Tweet
It's a shame then, with such intelligent and credible support for the tightening of classifications, that a flurry of mindless press continues to corrupt public opinion with scare-tactics and outrageous hyperbole...
This evening, Ten News ran a story claiming that "the link between violent video games and youth crime is greater than the connection between smoking and lung cancer." This ludicrous comparison is a reminder of Atkinson's; that gamers are more dangerous than biker gangs.
The report warns parents that stabbings and other violent crimes are directly linked to games such as Modern Warfare 2. Games like Infinity Ward's stellar success "actually rewire a child's brain making them more amenable to violence," Matt Doran reports.
Paul Hunt's submission [IGEA.net]
The chair of a long-running Federal Government inquiry into youth violence says she is starting to see a recurring connection between alcohol and aggression.
The Member for Canberra, Annette Ellis, has been guiding the inquiry since last June.
She says the link between alcohol and violence in young people has been made in many of the submissions.
"It is a recurring theme, but I don't want to mislead anybody by giving the impression that that's all that's being talked about," Ms Ellis said.
"Family breakdown, domestic violence, sometimes mental health, a whole range of other reasons and issues come into play if we try to discuss where violence comes from in our younger community."
Ms Ellis says she expects the inquiry's full report will be tabled in June.