Do video games cause violence?

[Krauter]

In Soviet Russia, Game shoots YOU

(sorry had to throw that out there )

But seriously, when i was growing up, and even now, playing violent video games never really gave me the message "Hey I can go out and do this stuff too..." I realized, as a person, that I was capable of doing things in a "game-world" or "virtual-world" that I was not permitted to do. I, as a kid drew the line between video gaming and the real world.

Therein, in my opinion lies the problem. Some kids these days are either disturbed, mentally, emotionally, whatever else might be bothering them, that they cannot or will not draw the line between reality and virtual gaming. These people delude themselves to the point where they cannot perceive the distinct differences between the two.

Who is to blame? The kid who was seeking distraction and found someplace he could do whatever he wanted with impunity? The video game developers who created and distributed it? The parents who should know their child enough that they can tell if they are disturbed (not knowing exactly what's wrong with them, but having the feeling that something is off)? Or is it we, the masses, who support these games by buying them and supporting their development?

Just food for thought and my two cents.

Cheers,

Krauter

Edit: Also, where does 'violent' music come into play? Things like Death Metal, "Emo" music, Country (God that stuff can drive a person crazy ), etc? Is it just video games that are a central issue driving our youth to violence? Or is it a combination of many different factors in our society today? (Music, Entertainment, Movies, etc?).