Folk Devils: Why People Like The Idea That Games Cause Violence

Attempts to blame youth violence on video games are based on very shaky research, and yet it's an idea that catches hold very easily. Why? USC sociologist Karen Sternheimer likens video games to "folk devils":

Politicians and other moral crusaders frequently create "folk devils," individuals or groups defined as evil and immoral. Folk devils allow us to channel our blame and fear, offering a clear course of action to remedy what many believe to be a growing problem. Video games, those who play them, and those who create them have become contemporary folk devils because they seem to pose a threat to children.

Jack Thompson is Professor Harold Hill, warning the townspeople that their childrens' morals are at risk because of billiard tables. Check out this refreshing take on a serious issue -- the full article is available in PDF format.

Do Video Games Kill? [Contexts, via Ars Technica]