Just look at that pic... The very definition of the term "shit eating grin".

Game violence specialist, huh. I wonder who that is. *groan*

The worst thing is that people, especially Middle America fear-puppies, LISTEN to this douche and take what he says seriously. These are the same crowd that buy any book Oprah says is good, regardless of thinking for themselves.

This can only end in more finger-pointing.

labeled as a "game violence specialist.".

Methinks the JabberWoky (JT) heavy on the Jabber

Well, it makes sense honestly. His primary audience is busybody housewives that want to childproof the world for their annoying little crotch-fruit.

He's just playing to his base by demonizing video games as the thing that is going to be responsible for the horrible and painful death of their children.

labeled as a "game violence specialist.".

Hmmm...
Methinks The Jabberwoky (JT) Heavy on the Jabber

Yeah, it's video game violence that fucks up kids and nothing else.

This debate has been had fifty-thousand times yet it still continues: video games don't make kids do crazy shit, crazy kids just do crazy shit! I was watching R-rated movies and playing M-rated games in the 2nd grade and not once did I ever pull some crazy shit.

Me and all of my classmates had GTA3 in the 7th grade. Fucking loved the game, but never once tried to steal a car or shoot someone.

damn post lag

I'd like to tackle Dr. Phil, then whip out my Vorpal Blade to finish off the Jabberwocky.

maybe he should tackle movie violence, considering he's been in a scene that would purportedly influence children to cut their own legs off.

he and JT should start and Idiots Club

Looks like we can't have one single week without having video game violence shit flying around.

Bothersome. It's like: "Let's go bother gamers! Bother, bother, bother, bother, bother, bother..."

@ironice:
Hey now, there's no reason to tackle movie violence! There's a rating system in place that prevents little morons from getting into movies deemed too violent or sexual for them to see!

...wait.

Paging Jack Thompson!

"...so you can rest assured that this is not going to be a well thought out and balanced discussion..."

LOL YEP

Hoo boy, this is gonna be fun.

There is a "link between violent games and violent behavior"? Hello Captain Obvious! Sociopaths torture kittens, they don't bake pies and give them to the homeless. Violent people like violent stuff. However, correlation does not equal causation.

If it is indeed JT I don't think we have anything to worry about. With the two of these morons combined, there will be so much unwarranted self satisifaction in the air of that studio the cameras will just explode.

Its gonna be Jack Thompson.

Adam Sessler vs. Dr. Phil

So violent videogames cause violent behavior. So hes saying the reason why the Nazis' murdered millions of Jew was because they played violent videogames. Wow! I don't remember reading that in my history book.

Fuck Dr. Phil! Humans have been violent ever since we emerged from the ocean. We all have the ability to be violent. Maybe some of us use videogames to helps deal with that anger. Screw Dr. Phil and all of his unintelligent comments. If you want violence go see 300 or turn on the channel 3 news.

I hold Dr. Phil opinion on the videogames the same why a hold the Popes opionion on science....worthless!

It's not really a big surprise. Guys like Phil aren't into their job to help people as much as they are for the ratings, and in turn money. The whole video game violence issue is always a hot topic, and no ones really done anything big on it in a couple of months. Seeing as he'll probably have his normal viewership, plus those viewers who see the ads and are intrigued by this plague that has infected our children and endangers their lives, and a good chunk of the better educated gamers who'll watch to either see what toxic venom he'll spew or just have a good laugh at his expense. So in that sense a job well done I suppose.

But this will only help to exacerbate a problem that has, at least for a couple weeks I believe, finally gotten out of the spotlight. And if his special guest really is he who's name we dare not speak, than I pity the fool that watches the show and takes it to heart.

The media comes in waves, playing on whatever issues people find to be the most worrysome at the time. They play it up, they get you worried, you watch their show. The only thing we can really do is bunker down and hope to god in the near future they'll latch on to something else to fill peoples with dread as opposed to those awful, brain washing, desensitizing, murder simulators like pac-man.

I seem to remember that Dr.Phil's comments were actually pretty even handed when he spoke out about Virginia Tech, linking videogame violence to violent behaviour without directly causing it. Does anyone honestly think the two are completely unrelated? Of course there is a relationship between the two, what is ridiculous is the suggestion that games are what cause people to flip out and commit atrocities.

dr.phil...ie oprah's bitch. the fact that this man can barely make a show of his own without help just shows that he is just another hac that thinks they have the gift to help people...what a load of bull

I got $50 that says the "mystory guest" is Jack Thompson.

I've got five bucks that say Dr. Douchebag and Shock J. Tampon make out by the end of the show.

@Philonious:

The relationship between the 2 is that violent people want to play violent games. You SHOULD be able to say that gay people play too much Mario and watch too much Teletubbies. :)

"Game Violence Specialist" ... As if it could be anybody else.

I'm assuming there's going to be a LOT of gray hair Thursday. I think I'll keep the TV off.

@JACK OF NO TRADES: see, here is the problem. there are unreasonable people on both sides of this argument. Very few people step back and take an objective look at the issues surrounding violence in our society and what may be impacting them.

Your outcries are no more justified than Jack Thompson's. What this, and any serious issue, requires is the ability to look critically at the factors involved and make an educated and well reasoned decission.

Does violent media increase agression in youths? Probably. Are children influenced by their environment and the material they are exposed to? Yes, that's how we learn as children. Is it a parent's responsibility to ensure their child recieve proper guidance while, or is restricted from, viewing violent material? Absolutely.

Brace yourselves for more tabloid idiocy, USA....

@Irixyu: Indeed, it would be just frabjous to see one end JT's mimsy existence.

Say, speaking of violence...

Does anyone remember the name of the videogames the Nazis used to play? What about the games the Vikings played before pillaging? What about the Romans? Surely they played violent videogames! How else could we describe their actions?

People love to talk about violence in media, yet they gleefully watch the evening news, which more than willingly obliges with the graphic depictions of real-life blood and trauma. I wonder which would affect a child more?

Oh, wait, I already know, as this is a filed of study which I have extensively studied.

What a load of crap... if someone already is violent due his past (drunk parents shitty neighborhood and so on) he is going to commit acts of violence regardless he does or doesn't play violent video games...

Those who cannot do become a TV personality.

This is not good. This guy has a lot of influence. It'd be like Oprah endorsing meth.

@LaserJudas: Genocide, Rape and Domination Tycoon.

I read that they used to have a big stadium where they fed prisoners to lions and had slaves fight to the death!

I understand the concern, that violent videogames desensitize people to violence just like any other media, but the point shouldn't be legislation... it should be good parenting.

I remember when I was in Junior High, coming home after my mom had watched an episode of Montel Williams on the latest trend... "huffing." I got questioned mercilessly. No, I've never "huffed" anything, don't know what "huffing" is, don't care, now may I please go over to a friends house to have some Jack Daniels and possibly bang his sister? Thank you!.

@3inst3in:

So single out videogames? Movies, TV & books express alot more violence than videogames. Taking violence out of the media won't stop violence from occuring. As I said before people, more on the male side, are very aggressive and violent by nature. A child will learn more from watching their parents than from watching a form of media. Media is just a way we to express ourselves. If we couldn't fine a way to express ourselves we would go crazy and do crazy things!

On a very special Dr. Phil.

Dr. Phil gets a stick up his ass and we get to watch.

Seriously, How much do you want to bet Tomjack came to Dr. Phil with this idea and pitched it til he did it.

and the video game violence specialist is .....Jack Thompson -_- *crowd full of gamers booing at him* lol =p

DO NOT WATCH THE EPISODE

I want to see it, out of morbid curiosity, but you know what? TV is based around advertisments for money. The more people watch, the more money they make, the more they'll push bullshit like this. There should be a petition started to get people to stop watching his shit.

The Douchbaggery™ must end here.

DO NOT WATCH THE EPISODE

@Alalu: "...bother bother, its fun when he stops moving!"

@JACK OF NO TRADES: As for the game the Nazi's played... OBVIOUSLY it was Wolfenstein. I'd be pissed too if i have to kill my own military! :p

When I hear "game violence specialist" I can only reason that that person is against video games. I mean, why claim to be a professional of which you believe to be untrue. There are no "flat world specialists" or "global cooling specialists".

Listen to all the violent cursing and anger "F" Dr. Phil, etc,etc. Maybe if we handled ourselves with maturity we wouldnt fit the stereotypical male gamer. Obviously games and guns dont kill-people do. But in the hands of immature people they can be an influence and I think when viewed that way-we as parents would like to have positive influences for our kids-not a relentless barage of violent video games. Iam 37 and have a four year old boy. I can tell you the more he sees things he shouldnt see at his age(because he cant properly frame it into a sound worldview) he mimics it. Some kids when all they play is the Darkness, Gears, or whatever else they can be desensitized. A news story comes out about a fallen soldier-no big deal I just played graw 2 and took down several.etc.
I am not saying there is a direct link or causation, but everything is an influence-we do not live in a vacuum. So hopefully people will be mature on Dr. Phil and not come to rash conclusions. Its foolish to say video games lead to murder, but its just as foolish to think that violence injested in large quantities will not be influential or desensitizing. Hey if you think chainsawing people in half or ripping their hearts out and eating them is a fun way of spending leisure game time, fine-thats your business. But to think the mass majority of non gamers, especially parents of young children, isnt going to find it alarming you are naive to say the least. But sound arguements, not cursing and angry immature rants, will position gamers better-all this other childish response will only solidy their arguments.

"You see, it's like a tick, on a wet dog, that's been sucking so much...." typical Dr. Phil "homestyle" advice that a certain segment of the population thinks is genuine. Sad.

Everything influences you: television news, newspapers, prime-time programming, books, music, videos, movies, cartoons, soap operas, commercials, comics, art, literature, neighborhood, friends, family and the most powerful influencer of all, parents. People like TJ and Phil don't care much for that sort of reasoning. It'll piss off their followers if the blame isn't put on one single, easily recognizable item.

@EvilJ:

I LoL'd...and maybe pee'd a little.

Dr. Phil is not being anti game. His comments were direct at his target audience which is parents, he's not looking to legislate or interfere with games games.

Dr Phils comments are right, violence is glorified and glamorised by all media as being a suitable and acceptible way to achieve goals. If all your childs role models use violence to solve their problems it teaches them to do the same. The onus is on the parent to make sure that their child is exposed to the correct influences and get those friggin 10 year old potty mouth squeakers out of Gears of War before I throttle them. ;)

@JACK OF NO TRADES: I have to agree with that last sentence. The day videogames are banned is the day I pay JT a little visit with "my little friend"...

That's a gun, by the way.

Crap.

@daschupa: Yes there are. They're called the Catholic Church.

Hmm. This in itself is probably harmless.

But if Oprah decides to do something like this as well, we're all screwed.

I would assume that being able to have the job title as "Game Violence Specialist" you'd have to study the design concepts an implementation of violence in interactive media (ie. play the gamez), an how their effects made the players feel. Does more blood splatter encourage more aggressive gameplay? What about unorthodox weapon types? Does killing in a videogame with a much more fanciful effect (enemies poofing into smoke) have the same impact? What if the enemies are lifelike humans? What if they aren't?

@cadekun: There is a increasing amount of research looking at the relationship between gaming and violence. They are also getting more sophisticated in how they're doing this. If they get one of these researchers as they're special guest it could be a pretty good show. If they get JT... Oh well.