Violent Computer Games to Blame for Youth Violence?
by Liam Bailey
2008-03-30 11:49:36 **opinion**
The release of Manhunt 2, which is by all accounts a brutal game starring an escaped mental patient and centred on sadistic and violent murders has reopened the debate over the effect violent games have on children. I have decided to put in my tuppence worth. More violent acts, assaults, shootings, murders, and stabbings are carried out by this generation of youths than any generation before. No one can honestly deny that computer games play a part, but it is more to do with the gang and violent culture of American gun-toting home-boy gangsters and gang bangers, portrayed and popularised so well, by today's big rap stars.
I have a license to talk because I myself was one of the infected. A big fan of Snoop Doggy Dogg, and Tupac, two rappers introduced to me by a friend, and whom I hated to begin with, but it grew on me when I started to see some of the movies about the culture and learn some of the lingo. Pretty soon I was getting into trouble with "the law" walking around with a soft-air replica Glock 17 pistol tucked into my waist, as were all my friends (homies). If I was in a position to get a real gun I would no doubt have done so.
And before those who blame the parents say that my mum and dad shouldn't have got me the soft-air gun they didn't, I got it myself by means I won't go into
Luckily my parents moved us from the town to the country and my ways changed before too long as I went back into my happy hardcore and dance music again. But before my days as a "gangsta" I had never been into getting into trouble with the law, and it just shows how easily these influences, when shared with a group of lead to emulation of criminal behaviour and violence.
