Let me start by saying that I understand the events of the elementary school shooting in Newtown, CT are something everyone would rather put behind them and move on from. That said, it seems like the community leaders responsible for exactly that are intent on not letting it happen. Don’t get me wrong, being from Connecticut and having little cousins who attend Sandy Hook, the last thing I’m arguing is that we should forget the victims of the massacre. What I am saying is that, in the wake of such a tragedy, it’s important to choose a responsible method of helping a grieving community to heal as opposed to a sensationalistic campaign designed to stir up a storm in the media about violent video games.
If you’ve been following the news in Connecticut, you’ve probably heard of the Violent Video Games Return Program organized by SouthingtonSOS, a community action group based a short distance from Newtown. The collection, originally planned for today, calls on families from the surrounding area to gather up their violent video games and turn them in to the group to be incinerated. Participants then receive gift certificates for more family-friendly activities such as the local bowling alley or a restaurant.
“The group’s action is not intended to be construed as statement declaring that violent video games were the cause of the shocking violence in Newtown on December 14. Rather, SouthingtonSOS is saying that there is ample evidence that violent video games … has contributed to increasing aggressiveness, fear, anxiety and is desensitizing our children to acts of violence including bullying.”
-SouthingtonSOS press release
The problem here, aside from the cringe-inducing grammar, is the fact that this statement presents a drastic solution to a problem that has not been proven. It very well may be the case that violent video games have gone a long way toward desensitizing our culture to violence, but by saying that they possess ample supporting evidence and then failing to present a single shred of it, SouthingtonSOS is asking an entire community to engage in a mob mentality on faith alone.
Put in a quick Google search about the collection effort and you’ll notice that not a single person who can be described as a media expert has anything to say on the matter. Everybody supporting the drive is an opinionated amateur who just thinks that video games are a driving force behind a violent society. That’s the same as someone whose only experience with marine biology is watching Jaws starting a campaign to kill all the sharks. I’m sure these people are doing what they believe in, but when you can’t support your argument and your actions are liable to unjustly damn an entire industry, maybe it’s time to consider the possibility that your beliefs are unfounded.
Thankfully, today’s event was canceled three days ago when the group said that their goal—to encourage dialogue among families about what’s appropriate for their children—has now been accomplished. Although admirable, this was not their intent when they first announced the program. The original goal seems to have been to spread the idea that the game industry is responsible for children’s behavior, a goal which they have also completed. Unfortunately, I don’t think this sort of thing will ever come to an end. We like to think of ourselves as so much more in-touch and liberal than the generation before us, but 100 years from now, our great-great-grandchildren are probably going to be blasting the newest technology for causing world hunger, and this sort of column will have to be written thousands of times over. For now, all we can do is think rationally and not buy into this sort of sensationalism.
Before violent video games, it was television, popular music, and comic books that took the blame for these kinds of tragedies.
Maybe 25 or 30 years down the road, when you yourself are a parent or a crotchety old city councilman, you’ll think back and remember how you felt when people in your position tried to destroy your favorite media. Perhaps you’ll form a community discussion group or put out a thought-provoking newsletter. Whatever it is, don’t let it be this sort of sensationalistic crap. Keep your head on out there.
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