It is absurd to think that something as transient as music or a game could affect a youths life to such an extent. We should stop looking for a scapegoat and give children support from the family in terms of love and proper role models and the government in terms of education.

If children are affected by everything then how are children afected by music such as venetian snares whose music is breakcore.

If children are affected by everything then can you imagine in 1992 when mortal kombat arrived. I dont remember trying to fireball my teacher or send electric through my mates head to make him explode.

Another example is the ads, video games from japan such as samurai etc which are very famous for their violence However, the crime rate at that time was not increasing. In fact, it decreased

Furthermore, violent video games aren't molding violent people, it is the violent and troubled people that are drawn to the games. If someone plays grand theft auto for hours then shoots a cop, that person would probably have hurt someone anyway. Is it worse because that person is a cop? No! A cop's life is worth no more then any other person out there, no matter what the circumstances. VIOLENCE IS A BAD THING VERY BAD ITS LIKE SAYING PACMAN IS GAY NOT TRUE

A small minority may be influenced by violence in video games but this does not warrant banning violent video games outright. It warrants better parenting and education and healthcare systems.

A point has been made that violence has always existed, that it is human nature. The producers of big money media are just realising what an untapped area of the human psyche could be made profitable. Our interest in crime is why there are such games, music and films, NOT the other way round.

Look at the army. When we've had speakers in school they always come across as being in the army is a good thing even on TV the adverts for being in the army. I wonder how many of the people who joined the army as a results of speakers or Tv would follow a video game

There is no way that someone would walk out of their house after plying GTA and robbing a police car and running over people then the car blowing up after a certain amount of time. The chances are very minute.

In addition, there doesn't necessarily have to be a link between the two. This is a case of potential correlation, not causality. Just because they are both climbing, you cannot logically say that they are related.

As soon as the person stops watching the film, playing the game or listening to the music then this feeling disappears. It is an unreasonable claim with no evidence. It is also difficult to assume that realism plays a part when it is largely in the hands of a controller with buttons that need to be pressed. Reality is far removed when you need to press the 'x' button in order to pull out a weapon.

This point should be in the 'against' column.

Furthermore do objects such as dolls and animals affect the way we think, or do they exist because of our nature?

i think that this is just an excuse for society to try and make reasons for why there are more crimes but in reality its just because the world is becoming more of a dangerous place not nesicerily to do with violent games.

most things that happens in games is usually not easy to do in real life therefore when you play these games you know its just fictional. liarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

The parents have a responsibility to their children, to help them understand the difference between fiction and the real world. It sounds like a simple distinction, but if not established the boundaries of acceptable behaviour break down, especially during puberty when there is an increased urge to perform risky behaviours.

Thats just a hobby of yours that is calming you down; not being able to shoot people in a fictional game. You may enjoy it, find it entertaining, and think it 'flows your angry emotions'; but if you were doing something else you enjoy e.g. watching your favouite programme, you would say the same thing. I dont agree that violent video games are an excuse to help flow your angy emotions; anything you enjoy i.e hobbies or anything that can keep you occupied are what 'flows your angry emotions'; you cant blame it all on video games.

GTA is only one type of game.

There are many games that are not like this at all. Many RPGs such as the Ultima series have a morality system that discourages random killing and stealing, if only because the town guards kill you. Other games, such as Baroque, have situations in which the flow of the plot is seriously changed or negatively affected by killing the wrong individual or by killing a character where there is another option. Most characters in RPGs at some point have to question their actions, make a moral decision or mourn the loss of their fallen.

Escape from reality is important for sanity. All humans do it, it doesn't have to be using games. Reality is pretty nasty, worse than most games because at least you're strong enough in the game to deal with it, and people need a break from it. Reality causes far more violence than games do.