Watch A Fox Reporter Demolish A Hackneyed Anti-Game Argument

Today, an old man went on television and complained about video games. Then someone proved him horribly wrong.

[Arai]

I gotta say that reporter nailed it on every point.

[xHeavYx]

Someone give this reporter a medal

[US8F]

I concur. Japan has less crimes while viewing/playing games twice as much that are violent. I don't get those people who deviate and say we need more studies. Surely it isn;t from video games, but how people are raised.

[nosferatuzodd]

indeed

[Pixel_Enemy]

There is a HUGE difference between movies, video games and real violence. I play plenty of violent video games, Kratos ripping off the head of a god, The Last of Us and so on. I watch tons of TV and movies like Dexter and Breaking Bad that are all out brutal. There's something about knowing that it isn't real that makes it ok for you to take in this kind of violence. Recently a friend of mine commented on a video on facebook so it showed up in my feed. I watched it and instantly regret it. It was some sort of gang beheading and it was REAL. I watched some woman have her head removed on video and it made me physically sick to my stomach. I couldn't sleep that night. All of the violence I see day to day in video games and movies don't prepare me for real violence. The two are completely different. Just because I can rip someone's head off in a game, doesn't mean I would ever do it in real life or even "fantasise" about it.

[Omegasyde]

I agree that the reporter had great counter arguments. I now see why the rise of more and more atheist in USA is partially to blame on the church for making themselves look bad.

"God knows violence because Jesus was nailed to a cross." Really? Of coarse he does, there were wars just to spread his name!

If anything violent videogames help people relieve stress especially games like GTA.

Also paying for sex - I don't do it, but hey if prostitution lowers rape cases I am all for it!

[Army_of_Darkness]

He insist that video games be taxed like cigarettes because they're bad for you?! STFU!

[NewMonday]

a Fox reporter actually talking sense and solid facts?!

WHAT IS THE WORLD COMING TO?!

[aCasualGamer]

Freaking beast.

[InMyOpinion]

No factual arguments to defend your point? Hide behind God. Lol. What is the US coming to...

He calls games "murder simulators" but stands behind guns, telling us proudly that he got his first gun from his father at age nine. He seems completely oblivious to the fact that if games are "murder simulators" the next step in the equation of killing someone would naturally be to grab a gun.

Then he gets facts shoved up his face that completely negate his theory yet he's too stubborn to change his mind. I bet he's able to shoehorn God into it somehow so he can hang on to his ignorance.

God understands violence, he says. He is against simulating the death of person but all for actually killing someone?

[FamilyGuy]

That was awesome, kinda want to see the topic that came after that about whether it should be illegal to pay for sex.

I never thought about the Japan comparison and they've got tons of crazy stuff out there.

@Pixel_Enemy
That's so true, we all think we're somewhat desensitized to violence till we watch something like 2 guys 1 hammer or any real snuff file. It's grotesque. Seeing REAL LIFE extinguished in brutal ways plays a huge effect on the human psyche.

[JokesOnYou]

Pixel_Enemy Very Well Said!

Also for those who don't know John Stossel does alot of great work analyzing how screwed up our politics are and exposing government waste.

[nveenio]

In all fairness, Stossel is about as much a Fox News Reporter as a cat is a whale. He is agnostic and shockingly liberal. In fact, when he came out as agnostic, he was afraid he'd lose his job. So this is a rare thing to see on Fox News, because Stossel is a rare reporter for that show.

[humble_gamer]

Stossel is not even close to being liberal. He's a libertarian, meaning he believes government should play a miniscule part in our lives. No Regulations. Thats far from being a liberal

[theaceh]

The only thing that studies have proven is that losing to your friends on a multiplayer race of Mario Kart can make you feel a bit more aggressive than ripping heads and torsos in single player God War 3 for 3 hours. Violent imagery,has almost no affect on peoples levels of aggressiveness, but competitive gameplay can make peoples aggressiveness levels spike, even if it's just for a small amount of time (minutes) after they put their controllers down.

[BISHOP-BRASIL]

"I got a gun when I was 9 years old but videogames? That kills people!" - 'MURICA!

You know what else Japan doesn't have?
http://img.gawkerassets.com...

Nothing against whatever each one chooses to believe, but trying and argue what's best for everyone else based on it? Way to go you old fart.

[dedicatedtogamers]

Stossel has been reporting on videogames since the NES. He owned/owns an NES and when he did his report on it, he said that he and his wife sometimes stay up to play it. That was over 20 years ago...

[superkidcupid13]

he doesnt even deserve a medal...that man deserves a early access to a free x1,ps4 and free violent games and cookies...cant forget the cookies...lol

[ThanatosDMC]

I'm scared now.... something's wrong. Media defending videogames?!

[lukeb4dunk]

@jokesonyou

I'm one of the agrees for your post. I know I may not agree with some of your views when it comes to gaming, but this I do.

Stossel has done great work in exposing rampant, needless government spending and how both sides of political lines are doing just that.

But I guess disagrees here, are based on your name and/or reputation, than your actual posts.

[starchild]

John Stossel is awesome. It's not just his views on Videogames that is dead on, I also find his views on many other subjects to be correct. He is more of a libertarian than conservative.

But the truth is, you can't find the truth exclusively in the Liberal camp, or the conservative camp, or in any camp. They all have a piece of the puzzle correct in my opinion. In any case, I don't dismiss any group off hand the way so many of you trendy people do. Fox news is no worse than MSN or any other network. They all have shown degrees of bias.

[Thegamer41]

Yes he did good, but when the guy said 'me and my friends grew up owning guns and we did not go out shooting people', the reporter should have replied with 'well me and my friends grew up playing video games and we didn't go out killing people, does that make your argument against games pointless?'

[JsonHenry]

I love Stossel. Fox still has a lot of libertarian reporters. But my favorite two are Napalitano (sp?) and Stossell.

[Minute Man 721]

Less Government more Freedoms

[gaffyh]

All I have to say is, that dudes moustache is killer.

[dcbronco]

He's not what he used to be when he was on 20/20. But he is far better than anyone else on Fox.

BTW do any of you remember when that wrestler slapped him in the ears and screwed up his hearing. I was really young and couldn't believe it was happening. 20/20 was my favorite show as a child.

[HonestDragon]

And how! This was surprising to say the least. I mean, a news correspondent on FOX using actual statistics with reinforced knowledge to debate and defend pop culture and doing so very well was the last thing I ever thought would happen. John Stossel hit the nail on the head.

[LackTrue4K]

Stossel showed him what's WHAT!!
:)

[yeahokchief]

The only reason they'd defend it is to join in on making money off it.

[1Victor]

here's the video for those that like myself could't see it on the article http://www.youtube.com/watc...

[Arai]

Awesome, thanks for posting the YT link. +1

[Snookies12]

This is coming from Fox!? o_o

Man, that's crazy lol.

Good on this reporter though, he was using actual facts to counter these arguments. Franklin didn't give any definitive proof as to why he believes what he believes. He was basically saying "Oh it looks bad, so it must be bad."

[coolbeans]

"This is coming from Fox!?"

The first comment didn't jump on pointing this out? Perhaps that trite gotcha is starting to wear thin.

We're talking about Stossel here so this isn't really surprising (regardless of what news corp. gives him his paycheck).

[Snookies12]

I tend to avoid Fox like the plague, but he certainly seems to lend some good reporting to them no doubt. Just surprised is all, hadn't heard of him before now.

[coolbeans]

"I tend to avoid Fox like the plague..."

You'll have to pardon my choice of words here: that sort of comes off as closeting yourself from dissenting opinions (unless you view a conservative-based news outlet elsewhere). Diving into the politically pluralistic nature of today's news (in US at least) can breed the best results of hearing every angle of an argument and filtering them to see where your decision lies in certain cases. I may question why Lawrence 'O Donnell is still working in political analysis, but that doesn't mean I'll completely shun him with the risk of missing an interesting point of view on a subject.

[dennett316]

Coolbeans, I'm very much of the ilk that believes that News needs to get back to being neutral...just report the facts. Any time there is an editorial, both sides should get an equal chance to present their viewpoints without being shouted over or demeaned.
Unfortunately, ratings seems to be the focus for the news nowadays...so that means sensationalism and bias in most cases. Oh, and 24 hour news channels really need to go as well...so much filler and repetition, it leads to bad habits and the reporting of nothing in order to fill dead air.
Conservative? Liberal? No, it should simply be news.

[coolbeans]

I certainly share in your annoyance with what news channels have brought themselves to, but the notion news were neutral (depending on how far back we're going) isn't necessarily true. And it's not really possible in today's world. The very action of a news team deciding to choose which topics to present, even in the most sedate fashion, or ignore during their hour-long+ narrative for consistency purposes is fundamentally biased. On top of that, you have to consider how much of the raw facts are slimmed down or changed because of how said host presents the questions/info or when that news team tries to discover the WHY behind this or that action.

The purpose of my second comment wasn't there to combat the idea that 'news should just be unfiltered data.' But since that notion is not really feasible in today's world, acquiring as many angles of the argument as possible lends to having the greatest results, rather than sheltering yourself from X news channels b/c they've been called "biased" a lot in your lifetime (from the internet or elsewhere). In Fox News' case, hardly anyone has a beef with Stossel or Napolitano, yet I'm sure there's other cases like Snookies where they're unknown just for being on "that channel."

[TheLeapist]

@Coolbeans,
When I first saw your post I was like, "Whoa how on earth did this guy manage to get so many bubbles?" Then I read your posts and I thought, "Oh, that's why." Thanks for bringing n4g that much more intelligence and level-headedness.

[dantesparda]

Coolbeans i see your a moderator and you'll probably screw me for this, but please, you are obviously trying to push your pro right-wing agenda and dennett is absolutely right! You're not fooling me, and what is the Leapist another account of yours?, cuz if anybody spewed intelligence it was dennett not you. So prove me right and ban me for the couple of days

[coolbeans]

"Coolbeans i see your a moderator and you'll probably screw me for this..."

Not necessarily, but providing such a boring opening that suggests since I'm a mod I'll now 'screw' anyone who disagrees with me already diminishes my enthusiasm for the point(s) you're going to bring up and my respect towards you.

"but please, you are obviously trying to push your pro right-wing agenda and dennett is absolutely right!"

By living in the real world of what the news is today and suggest extrapolating all angles of an argument? I never suggested dennet's idealized view is wrong, just enlightening him on how bias is more prevalent than his comment suggests.

"and what is the Leapist another account of yours?"

No. Leap suggests I'm not worthy of my bubble count from my first comment so why would I state that?

"cuz if anybody spewed intelligence it was dennett not you."

Why funnel it down to "best display of intelligence" to begin with? I just wanted to provide my own rationality regarding this subject in hopes of having a good conversation.

[dantesparda]

"Not necessarily, but providing such a boring opening that suggests since I'm a mod I'll now 'screw' anyone who disagrees with me already diminishes my enthusiasm for the point(s) you're going to bring up and my respect towards you."

Isnt that cute? you think i care about your respect or enthusiam. But my comment enthused you enough to respond back, funny, eh? But the statement still stands, i dont trust pissing off a mod, sorry that "bores" you. And lets not talk about "respect" on a site where there is none

"By living in the real world of what the news is today and suggest extrapolating all angles of an argument? I never suggested dennet's idealized view is wrong, just enlightening him on how bias is more prevalent than his comment suggests."

The only blatantly biased networks on cable/TV are FoxNews & MSNBC, and both are equally biased. What, you're gonna tell me that CNN, ABC, NBC and CBS are liberally biased? If you think that, than the biased one is you. They try and present the most centrist/fair view they can. They always have both sides on to debate the issues and if you see that as "biased" then thats your biased problem. I mean what are they supposed to do to be more fair? just have the rightwing smack down the leftwing everytime? then maybe you wouldnt think its so biased?

I will give you this much, you did try and present yourself in a respectful matter and for that i'll give you some credit. But this is what happens when people give their opinions (especially on politics). You know what they say about opinions, they are like @$$holes, "everybody got em, but nobody likes em". Unless they are on a hot girl, then i love em, lol!

and p.s. i brung up "intelligence" because the Leapist did

Now ban away my mod ;-)
(im just kidding by the way)

[coolbeans]

"Isnt that cute? you think i care about your respect or enthusiam. But my comment enthused you enough to respond back, funny, eh? But the statement still stands, i dont trust pissing off a mod, sorry that "bores" you. And lets not talk about "respect" on a site where there is none"

Keyword from last post: diminish. I never said I lost ALL my enthusiasm to respond back, only bluntly stating how I felt about that opener to the rest of your response. And 'the statement' shouldn't really stand since we've never had any previous interaction before (from what I remember). Why not individually assess my reaction(s) instead of unfairly grouping me? Personally, I enjoy seeing new faces (to me) respond to this sort of stuff; whether pulling soft or hard punches, it's great as long as it stays within n4g's commenting guidelines.

"The only blatantly biased networks on cable/TV are FoxNews & MSNBC, and both are equally biased. What, you're gonna tell me that CNN, ABC, NBC and CBS are liberally biased? If you think that, than the biased one is you."

Your first assessment of Fox/NBC is uninformed.

http://www.forbes.com/sites...

http://www.usnews.com/opini...

Generalizing most forms of news media (print, those other channels, etc.) as--at least--liberal-leaning in their views/news presented/etc. is practically common knowledge at this point. From what I've seen of those other 3 channels:

CNN: a bit strange at some points. Leans left but has people like Lou Dobbs too

ABC: probably the best

CBS: I can't remember watching that for a long time. :( Not trying to avoid that channel "like the plague," just rarely come to mind to go there. And yes, I can agree that I'm biased...like everyone else.

"and p.s. i brung up "intelligence" because the Leapist did"

Ah I see. That didn't even cross my mind in my first reply to you. :/

[tethered]

John Stossel is a long time libertarian which is very different than a republican. This does not surprise me at all. I have always been a fan of his.

[NewMonday]

libertarians should go all out and make a party, not huff and buff then melt into the republican party after they get tired.

[coolbeans]

They've had their own party for over 40 years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

[TheBossMan]

People need to wise the $*#@ up about these things. Saying every Fox person is bad is like saying every song in a certain genre is automatically crap. Stossel is a muthafuggin' gangsta libertarian and has been calling out BS within both the Democrat and Republican strongholds for years now. He doesn't give a damn what political party you identify with, he'll attack idiots regardless. I mean, he's not even close to being a conservative... he wants ALL drugs legalized (including crack/heroin/meth/etc.), wants legalized prostitution, isn't religious, etc. He just really hates stupid big-government overreach and as a result gets painted as conservative a lot even though he isn't at all.

[SegataSanshiro]

LOL AT MICROSOFT'S STOCKS @ 3:52

[Timesplitter14]

guy starts talking about God and Jesus within the first 30 seconds. I'm glad I live in Canada and not the US. Christ.

...woops

[Testfire]

Is there some reason you find the concept of a diety to be offensive?

[Timesplitter14]

no, not offensive.

But if some old guy went on TV and started saying we must do this and that because Zeus wants it, I'd think it's pretty silly.

I mean what was even the point of talking about god? "John.... God understands violence." Yeah ok. But where are you going with this. How is this pertinent? Is this supposed to be some kind of obscure argument?

[Testfire]

God, whether you believe in one or not, is an integral part in many people's lives. The reporter chose a well known minister to interview, of course he's going to talk about God.

"I mean what was even the point of talking about god?"

Really? Religion and morality go hand in hand. Imho, some games out there lack morality. They're violent just because they can be. There's a reason we don't let children play some games. Almost 90% of the world population believe in some sort of God, so I'd say it's somewhat relevant when talking about morality in video games that some people bring up God.

[Ulf]

I find it offensive.

It's pure human hubris to believe that we understand the heavens, or the will of beings that could have created the universe itself.

Churches around the world largely do nothing but teach people that these dieties they claim to understand, or that they claim to have communicated with, want to be *feared*. That doesn't sound like the church of a "good" deity, or all-powerful diety, at all, to me.

Organized Religion is nothing more than a gang of people claiming to understand the universe better than other people, and using that claim as an excuse to commit evils which we all KNOW to be evil -- due to the fact that that knowledge is *ingrained* in us, either by the evolved logic of group survival, or by a diety which no church can lay claim to -- possibly because being worshipped by a bunch of insects is not really desirable or interesting at all. It'd take some real ridiculous, self-important humans to think otherwise.

If you are a church-goer, you should not care about dieties. You should care about *values*, and helping other people, and the earth... and not for yourself, or your own journey to some "heaven" which another human, no more understanding of the universe than you, made up for the sake of earthly power.

[Donnieboi]

@Testfire:

Yes, there is:

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

OT: I can't wait for these old baby-boomer's to finally die off, so this country can stop claiming that our founding fathers were christian.

Thomas Jefferson QUOTE:
"I have examined all the known superstitions of the world and I do not find
in our particular superstition of Christianity one redeeming feature. They
are all alike founded on fables and mythology. Millions of innocent men,
women, and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been
burnt, tortured, fined, and imprisoned. What has been the effect of this
coercion? To make one half the world fools and the other half hypocrites; to
support roguery and error all over the earth."

Jefferson again
"Christianity...(has become) the most perverted system that ever shone on
man...Rogueries, absurdities and untruths were perpetrated upon the
teachings of Jesus by a large band of dupes and imposters led by Paul, the
first great corruptor of the teachings of Jesus."

More Jefferson
"The clergy converted the simple teachings of Jesus into an engine for
enslaving mankind and adulturated by artificial constructions into a
contrivance to filch wealth and power to themselves...these clergy in fact,
constitute the real Anti-Christ."

Jefferson's word for the Bible? "Dunghill."

For more quote's from our founding father's on the topic of the malevolence of the Judeo-Christian deity known as Yahweh, please read this:

http://www.ecis.com/~alizar...

Also here is a good quote from Richard Dawkins on Yahweh (the God that Jesus claims to represent, yet the writters of the Bible had Jesus break EVERY single law of the God that he supposedly represents (Yahweh):

“The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully.”

[braydox21]

do you mean deity?

i just thought it would be weird if people found diets funny.

[S2Killinit]

@Tesfire
If he is bringing up God, then why doesn't he talk about what God would think about GUNS??? I just can't imagine that God would endorse a tool that is made with the intention to kill his creation. Let me tell you I have extensive knowledge when it comes to people who mention God in their arguments; I have't seen ONE that wasn't hiding something behind the word "GOD".

[Allsystemgamer]

U just made me ashamed to be Canadian with that comment. Just because people believe in god does NOT make them any less a person. Don't be ignorant.

[ApolloTheBoss]

Respect people and their beliefs, even if you don't agree with them. Simple as that.

[DigitalAnalog]

I can respect the people and what they "choose" to believe but I do NOT have to respect their beliefs. Hitler believed his race to be the superior one should I respect his belief?

[Ser]

Weird, I thought the US was founded on religious principles. Odd that they choose to talk about God and Jesus, eh? Pfft.

Oh, you religious-intolerant folk. One day that blood pressure'll simmer down. ;)

[creepjack]

You know who else was borderline religious intolerant?
Our forefathers.

Please don't start going there with the religious intolerant, persecuted christian crap. It's a fact that most of the worlds intolerance stem from a religious belief. Dont give it if ya cant take it!

[Ser]

Please do carry on to further perpetuate the never ending cycle of hatred and intolerance. I'll continue to watch you silly people from a distance.

No one's "giving" or "taking" anything here. lol

[nunley33]

So no churches up in canada there? If you looked at how some of the more secular countries have done since becoming more secular and you'll find they've mostly turned into dumps where once they used to be nice to visit *coughs holland*.

[SegataSanshiro]

There are lots of churches in Canada and people do go to mass. Don't make me judo throw you

[InMyOpinion]

Scandinavia says hello. Or maybe we are also doing bad compared to the glorious US? You definitely beat us in obesity, school shootings, and pollution. Also, we are much worse than the US at starting wars. Must be our secular ways that make us so inferior to you.

Funny thing is that it's much easier to find third world countries, or countries at war, where religion is part of politics than it is to find one that is secular.

[AHall88]

@InMyOpinion

How those muslim riots working out for ya?
Ain't multiculturalism fun? ^^

Don't know about you, but I'd rather deal with the problems the US has than put up with people that want to kill you if you don't want islam shoved down your throat.

[Software_Lover]

Wow. Can't debate if you dont have information. One guy was informed, the other guy was not.

And this kids, is why you study!!

[Timesplitter14]

no no you don't understand.

God understands violence, can't you see?

[Cueil]

Someone has to have a picture of God doing a face palm for all these guys using The Bible to judge people when it clearly states that you're not in a possition to judge

[mushroomwig]

How about we tax stupidity instead?

[iceman06]

The deficit would be gone in 1 second flat!!!!

[PositiveEmotions]

The reporter its very smart

[brettski]

He's not a reporter. He's a pundit

[nunley33]

Actually he is a reporter and used to report for abc news 20/20.

[Sideras]

Someone should tell this Graham moron that his fictive scripture has caused a helluva lot more violence than anything else. Openly religious people should be banned from politics, rationale don't blend well with fantasy.

[TheLeapist]

Did you really just say all religious people should be banned from politics and then go on to talk about being rational? Haha. Kids these days.

[Revolver_X_]

Wasnt this countries original plan seperation of church and state? That went out the window as soon as it became convinent.

[TheLeapist]

Yep, and to this day no church leaders are also government leaders because of it. As was meant by separation of church and state.

[Sarobi]

Well damn. It's rare to see something like this.

[M-M]

Murder simulator lmfao. When people shoot someone in a video game, they/we don't even give it a second thought. It's just an animated character model for real.

[Themba76]

yea i guess ppl are simulating how to do a drop shot in real life or a quickscope or how about both at the same time.

[Redempteur]

They better not train on call of duty or else they would have serious problem IRL.

[swansong]

God isn't concerned about video games just the heart and soul.If you have convictions about certain games,don't play them,or certain movies or shows,don't watch them.I believe that the media and hollywood movies have more impact on society then video games. Most people can separate fantasy from reality.

[Salooh]

Exactly , in my religion nudity is forbidden only for married people. We don't make movies and include it. But if i saw some in english movies and got effected i must stop watching english movies. But if i'm confident that i won't get effected then it's alright , i just don't look. That's for english movies.

My religion = reason , There are ignorants in all religions , don't judge the religion from it's people , you may see people who just hold the name but don't do it , look at the religion it self then judge it. someone claim he's a muslim then blow himself . Then people start blame islam even though it forbid killing your self. These kind of people have agenda. These guys in the news are an example..

[FRA85]

lol the NRA against video games.

guns don't kill people video games do.

idiots.

[Cueil]

they're just deflecting... eventually as the old gaurd moves on we should see a shift of the NRA backing video games

[Wni0]

billy graham has offspring, my god.

[cyclindk]

That'd be a scary game... fighting off hordes of the vial bastard offspring of the one know as "The Graham" using the righteous Spade of Justice.

[Jon_Smackenrow]

What angrys me, is this guy speaking for all Christians, which I am one, and the Bible. Franklin Graham neutering the masculinity of the Bible, and acting like the Bible is not full of violence, Because Christ came as a lamb. The Lord Christ Jesus is coming back as a lion later on in the story.

[tiffac008]

There is not enough facepalm in the world for the comment made by that Graham fellow.

Please stop using God in your misguided and narrow minded thinking. You shame every person who believes in God.

[Pittoo]

And then you die and realise there is no god and you've been worshiping a pile of bullshit. xD

[SilentNegotiator]

When you die, you "realize there is no God"?

How the f**k does that work if you're dead?

[Gazondaily]

Lmao! Genuinely laughed out loud at that. Brilliant.

[SaffronCurse]

LOL

[skydragoonity]

I don't believe in fairy tales.

[RankFTW]

But God!

[KingKevo]

That other guy is so stupid. America has so many much more serious problems and when it comes to violence the biggest problem is still the fact that pretty everyone, even kids, can own or somehow get a gun. But that not the real problem... it actually is, but the gun lobby tries to find another scapegoat and today those are video games.

And why the hell do American conservative politicians to always talk about god and Jesus and that stuff. It's ridiculous. Politics has nothing to do with religion and god won't help you with your political problems in your country. And btw, Jesus has not been nailed on a tree dear conservative a-hole. He should get his facts straight and not just that one.

[starchild]

No. Guns aren't the problem any more than videogames are the problem.

There are always going to be tragedies. You can't lock down people to a degree that will ever prevent tragedies from happening.

[KingKevo]

You actually can. Look at the crime rates in other countries. I'm German and the crime rates are significantly lower here or in any other European country. And then look at the main crime related difference between these countries. It's the fact that in the US are allowed to own guns and here you are not. There are also a ton of articles and studies about that subject out there, but I guess you prefer not to check them out and keep living in your conservative world, full of guns, God, and giant burgers.

[Williamson]

Wow what a moron! So dumb to hear people blame everything on video games.

[iceman06]

Did Franklin Graham just use the Boodocks defense??? The absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence!!! Wow! Then, the NRA guy comes in to deflect from the real issue of the availability of guns to any nut that really wants one!?!? As far as studies, we all know that studies can tell you nothing, everything, or in between. See the drug studies of the Reagan Era for some of that good 'ol government BS again.

[whamlollypop7]

Stossel is a good bro, left and right facts always trump idiotic passion.

[nunley33]

These kinda viewpoints are'nt uncommon on fnc and they will present all viewpoints for news stories. It's why people seek out that channel over the others by alot because thats pretty different from the news outlets you'll find. Stossel is a good guy and i agree and disagree with him on various things but i like the discussion of opposing views,its what keeps things interesting and not boring, predictable.

[brettski]

Fox news rules. Libertarians are the only ones who get it.

[SilentNegotiator]

Real Libertarians do not think that Fox "rules", but it is not any more offensive than many other terrible news networks.

Although, it rules that they feature Ron Paul so much, where other networks ignore him completely and intentionally.

[creepjack]

LMAO, Fox New is not run by Libertarians, not even close.

[FITgamer]

I lost my urge to kill when i stopped being forced to go to church, when i started playing video games is when i lost that urge. ;)

[HmongAmerican]

Human are a violence races. Every creatures on this planet is violence. It all about survival fittest.

[sovietsoldier]

so racing games make people speed?-no
war games make wars?-no
stupid people like graham make more stupid-yes.

[ChickeyCantor]

You don't know me! I'm still looking for Ganon and the triforce of power.

[lukeb4dunk]

Not to make light of your post, but racing games do make me speed sometimes. Other than that, games don't influence me one way or the other.

[kenshiro100]

I applaud that reporter.

[thecowsaysmoo]

I think msnbc is the worst to be honest.

[CLOUD1983]

Japan might have more people playing video games but the games kids play in JPN & US have nothing to do with each other it's like a different fruit completely, US kids mostly play CoD, BF, Halo, GoW etc all shooters all have guns & all have very realistic graphics & deaths so no1 can argue that some psycho kids in US playing these games can have a very negative impact on them, I remember reading few years ago that some of the many assaults a kid did with a rifle in a school in US was because he wanted to mimic a game he play so who wants more evidence? is that not enough for u?

[josephayal]

How about using the money from GUN SALES instead as video games do NOT make people violent

[brettski]

Guns don't kill people any more than video games do. Why does everything have to be taxed by the govt

[KingWookiee]

When is the last time someone killed another person with a video game?

[Bordel_1900]

Religious nutcases are in abundance in the US.

[nachokingp]

Fox is gonna fire this reporter within a week, he's too smart and logical for them.

[brettski]

You really don't know anything about Fox News. Nice job parrot

[nachokingp]

First of all, I was being sarcastic. Nice job picking up on that Dr. Cooper. Second of all, who the f*** asked your opinion?

[buynit]

Lmfo! Guns dont kill ppl video games do...

I would never.... Never... Give a 9 yr old a gun.. Let a 9 yr old walk into a gun shop wanting to buy a gun lets see how successful that would be..

Wtf dont we tax more on the gun sales, you know the weapon that ACTUALY kills. These old ppl need to die off so the new generation can get in office cause the shit these ppl say is beyond stupid. It was comics now its the video games fault next up is porn, porn kills ppl..

How many more decades can these ppl get away with blaming it on everything but the gun and a crazy person behind it, depending on the situation..

[ChipChipperson]

Yeah, keep blaming guns and law abiding citizens who legally purchased their firearms. Keep trying to shift more power into the government and punish the people. It's not guns, it's not video games, it's not comics, it's not this or that. It's this extremist political ideology and mental illness that people have now. I own guns and video games, and I have never once thought of killing people just because. Let's keep blaming objects and not the person.

[buynit]

Well im glad youre not crazy...

I dont own a firearm so look at it from my view... The ppl that made your gun are saying that its the video games fault something that i do own and want me to pay more for all the victims over gun violence... You think thats fair?!

[ChipChipperson]

Yes, H&K ( the makers of my .45 cal firearm) just released a statement that said video games are to blame. Do you even hear yourself? I completely respect your RIGHT to not own a firearm, but why punish this group of people just because they said something or did something? One bad person who does this does not represent the whole community whether it be the game or gun community. I own both, so I'm the one who gets fucked over both ways. How about we address mental illness in this country? How about we stop prescribing people pills for everything? How about we actually fix our justice system? You don't think those need fixing, but instead let's blame guns and video games? What about people who are victims of hate crimes, should we tax people based off their race?

[buynit]

I have seen plenty of videos with gun makers blaming it on everything but them, if it was h&k them selves i dont know.

You should have the right to own a firearm if youre fit for one..

I think we both mean well i just dont care for guns as much as you do and hate gun violence being blamed on video games..

I completely agree with you on big pharma, most of the meds. Commercial is spent on the side effects! Crazy...

I dont think any one should be taxed more for their right whether its video games or guns, just dont let that group of ppl use games as a scape goat. The problem as you pointed out is much bigger then " its the games killing ppl"

I will admit though owning a gun should be a lot more stricter! at the end of the day it is very dangerous and deadly you dnt need statistics to prove that..

Actually i think big pharma should be taxed more, they are the ones using humans as lab rats then wonder why they went crazy.

[Shad0wRunner]

Guns don't kill people.

I have never, in my life...seen a gun load itself, cock itself and pull it's own trigger to be responsible for someone's death. It CAN be used to kill someone, sure...but so can a sharpened #2 pencil, if I jab it into a person's neck. So can a brick, if I use it to bash someones brains in. So can a rolled up newspaper, if I thrust it into someones throat.

People kill people. You blame the murderer...not the instrument of said death. You dont blame video games, movies, tv shows, music, marilyn manson, eminem, mortal kombat or game of thrones....

You take responsibility for YOUR OWN actions. Thats how it should be. Thats how it's supposed to be.

[WeAreLegion]

Darn it, Franklin Graham!!! I liked you!

[Gardenia]

Violence and entertainment always going hand in hand. Its the guns that do the damage. Look at Europe, and other countries were guns are difficult to get, murder rate is much lower than the US. America just doesnt want to change the gun law

[ChipChipperson]

Yeah, gun murder is low, of course, yet you neglect to actually look at their overall crime. It's increased. Look at Australia since the gun ban. Crime committed with a gun has decreased, but overall crimes with no weapons, knives, blunt objects, etc. have increased dramatically, especially assaults. You also seem unable to make a distinction between legal guns and illegal guns too. Gotta love when you use Europe as an example for the rest of the world to follow, a place where there has seen an increase in Islamophobia and hate crimes against immigrants. Same place where they use terms like White Genocide.

[Gardenia]

Crimes with knives and blunt objects are happening as much in the US as in Europe or other countries. The point is that humans steal, rape and kill, so dont make it easier by selling them guns

[BlaqMagiq24]

Wow old man got a verbal beat down. Nice job by the reporter. Came in with the facts while old man hid behind God for his argument.

[eclectified]

I read somewhere recently, that journalists/reporters are often asked to play the devils advocate during interviews. I'm not saying this was the case but I would certainly suggest that if someone went on to talk positive about video games, that he might have a counter argument for that too.

I do wish someone would have brought up the role parents are supposed to play here. No CoD lobby should ever be filled with prepubescent children screaming obscenities at each other.

[ame22]

A fox reporter siding with gaming, what is this blasphemy?

[kingmushroom]

As a Catholic i just hate when christians have to go making God part of their argument.

[Groo]

How would this old man know what young kids do?

[Psychog]

Yeah it's a bs argument - tax violent games ? Please how about taxing politicians that don't know what to do in office ,how about that?

[Human Analog]

And the Bible is not violent?.... More wars and deaths have been perpetrated in the name of THAT book than any thing else!

[mercury228]

Wow I actually agree with a guy on Fox news, hell has frozen over. all of these kids that shoot up schools and other stuff have issues. It is more difficult to get a drivers licence than a gun, maybe thats an issue. Mental health services are a joke in many parts of the country, also a problem. There are no really good studies that show any link to video games and violence. Parents need to watch what there kids are playing, end of story.

[strigoi814]

What a Stupid guy..so its gonna be OK to do violence like in the videogames because i payed for it through the government tax..my goodness!

[S2Killinit]

let me tell you guys why these douchbags are attacking gaming. They are trying to draw attention away from the real issue in this country. GUNS. Australia used to have the same exact problem as we do, and the people who didn't want guns taken away had the same exact arguments about government taking over and all that nonsense. Then they took guns away and nothing happened except the crime rate went down next to zero. These a55 holes are using gaming as a scapegoat. It seems that every week we hear about another lunatic who starts shooting people at some school or library and the gun proponents immediately come forward and start suggesting everything we should do except they don't mention anything about the elephant in the room, GUNS.

[ChipChipperson]

Yes, ignore Australia's increase in overall crime since the gun ban with knives, blunt objects, etc. and their increase in sexual assaults. Lol, you puppet of the government. You contribute to the violation of people's civil liberties you liberal ideolog.

[S2Killinit]

Why are you only mentioning the part about type of crime. Lets talk about violent crimes in general, or should I say the lack-there of. Go read a little before you come here and BS me with your gun loving disguised as civil liberties. Answer one question for me has Australia ever looked back?

PS: see what you have no idea about is what leads to tyranny. You think you are protecting liberty but all you are doing is contributing to chances that liberty will be extinguished. It is so misguided to think that you can defend liberty with a gun. There is so many problems with that idea. I KNOW you've never lived in a country where liberty has been suffocated and that is where your ignorance is justified. Let me tell you something and please take this with you. First of all, if tomorrow the U.S. government decided to use it's military might to take your liberty away, you will not be able to stop them with your gun. In fact, you using your gun will give that government the justification it needs to suppress you by force, thereby effectively dictating marshal law on the rest of the population. Second, even if you fight back with your gun and win, you will have made sure that a worst tyrant would replace the said oppression. Why? because violence begets violence. In a violent situation, those who are willing to commit more violence will rise to the top of the power pyramid (It's a proven formula, its not my opinion). So don't think that you can EVER defend liberty with a gun. You would be the doom of us all.

[ChipChipperson]

The right to defend myself from Nazi thinking crazies like you and the government is MY civil libertyt. Keep ignoring stats and facts dummy and keep picking and choosing information to fit your agenda. Here's another fact, cities in the US that have gun control have seen an increase in crime. You can't deny that. Have they looked back? Go ask real Australians who don't bow down to their government, that side with thugs. You make believe that their crime hasn't increased, like home invasions. Keep being blind.

[S2Killinit]

How am I ignoring stats? or choosing information to fit my agenda? I'm giving you straight stats and the general perspective about what its like in Australia right now. People there are relieved that guns are banned. This is not my opinion, they just are. Your the one who is using localized data not me. I wish you had more bubbles so I could hear your argument but I think you've resorted to name calling, which is fine. I have no agenda by the way, I just think you are wrong.

[Knuckle Duster]

Pigs have flown! Fox News actually came across as rational!

[sephiroth420]

i dont think they cause violence, maybe to some degree but not as far as to make people go out shooting each other for no reason, i dont like how this guy refers to it as an epidemic and how hes trying to get religious people to get on his side, im sure they're smart enough to realize that themselves. i wish they hadda made the video longer, that paying for sex thing looked pretty joke.

[braydox21]

alright lets get things straight

1: did anyone feel like they actually got dumber by listening to this guy, i mean i know that politicians have a reputation of being stupid but this really blows that out proportions.

2: okay video games are not murder simulators okay in fact most people will tell you that they do not even think of killing a character model or npc, or some polygons, because when we are playing a game we are solving problems
for example: when playing Cod deathmatch the objective is to score the most points and killing or defeating an opponet is worth said points. and when the objective is to earn the most points killing doesn't even come into the equation.

so if you really think about it when playing a game like that killing it isn't a choice its a problem that is solved by knowing the best way to use your resources that will result in the best chance of victory.

3: if i had sat down and listened to an entire day of multiplayer chatter of COD than sure i would be concerned about youth and video games too, but this guy is using GOD as his justifcation of the exsistance of violance, i belive in a God not his or yours but mine is one that is accustomed to my own experiances and way of life i cannot prove it exists but i also cant prove that such a thing that cannot be fully comprehended can be proven true.

4: it was overall good to watch this video it did surpise me when fox was mentioned after all they have as much credibility as Kataku ironic isn't. but yeah America really has its issues to sort out as in comparing the rest of the world to America as was pointed out in the video comparing Japan to America which obvisouly shows that there is something wrong about the American way of life and i'm pretty sure not all Americans are narrow minded people who don't know any better. but its obvious that a large majority of people cannot be trusted with firearms. im guessing that the way guns are bought and sold need to change. so those who can be responsible for these firearms are responsible. its becuase of America's culture that games like Grand theft auto exist, since games are based off real world, they are movies in which we the player interact with the world that has been created by developers who are human in the the real world is the resource they draw from to create their worlds.

(can you imagine a world without Metal Gear or Hideo Kojima? i know that the world wouldn't be the same)

[UNGR]

Never thought I'd agree with Fox news. Good on this guy for shooting down this stupid argument.

[victorMaje]

Play 2 Live, Live 2 Play, Long Live Play!

[OneAboveAll]

TIL Jesus was nailed to a tree...

[H3ADWOUND81]

That's new, I always thought he was nailed to a cross... Which version is he getting his info from? Not the Mel Gibson one is it.. Lol..

[Kenshin_BATT0USAI]

I believe M. Night Shyamalan had a re-imagining of Christianity. Apparently it's the definitive and canon version.

[cell989]

Dat last question

[Ragthorn]

I'm a pretty religious guy myself (Roman Catholic) but that reporter just eviscerated that guy in all of his points. I support video games, and don't believe that it is the cause of violence. I hate it when people say they cause violence, its really how they were raised is the problem here.

[Relientk77]

Haha he fails

Many studies have been done that PROVE that video games do not cause violence, it actually relieves stress

[Droidbro]

Stossel's the man.

[H3ADWOUND81]

Tax violent video games?
Maybe we should tax you for having a stupid haircut, that's effecting me more than the games I play..
Basically what he's saying is gamers are morons that can't differentiate between violence in a game and in real life.. Ok so kids due to immaturity may act out fantasy from playing violent games but there again that's what age restrictions are for arn't they?
That's what annoys me, people who are talking about an issue like this and he hasn't got a fucking clue.. How many video games do you think he's played in his life?
He's talking about Jesus, how many religious sects have claimed the lifes of innocent women & children, bet it's more than so called violent video games..
What a moron...

[manaxknight1]

Maybe we should tax him for owning guns and tax all the gun owners

[Soldierone]

The guy wants us to waste more money on a study of something we already have all the facts about lmao. "I dunno,we need a study," THE GUY JUST SHOWED YOU EVIDENCE THAT THE STUDY WILL LOOK INTO!

Translating what he said, "we need a study" means "we need to pay people to say otherwise."

[pkb79]

Its all true! They are murder sims! I can't stop jumping on mushrooms and turtles! Someone help me!

[Jovanian]

you know an argument is going to be a bad one when the guy immediately launches into idiotic religious dogma

[Heavenly King]

The moron on the right; makes Catholics and any other people that believe in God, to look like brainless persons.

Games dont promote violence. What promotes violence is the lack of a moral education given by the fathers and mothers of the children.

Most fathers these days want TV, video games and the internet to educate their kids; because they don't care about doing it themselves; and that is where the main problem is. The most important education is given at home by the fathers. And that is teaching what is morally right; respect to others, duty, among other important stuff.

[Picnic]

There are always potentially some good points of both sides of just about any debate.

When you play a videogame, you are watching a load of pixels arrange themselves on a screen. If you wish, you can just regard them as that at the most basic level- if you have no desire to play videogames then you don't even have to countenance what rules those pixels may work under in to how they arrange themselves according to the wishes of the storyteller or the chosen controller action of the player.

But, if you don't understand all types of videogames, you are choosing not to privy yourself to particular kinds of artistic expression. Not just in the control offered - that's relatively obvious - but in the kinds of psychology that games might be better at displaying than any other type of art form.

If you refuse to become familiar with such distinctions, you are probably forever bound, as part of your self appointed social snobbery you assume out of fear of your place in the world, to perpetuate the myth that there is 'High Culture' and 'Low Culture' and that never the twain shall truly meet. You are probably right not to like many videogames just as you are probably right not to like many books or many paintings but it's not the art form that is intrinsically any kind of problem. It's the culture outside of videogames that, over many centuries, fostered particular attitudes or ignorances towards what is young, what is dynamic, what is artsy etc. If people are attracted to violent games , well, adults made them want to be violent to some extent by not rewarding the times when they were peaceful and loving. Adults slowly killed the hope of the 1960s with materialistic greed. Videogames do still have some optimistic innocence on occasion. And gamers will bring some of that in to the 'real world' and adults will incorrectly think that it's despite videogaming rather than because of it.

[user71484]

-did he really say "Jesus was nailed to a tree?" lmao. wow.

[THEMIGHTYDOOVDE]

Isn't a sizable chunk of the bible murderous propaganda?

[Drainage]

japanese games dont even have guns in them though .

[Arai]

Culture and mentality is also vastly different, nevertheless it's an interesting argument between the two.

If only more politicians would be more down to earth like the reporter...

[THEMIGHTYDOOVDE]

The Japanese are into far darker sh*t than gun violence (RapeLay, Chu-Bra, Battle Royale to name a few) and yet..... still no violence in any form!

[EZ_Bombers]

As soon as a the old guy said God, he lost me. At the point, his argument was no longer credible. These people, man. -__-

[PerryCaravello]

It's not the games that kill people. IT'S THE GUNS.

America is so stupid when it comes to human safety and the gun epidemic. The US is the ONLY industrialized first-world nation with a horrific gun epidemic. Top 10 gun violence states are all southern states, minus alaska (home of sarah palin)

America does nothing about guns, and then blames video games and 'mental illnesses.' Backwards on the gun issue for sure, due to a small minority of republicans/southern democrats.

Time to step into the 20th century lol...yes, the 20th century. Ask Britain, Japan, Australia, ALL of Western Europe how they solved their gun violence problems. Take a guess...it WASN'T MORE GUNS.

[just-joe]

How about we ban bibles for every time someone kills for the sake of doing "God's work"?

[Jacobster]

Surely there are studies and strong historical evidence to suggest violence is caused by broken families, poverty, oppression and religion. This guy must live on another planet to believe the very concept of "monkey see, monkey do". It is quite ridiculous and I will be writing a blog about this sometime in the near future :)

[Arai]

People see what they want to see and/or believe, that's the problem right there.
Especially the media in general, it's easy to point fingers...sadly they get away with it as well.

[Dogswithguns]

God understands... first of all God... let me tell you about God... Oh God...