Bill O’Reilly Talks Video Games and Violence and Ends Up Being Somewhat Reasonable About It All

Kotaku - Bill O'Reilly has made a great living as Fox News Channel's national scold for the past 15 years, with video games among many targets in his campaign of cultural warfare. So at the beginning of this segment on his program last night, when he smugly diagnoses Adam Lanza, the Newtown, Conn. shooter, as a violent video game addict—"How did I know that? One look at the guy,"—most folks would think they know where he's headed.

[Irishguy95]

O Reilly being reasonable? I'm shocked and appalled

[Yi-Long]

.... there's no other explanation!

[playnextgames]

News Corp owns IGN and other game sites. They aren't going to bite the hand that's feeding them.

[guitarded77]

Bill O Reilly is a tool bag... now I'm starting to think video games are the reason for violence in the world.

[playnextgames]

I also found this interesting.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1...

[GribbleGrunger]

Fox news is streamed on LIVE ... is it that difficult to understand why he's suddenly being reasonable?

[rainslacker]

Maybe it really is the end of the world....Seriously though, O'Reilly isn't always an right wing lunatic. He quite often makes good points, he just gets called out more on some of the more questionable statements he makes.

[-Mezzo-]

I don't want to listen to this guy at all, Good or Bad.

He's easily the biggest A@@ on Television.

( Apologies To Anyone Who Got Offended )

[The Meerkat]

Look upon his show as a comedy and he's quite funny.

His debate with John Stewart was great.

[TheFirstClassic]

He does make an entertaining show, its just aggravating when he pushes people around.

Edit: Watched it and O'Reilly is really reasonable about it. Used a very common sense approach.

[KangarooSam]

You talkin smack about papa bear?

On topic: I don't really watch the show. But yeah, video games don't cause mass murders in my eyes.

[GreenRanger]

Games never made anyone kill people.
Adam Lanza was a lunatic, ffs.
Why do the media always overlook the killers mental problems and focus more on what game he/she might have been playing?

[TheoreticalParticle]

Because thinking, "He was a nutjob, there could be hundreds of other nutjobs out there that we can't do anything about" doesn't let them sleep any easier.

They need to lash out at something, something needs to take the blame, and that thing needs to be something that they don't do. Because fuck it if they're changing THEIR lives for something some wacko did.

So they target games.

[mav805]

While I don't care for how O'Reilly goes about saying certain things, he's almost always reasonable about whatever topic he happens to be discussing.

That's actually one of the things I dislike about his show, that he actually does play devil's advocate so that his show IS balanced and so that both sides are heard, I'd rather him just have a position and state it.

As far the article itself, it's an idiotic and contrived piece that shows the writer's obvious bias.

[Bimkoblerutso]

I couldn't disagree more. Shows like that should be wholly objective. The point is to present the facts and let people form their own opinions, not to present a one-sided debate. That helps no one. That's why people "champion" jackasses like Bill Maher and Glenn Beck.

An opinion tends to automatically sound "right" when it's just some dude given a podium to preach to his congregation.

[rainslacker]

Bill Maher at least gives equal time to all his guests, but it is his show and people obviously tune in to see what he has to say about topics. I've never known Glenn Beck to give anyone any time, and more often than not he would completely ignore counter-points. In the end they are both entertainers. Do you really believe Glenn Beck believes all the nonsense he spews? At least Maher has conviction and stands by what he says and will admit when he's wrong.

My only problem with O'Reilly is that he really has no conviction behind the things he says, likely because he's only saying them because of his network. But he does give equal time to his guests, and yes he does sometimes bully them.

[amiga-man]

Fox news is a joke literally, good for a laugh but should never be taken seriously, Mav I'm sorry but he is anything but balanced, his agenda is there for anyone who cares to look.

I Live in England and watched Fox in all innocence to see what the Americans were saying about the election result, Fox had some election thing going on so I chose them, Instead of news I heard propaganda and was shocked news could be presented in such an obviously biased way, did I leave feeling better informed NO I left angry and disapointed.

[Monkeycan8]

whats that have to do with this?

[coolbeans]

Although I personally can't speak for what Fox News has done THIS election year, they were graphed as the fairest at giving McCain and Obama positive/negative press.

http://boldcolors.net/more_...

[Fel08]

Riiiight. Cause everyone other news channel is so balanced and fair. Tune in to MSNBC next time.

[amiga-man]

I find it amazing how posters are defending Fox by saying other networks are worse, thats not a defence thats a sad indictment of american news networks where bias is accepted as the norm, that isn't news it's propaganda, whether it's Fox or anyone else it is not how democracy should work.

[LAZL0-Panaflex]

Still mad about the American revolution??

[SeraphimBlade]

Congratulations on not being crazy for a few minutes! You get a gold star!

[OC_MurphysLaw]

I am glad to see the conversation not trying to shift all the blame on violent media. I think we need to keep major focus on gun control and not get side tracked. People kill people...I get that, but these shooters kill A LOT of people because of the guns and the types of guns they legally got.

[DragonKnight]

Kraptaku voted down.

[Eyesoftheraven]

"Children are killing the bad guys. The thrill of the kill is right there in front of their face."

WTF? That is not why damn near anyone—-kids or adults play games. Even though he is being somewhat reasonable, this still proves these people don't understand the medium. Not every game is about killing. Some games-—including the latest freaking HITMAN game in fact hurt your score if you kill. Why are these people so thick and ignorant?

[Qrphe]

Sketchy at first since it's both Kotaku AND O'Reilly. Well, even a broken clock is right twice a day.

[DomceM]

i think Oreilly is reasonable overall. I enjoy his show.

[Dirtnapstor]

O'Reilly's show is great! Those of your who are 'haters' probably have no real clue as to anything that goes on in the real world. Continue to drink from the fountain that has made you the simpleton will only lead to the demise of a free society.

[MadMax]

Got to agree with you there. Also find it fun y that CNN and other media outlets have been actually attacking video games, where as someone like OReilly had to address it and actually does not agree with people blaming the games and constantly is getting attacked on here. Total double standard and I'm still waiting for someone to post the liberals that were putting all the blame on games the other night! These people that attack Bill have never even watched his show and really are oblivious to what's going on in the world. You are right my friend! Some very ignorant gamers out there!

[RememberThe357]

So since we don't agree with you and Bill we have no clue about the real world? Maybe our world is different than your world. Maybe you should expand your perspective. And if you want to talk about simpletons, Fox News has the least knowledgeable viewers of all the major news networks.

http://www.huffingtonpost.c...

[MadMax]

Oh god, huffington post? Lol, no wonder you haven't a clue! Anyone that reads that shady and full of lies paper is a complete moron!!!Not everyone can have their head buried in the sand like yourself. I forgot that if we don't all watch leftwing media hipocrisy we are not as smart as you! You have been brainwashed I'm afraid. I feel sorry for ignorant people like yourself. Get a clue man and don't be so closeminded! By the way the majority of fox viewers are far more intelligent than someone like you. They can actually hold an intelligent conversation for one. You are oblivious. Huffington post, lol that's a good one man! Educate yourself

[GammaSix]

LOL this site has O'Rielly supporters? Explains a lot lol.

[tachy0n]

it does.... i wonder if O'Rielly is pro PS3 also, it would explain more...

[Qrphe]

Yep, very disappointing. Good thing is that the extreme right is in pieces right now and may not win another election again if they don't change their already outdated rhetoric.

[DomceM]

good thing for commies maybe.

[tweet75]

look at what percentage of the population under 30 plays video games...probably 80 percent or more? Just because wild incidents happen and the person plays video games doesnt mean theres any correlation whatsoever.

[rainslacker]

According to the ESRB (For the US)

http://www.esrb.org/about/v...

Average age of a gamer...34
Average age of most frequent game purchaser...39
Avg number of years adult gamers have been playing games....12

67% of US households play video games(This is the one you guessed...13% less than 80)
49% of game players are between 18-49
25% under 18
26% over 50.

40% of all gamers are female
83% of parents place time limits on game playing
93% of the time parents are present at the time games are purchased or rented
64% of parents believe games are a positive part of their children's life
48% of parents play computer and video games with their children at least weekly
86% of the time children receive parents permission before getting a game

[Tetsujin]

Fox News AND Kotaku in the same sentence? I just lost all hope for humanity.