The friendship app Replika was created to give users a virtual chatbot to socialize with. But how it’s now being used has taken a darker turn.

  • @CriticalResist8A
    link
    32 years ago

    Yeah, in those cases gamers probably look out for catharsis. It’s different from specifically playing violent games (say play a serial killer in Rust) as a way to build up before committing the actual act or rehearse it, or even fulfil the urge because you want to kill someone, you just don’t have the guts to do it yet.

    There’s probably a discussion to be had about people building up towards their urges with video games (there’s even a VR experience for managers where you practice firing an employee, imagine that) and this is good, because this one topic has opened up another to be explored!