Which is worse - violent media or alcohol?

[MidnightFlyer]

Hi all,

Many blame today's social problems (the rioting, chavs, fights, drug abuse, prostitution, car jacking) on the rise of violence in video games as a form of common media. Many (allegedly) copy what they see in GTA (which is awesome), as they think that if they can do it in a video game, they can do it in real life.

However, maybe we have looked past what is the true cause here: alcohol. Alcohol destroys families and people's lives so much that the US banned it last century (albeit briefly). maybe the aggressive, threatening nature of the problems comes from alcohol: it damages people's mind to the extent that they do not know what they are doing.

Maybe before we attack Rockstar Games, we should look to Carlsberg and co, maybe their product does more damage than RDR or CoD.

Thanks for reading.

 

[Lampshade]

I honestly don't think video games have anything to do with it, they're just scapegoated because they're a fairly new thing that happened to come along just as Labour decided society could do with a good breaking.

Alcohol has always been a problem (hence the teetotalism movement) but it's not the big one.

 

[WestCoast]

I am not sure but all I will say is that this country seems to have a particularly volatile relationship with alcohol, the continental attitude towards alcohol is quite different, it's not treated as a "forbidden fruit" by young people, since it is normal (and often legal) to buy or drink the stuff at a younger age. Younger kids drink (diluted) wine at the table with meals in France, given by their parents. Buying beer/wine is legal at 16 in Germany, with kids often given small amounts of alcohol by their parents at a younger age. You don't generally see the equivalent of "chavs" hanging on street corners swigging cider.

I am not saying it doesn't do harm in other countries (there will always be addicts), because it does, it's just that the attitude is less "drink to get drunk" and more "drink for leisure". And, of course, there are many, many people who enjoy alcohol in moderation without getting addicted.

I think a lot of people look for something to blame for many things, and it's a case of rights and responsibilities again, and making the right choices.

 

[90019]

Neither.




It's stupid people that cause the problems

 

[Minilad]

Neither.




It's stupid people that cause the problems

Absolutely 100% nail on the head bingo

 

[strange6]

Neither.




It's stupid people that cause the problems

Fully agree, 100 percent

 

[CarterUSM]

Neither.




It's stupid people that cause the problems

Spot on. There's nothing wrong with a nice controlled sporadic intake of booze.

 

[EM2]

If violent video games and alcohol were to blame for society's ills, I'd have spent a very long time in jail by now.

 

[Drsatan]

If violent video games and alcohol were to blame for society's ills, I'd have spent a very long time in jail by now.

Likewise, as a student, I would probably be in prison now for drinking too much alcohol if that was the case.

 

[thefab444]

As someone who doesn't drink alcohol at all, I'm inclined to put the blame on that over computer games. Getting hammered "on the town" seems to be justification to act like a complete prat.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Neither.

It's stupid people that cause the problems

I think that the general widespread use of recreational drugs over the last 20 years, leaving many to then go onto harder drugs with the subsequent problems that then occur, with young women entering into prostitution to raise money to fund their habit and young men becoming involved in burglary and robbery to obtain money for the same reason of habit funding, is a well documented fact that is often quoted by organisations who have the responsibility to deal with these people, both in the prison system and in outside agencies. Drug taking is still prevalent in all the prisons, according to the Prison Officers Association. This unfortunate fact of life today could be another factor to add to the equation being discussed, for the damage caused to society today.

 

[Clip]

people are always looking for something else to blame for the countries problems - be that violent video games - rap music(remember that??) alcohol drugs so on and so forth.

Its themselves who they have to blame. People need to start taking responsibility for their own actions once again and stop looking to blame anything/one but themselves.

 

[passmore]

I think that the general widespread use of recreational drugs over the last 20 years, leaving many to then go onto harder drugs with the subsequent problems that then occur, with young women entering into prostitution to raise money to fund their habit and young men becoming involved in burglary and robbery to obtain money for the same reason of habit funding, is a well documented fact that is often quoted by organisations who have the responsibility to deal with these people, both in the prison system and in outside agencies. Drug taking is still prevalent in all the prisons, according to the Prison Officers Association. This unfortunate fact of life today could be another factor to add to the equation being discussed, for the damage caused to society today.

Whichever country you visit, there is always an underclass to society which are like this. The damage to society may be there but it's certainly not as widespread as some people, including the media, like to make out to be. For every drug taker, there's a responsible good Samaritan around the corner.

The problem is not computer games or alcohol, but in people's admittance to their own personal responsibility. Taking responsibility for one's actions, teaching children responsibilities, is one step in the right direction.

 

[Greenback]

Neither alcohol nor violent games are themselves responsible for the problems on society, but misuse of them both can contribute to them.

It's the culture of our society and the attitudes of those within it that really need to be tackled. Focussing on alcohol, violent games, rap music, drugs or anything else in isolation will not achieve anything.

 

[AlterEgo]

Neither alcohol nor violent games are themselves responsible for the problems on society, but misuse of them both can contribute to them.

That's spot on (my emphasis). There's nothing wrong with watching a Chucky movie, playing GTA or having a drink now and again. Abuse of anything which is intended to be used in moderation almost always leads to further problems.

 

[WestCoast]

That's spot on (my emphasis). There's nothing wrong with watching a Chucky movie, playing GTA or having a drink now and again. Abuse of anything which is intended to be used in moderation almost always leads to further problems.

Correct. The old adage, "everything in moderation" is always the best advice.

 

[350232]

we live in a democracy so people should be allowed to drink as much as they like.

 

[GB]

Sigh

At the risk of taking the bait, you can drink as much as you like. Perhaps you would like to go beyond your own short sightedness and look at the bigger picture.

For the record, "Democracy" does not mean you can do whatever the hell you want, whenever you want and damn everybody else. Thats not how it works.

 

[Hydro]

Violent media and alcohol have provided a many great night in! Though the latter doesn't really help playing the former; try getting a good KD ratio on Black Ops after a skinful.

 

[43021HST]

Violent media and alcohol have provided a many great night in! Though the latter doesn't really help playing the former; try getting a good KD ratio on Black Ops after a skinful.

The only way I can play black ops wothout hurling a controller accross the room is after a few beers.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

For the record, "Democracy" does not mean you can do whatever the hell you want, whenever you want and damn everybody else. Thats not how it works.

Thank you for that clarification....just a shame that you had to make it, to clarify the meaning of democracy to some of our forum members who do not seem to understand the meaning of the word. Is that a reflection of how much attention they paid to lessons when at school. :roll:

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Thank you for that clarification....just a shame that you had to make it, to clarify the meaning of democracy to some of our forum members who do not seem to understand the meaning of the word. Is that a reflection of how much attention they paid to lessons when at school. :roll:

We were never even taught what democracy meant at school hock:

 

[Minilad]

we live in a democracy so people should be allowed to drink as much as they like.

I wanna get dunk every night, puke everywhere and smash a few windows. Maybe even clout someone with a stick. I could even do a spot of drink driving as well

Well its my hooman rights shirley !!

 

[Nonsense]

Alcohol does cause problems, but the societal issues of violent wankerism is more a symptom of emotional damage than a beer too many.

Likewise, failure to spot the satirical value of a game which lets you mug a whore to get your money back, is a symptom of a damaged individual and not a corrupting influence.

Society itself does harm to people and the booze just becomes a medium of expression. Banning something like alcohol is no substitute for a stable childhood, quality education and proper management of expectations. I'm not normally one for social engineering, but serious thought needs to be given to the type of society we want to live in.

 

[yorksrob]

Or have a few jars, get a bit tipsy and go to bed.

I have to say, the description of drunkenness is nonsense. Yeah - every night I go out puking and smashing windows Honest Gov !!!