Are games becoming too violent?

[Sqrl]

Wojtas said:
@ Sqrl

My bad on some parts of my last post. When I was talking about freedom infringements I was talking about smoking in bars and was more of a loose catch phrase.

Also I didn't want to impose the impression that governments should establish such laws. I was trying to show what the situation looks like in the US from my point of view. Games don't really have much good press running these days, at least for the politics they don't.

About psychology, it's simple really. If you continuously brake certain rules or laws it becomes natural for you. Therefore even if are obligated to follow those rules/laws you are automaticaly tempted to dismiss them as you have done so before and thin that you are "above them". Hope i made it simple.

I understand what you're saying about having laws to break them and all. It's more than obvious that people are so like that. It boils down to whether the penalties for breaking the law are enough to prevent people from breaking them ;).
I didn't intend for you to understand my words as a current view on the situation in the US. think of it as "overall".

 Fair enough, I am glad to see several of these responces, it's inevitable that on a forum the wrong implications or intentions are sometimes given, and it's clear it happened both ways here.

That being said I would still disagree with the psychology issue for two reasons.

1)  I don't think that people of sound mind believe that killing in a game and killing in real life are even close to the same thing.  I have played and enjoyed GTA, and yet I have gone hunting rabbits and in killing them I felt bad about, I can't imagine how much that feeling would multiply for someone who kills another person.  I have no problem with game hunting in general, but its just not my thing.  But for someone to kill another person, and not think about their family, their children, their lives, and those who depended on them, I would submit to you that this person is not of sound mind.  

2) As you mention the potential for punishments that are possibly to leniant, I would say that the problem is a leniant punishment then not a video game.

 

Taking a step back, it is ok for us to agree to disagree on this issue. I don't expect everyone to agree with me, however I enjoy a good thoughtful debate so as long as it is civil I am more than happy to debate the merits of the issue.   In general, I try to avoid outright conflicts on internet forums, they usually prove quite fruitless.