Is there truly violence?

For decades people have fought over many things, some trivial and some for a greater cause. But the promotion to fight and kill by game developers is a whole different story as their only goal is to maximise sale and by provoking our survival instinct and need to be the best, they got gamers in the palm of their hands.

“By the time a child turns 18, he or she would have witness on television 200,000 acts of violence including 40,000 murders.” Huston (1992) said. Buchanan (2002) added that the more children get themselves exposed to violent TV programs or video games; they are likely to act more aggressively to their peers.

Since we are constantly surrounded by violence, wouldn’t it be the norm of our society to see and expect violence? Then how are we able to tell children and teenagers that violence is bad since they would have already been exposed to over 200,000 acts of violence and 40,000 murders.

The solution would be the mentality of the users, are we not able to differentiate between good and bad? Is it better to hit someone till they get you what you want? Or to persuade them to give you what you want? Violent games may have trained us to take quick actions but society has also thought us to take the proper actions. The only question remains is which method would you take?

References

Huston, A.C. et al (1992). Big world, small screen: The role of television in American society. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press.

Buchanan, A.M., Gentile, D.A., Nelson, D.A.,Walsh, D.A., Hensel, J. (2002). What goes in must come out: Children's media violene consumption at home and aggressive behaviors at school. www.mediafamily.org/facts/facts_vlent.shtml, Viewed 15th June 2008.