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Intuitively, it's hard to believe that witnessing and using violence doesn't have any negative effect on a person, even if in videogames. I think that rather t

Intuitively, it's hard to believe that witnessing and using violence doesn't have any negative effect on a person, even if in videogames. I think that rather than asking ourselves "does this have a negative impact?" we should ask "what can I do that has a positive impact?". Personally, I would never work on a game with significant violence. From my point of view, there are so many other things a human being can contribute towards the well-being and progress of humanity, and I would not feel happy with myself if I limited my contribution and my creativity to making another shooter.

longdefeat 6y ago
-we should ask "what can I do that has a positive impact?"- That's part of the point of this essay that was on HN last year: "Fortnite and the Good Life," which seems relevant here. https://theconvivialsociety.substack.com/p/the-convivial-society-no-15 https://theconvivialsociety.substack.com/p/the-convivial-soc...
- diarmuid 6y ago
  headshot === positive impact they are just games and most (non crazy) people understand that like hansel and gretel when they push the witch in the oven - its fiction and not intended to be a guide to life
  - kiliancs 6y ago
    I think you might be underestimating the fragility of the human being in so many aspects (2020 might be trying to teach us something in that regard). Consider how alcohol has a very negative (often disastrous) effect in so many lives, even though most people start drinking thinking they understand how alcohol is going to affect them and that they can keep it under control.
    - OOPMan 6y ago
      Missing the point. Alcohol is real. Games are not.
    - scpedicini 6y ago
      Yeah... I don't think ethanol is a very fair comparison considering that it's a physical substance that bypasses the blood brain barrier.
  - troupe 6y ago
    > its fiction and not intended to be a guide to life You might read the actual tale of Little Red Riding Hood. It is very much meant as a guide for young girls in what to expect and watch out for in life.
- dmix 6y ago
  That's an excellent article, thank you.
  - furyofantares 6y ago
    This comment got my interest but I don't see anything linked here that's written by Yuval Harari. I can't tell if I've missed something, or if you're referring to another book called Sapiens other than Yuval's, or something else.
    - dmix 6y ago
      I was replying to something else I believe and got mixed up. Edited reply...
GTP 6y ago
I rarely play videogames, but when I do, I usually play FPSs. I think that a small dose of virtual violence could help in discharging your stress/anger.
- adamredwoods 6y ago
  The Columbine murderers played a bit of FPS, I wish it had reduced their anger.
  - hellotomyrars 6y ago
    And yet the millions who buy Call of Duty every year somehow keep it in check and don’t commit mass murder.
    - adamredwoods 6y ago
      My point is that it doesn't guarantee reduction in anger or stress, therefore should probably not be prescribed as such.
      - GTP 6y ago
        Sorry, maybe I wasn't clear enough. I'm not saying this should be prescribed as a cure to people with actual psychological problems, just that in my case sometimes I felt better after discharging playing some FPS videogame.
techlaw 6y ago
I work with a nonprofit group that does this. We produce prosocial video games intentionally designed to encourage prosocial outcomes. The published studies (two so far) support their effectiveness. It's not easy to get the word out though without the funds for a publicist, advertising, etc.
scpedicini 6y ago
I'm not sure I agree with your comment. While I would be willing to concede that witnessing the visualization of violence might have some kind of affect towards increased desensitization, that's not necessarily a negative. In some situations being able to keep a cool head in a crisis or in an area where something like this might occur could actually prove to be a benefit, as you are less likely to enter a panicked state (such as working in an environment where you may witness excessive amounts of blood/gore, eg paramedic) I think that the vast majority of people (teenagers included) are more robust than we give them credit for, and can distinguish fantasy from reality.

longdefeat 6y ago

-we should ask "what can I do that has a positive impact?"- That's part of the point of this essay that was on HN last year: "Fortnite and the Good Life," which seems relevant here. https://theconvivialsociety.substack.com/p/the-convivial-society-no-15 https://theconvivialsociety.substack.com/p/the-convivial-soc...

diarmuid 6y ago
headshot === positive impact they are just games and most (non crazy) people understand that like hansel and gretel when they push the witch in the oven - its fiction and not intended to be a guide to life
- kiliancs 6y ago
  I think you might be underestimating the fragility of the human being in so many aspects (2020 might be trying to teach us something in that regard). Consider how alcohol has a very negative (often disastrous) effect in so many lives, even though most people start drinking thinking they understand how alcohol is going to affect them and that they can keep it under control.
  - OOPMan 6y ago
    Missing the point. Alcohol is real. Games are not.
  - scpedicini 6y ago
    Yeah... I don't think ethanol is a very fair comparison considering that it's a physical substance that bypasses the blood brain barrier.
- troupe 6y ago
  > its fiction and not intended to be a guide to life You might read the actual tale of Little Red Riding Hood. It is very much meant as a guide for young girls in what to expect and watch out for in life.
dmix 6y ago
That's an excellent article, thank you.
- furyofantares 6y ago
  This comment got my interest but I don't see anything linked here that's written by Yuval Harari. I can't tell if I've missed something, or if you're referring to another book called Sapiens other than Yuval's, or something else.
  - dmix 6y ago
    I was replying to something else I believe and got mixed up. Edited reply...

GTP 6y ago

I rarely play videogames, but when I do, I usually play FPSs. I think that a small dose of virtual violence could help in discharging your stress/anger.

adamredwoods 6y ago
The Columbine murderers played a bit of FPS, I wish it had reduced their anger.
- hellotomyrars 6y ago
  And yet the millions who buy Call of Duty every year somehow keep it in check and don’t commit mass murder.
  - adamredwoods 6y ago
    My point is that it doesn't guarantee reduction in anger or stress, therefore should probably not be prescribed as such.
    - GTP 6y ago
      Sorry, maybe I wasn't clear enough. I'm not saying this should be prescribed as a cure to people with actual psychological problems, just that in my case sometimes I felt better after discharging playing some FPS videogame.

techlaw 6y ago

I work with a nonprofit group that does this. We produce prosocial video games intentionally designed to encourage prosocial outcomes. The published studies (two so far) support their effectiveness. It's not easy to get the word out though without the funds for a publicist, advertising, etc.

scpedicini 6y ago

I'm not sure I agree with your comment. While I would be willing to concede that witnessing the visualization of violence might have some kind of affect towards increased desensitization, that's not necessarily a negative. In some situations being able to keep a cool head in a crisis or in an area where something like this might occur could actually prove to be a benefit, as you are less likely to enter a panicked state (such as working in an environment where you may witness excessive amounts of blood/gore, eg paramedic) I think that the vast majority of people (teenagers included) are more robust than we give them credit for, and can distinguish fantasy from reality.