Time and time again, the issue of video games causing violence is brought up by concerned parents, adults and teachers. In response to a recent 'Letter to the Editor', a worried parent and teacher shared her perspective on the debate. I do not seek to argue nor undermine her views, but rather give a new perspective on video games; one that I hope all parties will view with an open mind.
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I am 18 years old, and have been playing video games almost all my life. In the beginning, I played racing and puzzle games, but as I matured, so did my taste in video games. I begun to play more violent video games, including Call of Duty, Grand Theft Auto and I, too, occasionally play Fortnite. In each of these games, the player is encouraged to kill other people at their own discretion.
It is here where I think one of the fundamental misunderstandings take place. A non-gamer may look at a game of 'Call of Duty' and think "Look! They are killing people! Shooting at them with guns!" because that's just what they see. They see someone taking pleasure in shooting someone else, but killing is not the motive - it's the desire to win. In these games, you kill other players not because you want to necessarily kill them, but because you want to win.
When I win a game of Call of Duty or I am one of the last alive in Fortnite, I feel a sense of joy and accomplishment. When one of my teammates doesn't listen to the group or when we only lose by a fraction of the total, sure, it can be pretty frustrating, but I know a simple fact - it's just a game. Losing is a part of the experience. If I won all the time, wouldn't that just be a bit boring? I like being challenged, and if someone who is better than I comes along and beats me in a game, well, better luck next time!
Perhaps it would benefit you to see video games as sport - you win some, you lose some. But, as the saying goes - "life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it." To play video games, the gamer MUST be able to handle competitive environments. I agree with the letter that "violence towards others is NOT okay" - but just because they are playing violent video games and "killing" other players doesn't necessarily mean they're being violent. When the name-calling, excessive swearing and insults start however, that's when a parent or concerned individual should get involved. If your child is at the receiving end of the insults and such, almost every game has the option to turn off other player's microphones and chat options.
If, however, your child is the one being aggressive, instead of barring them from the game altogether, consider this: talk to them about it. Sit them down and have a heart-to-heart. Though I've never usually been the one to yell, when I was younger I did, occasionally get frustrated and upset at video games. When they were taken away from me, I just simply got more frustrated - I didn't know what I was doing wrong. A simple chat would've probably gone a long way in that regard. If your child continues to be aggressive despite having a civil conversation with them prior, then that's a circumstance where taking away their video games might be beneficial for them.
Though I am not a parent myself, I completely empathise with parents, teachers and carers who want their child to be protected and brought up in a loving, nurturing environment. You want your child to reach their full potential and to live their dreams whilst being a caring and respected individual. Video games do not stop them from this. With appropriate self-responsibility and moderation (be it self or enforced), video games can deliver on their ability to teach children and teenagers essential values such as teamwork, logic/puzzle solving and communication.
I strongly urge parents to take on board my perspective. Having an open mind to video games will not only benefit you, but the community too.
Jordan Frith, Port Macquarie