“Playing violent video games changes brain function and
desensitizes chronic players to violence, according to a new study led
by University of Michigan researchers.” This statement appeared in the
February 2006 issue of Science & Theology News under the
heading “Violent video games alter brain.”
In a nutshell, “The researchers found participants who routinely
played violent video games responded less to violent images, as measured
by diminished P300 brainwaves. This was not true of their response to
other, equally negative, nonviolent images.”
In my opinion, this study would seem to validate what is observable
in society at large: in the pursuit of many activities, as time goes by,
increased stimulation is needed to achieve a sought-after response. The
result is addiction.
This is a point I tried to make in my Blog, “Practice Makes Perfect –
1 August 2006.” Addiction to killing results in a search for more and
more victims and even in increasingly challenging tortures. The victims
may be hunted animals, farmed animals, companion animals, human animals,
or fish. Yes! That’s right! Fish! All of God’s creatures are fair game
for those who learn to victimize others.
The following is an example of such behavior that unfortunately is
acceptable in society: I have never forgotten a conversation I had with
a retired police officer. He said he had two sons. One was an “avid”
hunter; the other was not. He seemed to favor the hunter and proudly
described to me how that son, while hunting, had injured a bear and
proceeded for half an hour to video-tape and sound-record the cries and
painful suffering of the bear until he died. Mind you, this was related
to me with enormous pride. This man had no idea how I felt about animals
and thought that I would be impressed. I was “impressed,” all right –
negatively impressed! Stunned, I mumbled something and excused myself.
He probably wondered why, after that day, I would avoid talking with
him.
