BFIS GAZETTE issue 1 | Page 44

  Video Games are not Making Children Aggressive ​ by BR  Many may have heard of how violent games are changing the world for the worse but are they? I believe that violent role-playing games and video games do not lead to violence in real life. I believe so, for the majority of gamers who play violent games do not do anything violent in real life. Violent games are a way of escaping the real world. People might counter this opinion by saying that kids are getting more aggressive however that is not true. Firstly, they do not cause violence because if most gamers play violent video games there has not been a consequent spike in violence. It looks like the number of teens who are playing violent video games is increasing. But, in fact, while violent video games sales are increasing the number of teen violence acts are decreasing. According to Shoot out “-I had to get special permission from the judge for the squirt fish, because I didn’t want to take my gun anywhere near an El Al counter- said Protell, three water guns shoved inside the pocket of a hoodie. This shows that it does not make kids violent only they are made more determined.” We can wonder if violent games are somehow preventing violence in the real world. Secondly, violent games are looking like they are more of an escape from real life. Many people in the world use violent real life role play or video games as a way to escape the world. According to the text called Video games written by ​ The Real Truth ​ ,computer and video games are often used to help people focus on something other than life’s daunting problems. For a few fleeting moments, the players “lose themselves” in the games as they feel the bliss and release of being in control. They are in a virtual world that makes sense to them—a place where they can be whoever or whatever they choose, without worrying about how they look or act, and without having to deal with real-life problems. This allows kids and teens do put out all their frustration into games allowing them to escape and do what they want while in the virtual world. They do not get affected by their actions in real life either. This is the cause of the reduction in violent crimes. People may argue saying that it does make kids more aggressive but, there is no proof behind their claims. Most kids who play such violent games are male and even without video games, most male adolescents are naturally aggressive. Male teens love violence and fighting, so it is not a huge difference whether they play games or not. Most of the research arguing that video games make kids violent isn't reliable because no two children are the same. In conclusion, violent video games do not affect the violence in teens because the majority of gamers who play violent games do not do anything violent in real life. Secondly because violent games are like an escape from the real world.