CAL THOMAS COMMENTARY SEPTEMBER 16, 2025
THE YOUNG MAN SEEMED TO BE ON THE FAST TRACK TO A SUCCESSFUL LIFE. HIS HIGH SCHOOL GRADES WERE SO GOOD THAT HE WON A FOUR-YEAR SCHOLARSHIP AT A LOCAL UNIVERSITY. BUT THEN 22 YEAR-OLD TYLER ROBINSON DROPPED OUT AFTER ONE SEMESTER AND APPARENTLY DROPPED IN TO A DARK WORLD OF VIOLENT VIDEO GAMES AND THE POLITICAL DARK SIDE.
ALYSIA FINLEY, A COLUMNIST FOR THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, WROTE ABOUT WHAT CAUSES ESPECIALLY YOUNG MEN TO BEHAVE THE WAY ROBINSON DID WHEN HE SHOT AND KILLED CHARLIE KIRK.
FINLEY WRITES: “MARINATING IN AN INTERNET CESSPOLL CAN’T BE GOOD FOR THE YOUNG AND MALLEABLE MALE MIND. MIGHT KILLING VILLAINS IN VIDEO GAMES DESENSITIZE THE CONSCIENCE? STUDIES HAVE FOUND AN ASSOCIATION BETWEEN PLAYING VIOLENT VIDEO GAMES AND AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR, THOUGH MOST PEOPLE WHO ASSUME ONLINE AVATARS AND FIGHT MONSTERS DON’T BECOME VIOLENT.”
THAT IS SOLE COMFORT TO THE VICTIMS. AS I ARGUE IN MY COLUMN TODAY, ANYTHING THAT ENCOURAGES VIOLENCE – POLITICAL OR OTHERWISE – SHOULD BE BANNED FROM THE INTERNET. SUCH THINGS ARE NOT FREE SPEECH. THEY ARE INCITEMENT. COMPANIES OR INDIVIDUALS WHO PROMOTE THIS STUFF SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
IT’S NOT ENOUGH TO WRING OUR HANDS AFTER SUCH TRAGEDIES. I’M CAL THOMAS.
