The cries of those left behind

There are moments in our lives when we find ourselves at a crossroads. The choices we make in those moments can define the rest of our days. And, of course when faced with the unknown, most of us prefer to turn around and go back. 

 ~ Lucas Scott

 

  Some people go to school, gun in hand and ready to do whatever it takes to fix their lives. Or to get revenge. Others only want to watch the world burn. Why? Who knows. Would we even want to know what goes on in their head? Maybe. Because when it comes to things like that, we need an explanation. To make sense of the madness and to make what happened have at least some sort of meaning. 

  Columbine, April of 1999, United States of America. Two shooters enter Columbine High, and shoot up the place. The wounds caused by that day are still felt to this very day. Columbine is pretty much a mandatory lesson in any Moral or Religious class, because of the sheer drama of it all. 

  Anders Behring Breivik. 2011. Norway. He bombed the government buildings in Oslo. He was involved in a mass shooting. He was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. But then that diagnosis was challenged. They wanted to say that he was in a clear state of mind. Perfectly and utterly sane. 

  Both of these cases have one thing in common. There was a huge controversy surrounding videogames when it came to Columbine. Now, with Breivik, that same controversy continues yet again.  

  Let's start at the beginning. There hasn't been a single outlet in Multimedia that hasn't been chastised for promoting violence, drugs and sex. Politicians and parents alike, band together to fight these outlets and get them back in line. Children above anything, and everything else be damned. 

  The two kids involved with the Columbine shooting, were found to be adamant gamers. They played games like DOOM and Wolfenstein 3D. One of them actually modded entire levels for DOOM. They said those games fueled their violent behavior. And that, when computer access was restricted to them, they really became mad. 

  It weren't just games though, it was Music as well, seeing as they listened to Rammstein and Marylin Manson. At least, according to the media. Though, later reports stated they weren't fans. Hell, even the entire goth culture was blamed at some point. If parents, politicians and the media can find something abnormal, you can be certain that they will blame them.  

  Over the years, videogames started to evolve. Not only did gaming consoles obtain the ability to render realistic environments, they were also able to tell stories and to show the action from a first person perspective that puts kids up close and personal. Games were also becoming more and more widespread, seeping in to other media as well and gaining a solid spot amongst business like movies and books. 

  As the years went by, politicians began to see that videogames were an easy target. Just like movies and music before it, videogames became their scapegoat to get votes on their side. Videogames were evil, and they were going to do everything in their power to stop them. 

  Years passed, and politicians never got anything new in their visors. They kept on hammering away at Videogames, declaring war on it. Every year, they try to pass laws that will cripple the gaming industry. They don't just fight the industry, but they also fight the consumers. 

  Why? Because they want to be back in those comfortable chairs. Or they want to be in those chairs for the first time. So they make up stories about games, or blow them completely out of proportion. They tackle the industry head on, without ever bothering to learn about it and see what exactly is wrong. Everything is already in place to protect children and inform parents, yet the industry remains in the crossfires. 

  They feel that videogames are responsible for fueling violent thinking. That games are what helped drive these people to commit the crimes that they did. That Columbine might not have happened if it weren't for games. And you know what? They may be right. 

  Movies, books, comic-books, music ... they all tell a story. Stories that are meant to provoke thoughts about the world, society and ones self. And videogames do the same. Some people, like Breivik, will look at a game and use it to fuel their own twisted way of thinking. Just like they would read a book and do the same. Hell, Breivik got most of his radical ideas from a book. And he used First Person Shooter videogames to train in using Scopes on a gun. 

  Videogames are responsible for fueling their violent thinking. Yes, they did  twist the minds of Breivik and those at Columbine. And, you know what? There's nothing more we can do about it. 

  Everything is already in place. All we need to do now, is help ourselves. Parents need to pick up their own responsibility, and make sure their kid doesn't do anything they don't want him to do. And, they also need to teach their children right from wrong. The Industry needs to continue using the ESRB and PEGI ratings to label their games. And the government needs to continue punish the people that sell games like Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto to kids. 

  People like Breivik will always exist. They will use Multimedia to fuel their own violence. They will learn how to kill from Multimedia. That is the harsh truth of the matter. It's also a harsh truth, that videogames are being singled out. Books, movies, comics and music are equally as responsible for fueling their twisted minds. Heck, even the news programs blaming videogames are responsible. You wanna know why? These people are lashing out for a reason, and the news will probably rapport of these reasons.

  Sometimes, games aren't even involved. Sometimes, teenagers are bullied every day. And have been bullied their entire lives. One thing piles up after another, and one day they lash out. Now, here's the harsh truth for you politicians and parents. Why aren't you fighting bullying just as adamant as you are videogames? For politicians it's an easy answer. Because bullying has been done. It won't get them votes. But, for parents? Maybe there are groups and organizations that fight bullying ... but where are they?  Speak up, we can't hear you.