Jean,

Hear! Hear!  I'm with you.  I see no value in these games and am horrified by the violence in many of them.   Although, I might mention that my 19-year-old son has played computer games, rather violent ones as far as I'm concerned, for most of his teen years and he is one of the gentlest people I know (takes after his mother).  So maybe they don't necessarily turn kids into blood-thirsty monsters.  Still, I don't see any reason to encourage their use.

Vince



>>> On 4/2/2007 at 12:28 PM, Jean Campbell <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Hi Paul,
> My quick answer is....don't do it.
> 
> The long answer..... 
> We had a Winter Carnival here this year and one of the options that kids 
> could do was come to the computer lab and play computer games (which is 
> normally not allowed).  We opened up our content filter for games for the 
> afternoon. The day came and went and I thought life was good......a few days 
> later I noticed after school that the lab was completely full of 35 young 
> men....they were all playing Halo(and it was not homework related...nor were 
> they doing research on violent computer games).  During the carnival, kids 
> had downloaded it and installed it on all the lab computers.  They were under 
> the incorrect perception that it was fine to play this anytime....and since 
> they downloaded it, it ran locally.  After reimaging all the machines, 
> shutting down a few student accounts and repeated discussions with classes,  
> they have come to understand that they can not do this anytime/anyhow at MMU 
> as long as I am here.  That game is awful,  and I know you gamers out there 
> are going to!
>   come up with all kinds of reasons why it could be deemed ok.....sorry, I 
> just don't agree and never will.  How can playing these games be in any way 
> good for your mind?  Our world is violent enough, thank you.......
> 
> Jean Campbell
> CESU Technical Services
> Phone: 802-899-4690 X501
> Pager: 802-450-2254
> 
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>>>> Paul Irish <[log in to unmask]> 4/2/2007 11:36 AM >>>
> Just wondering if any of you have had requests for a school-sponsored Halo 
> tournament and what you did.  Let me know please.
> 
> Paul
> 
> L. Paul Irish
> Director of Information Technology
> Burlington School District
> 150 Colchester Ave.
> Burlington, VT, 05401
> Voice: 802-864-8465
> Fax: 802-864-8501
> E-Mail: [log in to unmask]