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snagglepuss

(12,704 posts) Tue Aug 12, 2014, 06:18 PM Aug 2014

WOW! Swedish Dad fed up with his sons' obsessions with violent Call of Duty computer game [View all]

takes them to SYRIA to put them off guns... and it worked

A father took his two young sons who are fans of war games to Israel and Syria to a dramatic bid to teach them about the harsh realities of war and the devastation caused by the use of guns.

Carl-Magnus Helgegren is a Swedish journalist, university teacher, and a father of two boys, Leo, 11 and Frank, 10.

Mr Helgegren told MailOnline that was inspired to take his sons on the trip after they asked if they could buy the new violent shooter game when they were eating dinner last year and he became concerned that they did not understand the impact of war.

snip

He decided to make a bet with his two sons - if they visited an area which has been plagued by war and tension and spoke to citizens there, then they would be able to play any video game they desired on their return.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2722609/Swedish-father-fed-sons-obsessions-violent-Call-Duty-computer-game-takes-SYRIA-guns-worked.html#ixzz3ADcs0TTV
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128 replies

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Highlight:

WOW! Swedish Dad fed up with his sons' obsessions with violent Call of Duty computer game [View all] snagglepuss Aug 2014 OP

That's an asshole dad, right there... Dr Hobbitstein Aug 2014 #1

If that is so then why do his kids see a connection. snagglepuss Aug 2014 #8

Because he forced his views on them LittleBlue Aug 2014 #12

Bullocks. Taking kids to another country and letting them see something firsthand is snagglepuss Aug 2014 #69

right, its TEACHING! elleng Aug 2014 #81

Y'know, I frequently disagree with you, but I can't really find fault with this post. nomorenomore08 Aug 2014 #95

I have no complaint with the view of "war is bad" being forced on someone Scootaloo Aug 2014 #101

What does that have to do with video games? nt LittleBlue Aug 2014 #107

He showed them reality. They were living in a fantasy world. sabrina 1 Aug 2014 #119

Oh bullshit. He allowed them to see the horrors of war and violence in reality. cui bono Aug 2014 #125

First off, if you don't want your 11 year old to play violent video games, Dr Hobbitstein Aug 2014 #25

because it's a fad in Sweden to do inane shit with your kids to make a half-assed public point? Warren DeMontague Aug 2014 #48

While inane, Dr Hobbitstein Aug 2014 #82

It'd be nuanced if it wasn't done in "lookatmeeeee" blogger fashion. Warren DeMontague Aug 2014 #86

Ahh, I see... Dr Hobbitstein Aug 2014 #90

"it's called being a parent" LordGlenconner Aug 2014 #100

Couldn't agree more kcr Aug 2014 #14

Yeah, that's ridiculously irresponsible. cemaphonic Aug 2014 #18

Except when you remember that's how some people LIVE... Barack_America Aug 2014 #93

Exactly this BrotherIvan Aug 2014 #111

Agreed Puzzledtraveller Aug 2014 #105

I wouldn't have let my kids play violent games either arikara Aug 2014 #109

Yeah... we didn't have those violent video games when I was a kid. bvar22 Aug 2014 #120

Agreed completely. NaturalHigh Aug 2014 #115

LOL,... wonder if he'll get em hookers, when they are infatuated with girls. NM_Birder Aug 2014 #123

Yes, pixels are the SAME as bullets! Rex Aug 2014 #2

Good for him. randome Aug 2014 #3

I grew up on violent video game... Dr Hobbitstein Aug 2014 #4

Another anecdotal 'proof'. We've seen that far too many times in these discussions. randome Aug 2014 #7

That's not a "fact", that's something you just said in an authoritative-sounding fashion. Warren DeMontague Aug 2014 #15

Fact- what you feed your subconscious has an effect on you. KittyWampus Aug 2014 #28

That's not a "fact", that's a nice-sounding aphorism. Warren DeMontague Aug 2014 #38

So my 10 years of faithfully playing FFXI online Puzzledtraveller Aug 2014 #104

97% of young Americans play video games...gee, why are they not out doing crimes by the dozens? Rex Aug 2014 #17

Ted Bundy said porn turns people into serial killers! Warren DeMontague Aug 2014 #21

So all those billions of people that look at pron daily on the WWW are going to eventually Rex Aug 2014 #35

It already happened. Warren DeMontague Aug 2014 #42

That explains it then! Rex Aug 2014 #50

Indeed, I remember the humble floppy disk Warren DeMontague Aug 2014 #52

Yes and sadly, my entire mind fit onto a 5.25 floppy! Rex Aug 2014 #56

That's OK. I hear they can do amazing things with compression formats, these days. Warren DeMontague Aug 2014 #65

Nice...a very woody picture! Rex Aug 2014 #68

Did you watch that show? Warren DeMontague Aug 2014 #73

Didn't see it, but I did notice the ahem...rising data chart. Rex Aug 2014 #74

Yeah, that's deliberate. If you get a chance, check it out. Warren DeMontague Aug 2014 #75

I will thanks! Rex Aug 2014 #77

I watched it. bravenak Aug 2014 #102

Illustrating perfectly why "moral panics" are generally utter bullshit. nomorenomore08 Aug 2014 #96

This is my evidence. randome Aug 2014 #31

What does the RWing noise machine have to do with spawn points and pixels? Rex Aug 2014 #37

It can't be proven any more than it can be proven that Fox News impacts society. randome Aug 2014 #44

I think the right-wing discourse reflects the views of right wingers. Warren DeMontague Aug 2014 #39

No one said they did. But when great numbers of people immerse themselves in virtual reality... randome Aug 2014 #46

It stands to reason if you accept, tautologically, that it stands to reason. Warren DeMontague Aug 2014 #49

Some people get physically excited about playing video games. randome Aug 2014 #53

It's funny? Warren DeMontague Aug 2014 #55

But we're not talking about you. randome Aug 2014 #64

You're not. Warren DeMontague Aug 2014 #66

There is no tactile stimuli in the virtual world. When I get my arm blown off in a video game it Rex Aug 2014 #58

No one is saying there is a direct correlation to any of those things. randome Aug 2014 #63

Actually, the development of video games has correlated to a decrease in actual violent crime. Warren DeMontague Aug 2014 #71

But people who read the "Hannibal" books turn into cannibals! NaturalHigh Aug 2014 #116

evidence DonCoquixote Aug 2014 #97

Except it's not just my personal experience... Dr Hobbitstein Aug 2014 #24

see, if people want to play scientist DonCoquixote Aug 2014 #98

I agree with you. cui bono Aug 2014 #126

Good points Blue_Tires Aug 2014 #118

I'm not against video games BrotherIvan Aug 2014 #5

Travel to syria? Warren DeMontague Aug 2014 #22

Because that won't teach them anything BrotherIvan Aug 2014 #110

What an idiot. Risking the lives of his children for a LittleBlue Aug 2014 #6

Well, nothing is more important than MAKING A POINT � Warren DeMontague Aug 2014 #13

You should take your children to Liberia right now LittleBlue Aug 2014 #16

Man... Ebola doesnt fuck around. Warren DeMontague Aug 2014 #19

Except "violent" video games have jack shit to do with actual violence and war. Warren DeMontague Aug 2014 #9

reminds me of Bobby Brady Enrique Aug 2014 #10

My kids played every game in the video world. trumad Aug 2014 #11

They're at least as detrimental as comic books and rock and roll! Warren DeMontague Aug 2014 #20

Judging by the responses, education is apparently a bad thing... joeybee12 Aug 2014 #23

You dropped this... Dr Hobbitstein Aug 2014 #26

Nice try joeybee12 Aug 2014 #32

One can learn of the ravages of war Dr Hobbitstein Aug 2014 #34

So they cannot learn about it from their own home? They needed to take a risk so the kids Rex Aug 2014 #41

Actually, now that I know it was the Golan Heights he took the kids to, I'm more on the side of Warren DeMontague Aug 2014 #88

Education or intimidation? LittleBlue Aug 2014 #27

Drag? joeybee12 Aug 2014 #29

He didn't "drag them". He made a deal with them. KittyWampus Aug 2014 #30

Ah yes, a deal with a child LittleBlue Aug 2014 #47

Careful, that straw's flammable. NuclearDem Aug 2014 #36

Taking your kids to Syria because you don't want them playing Call of Duty is "education"? Warren DeMontague Aug 2014 #43

I think most think that taking your children to a war torn country... Lancero Aug 2014 #117

What a dumbass. nt conservaphobe Aug 2014 #33

Oh boy, not this again. NuclearDem Aug 2014 #40

I'm ready to start stomping around town in a giant, heavily armored mech, myself. Warren DeMontague Aug 2014 #45

DU's particular, ah, demographics are thrown into stark relief when words like "video games" come up Warren DeMontague Aug 2014 #54

That's the Devil's work, mister! chrisa Aug 2014 #59

And now, lets all enjoy a nice song and cartoon from a simpler era: cemaphonic Aug 2014 #62

No, that's totally true. Warren DeMontague Aug 2014 #67

Seriously Puzzledtraveller Aug 2014 #106

Great dad malaise Aug 2014 #51

But video games Codeine Aug 2014 #70

+1 n/t Dr Hobbitstein Aug 2014 #85

So the dad obviously doesn't understand that Call of Duty isn't real. Iron Man Aug 2014 #57

Color me impressed -- Hell Hath No Fury Aug 2014 #60

That's a good age to find out about the real world nt MrScorpio Aug 2014 #61

Yes, it is BrotherIvan Aug 2014 #112

Where can I take my daughter to get her off Minecraft? Capt. Obvious Aug 2014 #72

I dunno, but keep an eye on her if she moves on to Warcraft. Rex Aug 2014 #76

was that said by our griefers? Capt. Obvious Aug 2014 #78

LOL! Rex Aug 2014 #79

Minecraft is an amazing phenomenon. Warren DeMontague Aug 2014 #80

Surely there is a forest nearby? cemaphonic Aug 2014 #84

Heh, heh heh Capt. Obvious Aug 2014 #89

Pah. Clickbait, anyway. He didn't take them to "SYRIA" per se, he took them to the Golan Heights. Warren DeMontague Aug 2014 #83

top quality dad right there Adam051188 Aug 2014 #87

Is the ESRB system a closely guarded secret? Oakenshield Aug 2014 #91

How did he force his beliefs on them? americannightmare Aug 2014 #92

His superior Scandinavian mind that didn't notice jeff47 Aug 2014 #108

Superior Swedish mind? cemaphonic Aug 2014 #114

I like this part: mackerel Aug 2014 #94

And then instead, he took them to the Golan Heights, which hasn't been plagued by war since 1967. Warren DeMontague Aug 2014 #99

And then he had them talk to Burt Mustin unrepentant progress Aug 2014 #103

I like to teach my videogame-loving son that they are mostly made of math cemaphonic Aug 2014 #113

Guy did the right thing. From now on, they will understand reality from fantasy johnlucas Aug 2014 #121

To all the naysayers here re: video games and detrimental effects... Regrell Aug 2014 #122

You know what I don't like? Hyberbolic daily fail clickbait headlines which contain deliberate lies. Warren DeMontague Aug 2014 #127

There are very realistic war movies that would have done the same trick while not exposing the kids stevenleser Aug 2014 #124

I dunno, I'm not sure kids internalize media the same way Regrell Aug 2014 #128