Violence in Video Games-Affecting our children?

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas--"Player is a young man working with gangs to gain respect. His mission includes murder, theft, and destruction on every imaginable level. Player recovers his health by visiting prostitutes then recovers funds by beating them to death and taking their money. Player can wreak as much havoc as he likes without progressing through the game's storyline."

Violence in Video games, Does it affect our children in a negative way or not at all? Above is a description of a video game that is out, it includes murder, theft, and destruction in it's description. Why would you want to get this for your child? And who cares that they rate it M for Mature, the younger kids still manage to get a hold of the game. Who says that the so called Mature audience can even handle such violence?

There have been numerous studies done, that prove that these games are increasing aggression in our children. But instead of fixing the problem the gaming industry makes the games even more violent every year.

More and More children are coming to school with guns, and committing adult crimes. I spoke to someone today about the violence in games, he said "I have been playing video games for over 25 years, and I'm fine, I've been killin up people since I was eight" Wow, is all I can say to that. I asked him when you get angry do you find yourself with a little more aggression a little more violent thoughts? "No he says, I don't get mad often" I said but when you do get mad, "He said I kinda see your point, but what can you do, it's the parents job"

Indeed it is the parents job to watch what our children are watching and playing. Unfortunately in this day and age, parents are just trying to keep food on the table, and clothes on their children's backs. Some things that should be done, slip through the cracks. The video console becomes the child's babysitter, the violence becomes the child's world.

So why can't the gaming industry work hand and hand with the parents? Why can't they do better than slapping a sticker on the box saying M, E, or whatever?   I shouldn't have to see 5 or 6 commercials in one day advertising these games, because if I saw them I'm pretty sure the kids saw them. And actually depending on what children are watching at the time, they could get more of the commercials.

Why can't we have more educational games? Why can't we have a game learning about your ancestors or How to cope in real life?  Doing a budget, having a job, juggling the daily tasks of life, so they can be a little more prepared. If they are going to play video games, it might as well be something more educational than people shooting people, killing, torturing etc.

When I was growing up, I just wanted to go outside and play, I could care less about playing a video game. My brothers had the dreamcast and they played games like Sonic. Pure fun. Now days kids don't even want to go outside, you say go play they don't know what it means anymore. It's hard for me to fathom that these children are getting younger and younger and filling up our jails because they are doing grown-up crimes. It's sad where we have come.