Recently (on Friday 11th December 2009) the Guardian online newspaper raised questions about the effects of violent computer games, and ran the headline of:

‘Do violent computer games turn us into killers‘

Although the piece in the Guardian was a pretty well balanced piece of journalism, and not just the usual scaremongering that the UK press love so much, this is none the less a question that raises heated debate from both corners of the ‘ring’.

The UK press do love sensationalism, especially if it involves fear or crime (in fact, usually both!)

There may well be some form of circumstantial evidence of people being adversely affected by violent computer games or movies, but has a link ever been proved? It is not uncommon for the media to run stories with text like ‘British Teen’s Alleged Killers Copied Horror Movie Scene’ (fox news!) but does this prove that the movie in question ’caused’ the criminals to carry out the act? did it ‘inspire’ their sick behaviour, or would they have committed a similar crime anyway?

Throughout history there have been brutal and tortuous murders, well before the advent of movies and computer games, so surely violent computer games and movies can’t ‘create’ such behaviour, but could they be a partial catalyst for someone whom is ‘on the edge’ of sanity?

What do our readers think? – Can violent computer games ’cause’ or ‘trigger’ such horrors in real life? – Can otherwise ‘normal’ people be driven to such heinous acts JUST be watching horror or violent films – or for that matter by playing computer/video games?


Written by: Suzanna, who runs a website about Local SEO