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Penn & Teller Bullshit: Violent Video Game
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Season 7, Episode 3, RT 27 min, first aired July 9, 2009, and FUCK: NSFW, language.
Politicians and other alarmists claim that playing video games leads to teen violence. Penn & Teller attempt to debunk that theory by handing over a real semi-automatic weapon to a nine-year-old to see if playing video games will turn him into a human killing machine.
Politicians and other alarmists claim that playing video games leads to teen violence. Penn & Teller attempt to debunk that theory by handing over a real semi-automatic weapon to a nine-year-old to see if playing video games will turn him into a human killing machine.
Jul 11, 2009 9:40 PM
Re: Penn & Teller Bullshit: Violent Video Game
Whoops, 2009. Not 2008.
I may be retired but my fingers are still fat.
I may be retired but my fingers are still fat.
By: spam_vigilante
Re: Penn & Teller Bullshit: Violent Video Game
Fixed, and thanks for the vid.
Re: Penn & Teller Bullshit: Violent Video Game
Aww...that poor kid at the end! Anyways, another interesting episode.
By: galliard
Re: Penn & Teller Bullshit: Violent Video Game
Sack the camera man. Or train him. Whatever. :P
By: luclonde
Re: Penn & Teller Bullshit: Violent Video Game
Awe that sucks, but one day that kid will probably feel proud of his role in the show.
By: gerrywastaken
Re: Penn & Teller Bullshit: Violent Video Game
Thought this was one of the weaker episodes, but really liked the football point at the end there. Clever.
By: twent4
Re: Penn & Teller Bullshit: Violent Video Game
Okay, so we should keep kids from playing violent video games. Seems reasonable to me. Wait a minute, isn't there already have a ratings system that keeps kids under 18 from buying them? So what's the prob? Are the anti-violent video game people wanting to take it further or something?
By: KeyserSosay
Re: Penn & Teller Bullshit: Violent Video Game
Currently there is no law that forces game developers to submit their games to a ESRB review and rating. Nor is there a law that prevents the sale of rated M games to minors. Stores who do this are doing so at their own discretion.
It's been tried a few times to pass it into law, but has been deemed unconstitutional every time.
It's been tried a few times to pass it into law, but has been deemed unconstitutional every time.
By: Jowow
Re: Penn & Teller Bullshit: Violent Video Game
I don't blame him after that gun kicked back into his shoulder, since the shoulder rest was too big for him and he couldn't position it properly.
So has anyone tried jumping on a turtle on a flight of stairs for unlimited 1 UPs?
So has anyone tried jumping on a turtle on a flight of stairs for unlimited 1 UPs?
By: Faffy
Re: Penn & Teller Bullshit: Violent Video Game
This show always makes me a little sad because they're pushing their Libertarian viewpoint more than actually looking for truth. They (rightly) make fun of a lot of the anti-video game nutjobs, but then they happily accept the ludicrous idea that kids "learn about consequences" from Grand Theft Auto? Now THAT's Bullshit.
The psychological argument being made by both sides is also poorly represented by the show. Plenty of studies link media violence with short-term increases in aggressive behavior; on the other hand, there are no studies I am aware of that even suggest that this effect doesn't dissipate within a short window of about an hour at most.
Look guys, you're right a lot of the time, but if you're gonna call your show Bullshit! you ought to at least let the other side make its best possible case, rather than just focusing on the biggest nuts.
The psychological argument being made by both sides is also poorly represented by the show. Plenty of studies link media violence with short-term increases in aggressive behavior; on the other hand, there are no studies I am aware of that even suggest that this effect doesn't dissipate within a short window of about an hour at most.
Look guys, you're right a lot of the time, but if you're gonna call your show Bullshit! you ought to at least let the other side make its best possible case, rather than just focusing on the biggest nuts.
By: Mr_Subtlety
Re: Penn & Teller Bullshit: Violent Video Game
Yea, I agree. A lot of times I agree with what they're trying to say and like when they point out how other people don't use their critical thinking skills.
But then they kinda do the same. For example, I don't think many people make the argument that playing an FPS makes you proficent at using fire arms (though there are probably many CoD fans that think it does) but rather they make you think more violently. While the kid at the end proved that an FPS doesn't make you shoot well that isn't really the argument they should have focused on.
But then they kinda do the same. For example, I don't think many people make the argument that playing an FPS makes you proficent at using fire arms (though there are probably many CoD fans that think it does) but rather they make you think more violently. While the kid at the end proved that an FPS doesn't make you shoot well that isn't really the argument they should have focused on.
By: McCorvic
Re: Penn & Teller Bullshit: Violent Video Game
yeah, their "Well, this Kid plays video games and he didn't kill anyone even when we gave him a gun" argument is pretty obnoxious and infantile. On the other hand, I do agree with them that video game violence doesn't cause people to kill; being crazy causes people to kill. And although everything we take in media-wise affects us in some way, media violence has been with us at least since Beowulf was written, and, in fact, as its gotten more explicit and visual, violence has gone down generally.
So ultimately, their point is correct. I just wish they were a little more intellectually honest getting there (its even more annoying when they're wrong, or when the issue isn't nearly as black and white as they want to make it)
So ultimately, their point is correct. I just wish they were a little more intellectually honest getting there (its even more annoying when they're wrong, or when the issue isn't nearly as black and white as they want to make it)
By: Mr_Subtlety
Re: Penn & Teller Bullshit: Violent Video Game
There appears to be good arguments on both sides - kinda. Violent games/movies could make a derranged child or perhaps even a normal child think violently. I grew up this stuff and turned out okay, but I can honestly see how it could be detrimental for some kids. Personally, I wouldn't care too much about the little shits getting their right to engage in gore taken away. However, limiting the sale of violent games/movies is probably unconstitutional if you are looking for a strict and non-political interpretation of the constitution. Protecting children from violent media is the responsibility of the parent, not society.
By: KeyserSosay
