<p>This makes me so sad. What accounts for the fact that our sociopaths seem to be getting younger and younger?</p>
<p>[Fifth-graders</a> arrested in plot to kill classmate](<a href=“http://now.msn.com/fifth-graders-arrested-in-plot-to-kill-classmate]Fifth-graders”>http://now.msn.com/fifth-graders-arrested-in-plot-to-kill-classmate)</p>
<p>Remember the two ten year olds in England who killed the little boy back in the 90s? They were released from detention at age 18 and have been given new identities to protect them from angry citizens…</p>
<p>Oh yeah, I forgot all about them. So depressing, these kids. Like a lot of people, I wonder how much TV and video game violence has influenced children like these. Is it just that with the availability/saturation of current mass media, we now hear about such cases more easily, or are kids nowadays becoming more inured to the idea of murder? I remember watching Westerns and cop shows growing up, but when they shot the bad guy, there was never even a speck of blood. Now, so many shows are disturbingly graphic. I’m probably just grasping at straws.</p>
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<p>How about bad parents and/or family influence? At that age, the parent(s) obviously played some role in these boys’ behavior- fifth graders do not simply acquire a gun and knife and $80 for bribery, nor the the inspiration for such a plot. Whatever the influence, it starts with the parents and family for planting the seeds.</p>
<p>stradmom – I remember that story – James Bulger was the little boy. It was right after my D was born in '92. I remember suddenly being overwhelmed with how vulnerable my little baby was after I read about that poor boy’s murder.</p>
<p>This story posted by the OP – I can’t understand. I think TV and movies and video games desensitize kids to violence. I also think they talk about things but may never do them. And I agree – parents are key – they talk about the effect of second hand smoke on kids who grow up with parents who smoke. What about second hand violence? Or violent thoughts? Kids live and breathe the moral and emotional and psychological atmosphere the parents create in the home. It’s inescapable.</p>
<p>Violence in video games, etc has been proven not to increase aggressiveness in most people. With that said, it might plant the idea in their heads where it otherwise might not have been. </p>
<p>IMO, the issue is with the fact that these are babysitters rather than just entertainment. Many people simply don’t want to parent anymore. </p>
<p>Class, that’s a good thought. I have kids that come into the DV shelter where I work all the time that have severe, violent outbursts. We currently have a three year old who pees on his mother or sister to get what he wants. Where would a kid learn that? Dad. Where does a kid learn how to get a gun? How to hold people ransom? Etc. That’s not video games.</p>