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?

[*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.