Decomposing brain tissue
A recent study from Birmingham University, published in the Lancet, suggests that there is a “small but significant” short-term risk of violent imagery in computer games and on TV increasing the risk of young boys becoming aggressive or emotionally disturbed.
The effect is less pronounced with older children, and over the long term. The authors urge that other environmental factors be taken into account, and conclude that “There is an urgent need for parents and policy makers to take an educational rather than a censorial approach” (The Independent)
John Beyer, however, knows better:
It is common sense really.
If children are watching violence on TV and playing violent computer games, it is not surprising they become aggressive.
I think the link is especially strong with video games. Children become isolated from the world when they play these games, some of which give you extra points for inflicting more pain, and don’t know right from wrong.
The games literally rot their brains.
There you have it. Rather than base his opinion on an overview of the available research, Mr Beyer prefers to rely on his own “common sense”. This approach leads him to conclude that playing video games causes the decomposition of brain tissue. If true, this would lead us here at mediawatchwatch to suspect that John spends every waking minute playing Grand Theft Auto. When he’s not providing quotes for lazy journalists, that is.
Of course John Beyer has rushed to give a quote on these findings. Anything which he sees as backing up his arguments that the media is corrupting us and our kids is fuel for his fire.
I played violent video games when I was a teenager and they didn’t do me any harm. The fuss over violent imagery on screen is greatly exagerated by people like John Beyer because it suits their arguments and furthers their pro censorship campaigns.
Don’t knock common sense – it’s what tells me that despite the existance of a huge body of evidence to the contrary, John Beyer almost certainly likes to spend his Saturday nights on his hands and knees in the gents’ toilets of clubs with names like “The Bear Pit”.
The first research on this was done on people watching boxing matches, and yes they do appear to be more agressive afterwards. Should we ban Boxing( maybe, but not for this reason), should we ban everything and anything that includes violence, to protect teenager. If we do, can we start with the Bible and Koran, it is obvious to me these cause many young people to engage in violence.