The natural reaction to tragedy is to try to find someone or something to blame. In the U.S., the two main targets are guns and video games. If we could just get rid of them, mass killings wouldn’t happen, or so the thinking goes. But is this true?
One of the worse feelings is powerlessness. When tragedy strikes, we want to do something. We never want to feel this way again. So we look for ways to stop it.
This becomes a problem, however, when we lash out at the wrong things. Our efforts can do more harm than good when we do not deal with the actual problem.
Video games are not the problem. In spite of what you hear in the news:
- Video games will not make your child a serial killer.
- Video games will not make your child a fat slob.
- Video games can actually be very beneficial.
Video games, like movies, books, or television, are entertainment. As with any form of entertainment, there are going to be things you don’t want your child to encounter. The key is to be informed.
No one knows what’s best for your child better than you. You know what they can handle. You know what they aren’t ready for yet. With the right information, you can protect and empower them.