Could THIS videogame cause violence? Options

[*mipadi*]

Links to a bloody new Flash videogame called Border Patrol, whose object is to kill as many illegal immigrants as possible, are making the rounds through e-mail forwards. The game, which comes at a time when U.S. leaders are working to revive a sweeping immigration bill in the Senate, encourages players to kill targets such as a "Mexican nationalist," "drug smuggler" and "breeder" (a pregnant woman with two small children) "at any cost." When a target is killed, blood splatters on the screen. "It's violent and unnecessarily hurtful," says Jack Thompson, a lobbyist against violence in videogames. "We should use public-nuisance laws to shut down this game because it poses a clear and present danger to an entire class of people. Illegal immigration is a real problem, but this game only coarsens that debate."

The game's origin is unknown, but it's been popping up recently on a number of Web sites. "I certainly defend the game," says self-described white supremacist Tom Metzger. "I told a Mexican activist that he better be happy that we're just playing a game on a computer, because the temper of thousands ... is reaching the boiling point." The U.S. Border Patrol has been quick to distance itself from the game. Todd Fraser, a Border Patrol spokesman, says: "The Border Patrol does not condone or encourage violence." Neither should anyone else.[1]

I agree with attempting to use public-nuisance laws to shut down this sort of game. Say what you want about violent videogames—I can easily see this game encouraging violence against immigrants, illegal or legal. What do you think? Could this game incite violence against immigrants?

[Spirited Away]

If any other violent videogames (VVG) can incite violence in players, then this one certainly can. However, the opposite can be said. If VVG cannot incite violence, then this one shouldn't either. I stand that VVG will make the situation worst for immigrants. Though, GTA posses a threat to a class of people as well, but I still see it circulation. So most likely, this lobby is for moot.

[*mipadi*]

I don't think this is the same class as other violent videogames. It's one thing to run around and shoot up aliens, or Russian Spetznaz commandos, or something like that; that doesn't always map from virtual life to real life. But targeting ordinary immigrants does provide a very good mapping from a game to real life. It's not far-fetched to believe that a person who is willing to shoot up immigrants in a game on the Internet might also be willing to do so in real life. The game doesn't draw a distinct line between virtual reality and reality.

[NoSex]

From the description alone, the game seems far less "realistic" than GTA or any other number of crime based video games. So, its realism is a trumped issue. But, even if it were just as realistic or more realistic than this game, I still can't imagine what exactly that would have to do with inciting real life violence. Sane persons, who aren't already plotting to kill other people, do not mistake video game violence - no matter how realistic - for real life violence. At the same time, sane persons will not imagine that the act of gunning someone down in a video game would be equivalent to the same act in real life. Just because they think it's alright to do so in a game, doesn't mean that they will think the same in real life.

I don't see how this game has any more influence on a violent nature than any other video game which portrays realistic violence. Nor do I see how it would have any more influence than a great number of television shows and movies realeased and seen by millions on a regular basis. I don't exactly see how this game is a special case.

Generally, I don't believe games can cause violence that isn't already bound to happen. So, no, I don't believe this came could cause violence either.

[*mipadi*]

It's pretty clear how this is different from many videogames, or a television show. It's directly interacting with violence on a level that is very true to life. I don't mean to say that it will turn ordinary people into killers, but it's pretty clear how a person with already violent tendencies towards immigrants will see this game and think that it's acceptable to maim or even kill immigrants. The game sends a message that such violence is tolerated or even encouraged in our society, which acts as justification to the player who already has such inclinations. It says that there are people like him who find violence towards immigrants an acceptable expression of hatred, and it normalizes such hatred in such a way that the expression of it is deemed acceptable or even encouraged.

[NoSex]

Such an argument could be made against nearly any minority expression of violence against any party in any kind of way. Still, violent games, movies, books, songs, and or shows have not yet, insofar as my knowledge reaches, been shown to cause an increase in violence in its audience. The game may be offensive, but I don't believe it is anything greater.

You said:

but it's pretty clear how a person with already violent tendencies towards immigrants will see this game and think that it's acceptable to maim or even kill immigrants.

Isn't this a self defeating argument? If the person already has violent tendencies towards immigrants, what is the significance of the game itself? Said person would already commit violence towards immigrants - video game or no video game.

I mean, aren't you trying to prove that the game alone could be a catalyst to violence? Otherwise, I don't see how we could stop the distribution or production of said games given freedom of speech.

You also said:

The game sends a message that such violence is tolerated or even encouraged in our society

I don't see how the game sends that message at all. It's a game, created by certain indivudials nonetheless, for christ's sake. I don't even think we could know for sure whether or not its creater would tolerate or encourage such violence, seeing as it is just a video game.

[Simba]

I can see how this game would seem to be more likely to cause violence than say, Medal of Honor. This video game is about current events and conflicts today.

[waccoon]

I think you have to play it to judge.

http://www.resist.com/racistgames/playbord...orderpatrol.htm

It's not so much the gameplay, Capulong, but the idea it's trying to convey.

[chasingvictory]

they run to fast to shoot. but i think its a little messed up on how they can do that to a certain nationality. but anyways, i don't think it can cause violence unless your one of those crazy people.

[iROCKYOURSOCKS]

i think this game is hecka racist only dealing with a certain group and it really made me mad because i was born here and i know people who come here to the U.S not to do harm but to try and help thier families out in Mexico. STUPID GAME! (throws rock and runs away)

[flc]

That's terrible. Like, really terrible. The creators of that game should be shot. Of course, I joke.

I have a simple answer, I don't think any games cause violence. It's all in your personality.

[Spirited Away]

I don't think this is the same class as other violent videogames. It's one thing to run around and shoot up aliens, or Russian Spetznaz commandos, or something like that; that doesn't always map from virtual life to real life. But targeting ordinary immigrants does provide a very good mapping from a game to real life. It's not far-fetched to believe that a person who is willing to shoot up immigrants in a game on the Internet might also be willing to do so in real life. The game doesn't draw a distinct line between virtual reality and reality.

GTA condones rape andmurder of prostitutes, which is violence against a class of people; that's why I brought it up. GTA just have better graphics and have more options to perform violence.

While I agree that it's not at all too far-fetched to believe that some nut-case will reenact the morbidty of these games, I don't think that anyone can do much about it... unfortunately.

[magicfann]

i hate people that say video games cause violence
anyone go ahead and pm smoogrish and ask her if i've done anything ridiculously violent in the 3 years shes known me and the 9 years i've been playing video games

hey guess what? im not violent

good game noobs, i play cs 1.6 which is a M-rated (mature) game and is meant for those who are 17 years of age and above

and im almost 14 years old and think getting a headshot from halfway across a map is "cool"

gg, im not violent all of u stafoo and go drink coffee and cry in corners u emo kids

[flc]

gg, im not violent all of u stafoo and go drink coffee and cry in corners u emo kids

Umm..what?

How are we emo?

[SarahxJoy]

i hate people that say video games cause violence
anyone go ahead and pm smoogrish and ask her if i've done anything ridiculously violent in the 3 years shes known me and the 9 years i've been playing video games

hey guess what? im not violent

good game noobs, i play cs 1.6 which is a M-rated (mature) game and is meant for those who are 17 years of age and above

and im almost 14 years old and think getting a headshot from halfway across a map is "cool"

gg, im not violent all of u stafoo and go drink coffee and cry in corners u emo kids

But unfortunately not everyone is like you.

Just because you're not a violent person who isn't as easily influenced by video games enough to go out and actually mimick the game, doesn't mean that there aren't other people out there who will.

And furthermore, that game bothers me because it does coincide with events and controversies that are taking place today. It's a real problem and I don't think it should be mocked by someone who created the game and those who enjoy playing it.

I don't like the message it sends.

[*mipadi*]

I've been holding off responding in this thread until I dug up some research on the issue. I spoke to a friend of mine today, who holds a bachelor's degree in pyschology, and has participated in pyschological research. She agreed that the nature of this specific game would trigger violence in persons who already have hatred towards immigrants, because, as I suggested, it sends the message that there are others with hatred towards immigrants; thus, such behavior is "normal" and is allowed or even encouraged within our society.

The effects of violence in videogames and other media is a contested area, but a lot of research suggests that violent videogames do encourage violent behavior. Playing violent videogames does increase physiological arousal, and increases violent thoughts and emotions—in not only young children, but college-age students as well.[1] It can, of course, be argued that violent videogames are more often played by those with violent tendencies; while this is true, it does not mean that the predisposition towards violence is the only or dominant cause of the violence.[2]

My problem with this specific game is that it unveils a dark part of our society: That violence is an acceptable or even encouraged behavior towards those who are "different".

Isn't this a self defeating argument? If the person already has violent tendencies towards immigrants, what is the significance of the game itself? Said person would already commit violence towards immigrants - video game or no video game.

It's not self-defeating. Just because one is predisposed towards violence, does not mean one will commit said violence. It's much like genetics: Even if one's family has a history of cancer, it still takes an environmental trigger to cause such cancer. Anyone with experience in the field of psychology will attest to the fact that most behavior requires a catalyst. I am suggesting that this type of videogame is the catalyst for motivating the described violent behavior.

[*Uronacid*]

i don't think violence is the issue in this game... i think its more a racial issue than anything else... i mean, if they had you shooting terrorists wearing body armor... no-one would really care... even if it were just as bloody

[chasingvictory]

I think you have to play it to judge.

http://www.resist.com/racistgames/playbord...orderpatrol.htm

It's not so much the gameplay, Capulong, but the idea it's trying to convey.

i just checked out that webstie... its a racist website.. its called W.A.R "white aryan race".... it jokes/hates on races other than white people

[juliar]

I think the problem with comparing GTA with this game is that GTA was a videogame that you had to BUY. It was clearly marked with a rating that many parents would probably be concerned about and would control. This game is drawn to appeal to kids and is also available, for free, on the internet. This makes it more readily accessible to kids, who, as mipadi mentioned, are easily affected by videogames and the sort.

However, I think it would cause more racism than violence. I just tried playing the game, and all of these people are mexicans. The game refers to them as "wetbacks", "Paco", etc. But those who already have strong opinions against mexicans, or "wetbacks" as they call them, and are thinking about doing something about it may be encouraged to do so by this game.

Edit: Apparently this site has alot of other games that can potentially cause violence. There's "SHOOT THE FAGS BEFORE THEY RAPE YOU!" , "Kaboom! The SUICIDE BOMBING GAME." "Eddie Murphy in AFRICAN DETROIT COP" and a few others. In addition to giving people a twisted view of race, games like this are encouraging racism and encouraging violence.