Notion of ‘Hunger Games’ danger is silly

Notion of ‘Hunger Games’ danger is silly

In a letter printed April 5, P.J. Bertrand stated that children should not be allowed to see the movie “The Hunger Games.” The writer, a “mental health professional,” cited a psychologist who believes that such films desensitize people to violence until it becomes meaningless.

It is strange that FBI statistics indicate a steady decline in murders and other violent crime in the past 20 years while violent movies and video games have risen in popularity. Long-term historical estimates of violent crime (easily found with Google) also indicate a significant drop in violent crime since the 1700s.

One might even assume there is a correlation between watching fake violence and the drop in violent crime. So why would a mental health professional ignore such a significant set of data and make a ridiculous claim about the supposed link between violent movies and real violence?

Even as the nation’s economy struggles, the idea that poverty leads to violent crime must also be put under scrutiny. Since 2006, the FBI reports that violent crime has fallen 13.2 percent. Much violent crime now is associated with inner city gang and drug cultures. If gang members spent their time playing Xbox, maybe they wouldn’t be killing as many people.

Watching violent movies and playing violent video games probably does have a desensitizing effect. I have spent countless hours enjoying such games and movies, and I am desensitized to the point where I find fake violence like this to be rather silly. But more silly is the notion that watching a movie like “The Hunger Games” will lead to real violence. If watching a movie is going to make people think fake violence is meaningless, I suggest everyone, including P.J. Bertrand, go see it. And on your way home, try not to murder anyone.

Sava Matevich

Naperville