But here’s an old school suggestion for vegging out and wasting your time: getting high and listening to Pink Floyd. That’s what we did instead of listening to video games in my day, son. If it was good enough for my generation, then by God . . . :-).

Stay cool, spencert:-).

I guess I am just tired of having an activity that I enjoy and take great pleasure in get such a bad rap. I am not a bad person and enjoying fictionalized violence doesn’t make me so. It seems like in Utah, the mindset is such that if a person drinks or smokes or participates in this activity or that activity, they must be possesed by the dark side.

More than likely, we will never know why Talovic did what he did. I like to think that he was a troubled young man that didn’t get the help he needed and unfortunately, people had to get hurt as a result. Sounds to me like we have similar mindsets on certain things and I look forward to discussion and debate with you in the future. I don’t really hope you turn blue. I was just mad and I apologize.

I have other things to do, but I felt a quasi-professional responsibility. Google Brad J. Bushman. You’ll get his University of Michigan Web site. If you scroll down a bit, you’ll see a “violent video games and kids” type thing you can click into. He summarizes a lot of research in an easy-to-understand way and allows people who disagree with him to call him names and hope he turns blue (and he doesn’t seem to get mad at all). I think you’ll like it.

In any event, it’s a great resource for the interested.

Check out Brad Bushman and Craig Anderson. I don’t have time to summarize their research right now. They’re very accomplished social psychologists and very rigorous researchers. I’m not sure what their politics are.

I, too, am a social psychologist. I’m a liberal. The data strongly suggest that the planet is warming. The data show that homosexuality is not a choice. And if it makes you any happier, I’m in favor of gun control.

Johnny can watch whatever his parents will allow him to watch and play whatever games his parents will allow him to play. I’m not in favor of criminalizing any of these games or shows.

However, parents should know that data from both field and laboratory research also suggest that watching violent programs or playing violent video games increases the chances that their kids will engage in violent behavior.

The facts are never all in. That’s the way all science works.

You can’t cherry pick the science you like while passing over the science that doesn’t accord with your world view. That’s the way the Bush administration works.

Again, you tried to shout me down. Not good for your blood pressure, spencert. Take it easy out there. I’m not sure why you want me to turn blue. I come in peace, bro.

What I am sick of is our glorious lawmakers regulating “this” and criminalizing “that” for the sake of protecting the children. God forbid we let little Johnny play this game or watch this show for fear that he fails to comprehend the difference between fantasy and reality, but we’ll sure consider passing a law that puts a high-powered rifle in his hands so he can go out on the hunt and learn what it means to be a real man. That makes a lot of sense.

In any case, the research is still being done and the jury is still out on this so don’t go getting all social scientist on me and saying all the facts are in, because they are not. Maybe if I hold my breath long enough you’ll turn blue.

Sorry, you don’t get a break from reality just because you hold your breath until you turn blue. You might be able to out shout, kick and scream GinnyRed57, but the data are on her(his?) side.

For example, he has ‘Gaydar’. Do not misunderestimate ‘The Can’.