I win!

The other day my grandson gleefully suggested that his mother smash their car into the truck in front of them.....because you get lots of points for trucks.  Apparently there is some kid's game that my grandson likes which gives you points for crashing into other cars.  It is hard to imagine what this game is teaching beyond the idea that crashing is fun.  This is, of course, until you own the car and the crash is real and the insurance goes up. [BTW, after this episode, the game has disappeared from their home.]

My idea of a video game is beweled blitz, or tetras, or candy crush.  No one is shooting, smashing, destroying anyone or anything.  No one is declared supreme winner in the end.

But, of course, that makes me the exception.  Looking at the statistics of the number of games sold, and the mix of violence based games v. the 'lame' games that I like to play, well, I am clearly in the minority.  I see some of the advertising for the new games and I wonder what it does to our minds to play such games all the time.

Somehow it only makes sense to me that practicing 'defeating' the 'enemy' with swords and guns and other imaginative weapons forms thought patterns.  Violent solutions to 'problems' encountered are at the core of the action, and the more efficient one gets at destroying the other, the further one advances in the game.  It certainly is a satisfying outlet for anyone being bullied, right?

This just simply can't be a good thing for young minds which are still learning values and social skills.  This can't be a good thing for young people who too easily fail to recognize the potential consequences of actions.  Furthermore, since these games are loved by 20 and 30 somethings, it can't be good for the development of matue responsible engaged citizens.

It seems so obvious that American society is enfused with violent solutions to problems.  From our history of conquering this land, to the gun-slinging take over of the wild west, to our unique brand of slavery,  to our love of police dramas with more violence than is really necessary, even to our love of the game of football (which you all know I love, but which at its heart, is a violent game), we are comfortable with violence.

Yes, we believe violence is only justified when used as a solution for the common good:  police, military, football for entertainment.  Yet we have become accustomed to seeing these images (go back and watch an old Columbo episode.  There is so little 'action', so little gunfire when compared to today's Blue Bloods.)  But violence for entertainment teaches another lesson altogether.

 I can't help but believe that this naturally spills over into all those areas where disgruntled folks want to be heard.  They will prove their point, or get their payback, or just for once in their lives, win!  They will support a cause, make a political statement, act out their own insecurities or mental illnesses.

In the end, all society pays the price.

I will watch football this weekend, but I am wondering if that isn't a part of the problem.  I am wondering if banning violent video games isn't a part of the solution.  I am wondering what we need to do at the core of our society to move away from violence and build people of peace.  I wonder.