A discussion of recent research:

https://fortune.com/2023/05/02/stanford-researchers-scoured-every-reputable-study-link-between-video-games-gun-violence-politics-mental-health-dupee-thvar-vasan/

The implications of violent video games are grossly underestimated. Homicides resulting from violent video games should be chronicled and accounted for within the FBI’s Unified Crime Reporting. So much idle time...so little introspection. Your thoughts? — Steven P Clum

It doesn't follow the main cause of homicides at all. Blaming video-games is a 'smokescreen' of the real problem here: the easy access to weapons.

You know, violent video games exist worldwide, but curiously, the shootings in schools happen on a large scale in the USA. The shootings or homicides in the USA (note: I use this country as an example because you addressed the FBI, so I guess you are American), are not mainly caused because a teenager plays Grand Theft Auto but by the habit of being surrounded by weapons.

In some parts of the world, we understand that Call of Duty is fictional, and even most of the weapons don't even exist in our countries. But it is crazy how you can purchase a Glock as well as if you buy some yogurt or beer. Can you see the problem now?

According to the point of 'violent games leading people to act violently', watching films like a clockwork orange, would do the same effect. Right?

Watching a film is hardly interactive. We have no control over the movie that we are watching. Tell me, are you a video gamer? How many hours a day or week? How does that amount of time compare to the time you give as an objective observer/participant of the world around you? Is it proportionate? You can be either defensive about these questions, or introspective. Peace!

The OP is a not unreasonable first glance proposition that many, many folks have made repeatedly over time. As it happens when investigated beyond a layperson's first glance (as wonderer1 documented) it turns out to be an unsubstantiated idea.

Old news.

Mass shootings by young men are likely a consequence of a kind of social alienation, or a shit life syndrome. Just watch interviews with Trump conspiracy theorists and you'd get a feeling how totally fucked up a large proportion of Americans are. The hate, fear, despair, deluded paranoia is palpable. Add in the oceanic supply of guns and no wonder it happens so often.

If anything, violent video games might provide an outlet, an occupation of otherwise idle time. Take away violent video games and idle hands my find worse things to do in our shit world.

Very insightful. Thanks for the insight. The feedback was as cynical as it was foreboding. Denial is, indeed, a defense mechanism.

If anything, violent video games might provide an outlet, an occupation of otherwise idle time. Take away violent video games and idle hands my find worse things to do in our shit world. — Nils Loc

Indeed. Which is why some also say sport is a sublimation for aggression.

Hence George Orwell's famous observation:

Serious sport has nothing to do with fair play. It is bound up with hatred, jealousy, boastfulness, disregard of all rules and sadistic pleasure in witnessing violence: in other words it is war minus the shooting.

The implications of violent video games are grossly underestimated. — Steven P Clum

Video games in America are the same as everywhere else. If their implications would be grossly underestimated, then there ought to be more shootings in other countries, which don't have the mass shootings, but do have the same video games.

On this thread, I'm not going to make a for-or-against decision on the violent video games and other forms of violent entertainment. But I want to point out that the OP did qualify its claim as

prolonged and disproportional enough to that of the multi-dimensional world, — Steven P Clum

.

So, at least on that thought alone, we should consider discussing it.

Violence aside, the marketing industry is half a billion a year revenue. Why there's so much money involved in marketing and advertisement? It's because it works. People can be manipulated by images, symbols, and persuasion to act and make decisions to purchase, use, idolize, believe in a certain product or person.

Now, you might argue that "well, food choices in advertisement and marketing are not like selling violence. People are aware that food is good. And people are aware that violence is bad. So, they're not going to make a stupid decision to act out the violence they've been fed through video games". Behavioral and psychological manipulation works equally on all behaviors. Not just the good ones. Conditioning does not discriminate.

You know, violent video games exist worldwide, but curiously, the shootings in schools happen on a large scale in the USA. — javi2541997

Video games in America are the same as everywhere else. If their implications would be grossly underestimated, then there ought to be more shootings in other countries, which don't have the mass shootings, but do have the same video games. — ssu

It could be the case that while violent video games are not enough on their own to cause school shootings, they do contribute to psychological and social developments which are manifested in school shootings under certain circumstances, in this case the American circumstance of a gun culture. It might be the case that violent video games are doing harm to all societies, but since those societies differ, the effects are not the same and are not equally visible everywhere.

I agree. Violent video games might be a dangerous hobby for teenagers because they contribute to making them more used to violence, but as you said here:

in this case the American circumstance of a gun culture — Jamal

This is the main issue, and I guess @Steven P Clum didn't consider it. He is surprised because the FBI doesn't take into account the eventual danger of playing Grand Theft Auto, but he is (paradoxically) used to a very violent culture such as the possibility of holding and purchasing guns without control. Those video games are just a replication of real life in some parts of the USA.

The U.S. has had a violent gun culture borne from Hollywood's gun glorification much envied by the wanna-be-feared-masses. Most gun related crimes committed in this country use illegally acquired guns. As of 2010 more than 50,000 guns were smuggled into this country every year. Those numbers have exponentially increased in recent years as Biden has opened the borders to human trafficking, drugs and more guns. Now...any more presumptions that would lead you to think that my thoughts are paradoxical? Any more reflexive rationale' that would serve to protect and preserve some bad habits?

Those numbers have exponentially increased in recent years as Biden has opened the borders to human trafficking, drugs and more guns. — Steven P Clum

Don't forget that his son is a crack-addict and a kid-toucher, and Joe Biden covers up for him. It is revealing of the family's ethics, and consequently of people who support that whole circus.

"Violence aside?" Violence IS the point and it is hardly incidental! Honestly....there seems a lot of gamers here desperate to protect their own implications. Engaging in violent video games renders the body comparatively sedentary to the mind. As your mind is satiated by your annihilation of others on the screen, your brain releases endorphins and melatonin. Consequently, you feel good...rewarded. Oh, and there are no REAL consequences to you getting virtually shot. No deterrence! Seems like a logical gateway to get multi-dimensional and include the body for some physical activity and, perhaps, increased stimulation and reward while perpetrating some actual carnage. Whereas myself, (for example) who used to engage in full contact karate back before it was a thing, learned to avoid fighting outside of the ring because I knew first hand the ramifications of giving and receiving a can of whoop a_s. I was as much satiated and humbled from the matches that I lost as those that I won on account of I always reflected and learned from both experiences. Peace!

Mass shooting is a suicidal expression of resentment. Many of these kids probably anticipate their own death by self-infliction or law enforcement. The life circumstances that may lead to such an event are complex, multidimensional. Video game violence may play a role but it can't be any less than visual film, if these two types of media are self-reinforcing. You'll also have to include the social contagion effect of these shootings as covered by the media.

Goethe's Sorrows of Young Werther was attributed to cause copycat suicides after it was published in 1774. This was a book. Film is much easier to consume by comparison.

In my experience, online PvP games are more addictive with respect to psychological highs and lows. Competitors can send mean/inciting rage bait messages, which can stoke resentment. It's possible that sometimes the resentment could trigger an event out of the blue. But it's likely other life circumstances are implicated.

Violent video games are likely the ethereal pebble that breaks the camel's back. The total amount of pebbles, contributing to the event, is what counts. Violent video games may be one pebble, or a piece of sand, among many other weighty contributors.

Consequently, you feel good...rewarded. Oh, and there are no REAL consequences to you getting virtually shot. No deterrence! Seems like a logical gateway to get multi-dimensional and include the body for some physical activity and, perhaps, increased stimulation and reward while perpetrating some actual carnage. — Steven P Clum

I can only find studies on children, young children on violent video games. How and when they act out this gaming in actuality is something I'm not sure about. But you made a great point below:

Whereas myself, (for example) who used to engage in full contact karate back before it was a thing, learned to avoid fighting outside of the ring because I knew first hand the ramifications of giving and receiving a can of whoop a_s. I was as much satiated and humbled from the matches that I lost as those that I won on account of I always reflected and learned from both experiences. Peace! — Steven P Clum

In the live sports of karate, with rules in place and guidance provided by the organizers, you are actually trained not just the actual physical contact but the rules surrounding the activity. There is something that serves as a safety gate.

Most gun related crimes committed in this country use illegally acquired guns. As of 2010 more than 50,000 guns were smuggled into this country every year. — Steven P Clum

There’s always more than one side to every story.

Ask a cop on the beat how criminals get guns and you're likely to hear this hard boiled response: "They steal them." But this street wisdom is wrong, according to one frustrated Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) agent who is tired of battling this popular misconception.An expert on crime gun patterns, ATF agent Jay Wachtel says that most guns used in crimes are not stolen out of private gun owners' homes and cars. "Stolen guns account for only about 10% to 15% of guns used in crimes," Wachtel said. Because when they want guns they want them immediately the wait is usually too long for a weapon to be stolen and find its way to a criminal.

Don't forget that his son is a crack-addict and a kid-toucher, and Joe Biden covers up for him. It is revealing of the family's ethics, and consequently of people who support that whole circus. — Lionino

Or perhaps it is more revealing of your susceptibility to sensationalistic ‘news’ reporting, the circus you’re supporting by repeating their garbage.

I think that's a little misleading from Mr. Watchel. It is true that the majority of 'illegal' gun crime isn't committed with guns stolen by that criminal but guns stolen by another criminal, whos crime is to sell the stolen gun/s.

So, it's a two-layer claim that most guns used in crime are stolen - and it seems to be pretty much an infallible conclusion. Where else are they coming from? Are all these gang-bangers previously license holders that let it lapse and now illegally carry?

Hunter Biden is inarguably a crack addict, though?

Or perhaps it is more revealing of your susceptibility to sensationalistic ‘news’ reporting, the circus you’re supporting by repeating their garbage. — Joshs

Right, pictures of a guy smoking crack are sensationalistic news.

Hunter Biden is inarguably a crack addict, though? — AmadeusD

You don't get it. It is actually the dark web AI deep fake Russian hackers from China sending fake news to Alex Jones.

But the funnier part is Hunter sending texts to Joe asking for money because he messed up again. I genuinely feel bad for Joe, despite supporting invasions of the Middle East and other unethical things, he comes across as a good dad that really loves his son, and his advanced age surely stops him from taking a strong stance about his son, a completely lost soul.

You don't get it. It is actually the dark web AI deep fake Russian hackers from China sending fake news to Alex Jones. — Lionino

Ahhhhhhh. That wraps it all up in a neat little package.

Right, pictures of a guy smoking crack are sensationalistic news. — Lionino

No, impugning the ethics of a family you’ve never met shows your eagerness to spread the hyped up gossip spun by the media circus rather than respect the complexities of real families. Although you do redeem yourself a bit when you add that Biden

comes across as a good dad that really loves his son, and his advanced age surely stops him from taking a strong stance about his son, a completely lost soul. — Lionino

I understand that Biden chose to put himself, and thus his family, in the public spotlight, but do we the public have to leer so shamelessly? Arent you a little embarrassed babbling about a stranger’s crack problem? Why don’t you share the skeletons in your own closet with us? I’m sure we’d LOVE to hear about them.

No, impugning the ethics of a family you’ve never met — Joshs

I don't need to personally meet a family to judge their attested actions, that is a ridiculous claim.

you do redeem — Joshs

I don't need to redeem myself when I talk about your pet politician. I see things the way they are, and I say as such.

Arent you a little embarrassed babbling about a stranger’s crack problem? Why don’t you share the skeletons in your own closet with us? I’m sure we’d LOVE to hear about them. — Joshs

Oh, I didn't know I was talking to someone from the Biden family, I really grinded your gears. For one, the skeletons in my closet are not from kids I have touched.

For one, the skeletons in my closet are not from kids I have touched — Lionino

Are you referring to this?

The conservative radio host Wayne Root claimed without evidence in a tweet shared tens of thousands of times that Hunter Biden's laptop contains videos of him sexually abusing Chinese children.

Are you referring to this?

The conservative radio host Wayne Root claimed without evidence in a tweet shared tens of thousands of times that Hunter Biden's laptop contains videos of him sexually abusing Chinese children. — Joshs

No, for me that is called poisoning the swamp, as I have seen no evidence of that.

I am referring to the shirtless picture of Hunter Biden against a metal pole and a small child (looks Southeast Asian) next to him. If we are giving it the benefit of the doubt it could be a very short and young looking Malaysian escort of age; but I don't think so, especially when there are other pictures, though less concrete.