Town Square for week of April 4, 2018

Town Square is an opinion column to which readers can submit their views. As a true community newspaper, we’re always looking for ways to include local thought and pertinent viewpoint, this forum is a way to share those thoughts. Civility and fair comment will always prevail.The following comments are in response to a threat made by a North Dorchester High School student on March 30. The 15-year-old said he would return the next day to commit acts of violence. He was arrested and released to his parents by juvenile authorities. - Editor

NOT MUCH: I’m sure they will bring him back with as little as a slap on the wrist.

FREED: Now he’s released so he can shoot people.

STEP UP: Maybe they should also arrest the parents, or put the child on house arrest. It’s time the parents need to step up and teach these children respect.

NO PUNISHMENT: The kids needs to be frightened of their parents. Kids aren’t scared of anyone because they don’t get punished. My kids would never have acted like that and have gotten away with it at home.

REALITY: I think we allowed it to happen to our kids, because of the video games, in which you get points for killing people, firefighters, EMS, cops, etc. That is all they know. We buy it for them. I would hope that the kids realize that it isn’t real, but I don’t think they do. I didn’t let my son have that type of game until he was older. I don’t know what is going to happen to all of us. I think that it will get worse before it will get better. God bless everyone.

POOR PARENTING: Video games have an ESRP rating. Any shooting game is rated M for mature and you have to be 18 to buy it. The parents are to blame here. You wouldn’t buy your kids pornography, so why buy them rated M video games? And honestly, it has nothing to do with video games, it’s just poor parenting.

A SEED: The video games plant a seed: “Wow! I can use a first-person shooter game and feel like I’m shooting someone!” It is not a far leap from fantasizing what it must be like to shoot someone to really shooting someone. Virtual reality games look and feel real. These kids play and play and play these. They go to places where they can act out the game in real life. I used to think blaming games was silly, like blaming music. Those days are gone. These kids aren’t playing Atari. Coupled with lack of parenting, and here we are.

LAWSUIT: Let the appropriate authorities be held liable when something bad happens. We know who the parents of the victims can sue now.

THE VILLAGE: I don’t know what the solution is, but I don’t think much of what has been offered up will resolve the long-term problem. If he is expelled, he is on the streets with nothing to do except cause more trouble. At his age, physical punishment is only going to make him more angry and he is probably getting a lot of that anyway. We have no idea what goes on at home. I believe it does “take a village to raise a child.” The village, that’s you and I, need to support, encourage, advise, remind, hold accountable, talk to, befriend, role model, listen to, respect, love, etc., our village children.

DIFFERENTIATE: I have been a gamer my whole life since my dad brought home pong. The graphics have gotten better, but if you can’t differentiate between reality and fantasy you are troubled to begin with.

Editor’s note: Town Square – your public forum – is moderated by Dorchester Banner Editor Dave Ryan. Email your comments to bannernews@newszap.com.