Gun Control

The U.S. is reeling from violent gun attacks, and President Obama has recently put into place a number of executive actions that include a push for further scientific study of the 'cause' of these killings.

Alas, there is no 'cause', as much as the American public would like to find one.

Yet, I believe, there has been--for a long time--an established argument relating to the desensitization of people who are exposed to multiple episodes of violence.

The theory goes that if you watch thousands of acts of violence over a long period of time, then you are more likely to resort to violence in a stressful situation.  (A disturbing example is the movie A Clockwork Orange.)

One of the things that many foreigners like about South Korea is the lack of crime and violence here.  It is not unusual to see an 8-year-old child walking alone to school, or to see an elderly woman walking out of a bank with a cash-filled envelope.

Yet I see the developing signs of aggressive behavior in some of my elementary-school students (stereotypically male).  Many of them play violent video games, and they play-act the games in our school.  One student (3rd grade) told me that his favorite movie is the series Resident Evil, this from a boy who has shown up in class with bandages on his face from fighting.

So many students spend their time before or between classes playing cell phone games.  Every day I see clusters of students--5 or 6 kids--huddled around one student, watching him/her play a game.

Gone are the social exchanges.  Absent are the shared daily events.

Most students don't study during these times, or even do missing homework.

 . . . Ok, back to gun control.

Do people think that violent video games contribute to violent behavior?

Yes, they most likely do.

What can be done about it?

Probably nothing.

Unfortunately, that suggests a scary future.