Yet another example that parents want the government to raise their children for them. This crap makes me want to puke.

Video games linked to aggression in boys
Fri Aug 19, 2005 07:12 PM ET

By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Correspondent
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Most studies done on violence and video games support the conclusion that violent video games can increase aggressive behavior in children and adolescents, especially boys, researchers said on Friday.

An analysis of 20 years of research shows the effects can be both immediate and long-lasting.

"The majority of the studies would suggest there are effects," said Jessica Nicoll of Saint Leo University in Saint Leo, Florida, who worked on the study.

One study showed that children who played a violent game for less than 10 minutes and then took a mood assessment test rated themselves with aggressive traits and aggressive actions shortly after playing.

Teachers of 600 8th and 9th graders, aged 13 to 15, said children who spent more time playing violent video games were more hostile than other children and more likely to argue with authority figures and other students.

The findings, presented at an annual meeting of American Psychological Association, prompted the group to adopt a resolution recommending that all violence be reduced in video games and interactive media marketed to children and youth.

"Additionally, the APA also encourages parents, educators and health care providers to help youth make more informed choices about which games to play," the Association said in a statement.

BAD EXAMPLE

Video games set a bad example and may be particularly influential because a player takes on the roles of heroes and villains, violent and otherwise, the APA said.

Perpetrators of violence go unpunished 73 percent of the time in all violent scenes, the group said. "Showing violent acts without consequences teach youth that violence is an effective means of resolving conflict," said psychologist Elizabeth Carll, who helps direct the group's Committee on Violence in Video Games and Interactive Media.

Nicoll said in an interview that "only a handful" of the studies she and colleagues examined found no connection between violence and violent video games.

The findings are similar to those seen for violent television shows. Joaquim Ferreira of the University of Coimbra in Portugal and colleagues studied more than 800 youngsters aged from 9 to 14 and found the biggest factor linking television violence and actual aggression was the child's understanding of the violence.

"It is the way you perceive the violence and how you deal with the kids and help them understand reality," Ferreira, who also presented his findings to the APA meeting, said in an interview.

Parents can sit with children and explain cartoons or television shows to them -- something the APA and other groups recommend doing. But this is more difficult to do with video games, Ferreira said.

"You are part of the thing," he said. "You get involved in the violence because you are doing it."

Yawn, its like the post I was reading the other day about kids getting fat becuase of coke in school. Someone from Coke should ***** slap the writer of the article and tell parents the truth! If you make your kids go out side and play like in the old days, instead of playing Xbox all Darn day, they may not be so plesantly plump...

Kids need alot of the good stuff, candy and such, it wont hurt them unless all they do is play video games 24-7. Parents take some responsiblity and go play catch with your kids or something...

Heh Dateline 1970
Most studies done on violence and Cartoons support the clusion that violent Cartoons can increase aggressive behavior in children and adolescents, especially boys, researchers said in 1970.

To all the ID10T's out there... there is fantasy and there is real life. If you can't distinguous between the two; then you have not grown up yet.
I can't count the times I saw Wylie Coyote get himself killed or how many times Bugs Bunny b**** slapped Elmer Fudd.
The point of this is it is fantasy not real life. Hell I even remember The Song of the South with it's racial overtures. It was all fantasy/entertainment back when I was a young whippersnapper.
I could tell the difference. We also played cowboys and indians, tag, dodgeball and a lot of other violent games for entertainment. Did we hurt each others feelings by "picking" on the weaker ones; HELL YES we did and you know what? The people we picked on didn't whine about it they accepted it and improved themselves to not be the last one picked.

That is where we are going wrong IMHO we are coddling our "precious angels" where they don't experience heartbreak and ridicule till later in life when it is harder to learn that life is not fair. And I am afraid that I belong to the generation that started all this bullsh**.
BTW yes I was the last one picked for dodgeball and most other athletic events and I was humbled not hurt. That is the key.... humility means you have to assess your shortcomings and deal with it; not get angry pick up a gun and get your revenge.

We only care about "ME" and have the attitude that If I don't get what I want FSCK everybody else as I deserve it, I shouldn't have to earn it I should just get it.

Sorry for rambling on but I am sick and tired of people saying I have a right to this and that but don't admit that they also have responsiblities that these so called rights entail.

What scares me is the fact that there is a group of ppl that want the government to step in and regulate what kind of material is acceptable to be placed in games. That makes me nervous as hell....

Makes me nervous as well, before too long they will try to ban TW cause they think it is too voilent for us to play, they will just have to come and get me with my ISS's guns a blazin.Hah, hehe

They already got the lamo rating system implemented what more do they want? A personal government currier agent to hand deliver the game to their house and explain it to them in terms they are sure to comprehend. As it has already been stated parents really need to STFU and take exception to the child they made the choice procreate. Kids are not buying these games on their own, they are living alone in their very own homes away from the grasp and watchful eye of their parents. The sad reality is that most parents now a days are afraid of their children and are intimidated by them; children are often bigger, stronger, and sad to say smarter then their parents.

To compound this parents are worried about loosing their current falsified "friendship" or "kinship" that they once used as a form of empowerment over their children. Children to day have global access to other cultures, beliefs, idealogies, etc. they do not need their parents in their lives the same way as before. Most parents are not willing to adapt to the changing ways of the world and themselves feel lost and confused, as also do their children feel; as their children spend time worring about just trying to find someway to fit in with the other children, i.e. music, shoes, pants, piercings, etc. So in this they do have something in common afterall, though do not except either one to adept to those feelings on their own though, because the would incite a major weakness within themselves. Instead children would rather rebel against their parents and parents would rather question their government. Again a pointless never ending cycle of blame placing blame.

Reminds me of Hilary Clinton going ape **** on Rockstar games because someone in the public modified the game to have a sex game in it, even thought Rockstar had nothing to do with it. She also said the government should regulate the actual material allowed, not just rate it. Extreme censorship is closer than ever, knocking on our door folks.

I remember being a kid and watching rocky for the first time, right afterwards I ws pretending I was rocky and socked my brother in the eye, my dad beat my Butt and I learned.... Its not the games and movies and crap its just peer parenting, I learned that if I did that stuff my dad was gonna beat my Butt, that didn't feel apealing to me so I didn't do it, what a concept.


Bait

The old days when your dad can smack you in the back of the head for doing something stupid are over. Either the kid will call the cops, or someone will. Not to say i agree with "beating" your children, but like baited said, it seems that when my dad gave me a good five across the eyes, i learned that doing whatever i did to deserve it wasnt going to fly and didnt do it again (or at least get caught again heh).

dont want to ret into a big story! but had a friend, he had 3 kids 2 boys 1 girl. i knew the family well, (long time ago) i gave my friend
DOOM2. and i told him befor i gave ,that i think he sould not paly around his kids. call me a prud back then, but i felt it was too violent for games back then. wasn't 2 days the boys were playing it.
not 2 week later his boys started getting in trouble for fighting at school and with nabour kids. and befor the game thay were good kids.
me and my friend blamed the recent behaiver probs to the game, and thay were not allowed to play it agian. take it for what its worth.

How old were they and was this their first time exposed to violent content?

Im glad you told that story Zilla, because it reinforces my point. The parents should NEVER have let the kids play that game if they thought for one min that it could influence their behavior. The game is not at fault for its content as it says right on the box Rated M for Mature...which means over 17 years old.....

the part that got me was I told him befor I gave him program. it was
not for kids, and got the same old, my kids are good, and im a good parent, and on top of it. RIGHT!!! I dont think I have ever seen a
parent on top of things even back then, and its worse now!!!

BTW I think the kids were ages 5-8 not sure, but im sure im close.

on a side note.

i have a computer repair shop, and i cant tell you how many times
somones brings in a system, and it has pron on it, not 10 or 20 pics
but 100 to 1000, and 9of 10 times it there under 16 YO kid who did
it! i can remember this one time tons of mail pics over 1000.
and it was from his 13 yo girl. boy was he pissed!!!

The thing is that if parents took the time to learn and be an actual parent, things like that wouldnt happen. I know if I had a child and it had access to my computer and was using the internet, i would definitely be checking what they are accessing at all times. The main thing is that parents need to quit complaining about the content of life and the things in it and make the effort to become and improve themselves as parents. If they didnt want to give their child the 100% effort it involves to raise a child, they shouldnt have made that commitment.