User blog comment:Traditionalfire/Killing in games/@comment-2130363-20120914204404

I follow the line of thinking that they are just pixels on a screen. I ignore anyone that says playing violent games makes me a homicidal maniac. If I was given the option, I'd go for the non-lethal route. Take for instance Deus Ex: HR. I equipped the taser first chance I got and always used the non-lethal take downs. I would only ever go lethal when I tripped an alarm and I was swarmed by guards.

Even in AC2, the rooftop guards I would take down with fists and if they were still writhing around on the ground afterward, I'd consider that non-lethal. In the later games, Brotherhood and Revelations, the rooftop guards were much more unforgiving though and would shoot you pretty much on sight. I developed what I termed the poison-punch where you poison the guard then quickly punch him. They writhe around on the ground afterward so again, I considered that non-lethal, even though the stats recorded it as a kill. But I'm going off topic.

I think all in all, we simply like shooting things. Maybe it eases stress. It's not real life and I remember laughing at all the fatalities you can do in Mortal Kombat.