| ument as to whether video games are good or not is | | | | feel the same about violent movies, which I generally |
| perhaps one of the hottest debates today. There are | | | | do not mind. Take, for example, Gladiator or The |
| smart, well-educated, well-meaning people on each | | | | Patriot, both R rated for violence. After watching those |
| side of the debate. | | | | movies, I had an increased hatred of un-needed |
| As a non-gamer, I have an interesting perspective | | | | violence. They did not make me violent. Instead, they |
| bring to the discussion - I'm a non-gamer who views | | | | re-enforced my belief that cruelty is wrong, and |
| video games favorably. Why? Allow me to explain. | | | | violence should be avoided if possible. |
| Probably the largest complaint against video games is | | | | Another argument against computer and video games |
| that they encourage violence. Perhaps they do. But I | | | | is that they are sedentary. Kids who play them often |
| think that they are only a part of the picture. Playing a | | | | end up overweight, lazy, and unskilled in other ares of |
| shooting game on your computer does not and can | | | | life. Well, that may have some truth in it, but that can |
| not by itself create a murderer. There are many other | | | | be said about lot's of things - including a desk job! I |
| factors involved. In my experience, the gamers that I | | | | believe that the key is balance and moderation. Just as |
| know are certainly not violent. | | | | running marathon every other day would be |
| I believe that playing violent video games may increase | | | | detrimental to your health, so is playing too many video |
| violence only if and when other factors are present. I | | | | games. |