[sabby]

Being a parent of two, I found the article very interesting. My view point on this is that if your a rational human being that can differentiate between real life and make-believe, then there is no problem.

My concern would be the so-called "outcasts" in schools, the ones that are not accepted by their peers, that may play these games and just one day "snap" or try to gain acceptance or respect by performing something s/he saw or performed on a game or saw on the internet.

I watch what I play around my daughters. Most of the shooters that I see, I have no interest in playing just because that is not my genre of games. Some of the RPG games I play (Diablo, Dungeon Siege, Titan Quest, etc.) do have blood effects on them but I normally do not play them in front of them. My six year old (four at the time) has come in while I've played Diablo II and saw all the blood. When she came in, I paused the game and explained to her that it was just a game and none of it was real. She then proceeded to tell me to chase after the monsters. Have I screwed up her life by playing this game, probably not, I've done more damage by being her father than that video game has done.

This should be a wake-up call to parents to actually be parents. Video games should be entertainment, not a baby-sitter. My wife and I try our best every day to raise our daughters the way we think is best. Parents need to stop turning a blind eye toward their children and their activities.

I'll get off my soap box right now and let others chime in.