[Ltlabner]

Interesting question.

Part of me says that unless you have a tendency towards violence, a poor grasp of reality and zero parental direction video games don't do squat.

Part of me says that the military uses advanced simulations to help train troops to kill and to desensitize them to doing so. There's no difference between those simulations and video games other than the realism and complexity. They wouldn't use them if they didn't achieve the desired effect.

Part of me says that if you're going to fret over video games you better outlaw football, karate lessons, MMA and wrestling as they not only promote violence, they actually force you to pummel other human beings.

Part of me says that as a kid I played army, had toy guns and made plenty of weapons out of sticks. In my imagination I repelled the commie horde again and again in the back yard. Today, however, I have zero interest in killing commies, joining the army or shooting anybody.

Part of me says it would be foolish to let children play games that have "mature" themes. Letting a 5 year old blast zombies night and day doesn't strike me as a good idea.

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Ultimately, video games, in and of themselves don't do anything IMO. However, combine them with thousands of hours of playing, no parental direction, some emotional immaturity or instability and some other environmental factors and they become part of a big equation that *might* result in violence.

And lastly, every kid is different. Some can handle them, understand they are entertainment and are one of many different fun activities. Others probably shouldn't play with sharp objects, let alone Castle Wolfenstein.