12-15-2012, 12:14 AM
(12-14-2012, 10:18 PM)Maggot Wrote: I think that the use of video games as a way to babysit kids instead of doing stuff with them is really the meat of the matter. They become disconnected from reality at some point because they are in the la-la land of unreality. Parents should allow only a certain amount of free time with games and then get them out in the real world more often. Its a lazy way of parenting to deny them this big ole world.
I remember lots of the same reasoning regarding latch key kids and television when more and more women entered the work force.
Anyway, I don't disagree with what you or Six or MS has stated as being possible contributors to increased violence these days (not necessarily the frequency of violence, but the scale). Too much time spent in fictional/fantasy scenarios without sufficient real life socialization and guidance regarding right vs. wrong can desensitize children (and sometimes adults), imo.
Still, most won't become killers, but odds are greater for them than children that have adults who are engaged in their lives (if those adults are not completely over-coddling or otherwise nutjobs themselves) and actively assist the child to become independent and responsible in society.
And yet, there do occur plenty of instances when children from decent homes turn out to be scum of the earth, while those from hell holes wind up being salt of the earth. But, I think those are more of the exception than the rule. All JMO...
Just read that Adam Lanza's mother wasn't a teacher at the school, but perhaps used to be a volunteer there. Also, she is said in linked article to have been very rigid and that Adam didn't play with other kids. The story has been changing a lot, so I take this with a grain of salt, but thought I'd mention it as it ties into this discussion. Here's the link:
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/connecticu...MvtjU7TnmI