The Dark Side

The most common argument made when discussing the effects of video games is the effect they have on the players behavior, and if in fact their behaviour is some what altered. Many argue that video games containing any level of violence, trigger in the player a pattern of aggressive behaviour. There has been scientific research done to answer this continuously reoccurring question. Research has shown that from the people they tested, many that played 2 to 7 hours a day had specified to the researchers that "they got angry easily, couldn't concentrate, and had trouble associating with friends". There have been countless numbers of research done on this issue that have come to the same conclusion, that video games do in fact trigger aggressive behaviour, not in all players but in most.

When we are talking about those players that show about as much aggression as having a sissy fit and throwing their console through the floor, or simply rage quitting and having a good cry, it is easy for us to turn the other cheek on this rising issue of video games causing aggressive behaviour. But what is to be done when the game crosses through the screen and into reality? Because believe it or not these researches have been proven correct on a drastically disturbing level. A 14 year old boy murdered by his peer, due to imitating a video game. A 7 year old girl beaten to death once again at the hands of an imitated video game. 18 year old girl killed, another video game being at fault.

This argument of whether video games really are at fault for these acts of terror has been intensely debated for quiet some time. Whether these kids that committed these corrupt crimes actually were effected by these games or if they were just being used as an excuse for influence is an issue beyond research, as only the kids themselves will truly know the answer. These kids were all at an age where they knew the difference between right and wrong, where reasoning and compassion should have been fully formed in their conscious, and yet the blood is clearly smeared.

There is a chance that these games are not at fault, and I for one would not like to believe that events so brutal can be given an excuse so basic.It leaves me wondering though, if there can be such escalation in the negative impact of video games, can the same thing also occur in the opposite direction?