I’d like to now reiterate. I didn’t say just video games. I said TV, movies and video games. The violence in our culture in general.
In our entertainment.
The level of graphic violence portrayed for all kids and adults to see is mind blowing.
I'd have to pull the actual stats, but suicide is a major problem in Japan, for example. I think Asians are more likely to self-harm than strike out at society. Again, they're going to try to save face and shield society from their emotions thus making a violent public outburst less likely. Also, when violence is practiced, there is an emphasis on discipline and responsibility (karate and so forth). American is a completely different culture and the relationship with guns is different, so even if two cultures are exposed to the same "entertainment" versions of violence, the mindset and cultural views are still likely to be a big factor in terms of how a society processes that "entertainment." Even in cultures that are very similar to American culture such as that of the U.K. which shares many of the western values and shares many of the exact same entertainment in terms of video games, television, and movies, it's still a world of difference in terms of gun violence between the U.S. and U.K.You make good points FD. And I know that the Crazy Mass Shootings are seemingly the most obvious example of gun deaths, but they only represent a fraction of the total gun deaths as you probably know already. Suicides are the leading cause of gun deaths in the US as well. Next is homicide.
I'd have to pull the actual stats, but suicide is a major problem in Japan, for example. I think Asians are more likely to self-harm than strike out at society. Again, they're going to try to save face and shield society from their emotions thus making a violent public outburst less likely. Also, when violence is practiced, there is an emphasis on discipline and responsibility (karate and so forth). American is a completely different culture and the relationship with guns is different, so even if two cultures are exposed to the same "entertainment" versions of violence, the mindset and cultural views are still likely to be a big factor in terms of how a society processes that "entertainment." Even in cultures that are very similar to American culture such as that of the U.K. which shares many of the western values and shares many of the exact same entertainment in terms of video games, television, and movies, it's still a world of difference in terms of gun violence between the U.S. and U.K.An even better comparison is Canada. We share a 3000-mile border and we are alike in so many ways--socially, ethnically, culturally, religiously. We have similar immigration patterns, similar games, sports, media and education--but when it comes to gun violence there is no comparison. Why is that? Anyone have an answer? Lois
An even better comparison is Canada. We share a 3000-mile border and we are alike in so many ways—socially, ethnically, culturally, religiously. We have similar immigration patterns, similar games, sports, media and education—but when it comes to gun violence there is no comparison. Why is that? Anyone have an answer?Much of the contrast has to do with Canada's stricter gun laws and the availability of weapons (9million+ in Canada v. 300 million + here in the U.S.). In Canada, in order to own a gun you have to take a firearm safety course and each gun is licensed for 5 years. There is also a 60 day waiting period and the purchaser is completely checked for past felonies, mental illness etc. also, border check points regularly check for any weapons and hunters are required to show all weapons before entering the Country. contrast that to here where every type of weapon is readily available at your local gun store. You merely fill out a form, pay for the gun and walk out with your assault weapon which IMO should be banned or severely restricted by the purchase of an FFL which has to be renewed annually. Cap't Jack
An even better comparison is Canada. We share a 3000-mile border and we are alike in so many ways--socially, ethnically, culturally, religiously. We have similar immigration patterns, similar games, sports, media and education--but when it comes to gun violence there is no comparison. Why is that? Anyone have an answer? LoisIf you watch Michael Moore's movie Farenheit 9/11, he has a theory about how our news media is so sensationalist. Of course that's just a symptom of the larger fear mongering culture, but they could dial it back.
The Daily Show had an interesting take on the guns issue. Basically, they made the point that more guns in the hands of more people is not going to make us safer, because that would also require intense and on-going training in the use of guns in critical situations. They also brought up the extraordinarily pertinent question about people lining up to buy more guns, after every major gun violence incident: “Why aren’t they, instead, lining up to buy bullet proof vests?”
That said, modern games are extremely graphic and its impossible not to wonder about the people who love playing them, lol. The "Grand Theft Auto" series allows players to murder, rape, and torture (I'm not exaggerating) in vivid detail.That's right MidA. I'm not buying those studies anymore. I remember they blamed heavy metal music for suicides. They did studies. I know a little bit about science. There's no way any studies can be 100% conclusive there is no correlation. I don't know about heavy metal music and suicides, but these movies, TV, and video games are not the video games and movies of just 20 years ago. I knew the knee-jerk reaction was coming in regards to this topic. I've heard it 100's of times since the 80s. Being a liberal, I believed it myself. Right? It can't be the entertainment!! Yes it can!! This needs to be looked at further.True enough, social science data always has to be taken with a grain of salt. At this point I doubt its the entertainment causing people to go crazy; my pet theory is that over-medication] and general social decay are the problems.
Don't forget you have to submit to a background check.An even better comparison is Canada. We share a 3000-mile border and we are alike in so many ways—socially, ethnically, culturally, religiously. We have similar immigration patterns, similar games, sports, media and education—but when it comes to gun violence there is no comparison. Why is that? Anyone have an answer?You merely fill out a form, pay for the gun and walk out with your assault weapon which IMO should be banned or severely restricted by the purchase of an FFL which has to be renewed annually. Cap't Jack
Why is it that the Japanese have the same video games, with different release dates, yet there is less actual violence in Japan than in the US? Are the Japanese just less violent as a race? LLNo Lois, as someone already pointed out above, the Japanese are not swimming in a sea of guns. In fact guns are basically illegal in Japan. Almost nobody has guns. Japan averages about 4-6 gun deaths per year. That was pretty much my point. My question was somewhat disingenuous. Lois
The Daily Show had an interesting take on the guns issue. Basically, they made the point that more guns in the hands of more people is not going to make us safer, because that would also require intense and on-going training in the use of guns in critical situations. They also brought up the extraordinarily pertinent question about people lining up to buy more guns, after every major gun violence incident: "Why aren't they, instead, lining up to buy bullet proof vests?"They never think they are going to be shot. They'll all have their guns ready to shoot the bad guys. Americans have been soaked in too many wild west stories and movies where all the bad guys wear black hats and everybody has a gun. Lois
Don’t forget you have to submit to a background check.I filled out a brief form, signed it and walked out with a gun that very day. No waiting period. Cap't Jack
True enough, social science data always has to be taken with a grain of salt. At this point I doubt its the entertainment causing people to go crazy; my pet theory is that over-medication] and general social decay are the problems.The general decay of society.....that's a tough one. I personally subscribe to it. But it's a tough one to bring up due to it's amorphous boundaries and qualifiers. In that boundary we could possibly throw in the unprecedented amounts of medication, poverty, disparity, obviously the street drug problem, our entertainment culture be it violence or just plain vacuous shallow commercialist garbage, the resultant crime from poverty and racial legacy problems and the huge partisan gulf that has formed ideologically. But yes, I'm on board with you. Totally.
True enough, social science data always has to be taken with a grain of salt. At this point I doubt its the entertainment causing people to go crazy; my pet theory is that over-medication] and general social decay are the problems.The general decay of society.....that's a tough one. I personally subscribe to it. But it's a tough one to bring up due to it's amorphous boundaries and qualifiers. In that boundary we could possibly throw in the unprecedented amounts of medication, poverty, disparity, obviously the street drug problem, our entertainment culture be it violence or just plain vacuous shallow commercialist garbage, the resultant crime from poverty and racial legacy problems and the huge partisan gulf that has formed ideologically. But yes, I'm on board with you. Totally. You left out the sheer increase in number of people in the world, the un-natural stressors of modern lifestyles that tend to preclude physical activities, the undermining of individuals being able to form a coherent and functionally integrated worldview due to the sheer input of information from diverse sources, global warming (since people get crazier when it's hotter), and other stuff that isn't coming to mind at the moment.
I went to the movies a few months ago to see Mad Max.
At the AMC Movie complex the pre-movie announcement features include a thinly veiled instructional on what to do in the event of a mass shooter.
It was a little animated feature on what to do if one of the robots(the audience are all robots presumably) loses control in the audience…theater exit instructions, don’t panic etc etc etc…
Can you believe this? How sad. I want the old days back.
Has anyone told Barack Obama or Bill Clinton? My guess is that if you take a survey, you will find a good number of Congressmembers and Senators raised by single mothers one way or the other.