Tragedy struck Torreon Mexico when an 11-year-old boy for reasons unknown entered his school and shot and killed a teacher, injuring another along with five students before turning the gun on himself ending his own life. While the families of the victims mourned and many more were left reeling and confused, Miguel Riquelme the Governor of Coahuila was confident he knew what caused the event: Violent Video Games!
That’s right, once again another kid who was magically just 100% perfectly mentally sound with no problems — despite virtually no one alive being without problems — snapped because of video games and shoot up a school. This time around Natural Selection was the game the child tried to emulate in his shooting.
Naturally the governor probably means Natural Selection 2, but how a FPS/RTS hybrid where you fight aliens would inspire a child to shoot up a school is anyone’s guess. The way they’re talking about it you’d assume National Section 2 was some kind of designer drug rather than a digital entertainment product.
What is arguably more objectionable is the author of the article actually attempted to give credence to these insane assertions that couldn’t even get the game’s name right. Saying:
“Experts have long debated whether there is a link between violent video games and aggressive behaviour.”
No idiots have asserted that the newest and most predominate medium is the cause of violence and science has consistently shown it isn’t. Then they turn around and say “well maybe it is.” That’s not a debate! That’s a bunch of delusional ideologues attempting to push their agenda despite reality saying they’re wrong.
From experience the first time I ever for the briefest moment realized I could just shoot those that made my life miserable didn’t come after a violent video game session, it came after the news for weeks kept saying I could. For a moment I said “wait I can do that?!” Before brushing the idea off as stupid, but more and more I am convinced the media puts these violent ideas into young children’s minds more so than any other medium.
Especially when said medium of journalism should be rightfully calling the governor out on his puritanical ravings of “it’s the video games!” rather than giving it a platform as if the notion somehow has credence. For when was the last time or any time for that matter you’ve seen any coverage of bullied kids or school shooters even talk about the options available for young boys to cope with whatever is troubling them rather than glamorizing the action for ratings?
