Violent Games Credited With Reducing Crime Levels 209
maroberts writes "According to a research paper produced from a collaboration between the University of Texas and the Centre for European Economic Research, violent video games may induce aggressive behavior, but the incapacitation effect outweighs this and produces a genuine reduction in violent crime. This paper was referenced in a BBC news story giving reasons why the US crime rates are falling (at least outside the prisons!)"
Re:Similar to how pornography reduced sex crimes.. (Score:2, Insightful)
Fuck you guys, someone has to say it (Score:5, Insightful)
Correlation does not equal causation.
Just because we like the results, doesn't make it true.
Re:Not the cause. (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Fuck you guys, someone has to say it (Score:4, Insightful)
There could be a lot more extra factors.
1. Birth Control is far more commonly used now then in the previous generation. Perhaps there are less unwanted kids and more planned children who are better cared for so they don't become criminals.
2. Revival in religion. Yea I know this is Slashdot and a lot of the readers here are Atheists or against religion in one form or an other, but there has been a resurgence in religious people. Which teaches at least to stop people from doing unorganized violence.
3. Greater tolerance. Towards People of difference races, religions, and sexual preferences. I am not saying it is perfect but it is getting better.
4. Improved conditions for the poor. Sure the gap between the rich and the poor is growing however the poor now have a better standard of life then they did in the past.
5. Internet, A wealth of stuff to keep you pacified for long periods of time.
6. Stranger Danger. We as a culture has grew up in fear of everyone outside your house, there is a lot less talking and gossiping with neighbors, thus less violence as everyone is so afraid of everyone else that they will dare not to do anything to shake the cage.
7. Aging population. A good part of the population is getting too old to beat the crap out of each other.
8. 9/11 changed everything. Knowing or at least reconfirming that there are "outsiders" who are after us keep us united.
9. Gang awareness and prevention programs, including suburban towns.
10. To many camera, Every (well nearly every) one has a phone with a camera, any crime can have someone taking a picture or a hd movie of it.
RTFA (Score:4, Insightful)
RTFA. Srsly.
Both TFA's don't just talk about crime levels, they talk explicitly about reducing VIOLENT crime levels. So, yes, it's a good thing, regardless of how you feel about petty crime.
Besides, I don't think the goal of the police is to worry about people's existential angst. Crime is something that one can objectively measure, while communities' feelings are subjective and unpredictable. You can't say that the police failed to do their job, if some scaremongering politician makes them feel less safe in spite of reduced crime.
Or to quote Dara O'Briain, who puts it the best: "[i]I give out when people talk about crime going up, but the numbers are definitely down. And if you go, "The numbers are down", they go, "Ahh, but the *fear* of crime is rising." Well, so fucking what? Zombies are at an all-time low level, but the fear of zombies could be incredibly high. It doesn't mean you have to have government policies to deal with the fear of zombies.[/i]"
Idle Hands are the Devil's Tools (Score:4, Insightful)
Something my grandfather knew and my great-grandfather... Many crimes are crimes of opportunity, usually linked to boredom. There have long been clear statistics that kids who play sports, play an instrument, or have dedication to a hobby are far less likely to be involved in crime. If someone is playing video games... They're not bored, and they're not out finding crimes of opportunity. Keep kids busy and they stay out of trouble.