Teens should be allowed to play violent video or role play games because they are a distraction, 

Teens should be allowed to play violent video or role play games because they are a distraction, 

they keep criminals off the streets, and they are a huge industry. 

Many teens play violent video games because they distract them from problems at home and 

social situations. Some teens simply play them because they enjoy them and they are a fun activity. 

Think about it this way. If you were facing trouble at school or a rough home life wouldn’t you like to 

have a distraction from it? And if you found a hobby thoroughly enjoy it would be disappointing and it 

would be very upsetting if someone told you you could no longer partake in it just because it involved 

simulated brutality.  

Because these video games simulate murder, arson, fighting etc.  They are a good substitute for 

crimes of this nature for troubled teens and adults. Since video games arose in the 1990s violent crimes 

have seen a significant drop. Video games in general have proven to be addictive so, it is thought that 

instead of going out and committing real crimes criminals who partake in playing these games are 

cooped up inside playing GTA instead of doing the real thing. (​Dashevsky, 2013) 

 

The video game world is also a huge industry. In 2014 the video game industry made about 900 

million dollars in total revenue (Statista.com, 2014). A job in the video game industry pays well, is a 

creative opportunity and is a lot more fun and interesting than a job that requires you to sit in a cubical 

filing papers all day. Kids who play violent video games often report an interest in the field of web 

design, architecture, computer coding etc.  

Violent video games should be allowed to be played by teens because they are a distraction. they keep 

potential criminals  off the streets and they are a major industry.  

 

Bibliography  

(Statista.com, 2014). 

(​Dashevsky, 2013) 

 

About The Author 

 

Isabella Diamond was born on June 22 2000 in St. Louis Missouri to her parents 

Nancy and Donald Diamond. She is currently an 8th Grade student at premier Charter 

School5 and an aspiring child psychologist. Her favorite pastimes include, Guitar, sleeping 

and writing. 

Violent video games should be allowed to be played by teens because they are a distraction. they keep 

potential criminals  off the streets and they are a major industry.  

 

Bibliography  

(Statista.com, 2014). 

(​Dashevsky, 2013) 

 

About The Author 

 

Isabella Diamond was born on June 22 2000 in St. Louis Missouri to her parents 

Nancy and Donald Diamond. She is currently an 8th Grade student at premier Charter 

School5 and an aspiring child psychologist. Her favorite pastimes include, Guitar, sleeping 

and writing. 

Really...Games Aren't That Bad!

Video games have many different outcomes on people, more advanced games, such as GTA 5, cause many different people to have thoughts contributing to the fact that these games are no good. Although, do they see that these games do have some beneficial effects such as building skill? Accuracy?

Although many people could argue that video games are harmful, it has never occurred to them that these games could actually be helping their kids. According to Huffington Post, Games actually are helping kids with disabilities such as dyslexia. Huffington Post states a study proving the benefits of these faster pace video games, “ The authors of the study hypothesized that the action games helps kids increase their attention spans, a skill considered crucial to reading.” This study held ages from 7 to 13. By having these younger kids in this study, it proves that these more advanced games come off as beneficial to all ages, and increase their skill of thinking.

Video games not only build skill, but also build accuracy. According to parentsciene.com, these violent, but advanced games have many positive outcomes relating to your accuracy such as, “ track objects moving at faster speeds, track more objects at once, filter out irrelevant visual information, switch more quickly from one task to the next, and better detect changes in briefly-flashing visual arrays.” Games such as, GTA 5 and Call of duty, all require a high level standard of thinking. Although these games do come off as harmful due to all the shooting and killing, and even graphics, eventually, you come to realize the positive effects of playing these games.

A former gamer told Chicago Tribune, a newspaper that  ,"You pick up skills from whatever you do, and you can decide to aim those skills in an intellectual direction," he said, “They definitely enhanced the abilities I needed in life that weren't always directly present. Without a doubt they have benefited me." This shows that even by playing these games, you are able to actually make yourself successful in life. By taking the skills you developed playing video games and using them prior to the real world, and their carer life, you actually can benefit yourself by using those skills and turning them into something worth it.

Although, video games do come off as harmful. It is known that video games do cause people to act in a violent way. Forbes.com says, “No study has ever shown that violent video games result directly in actual violence, let alone mass shootings. That doesn’t mean it isn’t possible, though the numbers suggest it’s very unlikely.” Although this does support that games do cause harm, as it said there is no study showing that games do cause harm so therefore it can not be said or backed up.

Games come off in many different ways, depending on the person, it just depends on how you use it. Overall, games have many different effects but it all depends the way you use it, and your ability to handle it appropriately. Although games do come off as just entertainment, these games do let off some skill allowing you to use those skills to the real world, and use them to make you something successful, something worth being.

About The Author

Betty Luther is an the eighth grade student, soon to be a freshman born in Greensboro, North Carolina , raised in St.Louis, Mo.  She enjoys being around friends, and having fun, but also maintains her academic life. She is the president of the Middle School at Premier Charter School, and member of many leadership groups  Betty is also the author of The Outsiders Author Craft Essay, and enjoys being around her favorite teacher, Ms.Crain.  

Violence and Young People

It has come to my attention, and many others, that violent games have influenced young kids to become more violent. This controversy has been for a period of time, and people have grown very strong opinions on the topic. Violent games actually influence young people today to become more violent and encourages them to do so.

    First, lets look at some arguments that support my opinion. Research has shown that, “Children who see a lot of violence are more likely to view violence as an effective way of settling conflicts. Children exposed to violence are more likely to assume that acts of violence are acceptable behavior” (The American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, American Psychological Association, American Medical Association, American Academy of Family Physicians, and American Psychiatric Association, 2000). This means that violent games will in fact give young people a violence craving side.

    While many claim that violent games do not contribute to youth violence, I find that these games set a part of their conscience to think it’s ok to be violent. The Columbine shooting and movie theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado both shooters had something in common. They both were serious gamers who were acting out a dark fantasy as if in a game. How could this not connect to violent video games? We need to stop hiding in delusional mind sets and start keeping our young generation away from these life distracting games!

On the other hand people might say that video games will  help stop violence. The claim is that these games will keep criminals off the streets and in their houses. Isn’t this a good thing for our society? The games will allow criminals to act out their violence on the game not in life. Yes, this will satisfy them with enough violence. Video games or any violent games in general will help our young people not hurt them.

To conclude, violent games can hurt our society. Even with some reasons that it can't, the evidence saying it can overrules it. I now ask you fellow classmates and teachers, can you help the young people succeed in life?

Authors Note   

Mohammad Wdaa is a 14 year old 8th grader who loves basketball and football. He says don't read if you're going to hate! Peace out girl scout.

Games? Bad? Really?

    In todays society experts believe ‘games’ are the cause of violence and that they should be banned, but theses games in no way promote violence onto impressionable teens . Furthermore, games that have violence should not be banned from teenagers.

     Everyone has memories as a child of playing freeze tag. Well a similar game is played between high schools except it involves water guns and high intelligence . This game is commonly referred to as assassination, it is a game in which high school students, have teams and as teams there goal is to “take out” other students with water guns (Martin,High-Jinks: Shoot-out,2009).The catch is that school is the safe place, and the point of the activity is to teach students the real world is harsh while school is the safe place (Martin,High-Jinks: Shoot-out,2009) .These types of games should not be banned from schools.These type of games DO NOT teach violence as some will argue. These games promote strategical and tactical skills which can benefit them in the future. They gain these skills by being  required to devise a plan in which they must stake out a target(s) and “take them out”,outside of school before a deadline.

     Another game that is a cause for concern are video games, GTA-V is an example of one, many argue it is negative and has devastating effects. This is because you can drive through stop lights,commit vehicular manslaughter, crash and die and start over after the screen says “wasted”, get in ridiculous gunfights and still walk away.  The other option is to  just go clothes shopping,play darts, or hunt deer. We are given large number of possibilities, and the freedom to make outlandish regrettable decisions in an  alternative version of reality. Most people however can see this for what it really is:  a way to escape the world. This virtual world allows people to blow off steam and release their feelings safely. Even though some claim GTA is  responsible for crimes, they would be wrong because that would mean the over 18 million people that buy that game would be committing unrealistic crimes, which their not (Kain,Do Games Like 'Grand Theft Auto V' Cause Real-World Violence?, 2013).

      However GTA V has strong sexual content which  many argue is negative on children. Which it is, considering how high quality the speech and video quality in these games are. The type of sexually content portayed is graphic visual content in a strip club, and descriptive conversations with prostitutes (Usher, GTA 5 First-Person Videos Feature Controversial Sex Scenes, 2014). This type of exposure is bad for teens, but however these actions are optional in this game and are not forced onto teens. Also this games comes with a parental advisory on the front which states there is sexual content, as well as other things, which a parent would notice when purchasing the game for their child under the age of 17.

          Games should not be banned from teens because of the negatives, but kept because of the overwhelming positives in them. Games like Assassination and Grand Theft Auto V promote strategic  thinking and precision, therefore shouldn’t be banned despite the concerns of vigilant parents. Theses ‘games’ can also give teens, skills they may need in a career, such as quick thinking and the ability to stay calm in a stressful situation.

 

Bibliography :

http://www.cinemablend.com/games/GTA-5-First-Person-Videos-Feature-Controversial-Sex-Scenes-68465.html

http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2013/09/18/do-games-like-grand-theft-auto-v-cause-real-world-violence/

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2009/06/22/shoot-out-3

About the author:

  Susan (Susie) Parker a born and raised St.Louisan, she is a vigorous writer and a soon to be millionaire, hopefully. She hopes to live in Arizona and travel the world. She currently is a student and aspiring business owner or lawyer.

Video Games Do Not Hurt People

Everyone has played a videogame at least once in their life and have enjoyed it, but there is a big misconception about video games. Are they good for children to play? Are they dangerous for gamers to play? Many think they are harmful to both older gamers and younger ones when really they are good for them. They help the kid relax and is a good distraction to get rid of stress. They also help stop crime and lower the crime rates. Video games do not make people commit crime or any act of violence, it is that person’s choice.

   

Video games can actually help people. They help a person’s health. They get rid of anxiety. “Doctors found that allowing children a few minutes to play the games reduced their anxiety until the anesthesia took effect.”(L. Johnson 2004)* This is important because this shows how video games can actually help the child and relax him before a surgery. This doesn’t hurt the child. It helps him by lowering blood pressure and heart rate. In the end, the video games are helping the child’s health. A more general benefit is better hand-eye coordination and helps the elderly with cognitive disorders like Alzheimer’s.(R. Fleming 2013)** This is important because video games do not just help children, they also help elderly adults. Therefore, video games can actually help people of all ages.

   

Video games can help lower crime levels. They can distract people from committing crimes. For example, “As it turns out, the steady parade of console-fitted gore-tainment may directly contribute to making society less violent..” a reporter named Evan Dashevsky wrote.(Violent video games may stop crime by keeping criminals busy playing violent video games 2013)***. This is important because the video games are diverting the criminal. Instead of the criminal going out and breaking the law, they are staying inside safely. “Violent crime, particularly among the young, has decreased dramatically since the early 1990s. During the same period of time, video games have steadily increased in popularity and use, exactly the opposite of what one would expect if there were a causal link..” this was said by the ESA- Entertainment Software Association (Essential Facts About Games And Violence 2014).**** This means that although some people may think that the rise of videogames is causing violence, they are wrong because this study shows how crime rates have decreased over the years even with the rise of videogames.

   

While some people think that video games hurt children, they forget that it is not the video game causing them to be violent. It is the child’s choice to turn the game into their own “real life fantasy”. That person may even have a mental disease that causes them to think that way. If that was the case, then how can you blame the video game? It didn’t make that person think that way, it was the illness the person had.

   

Video games do not make people commit a crime or any act of violence, it is that person’s choice to do the right or wrong thing. The games can help children that are preparing for a surgery, or even help the elderly with arthritis. They could even help lower the crime rates by distracting a criminal. While video games are on the rise, as they are rising, the crime rates are actually decreasing. If video games can do this then why do people keep thinking about how bad they must be just because they may have guns?  Why judge a book by its cover? You don’t really know what’s underneath.

Bibliography

*http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/news/2004-12-10-hospital-games_x.htm

**http://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/gamed-everyone-can-relax-video-games-are-here-to-save-society/

***http://www.techhive.com/article/2067016/violent-video-games-may-stop-crime-by-keeping-criminals-busy-playing-violent-video-games.html

****http://www.theesa.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/ESA_EF_GamesandViolence.pdf

About the Author

Megan Lindzy, a talented individual in many aspects, was born on November 27, 2000. Born and raised in St.Louis, Missouri, she had a very active childhood playing baseball, soccer, and basketball. When she is not playing basketball or in school, she is listening to music, playing with her dog, or watching TV.

Teens CAN Play Games

Majority people across the country play video games. It’s an enjoyable experience 90% of teenagers play video games, but are violent video games causing the teenagers of America to become more violent? The answer to that is no. Violent video games do not affect teen behavior.

Teen violence has been decreasing for decades. So saying that teenagers are becoming more violent due to video games isn’t reasonable. The video games now are much more violent than they used to be and teen violence is decreasing; video games have no effect on teen violence.

Teens can let their anger out on the game by shooting, killing, etc. But that isn’t real, it’s just a video game. The virtual world is much different than the real world. Pressing a button is much easier than pulling a trigger. Violence in real life has nothing to do with what happens online or in a video game. Playing video games might actually be good for teens because it gives them a chance to let their anger out instead of keeping it inside that could lead to real violence.

The violence should not be blamed on the video games, most acts of violence happens from people with untreated mental illness. The untreated mental illness is what causes the sudden acts of violence. The video games may add to it, but teens without mental illness or treated mental illness would not do the things that teens with untreated mental illness would do.

“If it were true, millions of your neighbors, kids, and co-workers would be violent killers.”

This quote shows that not all people who play violent games become violent in real life. There are only a few people out of millions who become violent due to playing violent games. So is saying video games make teens violent really reasonable? It isn’t. Video games are just games. The only behavior they create in teens is irregular sleeping patterns.  

    Video games are actually helpful to science. A problem that scientist were working on for 13 years took gamers 3 weeks to figure out. This proves that video games are good for the world. Video games are not only good for science but they are good for the players mind. The players mind is strengthened by following patterns.

“Not everyone can draw a line between fiction and reality.” Although this may be true, most people can draw a line and don’t become violent because of playing games and they know what’s real and what’s fake. There might be some people who don’t know when to stop but can that all really be blamed on video games. If they don’t know what’s real and what’s fake then maybe there is something other than video games affecting their minds that makes them more violent.

Video games do not make teens violent. They may make some people become more violent than they already were due to untreated mental illness, but that does not mean they make everyone violent. Video games can help teenagers release their anger, or help science in learning new things about teen behaviour by using games to find the answers we’re searching for. If teens were becoming violent due to video games then millions of people would be violent. Researchers do many studies on this topic and find answers to defend that video games don’t lead to violence; most people who think games do lead to violence base their claim on opinions. While people who disagree have evidence to support their claim. Think about how video games affect you and your friends. Do they make them more violent or make them act differently in any other way? Which side do you believe?

"How Online Gamers Are Solving Science's Biggest Problems." N.p., 25 Jan. 2014. Web.

Kain, Erik. "Do Games Like 'Grand Theft Auto V' Cause Real-World Violence?" Forbes. Forbes Magazine, n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2015.

About the Author:

    Emma Macias is a very talkative person. She loves netflix and her dog who is the size or a squirrel. She also thinks Mean Girls is a great movie. P.S Gayle is my mom.

Explode The World

Are the games that young adults play in this modern day really do affect their behavior in the real world? The behaviors don’t really change as much, in fact it actually helps them. But you’re probably wondering how. Well there is a lot of ways. For example they help scientists solve puzzles involving genes, conservation and the universe.  There is more to the brain about techniques and strategies than there is to violence. Therefore video games that involves shooting does not cause violence in people.

    Violent crimes, mostly for the teens has decreased enormously since the early 1990s, statistics say. Video games have increased in popularity and use over time. “Many games with violent content sold in the U.S. are also sold in foreign market. But the level of violent crime in these foreign markets is lower than that in the U.S., suggesting that influences such as the background of the individual, the availability of guns and other factors with understanding the cause of any particular crime. In fact, an analysis by The Washington Post of the 10 largest video game markets across the globe found no correlation between video game consumption and gun-related deaths” (ESA, 2014, p.1).So as result there isn’t any link found between behavior or attitude with violent games.  “...Authorities... like the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Surgeon General, Federal Trade Commission and Federal Communications Commission have examined the scientific records and found that it does not establish link between violent programming and violent behavior”(ESA, 2014, p.1). The truth is, there is no scientific research that links between computer and videogames and violence.

    Having this strategic and complicated violent video games can come in good ways for the communities all around the world. The rate of video games sold in markets increased gigantically. However the violent crimes decreased dramatically. According to the graph of  *U.S. Dept. of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation - “Preliminary Annual Crime Stats 201’’, it  shows that from 1998 to 2013 the sales of violent games increased from 4.8 billion to 14.8 billion. But at this rate the violent crimes have decreased from 11 million to 3 million crimes (ESA, 2014, p.3).  This graph tells us that violent but advanced video games helped out with the number of crimes being done over time.  Playing video games keeps anyone busy from stress on their mind. On the other hand according to an  article, Shooting in the Dark  “Moreover, youngsters who develop a gaming habit can become slightly more aggressive — as measured by clashes with peers, for instance — at least over a period of a year or two.Yet it is not at all clear whether, over longer periods, such a habit increases the likelihood that a person will commit a violent crime, like murder, rape, or assault, much less a Newton-like massacre (Such calculated rampages are too rare to study in any rigorous way, researchers agree)” (Benedict Carey ,2013, pg.1).

After playing a video game that involves violence, it doesn’t leave you thinking to be violent. Just because video games have violence that occur for entertainment, it does not mean it links directly to the real world. The outcome of the video games do not change the behavior or attitude that one gets when they are involved with this complicated strategic games. On the other hand, it actually helps them in real-world modern times.  I used to think that watching or being active with violent games can influence the attitude of someone to be aggressive. But now after the statics that have been proved, it makes me think that you should play video games not just for entertainment but to improve the brain’s thinking matter. Its like saying that you should play with puzzles, but one does not have to if they don’t want to. The mind is in the game where they have to use plans and complicated strategies to solve that mission.  So now what’s your opinion- does the “violent” games that young adults really all about changing their behavior or does it actually help them in life to think in a harder way?

Bibliography:

http://www.theesa.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/ESA_EF_GamesandViolence.pdf

Benedict Carey, (2013, February 11)

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/12/science/studying-the-effects-of-playing-violent-video-games.html

Mohammadi, D. (2014, January). “How online gamers are solving science's biggest problems.”

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/jan/25/online-gamers-solving-sciences-biggest-problems

    About the author:

Yuliana Perez is only 14 years old and was inspired by her 8th language arts teacher, Christine Crain in Premier Charter School. Without her and the peers there, she would’ve never have done this without them.  She grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, but her parents are from Mexico and she has lived there at a very young age.