Video Game Survey.

[boba-chan]

For my English 101 class, I am required to write an argumentative essay.
I chose my topic to be the effects of different types of video games on children and whether it is true or false (particularly focusing on violent games and their correlation to children developing aggressive behavior).
Along with the essay, I am required a poll, survey or questionnaire asking people who are familiar or "experts" on the subject, which I am pretty sure you gamers are!
So if you would answer the poll and the survey questions below.
You don't have to and the poll/survey will be anonymous.
Thank you! ^-^

Survey:

1. Have you played both violent and non-violent video games?
a. Both
b. Neither
c. Only violent games.
d. Only non-violent games.

2. If you play both, do you feel any difference in your attitude after playing violent and non-violent video games?
a.Yes
b. No
c. Neutral

3. If yes, is your attitude more negative after violent games?
a. Yes
b. No
c. Neutral

4. More positive after positive games?
a. Yes
b. No
c. Neutral

Like I said, you do not have to answer but it would be helpful if you did.
Also, give feedback if you have any and comments on why you answered the way you did may also be helpful. i.e. Observations of others, personal experiences, etc.
Thank you very much.

[N3IWVC]

Well first I'd like to say that this actually may not be the best place to research a topic like this because many gamers don't want to say games are bad for them whether they really are or not. It's the same for anyone that does anything. Like maybe a drunk doesn't want to be told to stop drinking even if he knows he should.
That aside, my answers are:
1. A
2. A
3. C
4. C
I believe everything in someones life has an effect on them. Though predicting what kind of effect it is isn't simple. I don't think it depends just on content or the person themselves but also their disposition at the time they play and how their experience goes too. For example, If an already troubled person with a weak or weakened mind were to play a game (violent or not) to relieve some stress and they failed in the game repeatedly it's less likely to be a stress reliever and more likely to induce stress.
Basically the main point being that It always has an effect on you but what effect that is depends on you. However, I don't think there's any game that can have a substantial enough effect on you to cause you to do anything you believe to be outside of your own nature unless your mind's fortitude is extremely low, either naturally or through some other significant stress.
Phew... that's a bit long winded for me.
also you should probably ignore all that cause I'm insane.

btw: dunno if it's just me but poll seems to be broken

[AuraTwilight]

1. Have you played both violent and non-violent video games?
a. Both
b. Neither
c. Only violent games.
d. Only non-violent games.

A. Both.

2. If you play both, do you feel any difference in your attitude after playing violent and non-violent video games?
a.Yes
b. No
c. Neutral

B. No, not really. I'd like to elaborate that there's much more to what effects one's mood than whether the game is violent or not. For example, a gamer is more likely to become frustrated and angry if a game is broken and difficult, than if a game has realistic difficulty and a fun challenge.

I'd like to personally note that, like movies, novels, and internet, video games are the same as all media, in that it is only as influential as a person let's it; one can argue that video games are different because it "lets you perform the violence yourself", but it's a false analogy; it's not analogous to actual violent crimes. Does playing Mario Kart make me a good driver? Surely, if games influence be to be more violent, Mario Kart should be beneficial to getting a Learner's Permit or something, right?

Sounds silly, right? Because video games aren't reality, and it can't be compared, no matter how unrealistic. The only people who associate their violent tendencies with the fantasies they indulge in are mentally unstable people, who would probably be dangerous even if they hadn't been playing games. Hell, for these people, the games are probably a stress relief keeping them from performing violent acts towards real people.

[Kuukai]

1. A
2. B

[Super Robot]

1. A
2. A
3. B
4. B

For 3 & 4... Its funny actually... Non-Violent games typically require more technical or thinking skill, therefor, are harder on average than violent games. So after playing them I'm actually usually pissed off or frustrated. For violent games, the opposite is true, its a great stress reliever to smash someones face in. So I feel FAR more relaxed after a good violent romp.

[Mistral's_Man]

1. A.
2. A.
3. B.
4. B.

For 3 and 4, based off of myself, the change in my mood/attitude is pretty reliant on how I felt when I started.

[nobodyknows]

1. A
2. A
3. B
4. B

For 3 & 4... Its funny actually... Non-Violent games typically require more technical or thinking skill, therefor, are harder on average than violent games. So after playing them I'm actually usually pissed off or frustrated. For violent games, the opposite is true, its a great stress reliever to smash someones face in. So I feel FAR more relaxed after a good violent romp.

I agree with Super Robot. Violent games are generally less trying on the human personality than non-violent ones - which require technical knowledge and the solving of frustrating puzzles - hence they can cause more frustration.

However, as for my views on other people and how video games effect them.... people who have violent temperments should not play violent games. people who are easily influenced - or immature - should not play violent games. If you let an immature kid play something like GTA, of course they're going to go around trying to kill people. They don't have the maturity to realize that you shouldn't act like you can in a video game. However, if the kid in question is mature enough to realize that factor, they should be able to play the violent game in question.

On this factor, I also have a word to say about other medias; Parents who go around preaching that their kids shouldn't watch violent things, or play violent games, but then let them read violent books, are being completely and utterly hypocritical. As long as it's violent, it has the potential to be negatively influential on someone whose immature enough to not realize that it's not reality, and hence that they can't act like that in reality.

[Keyaki]

1: A
2:C

[iuliathe3rd]

1) A
2) C