Ah yes, the video game debate. We've all been there. We have had to listen to all of the same stupid arguments over and over again.
A recent study by Dr. Sonya S. Brady makes the claim that male undergraduates between the ages of 18 to 21, are more likely to have permissive attitudes toward smoking pot or drinking alcohol after playing violent video games.
Wow. Someone got paid for this. I could have done this study for her. You're telling me that male undergraduates are more likely not to see anything wrong with smoking pot or drinking?
This totally changes my outlook on life. Thank you, scientists, for affirming this little-known phenomena. I mean, honestly, this has nothing to do with games and everything to do with college life.
Oh yes, and males who played the violent video game were considered irritable afterward. To the person doing the study, apparently this means violent video games can change the way a person thinks. Give me a break; it won't change the way someone thinks any more than a movie or some music would. To just assume that being irritable has a correlation with self-destructive behavior is completely silly.
Studies like these are pointless. Perhaps we should make a study to see if hungry people like food. Or how about a study to see if college students like pizza? The studies being done are all trying to inform us of the evils of video games. It is our moral right as Americans to blame all of our problems on other things and not actually look at the real causes, such as parenting, schools and other issues that have a real impact on kids growing up.
For an ending note, I am a 23-year-old male that has played violent video games since Mortal Kombat. I have not harmed another human being, nor have I seriously wanted to, and I consider myself a pacifist. But certain conservative loudspeakers would have you believe I'm going to go out on a Saturday night and find myself some hookers to beat up with a baseball bat. That is simply not the case.
Video games are the new punching bag it seems, so gamers, keep the faith!
Matthew Runyan
telecommunication, information studies and media senior
