The other day we were in a Pizza place with a little game room. Zoe, my 3 yr. old, wanted to see the games. She likes to sit in the car racing games even though she does not know what to do. Correction - she knows what to do. She gave me very specific instructions which buttons to push when, and when we arrived at our destination she told me we were in Africa.
Anyway, she saw the games with guns and wanted to play with them. I of course said that guns were not toys, but that some people play with them. She looked at the screen and said,"Why do some people pretend to shoot other people?" I said, "I don't know, but it's not very nice. Is it?" She looked serious for a moment, then softened and said, "It's just a game, Daddy!" I agreed and changed the subject, realizing that the anticipated conflict over violence in our culture as a normative behavior had begun. Ah, the innocence of youth!
Anyway, she saw the games with guns and wanted to play with them. I of course said that guns were not toys, but that some people play with them. She looked at the screen and said,"Why do some people pretend to shoot other people?" I said, "I don't know, but it's not very nice. Is it?" She looked serious for a moment, then softened and said, "It's just a game, Daddy!" I agreed and changed the subject, realizing that the anticipated conflict over violence in our culture as a normative behavior had begun. Ah, the innocence of youth!
Comments
Should we not let our kids play capture the flag because we are afraid that they will become real life theives because of this pretend game that involves stealing?
Should we not let our kids throw water balloons at people or have pillow fights because it is pretending to injure someone?
I still assert that playing with a toy gun is not a violent act or makes one more prone or desensitized to violence.
A child can play with a gun and pretend to shoot someone without pretending that a bullet rips into them and blood splatters everywhere.
I think Zoe is right, sometimes , "It's just a game, Daddy!"
Here's my point. When people play shooting games they aren't playing to maim or kill. That's not the point. When you shoot a dart gun, a water gun, a laser tag gun, etc. you aren't visualizing blood and limbs flying.
You are enjoying testing your skills and trying to achieve a goal.
You do it for the same reasons people throw a ball into a hoop or a frisbee to a teammate. It is the same reason it is fun to play capture the flag.
Shooting whether in real life, pretend real life, or in a video game tests our skills. It's about the challenge of trying to do something. And that something is hit a target, not commit violence.