Video games are good for children – the EU says so

The chances are that most of you reading this article have, like me, been gamers for a while. You may have started when you were young kids, and you may now be well into adulthood and still enjoying the fine hobby that is video gaming. And chances are high that you are not a murderer, rapist, or criminal in any way. And even if you are, it’s likely to have nothing to do with your penchant for games.

This has been my belief for a long time now. While the do-gooding, know-nothing politicians couldn’t help but make a link between violent video games and criminal acts, most of us normal folk couldn’t help but see the truth: violent people are violent well before they even pick up a copy of Manhunt or Grand Theft Auto.

I can see how the links between video games and crime happen. In the same way that Marilyn Manson is blamed for violence because the perpetrators happened to listen to one of his songs before they went out and shot someone, so video games are blamed if the perpetrator just happens to own a games console. That proves nothing, because what about those other hundreds of millions of people around the world who also own and play games consoles?

There’s also a problem in that politicians and lawmakers who have never picked up a controller in their lives realize they can make a name for themselves by being seen to do something. The UK has Keith Vaz and the U.S. has about 20 of the damn people… and super-douche Jack Thompson.

But there is at last some good news on this matter, with a new EU (European Union) report coming out in defense of video games. According to The Guardian, the report drafted by Toine Manders, a Dutch liberal MEP makes it clear there is no hard evidence that games have a negative impact on children. And in fact, the opposite is true.

Video games are in most cases not dangerous. We heard evidence from experts on computer games and psychologists from France, the US, Germany and the Netherlands and they told us that video games have a positive contribution to make to the education of minors.

vVideo games can stimulate learning of facts and skills such as strategic thinking, creativity, cooperation and innovative thinking, which are important skills in the information society.

Isn’t that what real gamers have been saying for years?

Maybe we shouldn’t actually be bothered whether politicians like or dislike our hobby but I think it’s a perfectly natural reaction upon seeing your love being denigrated by those with big mouths and small brains to defend it to the hilt.

Now I’m off to run over hookers and drive-by shoot innocent pedestrians. In Grand Theft Auto IV of course.

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