Are video games actually addictive and aggressive, or just harmless fun?

Everyone keeps screaming about how people are turning into total savages because of PC gaming and all those other titles, but honestly, I’m a huge gamer myself and not a single one of my folks or buddies has noticed me getting any more aggressive or anything.
I caught this documentary on TV the other day diving into the whole debate, and it actually got me thinking—can these games really mess with your head that much?
Since I've been chewing on this idea, I figured I’d toss it out here to see what you guys think about it.

😕 😕

Here’s my two cents...
The old-timers didn't even notice the symptoms, and you're out here playing POSTAL

I find that claim hard to swallow. I've been playing Doom, Quake i - III, Moho, and Vietcong for years, and I haven't killed anyone yet.

Man, listen... I've played my fair share of those "violent" games... Most people who actually know me would tell you I'm probably the most laid-back, non-confrontational guy they've ever met... So yeah, all that nonsense...

Whenever I lose my cool, I always find myself needing to jump into some kind of shooter!
Basically—for me, gaming is how I vent all that aggression.

dustycanyon6 said:Honestly, guys... I've played just about every one of those "violent" games out there—and believe me, I know them well. Most people who actually know me would probably tell you I'm the most soft-spoken, non-confrontational person they've ever met... So, really, what are we even talking about with all this nonsense?

I couldn't agree more...

I don't think it incites violence either. Someone who’s naturally aggressive is going to lose their cool during a "clash" regardless, while someone else won't.
I've played plenty of FPS games myself, but I've never actually thrown a punch in real life.

It really depends on what you’re playing—personally, I’ve never touched anything outside the realm of simulations. Though, even then, I wouldn't call them "games" per se; they're more like highly detailed simulations from which one might actually learn something useful.😉

That’s just nonsense; games don't breed aggression. If anything, they might cause an addiction, simply because they’re actually fun.