Friday, June 22, 2007

Navigating Wii and other violent video games

With Nintendo's Wii video game system allowing players to literally, physically act out the game that's appearing on their screen, it was only a matter of time before those games turned violent. Manhunt 2 is the one getting the most attention but there are eight violent games for the Wii platform already on the market, fueling a debate: does the physical interaction that Wii entails put players at higher risk for antisocial behavior? (See my story in the Saturday Living/Arts section; I would normally link to it here, but I'm writing this before publication.)

No matter which side of the debate you agree with, open up the discussion with your teen: "Have you heard about Wii? Do you know kids who are playing it? Have you heard about this game that's generating so much controversy, Manhunt 2?" (Lest you lose all credibility before you begin, know how to pronounce it; it's "we," as in the French, "oui.") This is a conversation worth having even with a 13-year-old, and even if you are sure your child has never played any violent video games. The earlier you get this topic on the table, the better.

Getting your teen to agree with you isn't necessarily the point. (And even if he does, don't expect him to tell you.) The point is that through your conversation, you open his mind to at least thinking about the possible impact violent games can have.

Let me tell you about the part of my interview with Joanne Cantor that I didn't have room to write about in the paper. In addition to being one of the foremost researchers on the effects of media violence on children as well as a professor emerita at the University of Wisconson/Madison who frequently testifies before Congressional committees, here's perhaps her most important credential: she's the mother of an 18-year-old son.

Alex, of course, grew up knowing about her work and her objections to violent screen content. He was 14 before it became an issue between them.

"I drew the line at a James Bond first-person shooter game," she says. "We had some discussions, I told him my concerns, he wasn't happy. I can't say he never played Grand Theft Auto [a controversial violent game, rated M, and also produced by Rockstar Entertainment, the same company in the hot seat right now with Manhunt 2] at friends', but at our house, only sports games were allowed. Not," she adds, "that they can't be violent; some of the football and soccer video games have plenty of violence in them, don't fool yourself. But at least it's not hostile, criminal violence."

Cantor had periodic conversations with Alex. She stresses that point. "It was always a conversation, not a lecture. And you can't just say, 'It's bad.' You have to talk about why, the way research shows it can change a person's ability to relate to people without him even realizing it, that it can make a person less empathetic. And you have to talk about teenagers in general, not about what it might do to him."

Cantor knew that despite these discussions, her son probably was playing more than golf video games. But she also felt her message had penetrated at some level. Then she got lucky.

"A boy Alex knew, a nice kid, a kid who had never been in trouble and never handled a real gun but who played a lot of first-person shooter games -- my son knew that about him -- well, this boy got caught up with other kids who played the games, too. Somehow he got involved in a real-life attempted hold-up. He was holding a gun. He fired it. I guess someone was hurt, because he's in jail now."

Cantor goes on, "Anyway, my son and I never had another argument about buying another violent video game."

She suggests telling that story to your own son. It may not carry the heft it did for Alex, but it's one more way to have a conversation.

Meanwhile, here are some other thoughts to plant with your son, to help him become more self-aware:

Am I having having bad dreams or nightmares that resemble the games I play? Do I sometimes surprise myself with my agressive thoughts?

Lastly, here's a link to a 2005 column on video games in general, which often get played more in summer months when kids have more time on their hands.

Posted by Barbara Meltz at 09:47 AM

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