Letters: May 31, 1999

• Share

GROWING UP ONLINE

Every time something happens in America, such as a violent crime committed by youngsters, our society and our politicians are quick to blame television, music, video games and the Internet [FAMILIES, May 10]--anything but the people who committed the crime. It's about time that society realized that young people are not easily programmable by whatever the Internet or MTV may try to feed them. I've played some of the most violent video games, but I don't have the urge to make killing a reality. Like many other young people across this world, I have common sense and the ability to think and choose for myself. ADAM ROBINSON, 20 College Park, Md.

I was in law school and in my early 30s when I first played the game Doom. I soon caught the fever; Doom is nothing if not intense. For several weeks, if I wasn't studying or in class, I was playing Doom. If the game can affect a law student this way, I can only imagine the effect it must have on immature high school losers. I am convinced that violent computer games, much like alcohol and pornography, should be kept out of the hands of those younger than age 21. ANDREW PARMA San Antonio, Texas

There is nothing that adults can do to completely protect their children from things on the Internet. Unless parents carry around the computer wherever they go, kids will visit sites that they shouldn't. Kids go where they want. In your article, I noticed a lot about parents' blocking their children's access with various programs. But many youngsters know how to turn off these programs manually despite password protection. It is extremely easy to do. Kids rule the Internet, and they always will because adults are out of touch with technology. RYAN NEE, 16 Golden, Colo.

I have grown up with the Internet, so I know firsthand what the dangers are and what the pleasures can be. Those who say violent games are the reason for the Colorado high school shootings must not have played the games all that much. I have played every 3-D shoot-'em-up there is. The games don't desensitize people. If adults try to limit what kids do on the Internet, they are limiting information that can help them later in life. DAVID GREGORY, 15 Boulder Creek, Calif.

No parent who is truly interested in the overall welfare of the family should allow children to play video games more than 30 minutes a day. Children must be taught to be well-rounded people with a wide variety of interests. LAURENCE A. CRAFT St. Louis, Mo.

As the mother of two young boys, I say a parent is responsible for the actions of his or her children. My husband and I take turns being in the room with the children when the computer is in use. We say how long they will be allowed online. Also, as working parents, we must know what the children are doing when they are not with us. When they have friends over, we check on what they're doing. My husband and I will do anything to find out what they are up to. And if they just want to talk, they will know that we are here for them. SUSSY E. SILVA-GRAFFEO East Islip, N.Y.

Playing violent video games does not necessarily desensitize the player to atrocities, but the social isolation that goes along with an addiction to such games can. Even when competing against a real-life person, a player has almost no social interaction. These games can be dangerous when taken in large doses. MIKE DOJC Toronto