Rage Quitters 1

Noah Fazenbaker, Colby Witherspoon, Chris Willis

Mindful Use of the Media
Gregory Grieve
18 April 2016
Thinking Out of the X-Box Part 2
Ever sense the release of the first Grand Theft Auto the idea that video games can change
the general public into hardcore, bloodthirsty, killing machines have battled video games ever
since. In Assassins Creed, Brotherhood, the same violence that could result in mass genocide
occurs again throughout the gameplay. In this video game there are many situations where the
player must make the choice to kill a priest or another church dignitary as to increase the power
and influence of the brotherhood and secret organizations that you are a member. Most of the
time the gameplay changes according to what the player decided to do, either being, killing
religious, social, or political figures, and seeing the consequences of the deaths, violence, and the
riots that start around the locations of the game as the progressions continues, or by trying to
spare the lives of many which will result in another death of your own friends and leaders in
revolt of the main story line. Although the debate is still up for interpretation, the majority of
people follow the believes of a 2004 survey taken by Gentile, Lynch, Linder & Walsh, which
stated kids who play video games are more violent, aggressive, and have declines in school
performance. Personally I think that video games do not result into violent children or people,
instead they open a portal to personal expression and venting that result in the increase
imagination of the populous as well as the decrease of violent actions. The significance of this

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argument is as big as the future of the next generation as well as the household ramifications of
personal beliefs and religion when intersecting with video games.
Although video games can result in violent behavior the overwhelming good it does in
everyday life vastly our weights the wrong that is rare and isolated to many people who were
already a ticking time bomb. In argument with this idea that violent video games result in evil
behavior many corporations have done surveys testing this idea, in summery the evidence points
that instead most kids will actually realize what is wrong and right in both the video game and
real world and will only use the video game to experiment with the fictional world and to escape
their own world. Violence is described, by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as, the use of
physical force to harm someone, to damage property, etc. Because of this definition and the
absence of physical harm in video games it is easily said that video games cannot be defined as
Violent because it does not result in physical harm, property damage, or even mental harm to
those around, in, or near the field of action.
Video games are a good outlet for people who do not wish to be violent in real life but
still want to relieve any stress or anger that they have. Personally, I use video games to escape
from the anger and stress that I bear in real life. Growing up, I was never big into video games,
and I have always struggled with controlling my anger, because of this I have used violence and
aggression as a way to relieve my stress and anger. At first I would use sports, but occasionally if
I hadnt had time to do any exercise I would have outbursts of violence, and it was usually being
directed at my brothers, and family, as a result it created a barrier between us and I really regret
it. However, a few years ago I started using video games in the place of sports, and ever since
then my anger problems have been much more controlled and I no longer feel the need to turn to
violence.

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On many different occasions, there have been court cases regarding the issue of video
games, violence, and the correlation between the two. These situations are very difficult to
handle; and have resulted in certain cases making it to the U. S. Supreme Court. In response to
these court rulings there is currently a rating system that all games are required to go through
before they can be sold. Video Game Software companies argue that doing this is an
infringement of free speech. As well as many studies have started on the correlation between
video games and violence. So far most of these studies have come back with results that are
inconclusive, and state that video games are not necessarily bad or good. However, they do claim
that video games may teach people things (pertaining to violence and aggression) that they had
not previously known, and that they can affect human behavior which corresponds to the
fictional world and its consequences.
In conclusion, although it is not conclusive about the results of video game violence it
can be said that video games make a huge impact on the 21st century and whether we like it or
not, it is a huge company and it is here to stay. It is proven that video games effect the feelings of
humanity and reflect, not only the bad parts, but also what we can change and the amazing
advancements we have accomplished as humanity and a collective group. Because of these great
feats, and video games being one of them, I think that the actions and consequences of video
games are just another part of what will make the world our world, and in the end will result in a
great thing that will again change the world as we know it. This being said, the best way to
support your own personal belief in this subject is to either buy all the video game and electrical
equipment you can to monetarily support what you believe in and on the opposite side of the
equation if you disagree with everything that is stated above, have fun trying to find a way to
boycott the video game world you live in without going Amish.

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Works Cited
Norcia, Andrea. "Violent Video Games & Aggressive Behaviors." Violent Video Games.
American Psychological Association, 1 June 2014. Web. 17 Apr. 2016.
Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2016.
Tillich, Paul. "The Definition of Religion." The Definition of Religion. Philip A. Pecorino, 2001.
Web. 17 Apr. 2016.