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New bullies torment gamers
06/07/2007 08:14 - (SA)
New York - A new type of cyberbully
known as a griefer is overtaking other forms of aggression on
the internet and in the world of online gaming, a health
researcher warned.
Unlike traditional internet bullies who work through instant
messages and cellphones, griefers lurk on online multi-player
video games, harassing their victim by bullying, tormenting or
thwarting other players in the game.
"Griefers trap a victim and they will attack the victim
through the game," Dr Sally Black, an assistant professor in
health services at Saint Joseph University in Philadelphia, said
in an interview.
"There's torment, humiliation and belittling," she added.
The world of online multi-player gaming has grown
increasingly popular as gamers adopt new roles and personalities
in 'massive multiplayer online role-playing games,' or MMORPGs
such as World of Warcraft, RuneScape and Everquest.
"I personally believe these are addictive games, because you
have kids playing them for many, many hours a day, and putting
their lives on hold basically to play some of these, like World of Warcraft and Warhammer," said Black.
Violent nature, sexuality
"They have a strong violent nature and a lot of sexuality in
them," she added.
Children as young as 12 are attracted to the games and play
them for hours each day. Black said the long-term effects may
include aggressiveness, anti-social behaviour and acting out.
The American Medical Association announced last month that
it may classify video game use as an addictive behaviour. It later dropped the issue but has called for more research on the
effects of video game and internet use, as well as a review of
the video game ratings system.
Previous studies have not directly linked children's
exposure to media violence with increases in aggression and bad
behaviour.
Black's research on children and bullying includes a case
study, currently in review, about a 12-year-old old boy whose
behaviour changed after he began playing a MMORPG.
She said she has witnessed changes in her students, her
children and their friends and believes industry could start to
control marketing towards children, much like tobacco products
and alcohol.
"It will give parents their power back," she said. "Because
right now these marketers are going straight after the young
ones to try to get them addicted at an early age, and it's like
a parent trying to fight tobacco and alcohol. It's very
difficult," she said.
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