My rant for tonight is focused around some articles, new and old, that I've read over the Internet. I've found a couple of interesting ones, most of them focusing around blaming video games for violence. I've been playing video games my entire life, I've played a lot of violent videos over the years. In all these articles I've read, I've never found my favorite word that I love the most in this world. "Responsibility"

My question is, why does "responsibility" of parents or the individuals come into play? Why do we blame video games for violent behavior in children, or anybody else for that matter? Video games don't have arms, and therefore are incapable of pointing a gun to your head or taking you hostage. If these violent games encourage children to commit real world offense, why haven't I been encouraged to do the same? Why haven't I gone on a massacre and killed anybody in my sight?

The answer to that question is that I was taught to tell the differences between what's real and what isn't real. I was taught how I'm supposed to act in society, and what the norms of society are. I know that I can't go outside, hijack a car and run down people with it. My dad had a positive impact in my life, he had the responsibility of a parent to tell me how I'm supposed to behave. What the rules were and the difference between whats real and fake. I, as a citizen share the responsibility of following the norms of society and my dad has the responsibility of teaching me these things.

That's the part, many parents don't get, comprehend or understand. They expect video games to literally become the teacher, and teach them whats right and wrong. They also expect the video game to tell them whats happening in the game isn't supposed to be reenacted. Sorry parents, but that isn't the role of video games, they're a source of entertainment. Video games don't automatically replace you as a parent and teach your children.

Sadly, not a lot of people have parents who are active in their lives, so when their children get into a serious predicament, the blame shifts from the parents to the video games. In most cases, because these parents don't want to own up to their own mistakes and responsibilities. Even when their children move out, the video games are still blamed instead of the person. So a game convinced you to stay up for three days without breaking a break? Where does the responsibility to keep yourself healthy and fit come into play? The video game pointed a gun to your head and forcefully made you stay up? Absurd.

That's why I love the word responsibility. As an adult, you're responsibile for your own health and well-being. (But like I said some people have to rely on others). As a parent, you bear the responsibility of being a parent, a teacher, and guiding your children. As a citizen of whatever country you're currently in, you have the responsibility of abiding by the laws and norms of society.

You can't just put the blame on video games to justify your own actions, or to justify someone else's actions. That's just irresponsible to me, we have choices to turn off the video games and parents have the choice to step and do their job of teaching their children. You can't expect them to teach themselves, or expect video games to replace your role as a parent. Whether or not you accept your responsibility is entirely up to you.

That's my rant today, I know parents aren't going to see this. But I had to get it off my chest, I dislike people who shift blame to justify themselves. Instead of owning up their mistakes, and taking responsibility. Video games don't have reproductive organs and can't bear children.

They don't have arms, and can't point a gun to your head. Video games can't talk to you directly and encourage you to reenacted what you see on a video game. Maybe in the year 2030 video games will have these abilities, but right now they don't.

Last word: derppppp