Thousands of cops being taught that PC games are dangerous

[populistdriven]

http://www.wired.com/news/culture/games/0,69840-0.html

No definitive link has ever been discovered showing violent video games cause violent behavior. Even so, thousands of law-enforcement officers on our streets are being told otherwise.

Meet Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, one of law enforcement's most in-demand speakers and trainers.

Grossman, an ex-Army Ranger and West Point psychology professor, has been on the road 300 days a year since 2001, speaking mostly to law-enforcement departments and academies. He's booked solid through late 2006.

One of Grossman's key messages is that "violent media and video games are the largest single threat to modern civilization."

[NewHampshireDem]

1. Plato said that in 'The Republic' 2500 years ago

Well, except for the video game part, but he was wrong then and this guy is wrong now. Parents having to work two jobs without health insurance is the REAL threat to civilization, as is the growing gap between the rich and the poor. This is just 'ignore that man behind the curtain' bullshit.

<on edit>
Of course, I have nothing whatsoever against keeping 12 year olds off any multiplayer game on the internet ... little bastards ruined CS and now they are ruining DoD :grr:

[Walt Starr]

2. whoa...flashback to like the eighties, man!

That was the same shit they taught cops about D&D back in the eighties!!!

[DrGonzoLives]

3. Blah blah blah

If that were true, that violent video games are OMG TEH EEEVIL!!11, then Japan would be the most violent nation on the planet.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Gee I wonder why he did not attend or speak

at the local regional academy... look folks I KNOW folks in law enforcement and shocking as it may seem, some of them even play games... so this is partly histeria quite honestly... think about it, how many cops who PLAY games are going to buy into this crap? You think they will stay quiet and not talk to their partners while watiing for real gang boys and girls to do their worst?

Though I do have my problems with how we at times GLORIFY violence for violence sake, but that is a whole different matter altogether