MAVAV a Hoax - does it matter?

I was in a class about video games and someone raised MAVAV, Mothers Against Videogame Addiction and Violence. A fellow educator didn't believe me when I said it was a hoax; I showed him evidence that MAVAV was David Yoo's Final Project for an Interactivity & Programming class at the Parsons School of Design.

The people presenting about CounterStrike and game violence and addiction proceeded with their presentation. One said, "Does it matter if it's a hoax? I think it should exist either way."

Comments

[Bowler]

Now I seriously need to finish my Videogames =/= Violence piece.

Obviously, it matters if it's a hoax or not. Saying it should exist "either way" is akin to saying "I think it should be real *and* be a hoax," which invariably means that the people presenting don't have a clue as to what they're talking about.

Those who think that videogames cause nonviolent people to be violent or that videogames somehow cause more violent behavior than television, movies, or sports are not only "out of the loop," they're downright delusional.

[Bowler]

Justin, I forgot to ask, is there any way you can get a hardcopy of their presentation? I'd love to see/read it.

[David Yoo]

word.

[snowman]

I've been getting a _huge_ amount of hits on my site lately from people googling for "violence in computer games". All because I wrote one entry on that subject when I first started the site. It seems people are very divided on the issue, and that it is a hot topic... just not a new one. The argument has been around since I was playing on my Atari 2600. I've been playing video games now for 20 years. I have 14 games consoles, and have played pretty much every genre of game there is, including some very violent ones. I think I turned out (now 27) to be a reasonably level-headed individual.

The problem is of course, that while it doesn't adversely affect some people, it does affect others (usually those who already have a violent personality.. although the existence of which is a whole seperate argument)

PS. Your comments appear as white text on a white background for us Safari users on Mac.

[Video Games?]

There are plenty of Video Games that have violence in them. Personally, I think they lead to more of an outlet for people to express their feelings in a venue that isn't real, then as an influence that leads to more "real" violence. Of course, maybe it depends on a person's specific personality type.

[Azrael]

indeed, the violence thing is stupid. i listen to violent music, play violent videogames and watch violent stuff on tv. big furry deal. i'm 16 and perfectly sane, and i'm nowhere near as aggressive as the 16 year old GORE DEATH BLOOD OBCESSED stereotype.

the only people who are affected by this kind of videogames already have a mental condition in the first place.

i'm not saying that everyone can play violent video games, i.e. i don't let my young cousins play violent video games just like that, but these days people mature much faster and "18" rated games can be played by just about anyone with an ounce of good sense and not be affected by it.

[Azrael]

oh, forgot to say this:
videogame addction is a real threat. thing is, you don't need a group of mothers to figure that out.

[Andrew Mullins]

If the MAVAV is real all I have to say is that those who created it and are in it need to wake up and stop being stupid. I am 17 and I have been playing videogames since I was 6. Everytime I hear people trying to "degrade" the gaming world by stating how violent games are and that they are corrupting our youth I get so mad b/c they are so stupid. Videogames are no more violent than movies or anything else in the entertainment industry. I you want to get rid of violent videogames than youll have to get rid of every Arnold movie and Star Wars movie as well. If someone has gone crazy or done something they shouldnt have because they were playing some violent videogame its because theyre parents didnt raise them right or they were aalready crazy. And another thing. There are ratings on the boxes people hellllooo. Bottom line is if your child does something b/c of a violent video game its your own fault. You didnt raise them right and you allowed them to play and in most cases you probably even bought the game for them.

[Cyber_Ant]

The thing is that I can take almost any activity that kids participate in and find some harmful aspect to it.

Take away video games because they are violent, then you have to remove music, tv, and books because of violence within those. Then ban all competitive sports. Then many parents will have to be barred from their kids because they are violent themselves. Then kids must stay seperated from each other so they are not violent to each other. There is no way to stop violence of this manner. People will be people. The point is to stop criminal behavior which there is no actual link to media or video games unless you count a dozen mentally disturbed individuals out of over 150 million that took it seriously, or at least said they did.

There have always been bad people. Look at history, it's full of violence. To sit there and say Video Games causes violence is either naive or blame shifting.

[Defunc13]

violence in video games.... if I see a small person who resembles a walking mushroom I might at least consider jumping on his head but only if I think bumping into him is likely to cause instant death.

[Natasha Keldan]

Mavav are fools! I think that this fight against video games is just a funnel for the real problems in their lives. "My husband doesnt love me." "Im sick of being a soccer mom" "I want to do something with my life". Here what you do...go back to school, get an education, get a life! Thank you very much.

[Natasha Keldan]

Mavav are fools! I think that this fight against video games is just a funnel for the real problems in their lives. "My husband doesnt love me." "Im sick of being a soccer mom" "I want to do something with my life". Here what you do...go back to school, get an education, get a life! Thank you very much.