I once wrote a column for The Star about the Columbine shootings and one of the things that struck me was that they were Marilyn Manson fans so I got a copy of his biggest CD, Anti-Christ Superstar and listened to it over and over. The theme of the CD is the "worm" becoming an anti-Christ superstar through violence and random killings. The last two songs on the CD are a description of what happened at Columbine right down to their suicides after the slaughter.

Add to that there affection also for these violent video games. These were used by the military at one point when they found that soldiers were not reacting promptly enough during combat owing to the reticence to kill. By having them engage in the repetitive slaughter of humans via the video games they were able to overcome the moral objections to taking another human's life.

Obviously there are a lot of kids who listen to Marilyn Manson and play violent video games who turn out quite well, but it's clear that we have become a far more violent culture in the past 50 years, particularly among our youngsters and I can't help but think that both the games and the music have played a part in that culture of violence.

I think that video games and music can play a part in the increase and violence, but only if there is a lack of parental involvement. I have played video games, and listened to music for most of my life, yet I don't lash out violently. This is because while playing those my parents raised me to understand what is right, and what is unacceptable behavior. If as a parent you let the games and music raise your child rather than use your parenting skills, then yes your kids will turned out messed up, that is simple logic. When kids see and hear these things, parents must give them context to make them understand what is acceptable.

Charles Manson played video games and listened to Heavy Metal? We have had violence in society for many years now, before we had video games and heavy metal. We have more road rage incidents now and if you look at most of the people involved I doubt many play video games and listen to Heavy Metal. I saw more fights attending a Hank Williams Jr. concert at Sandstone then I have every other concert combined. I've been to many Heavy Metal every Rockfest and Ozzfest since 97 and haven't seen much of any violence, minus moshing. Watch network tv sometime, the things they show now compared to when I was a kid is amazing. I don't really think you can pin it on video games and music. We have had a degredation of values and morals in our society as a whole. People selfishly believeing everything is about them and that they can say and do as they please. Oh but maybe we should expect our schools to teach them all the values and morals without parent intervention.

Music and games are scapegoats. Violent tendencies can be triggered by these things, but the mental image or desire already exists. Mental illness is just that.

Oh Libby Gore, thank you for making censorship legal.
Most kids are not influenced. I hear the same crap about kids boxing or doing karate, that they are violent sports. Obviously, the naysayers are ignorant.
Kids aren't violent because of the music or games, don't say they are going to kill someone, beat them, more angry, more agressive, because of the games.
If video games and music to blame for teh violence, then do we blame TV for teen age sex? Like that only started once TV started to get more risky. I think we know that is not true.