04/03/03: Games and their effect on our behavior

[juju]

So I finally bought GTA 3 for the PC, just to see what all the hype is about. I guess everyone else was playing this game a year ago. The price finally dipped down to about $30, and I figured what the hey.

I have to say, it's really a lot of fun. Running red lights, stealing people's cars when they stop at stop lights, driving on the sidewalk, running over people (WAHH!! *THUMP THUMP* -- heh heh), I get really into it.

A few days ago, though, I had been playing the game right before I went to work. On the way to work, I saw a guy walking on the side of the road, and I felt a strong urge to swerve and hit him. Just for fun! It took a good 2-3 seconds before my morality and reason kicked in and I realized that I had just contemplated committing murder! Holy crap! I was really freaked out. What would I have said to the cops? "Gee, officer, I just accidentally swerved off the side of the road! Even though there were no other cars within site, it was just an accident. Honest!" Yeah right.

And just last week, I went to a gas station, and noticed someone had left their car idling with noone in it while they went inside. "Who would do this??", I thought. "Hey, wouldn't it be fun if I just jumped in it and drove off? Yes!" Once again, a few seconds later my good sense kicked in and I realized that not only would I be caught, but the car owner would probably be pretty pissed off.

I'm really shocked at this. I've always said all that stuff about games making people commit crimes was complete nonsense. I've always believed that it has no basis in reality whatsoever. And here I am nearly running people over just for fun!

Of course, I didn't do it. And I like to think I never will. My trusty morality and good sense only left me for a few seconds. I don't think that's a long enough time for me to do something stupid. *crosses fingers*