Panic World Why we always blame video games
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Jan 7, 2026 
Chris Plante, co-founder of Polygon and host of the Post Games podcast, dives into the moral panic surrounding video games since their inception. He discusses how societal fears often overlook the positive impacts of gaming. The conversation touches on the parallels between games and historic media scares, as well as the outrageous claims of figures like Jack Thompson connecting games to real-world violence. They explore why blaming games simplifies complex societal issues and emphasize the need for research into gambling mechanics over panic-driven narratives.
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Panics Reflect Politics Not New Media
- Moral panics about video games keep recurring because each era grafts current cultural fears onto the medium.
- Chris Plante argues the panic reflects broader politics, not unique effects of games.
Scapegoating Simplifies Complex Causes
- Blending unrelated media (porn, movies, games) into a single cause simplifies complex violence into a scapegoat.
- The hosts say this avoids addressing firearms, mental health, and social causes.
Jack Thompson’s Media Crusade Origins
- Ryan and Chris recount Jack Thompson's rise after the 1999 lawsuits linking media to violence.
- They connect his tactics to earlier moral crusades like Tipper Gore's parental advisories.
