The argument as to whether video games are good or not is perhaps one of the hottest debates today. There are smart, well-educated, well-meaning people on each side of the debate.
As a non-gamer, I have an interesting perspective bring to the discussion – I’m a non-gamer who views video games favorably. Why? Allow me to explain.
Probably the largest complaint against video games is that they encourage violence. Perhaps they do. But I think that they are only a part of the picture. Playing a shooting game on your computer does not and can not by itself create a murderer. There are many other factors involved. In my experience, the gamers that I know are certainly not violent.
I believe that playing violent video games may increase violence only if and when other factors are present. I feel the same about violent movies, which I generally do not mind. Take, for example, Gladiator or The Patriot, both R rated for violence. After watching those movies, I had an increased hatred of un-needed violence. They did not make me violent. Instead, they re-enforced my belief that cruelty is wrong, and violence should be avoided if possible.
Another...