Killing the good guy? (ethics, school, gun, rifle)

[fisheye]

Year ago, when our video games first came out, there were penalties for killing the good guys. With some games you would simply loose one of your three lives or the game would be over. In some games it was simply impossible to kill or injure 'good' guys.

With many of the newer video games there is no distinction between good or evil. Even in the game play some try not to penalize players for making the 'wrong' choice. Even the 'right' choices are not clear winners.

My question is; Is this hurting society? Are we spawning real monsters and these games have only added to their delusions?

The recent Colorado shooter was brilliant – but delusional. Of course we still have not heard his motive or if he even played video games. From time to time I do not think it is wrong to question whether or not these changes have hurt or helped us.

I think that it would also be appropriate to question our movies, TV and our music.

[GregW]

I believe video games are a very effective teaching tool. Unfortunately most violent games teach that violence does not hurt. Old fashioned school yard fights taught at least that much.

[fisheye]

Originally Posted by GregW

I believe video games are a very effective teaching tool. Unfortunately most violent games teach that violence does not hurt. Old fashioned school yard fights taught at least that much.

I agree that the school yard also taught pain. We had a phys-ed teacher that used to grab us (when he caught us fighting) and then he made us strap on 20 ounce boxing gloves. He then refereed as we continued to fight with the 20 ounce gloves. I don't know if you ever fought with 20 ounce gloves? It takes all the fight out of you in a hurry. Usually nobody would get hurt and we would end up as friends.

I don't like today's villains that do not die or get hurt. That is not real life. Nobody has five thousand rounds thrown at them and walks away. Most people do not have miraculous comebacks - after they have the feathers knocked out. Real life just doesn’t work that way. I have to wonder if there are some that feel that they are invincible – because of the movies?

I graduated from HS in 1964. I remember having the old nuke drills in the 1950's. I also shot on our HS rifle team for my last four years – I carried my gun to school on the school bus. I never fantasied about using my gun on anybody in school – not even the bullies. The few fantasies that I did have were about protecting our school and others if the Russians ever invaded. We still had heroes back then.

I enjoy paying video games – even though I am now and old fart. I just worry about the ethics and morals that we teach our young. Should we teach our young that the villains win or never get punished?