This debate is older than computer games. I am willing to bet the ancient greeks complained about something or the other being the cause of youth behaving badly. Another thing is, whenever I read the words "correlation" and "proves" or any derivatives thereof, I think of
http://tylervigen.com/spurious-correlations

Another common factor in violent video games is that the protagonist is in good physical shape capable of high levels of physical activity. If we are to believe that violent video games have such a compelling influence on young people, would we not expect to see an increase in physical fitness in young people who play violent video games?

I don't think the evidence supports this either.

Since we have a large number people in our history who have never played violent video games but have become mass murderers; and we have an even larger number of people who do play violent video games and do not become mass murders, I am having a hard time establishing causality between playing violent video games and becoming a mass murderer.

There might be a correlation. Correlation is usefull, but it should never be confused with causality.

I am only one data point but I have spent major parts of my life

1. Playing violent video games
2. Watching violent movies and TV shows
3. Being in the military learning how to use weapons effectively
4. Reading violent fiction and non-fiction books
5. Hunted various animals that did nothing to threaten me
6. Have a multitude of different types of weapons available to me and completely under my control.

After all this and being well into my 50's, I still don't have any interest or inclinations to become a mass murderer or even a single victim murderer.

I really have a hard time believing that I am, in any way, unique in this.

This is the exact reason I stick to My Little Pony games and the like.

Erm.. perhaps not the best example to use. :O:

https://aeg586.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/bronie.jpg

The Subsim crib cam strikes again

I believe the common factor in violent murder is oxygen. EVERY SINGLE MURDERER was breathing oxygen at the time of and during the time leading up to his violent act. It's an undeniable fact that if their oxygen were taken away a mere four or five minutes before they committed their heinous act, it NEVER would have happened.

We need to register oxygen and we'd have a handle on the problem. Perhaps we could keep a list of oxygen abusers and scrutinize them 24 hours a day to prevent their inevitable crimes.

You're not but as you said you are just one data point out of what by now must be billions of data points. Eric Harris and Dylan Kleebold were just data points too and I don't think they were unique either. Now while I don't believe that violent video games and movies were what made them into monsters I do think they provide a means for those monsters to visualize the crimes they were planning to commit.

Who knew Dowly had hair?

@Jim, the stuff of Dowly's head, that's called "hair.":up::Kaleun_Cheers::k_confused:

It's too late, they're everywhere...

https://kpbs.media.clients.ellington...87b3616fc57cd3

bottom line: no computers necessary