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A short one, for once.

cmoth

Shared on Sat, 04/12/2008 - 18:32

I mean it. This one is barely a post. More of a mention really. Like a Post Script.

If you ever wondered why with all of the ammo being sprayed about in REAL warfare, why the body count isn't much higher than it is, I highly recommend the book "On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society". The book is written by Dave Grossman, a very popular author in military and police circles.

The title of the book makes the unitiated think it's a tretice on learning how to kill. Kind of like the book "Hitman". Nothing could be farther from the truth. Grossman uses after action interviews and historical reference material to explain why well-trained soldiers and experienced law enforcement officers are horribly inefficient at killing. The book deals with cultural diference and actually leaves you with a "perhaps there is hope for all of us after all" sentiment.

It points out the "GI Joe" syndrome as I like to call it. Shooting wildly, mostly up in the air (or elsewhere), without actually any intended fire directed at the enemy.

In video gaming there is no lifelong consequences to your death or the lives you take. Nearly every round fired is directed towards an enemy combatant with the intent to kill them. Even the worst shots-fired to kills percentage in the game is far better than in actual warfare.

I encourage everybody at least borrow this book and read it. You may understand humanity a little better because of it.

Comments

Armorsmith76's picture
Submitted by Armorsmith76 on Sat, 04/12/2008 - 19:26
Sounds good, I could use a little more faith in humanity. (if only they could put a silver lining on human stupidity)
Raider30's picture
Submitted by Raider30 on Sat, 04/12/2008 - 20:39
On Killing is an excellent book. cmoth - if you haven't already read it you also need to read On Survival, especially being in law enforcement. I've had the opportunity to see Lt. Col. Grossman twice now and though his presentation really hadn't changed in 2 years it was still riveting. What I'd really like to sit in on is his presentation that he does for school administrators and teachers. I'll bet that one gives them a real kick in the ass (and for 99% of them it'd be about time). Grossman also was co-author on a book called Teaching Our Kids to Kill. I was about 1/2 through it when I put it down to start something else. I need to go back and finish it off. Unfortunately I don't really like the cause/effect line he has drawn with some of his examples and that turned me off a bit from the book. He's rather anti-video game, at least for kids, and he does make some good points and does have some good medical evidence to back up his opinions, he also makes some kind of big leaps that I didn't like. Still worth a read though.
Raider30's picture
Submitted by Raider30 on Sat, 04/12/2008 - 21:50
Sorry, got the title wrong, its not On Survival, its On Combat.
cmoth's picture
Submitted by cmoth on Sun, 04/13/2008 - 17:57
Yeah, a buddy of mine has On Combat and has also raved about it. I happen to agree in a way with some of his conclusions regarding video-games and children. Not because the video game would be inappropriate in and if itself but because in absence of decent parenting giving perspective, a child WILL learn inappropriate social behaviors from media.

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