s alright for the youth to be watching these violent movies and playing these violent video games as long as they have their parents permission.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  For some reason, though, video games are approached differently. Joshua Quittner, author of â€Å"Are Video Games Really so Bad?† states the idea of one’s child controlling an electronic character whose main objective is to steal cars and kill police officers is socially dangerous. Studies have shown that kids do not actually have illusions of doing these things (52). Kids do know that killing is bad. We all have morals implanted genetically; they just need to be strengthened through parental guidance.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Royal Van horn showed in his 1999 article, â€Å"Violence and Video Games,† a large stance on the issue is not one of influencing kids actions. David Grossman, a retired Lieutenant Colonel for the U.S. Army and former professor of psychology at West Point believes it is the desensitization parents should be concerned with. It is not in human nature to kill one another and for this reason soldiers must be trained to shoot on instinct (173). In fact, only one-fifth of all American soldiers in WWII never fired their rifle (Quittner 52). For that reason, simulators similar to video games such as Doom and Quake have been used to train soldiers how to kill without thinking. This may be true, but the simulators used show real soldiers in enemy uniforms, and users are told to take a single head shot at all enemies in the room. Games like Quake and Doom however similar require numerous shots to kill an enemy and do not distinguish between wher... ...g up playing these types of Video games, I have come to realize how much it makes me pay attention to the little details, and work things out quicker.. These types of games can be very helpful for the future generations to use as a learning tool. I believe it is a benefit to our society if we have a generation of youths that are quick problem solvers and have increased hand-eye coordination in this computer based age we are living in now. children sense around them this culture, this network of agreements, customs, habits, and rules binding adults together. They want to understand it and be a part of it (Holt, 490). In conclusion, stop blaming the video games and do something about it. Set a good example for your kids. Works Cited Cesarone, Bernard. â€Å"Video Games and Children.† Emergency Librarian. 22.3: 31-32 Schroeder, Ken. â€Å"Halving Fun.† Education Digest. 63.1: 73-74 Van Horn, Royal. â€Å"Violence and Video Games.† Phi Delta Kappa. 81.2: 173-174 Enders, Deborah. â€Å"Video Violence: Where does the Buck Stop.† Amusement Business. 107.22 (March 20, 1995): 27-28 Quittner, Joshua, and Maryanne Murray Buechner. â€Å"Are Video Games Really so Bad?† Time South Pacific 19. (May 10, 1999): 50-55