Dr. Phil is an idiot!
http://gamepolitics.com/2007/04/17/dr-phil-blames-video-games-for-virginia-tech-massacre/
Dr. Phil Blames Video Games for Virginia Tech Massacre
In the wake of yesterday's horrific shootings at Virginia Tech, gadfly attorney Jack Thompson was not the only one who was quick to place blame on violent video games.
Noted T.V. shrink Dr. Phil McGraw appeared on CNN's Larry King Live last night to discuss the rampage. During the course of the program, the following exchange took place:
LARRY KING: Why, though - OK, you want to kill someone, you're crazed, you're a little nuts, girlfriend drops you, why do you kill innocent people?. Dr. McGraw, are they treatable?
DR. PHIL: Well, Larry, every situation is different. The question really is can we spot them. And the problem is we are programming these people as a society. You cannot tell me - common sense tells you that if these kids are playing video games, where they're on a mass killing spree in a video game, it's glamorized on the big screen, it's become part of the fiber of our society. You take that and mix it with a psychopath, a sociopath or someone suffering from mental illness and add in a dose of rage, the suggestibility is too high.
And we're going to have to start dealing with that. We're going to have to start addressing those issues and recognizing that the mass murders of tomorrow are the children of today that are being programmed with this massive violence overdose.
Dr. Phil Blames Video Games for Virginia Tech Massacre
In the wake of yesterday's horrific shootings at Virginia Tech, gadfly attorney Jack Thompson was not the only one who was quick to place blame on violent video games.
Noted T.V. shrink Dr. Phil McGraw appeared on CNN's Larry King Live last night to discuss the rampage. During the course of the program, the following exchange took place:
LARRY KING: Why, though - OK, you want to kill someone, you're crazed, you're a little nuts, girlfriend drops you, why do you kill innocent people?. Dr. McGraw, are they treatable?
DR. PHIL: Well, Larry, every situation is different. The question really is can we spot them. And the problem is we are programming these people as a society. You cannot tell me - common sense tells you that if these kids are playing video games, where they're on a mass killing spree in a video game, it's glamorized on the big screen, it's become part of the fiber of our society. You take that and mix it with a psychopath, a sociopath or someone suffering from mental illness and add in a dose of rage, the suggestibility is too high.
And we're going to have to start dealing with that. We're going to have to start addressing those issues and recognizing that the mass murders of tomorrow are the children of today that are being programmed with this massive violence overdose.
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There is a difference between a spanking and a beating, and there is a difference between discipline and abuse. Each of the former are tools, the latter in each case is just cruelty and needs to be curtailed.
I'm old enough to remember when they pulled Mighty Mouse off the air because it was too violent. It's a good thing they didn't yank Roy, Dale, Cisco, Gene, Bret, Wyatt, Bronco, Maverick, Johnny, Bat, Annie, Matt and a few dozen more, or my childhood would have been ruined.
Of course it did make me violent enough to slaughter dozens of doves every fall.0 -
I dissagree. Sure, you can play games, shoot people, yaddda yadda, but there are RATINGS on the game, if you cant understand its a GAME, then you shouldnt be playing it. The kid shouldnt have been here in the FIRST place 0 -
I Agree.
He would not last 5 minutes where I live.
I dont know who's leg he had to hump to get his fancy degrees; but they are not worth the paper they are written on.0 -
You're not reading exactly what he said. He said, "You take that and mix it with a psychopath, a sociopath or someone suffering from mental illness and add in a dose of rage, the suggestibility is too high."
I don't think he was talking about the normal kid or normal thinking adult. I think he qualified his statement, and under those conditions (a psychopath, a sociopath or someone suffering from mental illness and add in a dose of rage) he may have a point.
He didn't say the video games made everyone more apt to do these things.0 -
+1 dh. As earlier stated, there is no a simple answer, but I believe violent video can contribute. Someone mentioned Clint Eastwood, John Wayne, cowboy's & indians, whatever.
The difference with the video games is that the players become more engrossed in the game. The Columbine murderers used video games to de-sensitize them selves in preparation for their deed.
I have known teenagers who have become so addicted to these games that they became anti-social and completely cut themselves off from parents, siblings and friends. There were other contributing factors, as well, but the game became the catalyst. Again, there is no silver bullet, but I do believe that in some cases these games do contribute. There is no substitute for good parenting.0 -
My wifes cousin who is a schoolground killer..( kip kinkle) played them killer video's. You seen his results at Thurgood High in Oregon. 0 -
Dr. Phil is to psychology like Taco Bell is to Mexican food.
[:(!] I kind of like Taco Bell [:D]0 -
[8D]--If you "experts" love video games then you must love ---
--Air guns IDENTICAL REPLICLAS OF ????
--And used by ??????????????
--Don't care about kids --RIGHT ???
JIMBO0 -
quote:Originally posted by JamesRK
The problem was the evil son-of-a-gripe who did the murders. Nobody else, nothing else.
A related problem is that none, NONE, of the professors, instructors or students were armed.
Ditto! You hit the nail right on the head!!!!0 -
This 'kid', was a 23 year old adult! If he was capable of being an English major in college, do you think he might just be capable of knowing right from wrong?
He snapped. That's it. A bad guy and a tragedy. I'm so tired of the media looking for every excuse under the sun. 24/7 blame game now. Why can't they give it a rest?
I was watching a reporter last night acting completely shocked that a semi-auto pistol will fire a round every second. Completely shocked! Adding to the drama of his story.
The guy had a short circuit and cut loose. We don't need anymore explanations. Be it video games, guns, lack of lock downs, police response, lack of heeding warning signs etc..etc... People just need a break. There's no such thing as grieving and getting past it anymore.
The killer's dead so somebody's got to pay.0 -
Allow me to offer my2 cents worth .I have worked as a psychaitric tech with emotionaly ill and conduct disordered teens for 30 years.Yes they are more violent now than when we were kids>It is a complex situation made worse in some cases by violence in the games they play,the music they listen to ,the movies and tv they watch.Compound this with lax to no parenting,no rules and no consequences when they screw up and you have a recipe for disaster.We have abdicated our responsibilitys to be parents to the school systyems and exopect them to fix our mistakes ,cant be done .We must start being parents again not their best buddy.Add in some true menatal illness and watch out 0 -
He may have a point but I can't stand the guy. 0 -
Very good post, Pulse.
Everyone needs to start adhering to man-law.0 -
Pulse hit the X ring. 0 -
my 2c, I do not agree with what Dr TV Shrink say's. What I belive is the reason why these kids/young adults do the horrible things they do is to try and get noticed or seen/heard about. Look at todays youth, "emo", "goth" and what ever you want to call them, I call them "skater punks". From what I have seen they all want too be seen/heard. But I am not some shrink or anything, its just what I think... 0
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