I wrote this paper about a year ago for my English class. I was supposed to persuade the class that video games lead to a violet society, even though I do not believe that this is ALWAYS the case. In any case, I do think the points I brought up are valid and worth looking at, even if the only one people actually read is the conclusion (which in it itself is a final point).

Any feedback would be appreciated.


“People are ignorant.
They’ll feel better as long as someone is punished,” declares Rufus of Final
Fantasy VII. Rufus implies that people enjoy suffering, or at least not being
the one punished. Rufus is only a video game character, and although he is the
villain, he may be on to something. Can video games lead to a violent society?
Can video games make children and people cold, uncaring, or even aggressive and
taking pleasure in pain? Yes, they can.
           It has been proven in both the United States and Japan that video games can lead
to a variety of health and medical concerns. Video games produce a “feel good”
chemical called dopamine, which is eventually desired to the point of
addiction. This chemical causes a gamer to be “hooked” onto video games. This addiction
has risks, however. If played for too long, video games can raise one’s pulse
and can lead to seizures. In extreme cases, video games have also been the
cause of death, such as in the case of Chuang, a Taiwanese boy who died of a
seizure after playing Diablo III for forty hours, and that of a man named Chen
who died in an Internet café after playing League of Legends for thirteen
hours. Video games have also been linked to cause neuroticism and compulsive
and violent behaviors.
           Studies also show that children who play video games tend to be more aggressive than
their peers who do not. Moreover, video games bring about a decrease in social
skills and behavioral processes. Since children spent more time shooting at
something on the screen than speaking with their peers, they feel uncomfortable
or unable to communicate. When kids cannot resolve problems verbally, they may decide
to handle things with blows.
           Similarly, video games also lower empathy in youth. The brain produces a wide variety of
chemicals that incur several emotions (such as oxytocin for empathy and
catecholamine for anger), but sometimes the brain is subconsciously “tricked”
into believing that something on the screen is actually happening when it
really isn’t, leading us to cry during movies or become very agitated during a
horror film or scary book. Because the brain is tricked into believing this,
the child playing a shooter or fighter game could subconsciously believe that
he truly is hurting someone else. Since the child controls the character’s
every action and “makes” their virtual avatar beat imaginary people up,
violence may begin to be seen as acceptable or a valid way to solve problems.
Several aggressive and violent acts have been committed by those addicted to
video games, such as the Littleton and Columbine shootings, further exhibiting
video games’ side effects.
           Although sufficient evidence has been gathered, doubts are raised. The crime rate is at
an all-time low. While this is true, aggression does not necessarily mean that
the child will go out and commit crimes. Not every violent or aggressive person
will pick up a crowbar to rob a bank. Many people also play video games and do
not suffer of increased aggression. Children tend to have more malleable minds
than older adults, so a child about five years old playing Final Fantasy or
Dragon Quest will have a different reaction than the teenager next to him. For
the most part, playing games when you are the appropriate age shouldn’t be too
large of a problem, but many children in America begin playing games rated
Mature or Teen when they aren’t even ten years old.
           Others say that children who are already violent will seek out violent games. However,
a study conducted in the US and Japan asked children to first evaluate their
aggression and then requested that they play several video games. Although some
children were already compulsive and aggressive to begin with, most of them did
become more so by the end. Many also challenge that video games allow children
safe outlets for violent emotions, but does it allow them to vent all of their
emotions? If that were so, wouldn’t children be far more peaceable and calm?
           Video games have also been proven to have medical uses, such as serving as a “pain
killer,” since this switches the focus from the pain to the game. This is true,
but that doesn’t mean that the game played has to be violent. In fact, most
violent or exciting video games can raise the pulse, so mellow games like
LittleBigPlanet or the internationally popular and somewhat disturbing Trauma
Center series would actually be more beneficial to the gaming patient.
           Lastly, many teens argue they are socializing very well online, engaging in multiplayer
with their friends or instant-chatting them. Many games do have chat options,
but not only do many people post spam or inappropriate comments, chat boxes
aren’t a substitute for actual, human interaction. Teenagers who spend a lot of
time chatting on the Internet and not face-to-face may feel awkward and out of
place when actually speaking to another.
           Thus, video games can be either a blessing in disguise or a wolf in sheep’s clothing,
depending on how they are used. Violent games can and will cause violent
behaviors if the gamer is not mentally or emotionally ready (that’s why a
six-year-old will think a T game is scary and a thirteen-year-old will not).
Used wisely and chosen with discernment, games can indeed have a variety of
benefits, such as being a source of entertainment on a rainy day. A doctor
might even recommend that one plays Trauma Center or Mario to kill pain. One
should keep in mind that games can lead to addiction and aggression. Therefore,
wisdom is a sword when it comes to gaming. Do video games lead to a violent
society? Not necessarily. Can they? By all means.

This is nicely written. It doesn't seem like it is written by a 13 yr old. My one big thing is that the paper starts of with a thesis that violent video games can lead to a violent society, but your second half of the paper backtracks it to be it depends on mental stability towards violent video games.

Finally, I don't know if this has to be a Christian view on video games and violence. There are non-Christians who agree with the things that you say.

play4fun : I did use non-Christian studies as "proofs" or evidences, but I mainly called it a "Christian's view" because I reinforced my opinion with Bible verses. I guess I didn't paste them on or removed them for some reason when posting this on Vizzed, but my original paper did have a few of them to strengthen my points. Lucky me that I go to Christian school, because otherwise they would have had to be omitted.

The "backtracking" was my way of trying to get out of giving an absolute statement in my paper without my English teacher downgrading me for it. Although my thesis was that video games do lead to a violent society, I do not believe this is always the case, and I did try to put it in the paper somehow. However, I'm not very good at "subtlety."

Dragonlord Stephi : First of all that's great that you go to a christian school.
This is good argumentive essay, I once wrote one about how Jesus said to love your enemies, and yet the Old Testament says 
eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. I filled up eight pages of my notebook on that essay, I've always loved debates and stuff like this.

Keep up the good work!

Oh, yeah, at my house there aren't any really violent games, just Star wars the force unleashed one and two.
And Star Wars battle front two. Only those who are 10 and up can play Star Wars and Zelda.

Well, most Zelda games.

Well, although I personally disagree with most of the points raised here, it was well written. Though I do think the opening quote was misinterpreted, but I have not actually played that particular game. Anyway, it was well thought out, obviously, and a good piece of writing. Good job.

Eirinn : I haven't played that game either. I got the quote off the Internet and hoped my teacher wouldn't ask much about that particular villain or game.

Dragonlord Stephi :
I hate to break it to you.
But your paper is too flawed for my eyes to grace beyond the point of "Decrease in Social Skills and Development."

I love the fact that you have learned how to argue.
I despise the fact that you care not about what you are arguing about.
You just want to win the argument.
(I highly recommend you focus your studies on Law, Proof, and Building a Case for a future. I see potential.)

Other than that. ........
I see allot of "Selective Evidence" in your paper.
It works when you are popular or if the objective point you take is popular.
It does not work so well when it is not popular.

The trick here (That you want) is to take a "non objective point of view" and "bring it home" regardless of the results.
Try building the same argument or "case" with "chess".
I dare you to find a way to make it hold water.

It will not work because of the level of respect that.. that game gets.. alone.
Building a case against video games is not new.
Though I think it is Lame.
Getting approval from the right people for all the wrong reasons can not solve problems.
The trick about writing a paper that has an objective in mind is the fact that it can not destroy the writer where it is printed.

This is a "Video Game Web Site."
What were you thinking?
I have ignored this paper for a long time. Due to how hard it makes me laugh.
Now?
It is not amusing.
I like the distraction. I can not condone the massive amount of "B.S." that comes with it.
Who are your Instructors?
I want a list of names.
It would be interesting to see who is responsible for making you into the person that can write such a paper with no conscience.
People are not always ignorant.
Lincoln once said something like... "You can fool some of the people all of the time."
................................... "You can fool all of the people some of the time."
.......................... "But...You can not fool all of the people all of the time."

I think you have a good gift with the pen or typewriter.
Do not give it up too soon.
It would be a shame.

I would love to dig up a ton of info to argue. But it would grant me no money for my time spent. Plus the point is mute to begin with. I hope you can learn a valued lesson here.

Games are not Evil. Works of Art are not Evil. Music and Literature are not Evil. People Are. Keep that in mind and you will go places. ... Fast.

Good Luck To All.
I am done. Stick a fork in me.
Peace.

orionfoxgibson : Thank you for the tips. I shall definitely keep them in mind. To answer your question, the reason I posted it here, on a gaming site, is because I was wondering what people's reactions to it might be. Thank you for your opinion, and I understand your thoughts, though perhaps there may have been another way of penning them. And if you think my argument is flawed- well, I'm only a teenager. 

Again, thank you for your thoughts. I'll try to improve in the ways you have said so that my next assignment won't be what you've said.

Dragonlord Stephi :
Age does not grant you a shield nor freedom.
Break a law and learn the reality.

Or Listen to your instructors more carefully.
I want a list still.

Good Luck To All.
Peace.

orionfoxgibson : Age does not grant a shield? So you expect a thirteen-year-old to argue as well as an adult who finished college?

As for a list of instructors, I'm not sure I want to give you that until you give me a reason why I should.

Dragonlord Stephi :

I think he expects you to have the maturity to get correct facts or admit defeat to the better opponent. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I believe I did admit defeat in the first response I gave him, when I thanked him for his opinion and then said I would work on his tips. I'm sorry if I didn't make it clear, and I apologize to orionfoxgibson for any misunderstanding. I'm sorry for my behavior and I promise this will not happen again.

Dragonlord Stephi :
I expect a 13 year old to be a reflection of their Instructors, their Community, and Parents Wisdom.
Not to be able to out wit an adult that is well traversed and versed from many corners of the earth.
Talk with your Teachers and Parents and get some back-up advice.
Hope to hear you have a pen or laptop when you are an adult. And using it for a profession.
Like I said...
I see potential skill.

Good Luck On Your Journey.
Peace.

P.S. You are doing fine as far as I can tell.

Thank you, and again, sorry for any misunderstanding. Debate is my passion and I am trying to improve constantly, so any feedback and tips such as yours are appreciated. I've considered a profession in law, but at the same time, writing and debate is a joy, so I am trying to improve both.