On ‘Playing’ Violence

As a preschool teacher and trained mediator, I want to compliment Ann Seaman on “Interactive Toys Spur New Worry About Violence” (Nov. 25). Our children live with violence. They don’t need to “play” violence.

J. C. Appel, a game counselor with Nintendo, stated: “Any game has violence . . . aggressive terminology like strike and attack. You have to destroy, or defeat, or beat to win.” I guess Appel has never played Pictionary or Trivial Pursuit, Monopoly, Scrabble, Parcheesi or checkers or chess. Nor has he gone outdoors and made up games like basketball’s “horse,” jump rope, marbles, jacks or hopscotch.

Our society must help our children learn how to enjoy interacting with each other in positive ways. With our children growing up playing killing video games, is it any wonder three people were shot at midday in downtown San Diego in November?

BETTY IMLAY

San Diego