We’ve all heard that there is no longer a stigma associated with online dating. Technology is increasingly bringing the human race together while also pulling us further apart, which means that each of us is closer than ever to people we’re never going to talk to–let alone date.

Still, the possibilities of online dating are almost limitless. We love that idea–and it draws thousands of paying customers to sites like Match.com. Unfortunately, as we all know, the Internet is not reality. In fact, at its worst, the Internet involves the most despicable parts of reality masquerading as rainbows and unicorns.

So when a woman recently brought a lawsuit against Match.com for connecting her with a man who ended up stabbing her 10 times, we immediately saw that this story, in addition to being a tragedy, also illustrates a future PR conundrum: to what degree are dating sites responsible for the behavior of their clients?

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We’ve registered our skepticism of the usual “violent video games and movies did it” scapegoating that followed the tragic Newtown shooting last month, but some people take this idea very, very seriously.

In fact, one Connecticut town recently went so far as to organize a voluntary video game return program, offering residents a gift certificate in exchange for their “violent games”, which will be collected and destroyed.

Each resident who returns a single game will receive a $25 gift certificate (which is significant considering how low the buyback value of these ~$60 games usually turns out to be).

The town’s school superintendent says that the purpose of the drive is to encourage parents to have a “real, sound conversation with their children about video games”–if they are uncomfortable with their kids’ gaming hobbies, they should turn the games in to the town government, to be destroyed on January 12 (officials will also accept violent movies and/or music).

We’re not quite sure what the ultimate effect of this initiative will be, but we know that top game makers are feeling the pressure to issue some kind of public response. Tell us, PR pros: Should companies like Electronic Arts respond to the recent swell of stories about “shooter” games? If so, what could they possibly say?