Are Video Games Bad For You?

Why are people so quick to assume that violent video games cause violence? The answer is quite simple--because it's easy. It's easier to blame video games or rock and roll or comic books or the devil (insert your scapegoat of choice) rather than accepting personal responsibility for your failure as a parent. If your child snaps and brings a gun to school, it wasn't because he played Counterstrike that morning. Were there any red flags prior to this? Did you communicate with him on a regular basis? Is he troubled, withdrawn, secretive, moody, etc? How did your child have a gun in his bedroom that you were unaware of? If it wasn't for video games, would he still have cracked? As a parent, could you have done more?

I grew up on video games, some of which were violent and others not. My parents raised me with the ability to distinguish between fantasy and reality and as a result I am able to kill a bad guy in Grand Theft Auto yet somehow refrain from killing my boss at work the next day. I don't punch puppies or refuse to help little old ladies across the street. In fact, I am a loving parent of a very well-adjusted teen who plays his fair share of violent video games (and is quite good at them). And I have kitties. Three of them. Meow.

This is dangerous thinking folks. Don't be so quick to go along with the crowd. Common sense is much less common than you realize. Just because a particular mindset is popular doesn't necessarily mean it's wise. Also bear in mind the majority of the people voicing the anti-violent video games opinion have never even played the games they are complaining about. Do you think the crazies that burn Harry Potter books like cultists ever bothered to actually read them? Have you ever voiced a strong opinion on a topic you truly didn't know anything about?

Be leary of conformity. Form your own opinions. Think for yourself. Raise your children to do the same. They'll be much more well-equipped to take on life. Take the time to thoroughly consider an issue and reach your own conclusion based on the evidence. Ignorance and blindly following others are far more dangerous activities than turning on Gears of War and shooting a pretend bad guy. Which is worse, a mindless person that followed Hilter without question or a group of kids playing cops and robbers?