Lady's Son Is Sweet, So She Worries He's A Murderer

Because there was a shooting, video games are again being scrutinised.

A mother was concerned that her otherwise sweet, delightful men - son and husband - were playing violent video games.

This is the article, with an unfortunate title.
http://www.ivillage.com.au/the-lounge-room-habit-could-lead-murder/150926

I couldn't help but leave the following comment, which I think is worth sharing:

Oh dear, not again! Every time there's a shooting, this issue pops up. As an older gamer, a son and eventually a father, I can assure you that it's not the video games you need to be worried about. For every gamer who is also a shooter, there are hundreds, thousands, millions who are not. When it comes to our understanding of violence in the real world, a video game is as relevant as the couch we sit on to play, or the junk food we eat too much of while we press buttons. It's not the video game that's disturbed: it's the person. A disturbed person could find triggers in movies, wildlife docos, boxing matches, a street lamp, a dog! 

There's never been conclusive evidence that a violent video game is going to create a violent child. How long do you keep looking for something when there's less and less evidence it exists? And why is it always linked just to violent video games? Look at sport. Football, be it AFL in Australia or NFL in the States - both codes have far more trouble with violent players, who are enacting violence in the real world more regularly than the hapless geek sitting on his couch at night and going to work by day. But are there as many articles titled,

"The Sporting Habit That Could Lead To Murder/Gay Bashing/Stabbing/Fights/Public Urination"? 

Let's get back to you, concerned mother. The Aurora shooter had a college psychiatrist flag him. It's alleged his mother had an idea about him. The Sikh temple shooter was in a Nazi band. You've said in this article that your son and husband are gentle, sweet people. What's the problem, exactly? Here's the thing: stop looking at simply playing a video game as being a worry or a threat. Look for ACTUAL signs. Is your son distant, does he mutter to himself, does he strangle cats, is he a member of a Nazi band? THOSE are things you should be worried about. Those are things we should all be worried about. Let's spend less time focussed on video games and more time learning about psychological illness. 

And enjoy the fact that your kid and your man are fine!