Should Violent Games Be Reviewed and More Closely Regulated?

In the wake of the shootings in Connecticut, many are calling for stricter gun control and smaller ammunition magazines, but the National Rifle Association’s Wayne LaPierre claims it isn’t all about the guns. He's asking us to look to video games.

Is it possible that desensitization due to over-exposure to violence can be a factor in mass murders such as the one perpetrated in Connecticut? That’s one possible theory. But Rowell Huesmann and Eric Dubow of the Aggression Research Program at the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan feel it is more than that — games may provide a script that makes these murderers more confident in their actions. And while most teens reject the “script” as flat-out wrong or fictional, there are those who are psychologically damaged who do not reject this common script.   “We must strive to find ways, without trampling on the right of free artistic expression, to reduce youth exposure to violence in life and in the mass media," …

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From Where I Stand

What Can Be Done to Control Rage and Abuse?

The time to seek help for the person with uncontrolled rage is at the first sign of their negative behavior

Abuse, violence, and uncontrolled rage are not limited to any one segment of our society. The rich, poor, middle class, educated, uneducated, employed, unemployed and the list is endless when tracking the areas where violence and abuse occur. Spouse abuse and violence all too often makes the news when people of notoriety, means or wealth demonstrate the abusive behavior. There seems to be an escalation of rage in the last month of the year. It could be that during this time of year there are more stressful family times bringing out the worst in behavior or it could be the rage has built up for many months to only be displayed in December. Whatever the reason might be, there seems to be more reports of abuse and violent behavior during the …

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Jimmy Orr

9:02 am on Friday, December 14, 2012

Cynthia, I was delighted to see your smiling face and read your comment in our Dacula Patch. Matter of fact, I was asking Kristi about you the other day as I had missed you in Patch. As for Ray, he always writes a well thought out commentary. I am honored and privileged to email his weekly commentary, "From Where I Stand," which appears in the Wednesday edition of the Barrow County News, to those…   more ›