December 21st: day of Cease Fire for video games, in memory of Newtown
12:55 am - 12/18/2012
In the wake of Friday's tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn., GamerFitNation founder Antwand Pearman is calling for a one-day "ceasefire" among those who play online shooting games.
Pearman wants gamers to "just put your controller down and show your love" on Friday, as part of the Day of Ceasefire For Online Shooters.
At this point, there has been no reported link between violent video games and Friday's shooting, which left 20 children and six adults dead. Pearman also says on his Facebook page that "we are not blaming video games." Instead, "I'm asking for a demonstration of peace — the one thing that money can't buy," Pearman said in a video message (below) about the effort. "I'm not asking for funds. If anything, I ask [that] you donate to the families of the victims when that becomes available. What I'm asking for is a ceasefire."
In the video, the game enthusiast talks about his own childhood, growing up around gun violence, and how he wants the world to know that gamers have hearts, too.
"One day, since 26 people lost their lives. One day is enough," he said.
As of press time, Pearman's Facebook event had garnered 465 supporters.
The topic of whether video-game violence played any role in Friday's shooting came up on this weekend's Meet the Press. Former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said that while the shooter's mental health was likely a major factor, "we haven't even started talking about the corrosive influence of a violent-oriented world — TV, video games, shoot to kill video games."
New York Times columnist David Brooks was skeptical. "I had thought video games have played a role, too, but this has been studied," Brooks said. "There have been hundreds, unfortunately, of these shooters over the decades and very few of them had any contact with violent video games and generally tend to be older."
Brooks said that he views these situations as less of a sociological problem, which could be blamed on violence in video games, and instead as a psychological issue.
The debate also made its way to Twitter. User @kenold took Ridge's side, saying that the country doesn't need a ban on guns or to arm teachers, but instead needs "a ban on violent video games and treat them like any other [hazards] for our kids."
Samuel Schauf agreed, writing that "Yes gun control is an issue. But we are more exposed to these ideas as a society. Guns & extremist ideas are common in video games & movies."
Data, however, suggests otherwise, according to the Washington Post, which said there were few direct links between gun-related murders and video-game consumption.
"I play hella violent video games, live with a mental illness, and have never touched a gun. I have no desire to whatsoever," Twitter user TV's Brent wrote today.
Mirroring those thoughts, Matt Sour said in a tweet last week that "violent video games are once again going to take the blame for this shooting, rather than focusing on the real problem. Gun laws."
source: PC Magazine
Facebook page
Pearman wants gamers to "just put your controller down and show your love" on Friday, as part of the Day of Ceasefire For Online Shooters.
At this point, there has been no reported link between violent video games and Friday's shooting, which left 20 children and six adults dead. Pearman also says on his Facebook page that "we are not blaming video games." Instead, "I'm asking for a demonstration of peace — the one thing that money can't buy," Pearman said in a video message (below) about the effort. "I'm not asking for funds. If anything, I ask [that] you donate to the families of the victims when that becomes available. What I'm asking for is a ceasefire."
In the video, the game enthusiast talks about his own childhood, growing up around gun violence, and how he wants the world to know that gamers have hearts, too.
"One day, since 26 people lost their lives. One day is enough," he said.
As of press time, Pearman's Facebook event had garnered 465 supporters.
The topic of whether video-game violence played any role in Friday's shooting came up on this weekend's Meet the Press. Former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said that while the shooter's mental health was likely a major factor, "we haven't even started talking about the corrosive influence of a violent-oriented world — TV, video games, shoot to kill video games."
New York Times columnist David Brooks was skeptical. "I had thought video games have played a role, too, but this has been studied," Brooks said. "There have been hundreds, unfortunately, of these shooters over the decades and very few of them had any contact with violent video games and generally tend to be older."
Brooks said that he views these situations as less of a sociological problem, which could be blamed on violence in video games, and instead as a psychological issue.
The debate also made its way to Twitter. User @kenold took Ridge's side, saying that the country doesn't need a ban on guns or to arm teachers, but instead needs "a ban on violent video games and treat them like any other [hazards] for our kids."
Samuel Schauf agreed, writing that "Yes gun control is an issue. But we are more exposed to these ideas as a society. Guns & extremist ideas are common in video games & movies."
Data, however, suggests otherwise, according to the Washington Post, which said there were few direct links between gun-related murders and video-game consumption.
"I play hella violent video games, live with a mental illness, and have never touched a gun. I have no desire to whatsoever," Twitter user TV's Brent wrote today.
Mirroring those thoughts, Matt Sour said in a tweet last week that "violent video games are once again going to take the blame for this shooting, rather than focusing on the real problem. Gun laws."
source: PC Magazine
Facebook page
The issue isn't that these games exist, it's more that kids still get their hands on them one way or another despite ratings systems and stores IDing people for hard-rated games, and that their parents let them play (or they go to a friend's house who's parents let them play, etc). Essentially, in my opinion, if a person thinks these games are too dangerous for kids to play, then stop letting kids get to them--don't just remove them altogether.
I am so damn tired of this "violent games = violent kids!" thing coming up. No. It doesn't.
There have been so many studies proving there's no connection, and yet here we are again, saying there is.
But yeah. Chuck Todd already made a comment the other night about video games and how parents better make sure their kids "don't have problems", whatever that means. And Jack Thompson is already back with the blaming and shit.
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/chuck-todd-w
http://www.gamerevolution.com/news/j
I mean, I don't necessarily think a person HAS to do something large and time-consuming to really be helpful, but even signing an online petition which takes all of two seconds would be better than this (and could actually create dialogue and change).
But I will not participate in this blackout. It does nothing, helps no one, and carries the message that video games creates violence.
Idk. Maybe not so much the second part, but I definitely believe a lot of it is just no firsthand experience.
Edited at 2012-12-18 06:45 pm (UTC)
Maybe instead take the day to enjoy their off-line life, or to sign a few petitions, or read up on gun control and decide where they stand on the issue.
Sheesh.
Yeah, I know it's sloppy, but I wanted to get it posted before next week. :)
*pokes LJ*
Edited at 2012-12-19 03:45 am (UTC)
It just seems that it is easier for people to blame music, movies and video games than it is to look at the real issues. Entertainment has been the red herring for years, and I think gamers are just tired of gaming being used as a scapegoat for the violence in our culture.
It's all Lu Bu's fault.
Obviously.
Firstly, I remember when people were blaming Final Fantasy VII for Columbine. Are we really surprised that gamers are likely going to view this with scorn? Whether you're a gamer or not, having something that you enjoy REPEATEDLY being blamed even when studies are found that there isn't a problem with it is going to make you eventually shut down to criticism of it. You know the topic is going to go in the same direction. This doesn't do anything but give some degree of credence to that argument, whether rightly or wrongly, directly or indirectly.
Added to this, do people really think that gamers, especially the CoD types, are going to really bother with something like this? From the behavior I've seen from these guys online, they don't even give a shit that stuff like this happened - they sit back and make jokes about it. The very people that need to adhere to this and that this should address aren't going to because they don't fucking care.
Also, what do we propose some of these gamers do in the meantime? Sit on Reddit and 4chan?
Edited at 2012-12-19 07:56 am (UTC)
All of that ^ *waves hand*
NEWP.
Well I do think FPS games in particular are pretty much an extension of US pop culture's glorification of guns and 'manly' violence. I mean compare the games made in the US to mainstream games localized from Japan and it's obvious that the US's weird gun fetish is at play in many of ours
BUT the same is true with US vs. foreign films so it's propagation of the culture rather than a direct cause. It's great to talk about that as a problem but way too easy for people to latch onto it as the primary/one of the primary issues when it's not. It's a gun- and violence-obsessed culture that gives easy access to deadly weapons that are basically shown as props for a hero fantasy in many, many forms of media. Idk but I'm going back to Portal now
god yes and its one of the reason i dont like how us games are dominating the market, and because those games can attract certain types of people i dont like
and yes to the rest of your comment
Edited at 2012-12-19 05:12 pm (UTC)