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?

[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.