Every time a certain type of tragedy happens, I wait for the inevitable lazy journalism that people pick up on:"...aaaaand he played video games." EVERY TIME.
Usually from people who do not even know what variety of games there actually are and who do not play themselves. But it fits a certain repetitive mindset and message. If someone does something horrible to others, the narrative goes, he is from a bad cult like authoritarian abusive family, an online introvert, (so are many bloggers), and video games.
Untrue. People do not think about the fact that 15% of the population harm others because their brains are psychopathic, so video games fits a certain profile in the public image.
Perpetrator liked to knit for hours on end is just not that sensational.
A person who wants to harm others will latch on to whatever crazy ideology they find and seek out anything that reinforces it. Whether it's a video game, violent TV show or an online forum is irrelevant.
If the violence isn't inherent a game will not alter a person to commit heinous acts. It will not disinhibit like alcohol or drugs, if anything it's a deterrent.
In trying to think of examples, I thought of Bioshock. An game that came out in 2007 and educates. It critizises Ayn Rands objectivist philosophy. Want a perfect world? Here you go. The promise of utopia becomes a disturbing hellscape. Teens who play the game learn a little history, have lively online discussions about the dangers of drugs (plasmids), hyper-capitalism and anarchy. All societal models that if brought to extremes will be monstrous. The game helps them "get it". Years later they're still discussing it and reaches them in a way that a history class might not. Please watch these three minutes:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=p2SpC-Wq_no&pp=0gcJCRsBo7VqN5tD
I game. I escape to different worlds, solve puzzles cooperate with extra terrestrial, I learn, I think. I marvel at the art work, laugh with friends, make choices, improve reaction time and hand eye coordination. I go on adventures, I fly and jump and climb and a healthy mind is very well aware that gamers harm pixels not people. Some games are too violent, I stop playing them. But at the end of the day the benefit I get out of it outweighs the time.
Please as always; if you wish to discuss current events rather than video games, no names of individuals.
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