Soldiers did as instructed; video games helped
The WikiLeaks video of helicopter gunners eagerly shooting civilians and savoring their kills as if playing a video game, although horrific, is understandable. [“Iraq video sheds welcome light on rogue group,” News, April 7.]
Years ago, University of Michigan researchers studied the effects of persistent violent video gaming on human development. They found it is the second-best way to breed anti-social behavior into our new generations — the best, joining a gang such as the Crips or the Bloods.
First-person shooter video gaming, a popular form of entertainment, creates the “killing is fun” mindset needed for military service. The Pentagon uses first-person shooter video games as recruiting and training tools. The gunners did exactly as they were taught by the video-game industry and the U.S. military.
— Daniel Ruuska, Seattle