Wednesday, 14 October 2009

• Violent Video Games: What's the Benefit?

  Halo (3 ODST) is the game to play these days. Next to Halo are games such as Call of Duty, Gears of War, Day of Defeat, Modern Warfare, Left 4 Dead, MAG, Singularity, Grand Theft Auto, Splinter Cell, and anything by Rainbow Six. As a recent college graduate who has worked with teenagers in youth groups, it is clear to me that the most beloved games of young people in the United States are the violent ones. Nobody plays NintenDogs or Cooking Mama.
  
  As someone who adheres to the nonviolent lifestyle I refuse to play such games and often speak against them. I’ll be honest and say that I have (in the past) watched friends play these games and talked comical trash for them over X-Box live and there were even times when I played some of these games. I appreciate zombie killing even though I often feel I shouldn’t and I occasionally play Castle Crashers. I’m not perfect. Early in college I got pumped for a sweet head-shot on a Nazi soldier while playing Day of Defeat online but now the cheer “BOOM! Head-shot!” breaks my heart.
  
  There is a lot of argument is all sorts of social circles as to how these games affect the player. Nobody can say that the games are not influential. Everything we involve ourselves with influences us to some degree. My friend’s brother went into the marines without ever having held a real gun and yet he was a special operations sniper right away. He said his only experience with this type of hand eye coordination was playing Halo. Of course this isn’t the story of every gamer or sniper but it’s a true story.
  
  My beef with these games is thick. These games are often constructed in such a way that the player is set against an enemy who is supposed to seem less than human or more evil than the player. Often the enemy is dressed as a Nazi, Communist, zombie, or alien. Dehumanizing enemies is necessary to convince people that killing them is not dishonorable. WWI and II posters convinced the U.S. of this. It’s a lie. Unfortunately some of these games consist of the gamer being a criminal who kills innocent people on the street (GTA). Not only that but these games glorify the idea of warfare. If there is communism what is the answer? Kill them. What about Nazis? Kill them. Zombies? Kill them. Aliens? Kill them. These games reinforce the philosophy that redemptive violence exists and they prepare our youth to carry out the philosophy in attitude and practical terms. There are a plethora of reasons I dislike these games (desensitization and destruction of good character are two) but I digress.
  
  In the movie Toys, Robin Williams’ father (who owns a toy factory) dies and leaves the company to his brother (a military man). The brother changes the company by bringing in a dark security force and begins to create war toys to train the youth for war so that the United States can become more powerful in weaponry and soldiers. As the new owner discusses his vision with his son he speaks of violent video games saying, “It’s warfare without accountability!” He’s right.
  
  If there are two things we don’t want to foster in our children it is warfare and a lack of accountability. Think of the ideal world. What could possibly be a threat to it? A lack of accountability and war are definitely two good answers. The typical argument from people is “It’s just a game. It’s not real.” They’re right. It is a game and it is not reality. It is a simulation of reality. Often times it is a very realistic and graphic simulation of real warfare. Talk to any military person who has shot or stabbed someone to death and ask them if they want to simulate that reality. If the games included a virtual reality feature in which the player experience post-traumatic-stress would the games still be popular? Doubtful.
  
  Why would we desire to simulate killing other humans (or aliens or zombies)? What’s wrong with us when we reach the point of finding fun in mock killings? What is right about us encouraging our youth to participate in such activity? Nobody hopes their child grows up to kill (whether it is for honorable or dishonorable reasons) so why let them simulate such impure activity? I don’t question the video games as much as I question our health as people. I have to ask Christian gamers why you would spend time imitating killing others when you are to be trained in self-sacrifice and imitating Christ.
  
  I’m less concerned with the affect of these games and more concerned with the desire for these games. I do not understand why any person, especially someone following Jesus Christ would desire to play these games. I’m usually met with answers like “it is fun” or “I can be a witness there.” The first answer is sad and the second is off target. I simply don’t see the benefit of these games.
  
  Philippians 4:8
  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
  
  For us it is not permissible even to see or to hear of murder. - Minucius Felix
  
  We ourselves were well conversant with war, murder, and everything evil, but all of us throughout the whole wide earth have traded in our weapons of war. We have exchanged our swords for plowshares, our spears for farm tools. Now we cultivate the fear of G-dm justice, kindness to men, faith, and the expectation of the future given to us by the Father himself through the crucified one… -Justin, Dialogue with Trypho
  
  We must then offer no resistance. He never wanted us to imitate the wicked. Rather, he challenged us to lead everyone away from shamefulness and pleasure in evil by patience and kindness. We can in fact show that many who were once among you have been transformed in this way. –Justin, first Apology
  
  What is your opinion on violent video games?  Do you think Christians should avoid them? 
  

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