Kristoffer's thoughts - Movie & computer game violence
(2001-03-09)

And now there's been a couple more "teens-on-rampage" incidents in the states. Tragic. But why? Seriously, why?
What's the point? Was it because they had been picked on too much? Bad parenting? Braindamage?

Or was it that they had seen so many people killing people in movies that they thought it might be cool? Or had they been playing too much Doom/Quake? What do you think?

According to all theories - I should be a violent speed-addicted mass-murdering pedophile.
I've been watching american violent movies since I was 10 (even though my mother didn't know about it) and I've seen just about everything. I'm living alone, I'm a quite neighbour that doesn't socialize that much with my other neighbours, but they consider me a "nice guy". I've played computergames since I was 6 and I've played most of the violent games out there. And I'm a huge internet-freak and love Formula 1. So I should be a violent speed-addicted mass-murdering pedophile. But I'm not.

So if people went around killing people only because they've seen it in a movie, why aren't I? There are literally millions of other people who's exposed to the same violence who doesn't immitate the behaviour they see on the screen.
Doesn't that suggest there's nothing wrong with the movie, but with the person doing the crime? I think it's completely wrong to suggest that the makers of "The Matrix" should feel bad just because two teenagers decided to get some guns, black clothes and go into their school with guns blazing!
To use cencorship for movies (like they do in sweden) may sometimes be good, but to use this as a reason is just wrong. And if it is that violent, isn't it up to the parent to make sure the child doesn't see it? (agreed, I've proven it's not so simple for a parent to supervise that, but still...)

What about computer games? Sure they are violent, but isn't it good that we can relieve all our aggression in a computer game instead of anywhere else?
Only few computer games are really that violent anyway, most computer games I've played has tought me something - from Quake teaching me the value of teamwork to Civilization that tought me the evolution of mankind.
I think the truth of Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny does alot more damage to a child than any computer game can. Seriously, think of the damage when a child realises that his/hers parents, the very people who are suppose to take care and look after you, have been lying about that for all these years, and everyone else is in on it as well!

So stop blaming movies and computer game for all bad things, look somewhere else 'cause the problem ain't there.

Or to use a quote from a pritty brilliant film, Scream - "Movies don't create psychos, they just make them more creative!"

/ Kristoffer Strom