A sensible take on gaming violence.

[sambo]

Psychologist slams "irresponsible and thoughtless" scapegoating agenda

Following news that the man responsible for the Oslo massacre used Modern Warfare 2 as a training simulator, furore has once again erupted over the effects of videogame violence. According to one expert from Texas A&M University International, however, accusations that games incite real-life killings reveal "a certain element of racism or ignorance".

"I know it's a little controversial to say but there's a certain type of racism in place with these killings," clinical psychologist Christopher Ferguson explained to Forbes. "When shootings happen in an inner city in minority-populated schools, video games are never brought up.

"But when these things happen in white majority schools and in the suburbs, people start to freak out and video games are inevitably blamed. I think that there's a certain element of racism or ignorance here."

Such outbursts of violence are a sad though thankfully infrequent inevitability, Ferguson believes. "They're like lightning strikes. You can't predict them or stay them off, but society doesn't want to hear that. People really want to know what kind of bogeyman can we hang this on and video games are still the top choice when it comes to any type of tragedy.

"There are groups out there who are going to blame video games on everything. "They're like ambulance chasers, really. I think it's irresponsible and thoughtless to try to make political gain off of someone else's tragedy, but they're going to do it. That's what they do. But even those groups have been much quieter with the Oslo tragedy."

[Palerider_GB]

Following news that the man responsible for the Oslo massacre used Modern Warfare 2 as a training simulator...

No he didn't, he just happened to play it on-line...

He also played WoW but I don't recall how he used that as a training simulator in order to be able to cast his spells in the right way and escape on his flying gryphon...

If he really used CoD as a training simulator he'd have spent more time verbally abusing his victims than he did hooting them...

[sambo]

Norway Suspect Used Call of Duty to Train for Massacre

http://blogs.forbes.com/johngaudiosi/2011/07/24/norway-suspect-used-activisions-call-of-duty-to-train-for-massacre/

Of course it's all media twisted so there is something to blame. But when the suspect Anders Behring Breivik writes:

“I just bought Modern Warfare 2, the game. It is probably the best military simulator out there and it’s one of the hottest games this year. … I see MW2 more as a part of my training-simulation than anything else. I’ve still learned to love it though and especially the multiplayer part is amazing. You can more or less completely simulate actual operations.”

You can see how the media are going to jump all over it.

[Cerebral_Wolf]

Yeah, he clearly knows better and is just looking for more media attention.

[The-Marb]

/[/url]

Of course it's all media twisted so there is something to blame. But when the suspect Anders Behring Breivik writes:

“I just bought Modern Warfare 2, the game. It is probably the best military simulator out there and it’s one of the hottest games this year. … I see MW2 more as a part of my training-simulation than anything else. I’ve still learned to love it though and especially the multiplayer part is amazing. You can more or less completely simulate actual operations.”

He probably thinks that his toilet speaks to him or that a giant purple unicorn steals his thoughts too, doesnt mean hes right.

The merest suggestion Mw2 could be used for military training is laughable. Its like watching 24 and then applying to M15 as you think you have suitable experience.

Spot on article though sambo, cheers.

[Johnny Shoulder]

Its like watching 24 and then applying to M15 as you think you have suitable experience.

Damn it! I've just filled in my application form based on that! Does this mean I will have to watch all of the Bond movies to gain experience?

[CherryCokeChaos]

I assume he played on veteran?

Also mutiplayer cod online as a basis for "operations" sounds hilarious, because in real life you can mute your footsteps, call in a supply drop and jump across buildings with rocket launchers and throwing knives.

Twat.

[BuffAngel]

Did he circle strafe - do we know?

Terrible thing to happen though and stupid to blame it on games anyway, i bet he played Risk and Chess as well.

[The-Marb]

Good point.

Blaming gaming for this douche is like blaming the banking crisis on greedy investors playing too much Monolpoly as a child.