Video Games and Bullying

     Over the relatively short history of video games there has also been some controversy between children and parents regarding the addictive qualities that video games seem to possess. However, in more recent years a new debate has come to the forefront of the video game world of whether or not video games can actually lead to children becoming more violent. When video games first started to become popular the most violent thing that you could possibly do was shoot at some flying rocks with a triangle that some what resembled a space ship. Since then video games have become highly developed and complex. They now include blood and gore that seems so realistic that, to someone who doesn't know any better, it could almost be considered to be real. So as a result is this causing children who play these games to become more violent?

     I read an article on this controversial topic that was published by the Washington Post. The article explained that a study that had been done by Simmons College on children for ages 7 - 15 who play violent video games believe that some of the forms of violence that they are exposed to are "acceptable or even right." The study claims that this is the result of a lack of perspective of the victims in the games. In addition the study also found that children who are of the age 7 to 12 often play video games that are of the M rating. In conclusion, is it really the video games fault that some children are becoming more accepting of violence; or is the fault of the irresponsible parents who willingly will buy games for their children that are ratted for a mature audience?