Trump shifts blame to violent video games, movies in gun violence discussion

[downbeatplumb]

I actually do believe that the level of violence depicted in media, including video games, is a likely contributing cause. I can barely watch television shows anymore because it's so gruesome. I've always thought there was value in the old Hayes code but what finally tipped the scale for me was watching "The Punisher". Never before have I seen such a positive portrayal of brutal and grisly violence. Plus, the main character is a glorified loner outcast fighting his tragic past. These types of 'heroes' perfectly parallel the personal lives of these school shooters - bullied, ostracized by their peers, misunderstood, alone, and ready to fight the "system" that traumatized them. What sucks is that the only other option is "Father Brown" which is good but gets old after a while. As for video games, its not so much that they are graphic; but rather that they socially isolate players. They aren't getting groups together to play D&D, war games, bowling, or even paintball.

Its funny that every new form of media has been used to excuse deeper societal ills. It happened with the easy availability of printed books. I kid you not, the same arguments you just presented were leveled at the guttenburg press.