While I applaud your husband’s decision (no offense intended but your son was way out of line. I would have done the same thing), it does not remove the threat of violence from your children’s lives. I, myself am an avid gamer. I’ve probably been playing violent games for longer than your child has been able to talk and yet I’ve never harmed anyone. Heck, I’ve been in one fight in six years, with my own brother. Some people do take to what they see on TV or play in games or hear in their music than others. It doesn’t mean they’re going to become killers or even violent. Take a look at my music tastes for example (use google if you really want to): Suicide Commando, Tactical Sekt, Psyclon Nine… By the reckoning of a lot of parents out there I should be a serial killer by now. If a person cannot differentiate between what is real and what is merely entertainment has almost certainly got something wrong with them. The only time this is explainable is when hey’re very young, and there are laws protecting young children from violence. But (and it pains me to say this) it’s up to you to ensure those laws are upheld in your own household.

The fact is that I find these games therapeutic. They give me a place to blow off some steam without physically or even emotionally harming someone. And I am anything but desensitised to violence. The act of torture repulses me, agonised screams still terrify me and make me want to help and I still can’t say the word “rape” out loud without shuddering. The sad fact is that the media takes only the bad sides of video games’ and TV’s influence, because it sells better. A climate of fear leads to more sale, our world is no more dangerous now than ten years ago…the advancement of communications just ensures we hear more of what goes on. What about the boy who saved his sister: http://games.on.net/article/2330/World_of_Warcraft_Skills_Save_Boy_From_Moose

Or the girl who pulled her family from their car before it exploded: http://kotaku.com/5044866/grand-theft-auto-helps-preteen-rescue-family-from-crashed-car

Good things can come from Video Games (http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/parents/video_games/good_things_videogames.cfm, http://darianworden.com/blog/?p=182, http://www.buzzle.com/articles/the-good-things-about-video-games.html). I know they’ve stimulated my imagination (something you mention in your article), helped me calm down and get past rough issues. But it’s up to you to make sure your kids are responsible. Don’t let them buy games they aren’t old enough for. No GTA for 8 year olds for example.

All the same, I am glad to see you’re taking an active role in protecting your child, even if I disagree with some of your views. You took a stand, something a lot of parents wouldn’t do.