No respect for life

This guy fled Sudan where hundreds of thousand are being slaughtered over religious and ethnic difference, came to a nation he considered a safe and nice place. Only to be beaten to death by sub-sapient scumbags with no respect for life.

I think one of the serious flaws in Western culture is that very thing. Kids kill in video games, see heroes slaugher people by the hundreds with machine guns in movies and all, and lose respect for violence and its consequences. Life loses meaning. Basic philosophical principles are not being taught in schools alongside mathematics and English.

 

I play violent video games, but this doesn't mean I don't understand how destructive and dangerous really killing things is. I disapprove of violence, and don't support it or anyone who kills.

 

I play lots of violent video games, but I don't go around indiscrimantely killing people. Indeed, I only kill people after careful discrimination.

 

that violent video game theory is crap. what will keep kids from commiting violent acts is for parents to know where the little fuckers are, and what they're doing. granted, that won't keep kids from EVER doing fucked up shit, but it will keep it to a minimum. for instance, if my daughter is ever out of the house at midnight, it'll be because she snuck out, and when she gets home i'll beat the crap out of her.

 

Are you suggesting that playing Arcanum made you more violent?

 

It's that Harm spell that corrupts them, I always knew it...

Seriously, I think there is very little respect for life, but I don't think it's a Western thing. It's more like, at some point, our elders lost it, and we're the product of that flawed generation.

 

Look at the differences of violent video games (with about a rating of >18 ) and violent action movies (with about a rating of >14):

- the operation of TV is much easier than the computer; especially if the directory of the game is hidden (and the shortcut, of course, has been removed from the start menu and the desktop); and there are parental locks, reduced gore and blood, PASSWORDS, etc...

- parents are not particularly happy when the child (without significant IT skills) want to ru(i)n the game on the computer that worths about 4 times as much as a TV (and contains essential documents, is a working tool, ...) (especially if the parent wants to play Arcanum)

- movies are much more realistic (and games, at least most of them, do not take place in this world or in this time)

- ...

And some questions:
- what about the game's rating??? where did he buy it? (or, why don't the parent used parental lock?)
- if the child kills somebody, then he obviously can't make difference between reality and fiction or he don't know the consequences of such an action -> he is a fucking retard and he would kill otherwise, too

I think that this evil video game thing is a great excuse... ( - YOU KILLED HIM??? - No, it wasn't me. It was Quake III Arena! ...or... Of course, our ViolentVampireActionMovie is for everyone, with a rating of >3! And it is not as bloody as the infamous Pac-Man! Ow that is the bloody game! Buy it!!!)

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Yes. Especially an isometrically rendered, unrealistic graphics RPG.

And most games reward good acts better.

Not neccessarily in the case of RPGs; and if I always cast Harm in Arcanum, I will in the real life??? Plus, you fight mainly with weapons, not bare hands (and if the child gets a gun, where did he get it?)

 

I'm not saying games are evil. I like games. But then, I believe I also have a healthy respect for violence and its consequences. As those articles mention, the guidance of parents can ameliorate or negate the negative influences of some games and television shows and such.

 

The main problem is that (apart from the obviously bad rating system) children aren't supposed to play this types of games, it is the fault of their parents if they do so. And I won't spare any of my games because some people can't take care of their fucking retarded stupid children and games are banned because of this (it's like banning all the kitchen knives because some kid played with it).

(Oh and why is it that most stupid action movies are for >12, but any erotic/sex/porn is >18 ?)

 

True. Having little kids slaughtering armies after school is nuts.

 

it all comes down to the parents. if they let their little bastards get away with anything, eventually they'll try to get away with murder.

 

And isn't it kind of realistic to assume that our society is reasonably violent? Pick a random day and turn on the evening news. Watch from the beginning. But this time, don't watch it looking for what's going on, watch for what they tell you is going on and when.

Usually the first three stories are directly related to violence. These are also the stories that get the big banners during the "Next Up" part, or the commercials. Regional, local, or national, it doesn't matter. They just cover different violence. Local will do a shooting or the death of soldier's from local regiments. National does the total death count today.

Oh, and if you want to find out what's really disconcerting, look at how they report on the war progress. When they show you explosions or air strikes on those special cameras... the nice electromagnetic ones. They look cool. THEY make it look like a game. And when they talk about the soldiers dying for our country, what do they say? Do they say their names or show pictures of them? Occasionally. Or do they just show a number? Isn't that awfully like... scorekeeping?

 

No, Western culture is flawed because of the lack of respect for violence (among other things). Violent entertainment is merely one of the contributing factors. As for games, even those articles explaininf the effects of such games say the violent training can be offset by good parenting.

Exposure to real violence also gives kids ideas.

 

Islamic violence is similarly flawed. Or wait, are those public executions really done by the CIA too?

 

because, you know, your father setting your sister on fire because some guy caught a glance at her bare calf isn't violent at all...

 

Is this all intended to be a refutation of something nobody posted?

 

Did you read Charles' post Scaramouche? He's implying Western culture is hideously violent. Which it may be. Rosie's post was in the same vein as mine, which is arguing that Islamic culture is as violent.

Please try to pay follow along, I know the logic around here's crazy. The whole "you make an argument, so I try to refute it then pose my own," it's just nuts.