German Police Union Chief Wants Violent Game Ban After Shooting 518
A recent shooting in Germany has raised the ire of many politicians and officials, and they're turning to video games as a scapegoat after it was revealed that the shooter was a fan of Counterstrike and played Far Cry 2 the night before the rampage. First, a major retailer decided to drop mature-rated games altogether, and then the Minister for Social Affairs suggested restricting "addictive games," such as World of Warcraft, to adults only. Despite an unfavorable reaction from gamers and game developers alike, the chief of Germany's national police union has now spoken out against violent games as well, saying, "The world would be no poorer if there were no more killergames."
Oh common... (Score:5, Informative)
Seriously? This is completely ridiculous. There is no way that just video games alone made this person go on a shooting rampage. Several studies by groups such as Harvard Medical, The Journal of Adolescent Health, and the British Medical Journal have shown that there is no conclusive link between video games and violent activities (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game_controversy). These people don't think that uhm...the media for instance has anything to do with it? Let's get real here people. There is no way playing some Far Cry 2 or any game like it alone contributes to the initiative to do violent things.
For me, video games are a great way to relax after a long day. It's an unwinding period and I don't feel violent at all when playing. I'm not alone saying this, there are many others who feel exactly the same way. The German police chief should look at the facts and statistics before he jumps the gun.
Just my two cents.
Re:Oh common... (Score:3, Informative)
The prosecution is charging the guy's father for keeping a gun unsafe when his son was pathologically depressed. Also the father is a gun nut and taught his son how to shoot at a pretty early age.
Re:Jack? Is that you? (Score:4, Informative)
Nah, we just have that a lot in Germany. Something bad happens, and politicians jump to it and want to ban violent computer games over it. So, for example, someone shoots some people at a school and the day later, we learn from the press that we need to ban Counterstrike, and also that suspicious pornography was found. Then of course we need to something against child pornography, regardless of no child pornography being involved whatsoever in the shooting or the shooter's private live. You get the idea.
That said, I would personally appreciate if computer game makers could cut down on the violence a little, I don't like it very much in my games. Of course, other adults who like to shoot pixels should be allowed to do so, and the government should stay out of it.
Re:Maybe bullets first? (Score:3, Informative)
He also couldn't have killed fifteen people if the other fourteen had killed him after he shot the first one.
Re:Oh common... (Score:4, Informative)
Wal-Mart has no presence in Germany (although they tried). The retailer is in question is Kaufhof, which has hypermarkets in many major cities. Compared with the hundreds of MediaMarkt, Saturn or Medion stores I don't think their decision will have a nocticeable impact on the market. Even among hypermarkets Kaufhof is one of the minor players. This is totally played up by the press.
Re:That makes sense (Score:1, Informative)
82 million.
Re:Stop isolating games for their interactivity... (Score:3, Informative)
From the link
"Steven Pinker charts the decline of violence from Biblical times to the present, and argues that, though it may seem illogical and even obscene, given Iraq and Darfur, we are living in the most peaceful time in our species' existence."
So this is proving that we are more violent how? (yea I know I should watch it but I am going out for a drink)
Re:I would say something... (Score:2, Informative)
Having experienced both the German and US versions (as well as the excellent system in New Zealand), I've got to say that I prefer the American version to the German one.
The German school system is about school, and nothing else. If you want to join a sports team, look elsewhere. If you're looking for extracurricular activities of any kind, look elsewhere.
If I'd needed to get a new membership at a new sports club every time I wanted to try out a new sport (which is currently the case here in Germany) instead of just putting my name on a signup sheet and showing up after school, I'm guessing I would've spent a lot less time playing sports...
Re:Oh common... (Score:3, Informative)
taught his son how to shoot at a pretty early age.
I guess I'm confused by this statement. Are you implying this contributed to him going on a rampage? Or is it more of an FYI?
My father taught my brother and I to shoot at a young age as well and it taught us both about gun safety and handling. But he also kept all his guns locked up in a gun case and my brother and I wouldn't go near it without my dad being there.
Re:Why stop there? (Score:3, Informative)
Yeah, because 100% of those "violent" games are developed in germany. hahaha. simple minded politicians ... Violent games, make no violent people. Or else 99% of the boys around the world would do nothing else than shoot people.
Re:Oh common... (Score:3, Informative)
Just FYI...
Re:But the UK did go off the rails... (Score:3, Informative)
You compare the fact that the UK had a period 350 years ago when it wasn't democratic to the fascism and systematic extermination of millions of minorities in Germany 70 years ago? I'm sorry, but that's preposterous
No its not. The UK under Cromwell exterminated 50% of the population of Ireland. AT LEAST 500,000 people were killed, because they were Catholic.
Re:Right. (Score:3, Informative)
"This is an opportunity where what used to be long term problems whether they be in health care area, education area, fiscal area... tax area, regulatory reform area. Things that we had postponed for too long that were long term are now immediate and must be dealt with. [...] This crisis provides the opportunity to do things you could not do before. The good news, I suppose if you want to see the silver lining, is the problems are big enough they that lend themselves to ideas from both parties to provide the solutions."
[Quick transcription by myself. May have errors.]
Yep. Sounds like a really devious plan. I would disagree about the police chief. He is blaming video games. Just like Obama's chief of staff is blaming the current crisis on long term neglected and long ignored needs by the nation. You were correct to compare the two. But reached the wrong conclusion in both cases.
We're creatures of crisis and apathy. Until we're forced to confront a problem we like to ignore it. If you want to make progress you need to maximize the time that the necessary parties are paying attention to the problem. Otherwise everyone forgets and goes back to doing exactly what they were doing before the crisis.
We all have an example of something which we swear. "I've learned my lesson! I won't do that again!" and then 2 weeks later you've forgotten and do it again.
The question is: Is there a problem that needs to be fixed? This should be the point of contention. Do we need to fix the way minors have access to Mature video games? Do we need to fix our energy, health and regulatory policies? Do we need to change the how we deal with terrorists? Do we need domestic wire tapping.
Nobody would argue that you need to act while there is political willingness on the part of the people to fix whatever needs to be fixed. The debate should be centered on what the best course of action is to prevent further such crisis and whether those solutions would cause unintended consequences.
Re:Sure it would. (Score:2, Informative)
These are mere analogues for killing. I was on the fencing team during my undergraduate years, and fencing is uniquely the ONLY sport in which one pretends to actually KILL OPPONENTS.
If people try to illegalize fencing, must I skewer them? Would I?
Football: a violent contact sport, frequently resulting in personal injury. Chess: A game in which you are encouraged to send blindly loyal soldiers of varying specialties to their untimely deaths all in the name of protecting a single political figure. Horse races: Involves brutally pitting horses against one another, some choose to include whipping. The horses get nothing but a fresh feed bag, while the trainers get millions in prize money, and book keepers rake in billions from the gambling. I'm sure there's something bad about golf, but all I could think of is "known to cause heart attacks in managers who should be behind their desks", but that's no loss for the world.
Anything can be portrayed in a bad light by phrasing it correctly.
Re:Oh common... (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Sure it would. (Score:1, Informative)
I think it is actually proven that reoccurring exposure to violence and death(both tv and games) numbs an individual down. Difference between TV is that games actually make you RESPONSIBLE of each action - With games as Fallout where AI and realism is ever more present, you are given a gun and no limits to what you can do with it - mutant, person, good or bad guy. While the game itself is brilliant and just an example, the real and virtual life boundaries for a person can become blurred.
It is also no secret that online shooters are highly competitive and can give a scene of achievement to an otherwise miserable person. This process however goes together with frustration and anger as everyone is trying to best their opponent and get a bit higher score. No secret there, any FPS player will tell you that.
Combine those factors and while it's not a recipe for a serial killer, every once and a while it can be a serious contributor to a person who may consider such actions.
Wouldn't really compare to chess there. Nothing wrong with games as entertainment business neither. Perhaps just the young audience whom certain games are not intended for. The very audience we later hear in news about
Re:Oh common... (Score:3, Informative)
taught his son how to shoot at a pretty early age.
I guess I'm confused by this statement. Are you implying this contributed to him going on a rampage?
It probably caused more deaths, if the gunman was better trained and more accurate. Familiarity with guns could be a factor.
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