This is exactly the kind of conversation we want to generate. Yes, parents need to be informed and not play dumb when it comes to buying/renting games. Alycat is right about kids being raised by kids, or by video games. The goal of gameprofamily is to direct parents' attention to the ESRB rating and to inspire them to be proactive shoppers. Many parents don't realize the extent of violence within some games. The issue with the violence - for me - is that video games allow kids to repeatedly play out the scenarios. All we ask is that parents pay attention, know what their kids are up to and talk with them. You're right, video games cannot be the new scapegoat for aggression in children. The scapegoat really hasn't ever changed - that's the parenting, or lack of it. I hope all of you visit the site and share your insight! Thanks.

I replied to the author of the article "Halo 3: The 'Third Wave' Destroying the U.S." by LaRouche, and basically I say the same thing to all violent game haters ...

If the parent buys a violent game for their 10 year old without reviewing it or finding out anything about it, they better be ready to accept the repercussions of their stupidity. And seriously, give the kids more credit than that. They're not stupid; if any self-respecting parent has brought up their children correctly, the child will know the difference between "reality" and "fantasy/fiction".

Its no different than reading an epic fantasy book with sword fights and monsters. Just because you can see the images on the t.v. doesn't make it any more realistic. Kids have wild imaginations...

All societies 'problems caused by video games' existed before video games themselves. The only thing that changed is now the commercial media get better sales by peddling stories about disturbed children. How about people check why the kids are disturbed, its been happening for way before Halo came out. The new mega violent games coming out are just hitting the shelves over the last couple of years, i'm pretty sure screwed up kids existed in the sixties, when half these nut jobs were born or growing up.

Environment and parental skills matter more than what disk you stick in a console.

Kids are only as bright as their parents. The problem isn't the games so much as the fact that many children are being raised by children...and I don't just mean people who had children early in life, but the oversized children that barely step away from the xbox themselves to do their job. Some children are even being raised by the xbox and whatever else because the parents aren't around.

Incidently, I've had students whose first reaction to hearing about real war and calamities like 9-11 is "Wow, cool!" and I have to spend the next 5 minutes explaining to them why it's not cool since they aren't getting the message at home.

I once drove by a car wreck where the driver was still in the seat, bleeding from his head, and with an expression of terror on his face. Game violence did not prepare me for handling this sight. Video game violence desensitizing our youth IRL is BS.

Quite intriguing... and I am with the writer that it's the parent's job to look over their children and they are smart enough to know what's real or not. Children learn quickly at an early age compared to those that were born like 20-30 years ago, adding to that, parents need to socially interact with their children... that way, they are sure to grow in a healthy environment without much worry on the violence, etc.