Comments on: The Dangers of Video Games http://www.christandpopculture.com/games/the-dangers-of-video-games/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-dangers-of-video-games Where The Christian Faith Meets The Common Knowledge of Our Age Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:10:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Tehsnowkitteh http://www.christandpopculture.com/games/the-dangers-of-video-games/#comment-97551 Tehsnowkitteh Wed, 21 Jul 2010 22:38:06 +0000 http://www.christandpopculture.com/?p=664#comment-97551 Here, this will explain my argument defending video games and proving why such activities do not harm individuals, In fact, if you play video games, a great number do have wonderful meaning and messages. One such example is the Metal Gear Solid series, if you really pay attention to the story, you will see that it is not about going around and killing everything that moves, you actually have to be intelligent to realize what I mean; sadly, the internet has very few actual intelligent people. Other games have wonderful and engaging stories. My best example would be The Mass Effect series. It possibly has the best storyline of any game out there because you actually are involved with making decisions that could save or peril the entire Milky Way galaxy. The first time I played through, I actually felt a bond between the characters in the game, or at least your party members. There are very, and I mean very few games that can make you actually care about what happens to NPC's. Some games like that, are considered art. Not all games are mindless killing games like Call of Duty or Gears of War. (Believe me, I like Call of Duty fairly well, but it doesn't have anything on Mass Effect or MGS.) And if you would like research to back my claims, go play Mass Effect, MGS, or Ace Combat, and you will see why video games are not bad. There are even studies that have been conducted on how video games are harmless to people who play them; although the names of the studies elude me at this time. So don't believe the government when they say "Video games are poisoning today's youth." Actual studies contradict this claim. Also, video games are not the cause of alienation from society, obesity, aggressive behavior, or obsessive tendencies. The people who actually suffer from this have been for a long time, in fact, all of these can be genetically inherited. These people just happen to get a hold of GTA or DOOM and then someone sets them off at school or work by spilling their water and they murder a few people. When the police investigate, they find these games and automatically blame them without even conducting research on the individuals past. As for obesity, it too is inherited, and a lot of the times hard to avoid because of this fact; video games do not cause obesity. Alienation? it to could be blamed on games, but what if the person is just naturally shy? And they do not want to go out often? Its been going on for centuries, some people just simply do not want to go outside often. In fact, I used to be fairly shy when I was younger (Elementary and Middle school) and I never used to talk to many people or go out much. That is until 8th grade, where I found Xbox LIVE. I began playing and talking with people online (I was shy at first of course) But after a while, I began to get more confidence about going out more often because of my Xbox. I also only started playing video games in Middle school, so you cannot say they alienated me then, because i was just a naturally shy person. So now I am a senior in high school, I talk with both sexes a great deal and I go out very often with friends and I am in a very stable relationship with my boyfriend of 3 years, who I met on live, and I am no longer shy thank to video games. (Plus they help relieve stress)One final addition: some say video games make you stupid or interfere with life. In fact, it is the opposite. Over the course of playing games such as Call of Duty, or MGS. I have read considerably more books than I used to, wanting to learn about modern day threats to our planet like Thermonuclear War or Private Military companies. I would even go so far as to say video games like Call of Duty 2, 3, and WaW have inspired me to study history and sociology and to become a US History teacher after I finish college. I have said all that I can say now. Hope it helps. TL;DR Here, this will explain my argument defending video games and proving why such activities do not harm individuals, In fact, if you play video games, a great number do have wonderful meaning and messages. One such example is the Metal Gear Solid series, if you really pay attention to the story, you will see that it is not about going around and killing everything that moves, you actually have to be intelligent to realize what I mean; sadly, the internet has very few actual intelligent people. Other games have wonderful and engaging stories. My best example would be The Mass Effect series. It possibly has the best storyline of any game out there because you actually are involved with making decisions that could save or peril the entire Milky Way galaxy. The first time I played through, I actually felt a bond between the characters in the game, or at least your party members. There are very, and I mean very few games that can make you actually care about what happens to NPC’s. Some games like that, are considered art. Not all games are mindless killing games like Call of Duty or Gears of War. (Believe me, I like Call of Duty fairly well, but it doesn’t have anything on Mass Effect or MGS.) And if you would like research to back my claims, go play Mass Effect, MGS, or Ace Combat, and you will see why video games are not bad. There are even studies that have been conducted on how video games are harmless to people who play them; although the names of the studies elude me at this time. So don’t believe the government when they say “Video games are poisoning today’s youth.” Actual studies contradict this claim. Also, video games are not the cause of alienation from society, obesity, aggressive behavior, or obsessive tendencies. The people who actually suffer from this have been for a long time, in fact, all of these can be genetically inherited. These people just happen to get a hold of GTA or DOOM and then someone sets them off at school or work by spilling their water and they murder a few people. When the police investigate, they find these games and automatically blame them without even conducting research on the individuals past. As for obesity, it too is inherited, and a lot of the times hard to avoid because of this fact; video games do not cause obesity. Alienation? it to could be blamed on games, but what if the person is just naturally shy? And they do not want to go out often? Its been going on for centuries, some people just simply do not want to go outside often. In fact, I used to be fairly shy when I was younger (Elementary and Middle school) and I never used to talk to many people or go out much. That is until 8th grade, where I found Xbox LIVE. I began playing and talking with people online (I was shy at first of course) But after a while, I began to get more confidence about going out more often because of my Xbox. I also only started playing video games in Middle school, so you cannot say they alienated me then, because i was just a naturally shy person. So now I am a senior in high school, I talk with both sexes a great deal and I go out very often with friends and I am in a very stable relationship with my boyfriend of 3 years, who I met on live, and I am no longer shy thank to video games. (Plus they help relieve stress)One final addition: some say video games make you stupid or interfere with life. In fact, it is the opposite. Over the course of playing games such as Call of Duty, or MGS. I have read considerably more books than I used to, wanting to learn about modern day threats to our planet like Thermonuclear War or Private Military companies. I would even go so far as to say video games like Call of Duty 2, 3, and WaW have inspired me to study history and sociology and to become a US History teacher after I finish college. I have said all that I can say now. Hope it helps.

TL;DR

]]> By: Justin http://www.christandpopculture.com/games/the-dangers-of-video-games/#comment-96795 Justin Wed, 14 Jul 2010 23:55:38 +0000 http://www.christandpopculture.com/?p=664#comment-96795 even obsessions aren't that bad. as a gamer myself I don't see anything wrong with playing a lot of video games or video gmaes takeing up a lot of your time. Honestly the only actual no BS problem with video games are siezures (I know i didn't spell that the right way) And i read a related article that said that photosensetive women are most likely for a siezure. And as for MY demographic Males below 18 are LEAST likely to have a siezure if not photosensitive. even obsessions aren’t that bad. as a gamer myself I don’t see anything wrong with playing a lot of video games or video gmaes takeing up a lot of your time. Honestly the only actual no BS problem with video games are siezures (I know i didn’t spell that the right way) And i read a related article that said that photosensetive women are most likely for a siezure. And as for MY demographic Males below 18 are LEAST likely to have a siezure if not photosensitive.

]]> By: peter bartlett http://www.christandpopculture.com/games/the-dangers-of-video-games/#comment-68294 peter bartlett Sun, 31 Jan 2010 22:08:27 +0000 http://www.christandpopculture.com/?p=664#comment-68294 So Beelzebub, you are saying that you are an example of a person who is able to be a ideo game enthusiast without being less of a person, and yet you admit that this is a danger for a number of people. Way to agree with an article while insulting it at the same time. So Beelzebub,
you are saying that you are an example of a person who is able to be a ideo game enthusiast without being less of a person, and yet you admit that this is a danger for a number of people.

Way to agree with an article while insulting it at the same time.

]]> By: Beelzebub http://www.christandpopculture.com/games/the-dangers-of-video-games/#comment-68281 Beelzebub Sun, 31 Jan 2010 21:21:10 +0000 http://www.christandpopculture.com/?p=664#comment-68281 It's always a great sign when an 8th grade student cites an article which gives ABSOLUTELY NO SUPPORT to its arguments. You must be so proud, Kris. As has been said, these arguments apply, if at all, only to video gaming in excess. Video game OBSESSION. I, myself, am both a well-rounded individual AND a video game enthusiast. I attend college at Virginia Commonwealth University, where I am a second-semester sophomore have a steady girlfriend, SHOWER EVERY DAY, and, yes, I know how to perfectly perform Ken's Shoryuken attack from the aforementioned Street Fighter 2 (as close to the "thinking man's" arcade fighter as we're likely to see). And, believe it or not, I let the aforementioned girlfriend beat me at Guitar Hero sometimes, as well. Even though, in all honesty, we both know she doesn't play as well as I do. Of course, there are those who CAN'T regulate their obsession. The 400 pound World of Warcraft (or, to avoid discrimination, Call of Duty) players are good examples. My sister's boyfriend is a good example of one who lets video games alienate him. He isn't a top-notch player, and refuses to play with my sister (an even poorer player) when we get a group of people playing together. He can't stand losing, and rather than work out an arrangement to where they can stay together and still stand a fighting chance, he prefers to raise a fuss and refuse to play. He's 22 years old. Not exactly the most mature solution he could find, I think. So, rest assured it IS indeed possible to both enjoy playing video games, and live a normal, well-adjusted life. No, everybody doesn't master both, but the more extreme examples are few and far between. In the same way that guns don't kill people: people do; Video games don't ruin lives: people's reaction to them does. It’s always a great sign when an 8th grade student cites an article which gives ABSOLUTELY NO SUPPORT to its arguments. You must be so proud, Kris. As has been said, these arguments apply, if at all, only to video gaming in excess. Video game OBSESSION.

I, myself, am both a well-rounded individual AND a video game enthusiast. I attend college at Virginia Commonwealth University, where I am a second-semester sophomore have a steady girlfriend, SHOWER EVERY DAY, and, yes, I know how to perfectly perform Ken’s Shoryuken attack from the aforementioned Street Fighter 2 (as close to the “thinking man’s” arcade fighter as we’re likely to see). And, believe it or not, I let the aforementioned girlfriend beat me at Guitar Hero sometimes, as well. Even though, in all honesty, we both know she doesn’t play as well as I do.

Of course, there are those who CAN’T regulate their obsession. The 400 pound World of Warcraft (or, to avoid discrimination, Call of Duty) players are good examples. My sister’s boyfriend is a good example of one who lets video games alienate him. He isn’t a top-notch player, and refuses to play with my sister (an even poorer player) when we get a group of people playing together. He can’t stand losing, and rather than work out an arrangement to where they can stay together and still stand a fighting chance, he prefers to raise a fuss and refuse to play. He’s 22 years old. Not exactly the most mature solution he could find, I think.

So, rest assured it IS indeed possible to both enjoy playing video games, and live a normal, well-adjusted life. No, everybody doesn’t master both, but the more extreme examples are few and far between. In the same way that guns don’t kill people: people do; Video games don’t ruin lives: people’s reaction to them does.

]]> By: Kris http://www.christandpopculture.com/games/the-dangers-of-video-games/#comment-68156 Kris Sun, 31 Jan 2010 05:17:20 +0000 http://www.christandpopculture.com/?p=664#comment-68156 Dear Rich, Great article. Cited by one of my grade 8 students in his game safety portfolio. Can be used as a good discussion starter and includes realistic and balanced opinion. An gentle introduction to some deep topics. Minnesota seems to have ignored much of the video game specific comments you made (perhaps he has never played many video games so that these comments did not have the same resonance). For example the issue raised about video game players who are distracted from the real world is not the same issue for rock climbers at all. For video game players this can mean not interacting positively even with those they play with, seriously damaged relationships with family members, skipping meals to the point of death and losing jobs. These are not the same issues typically faced by rock climbers who are generally socially, often climb in teams they interact well with, eat healthily and usually fit their sport into a sensible time in their schedules. Dear Rich,

Great article. Cited by one of my grade 8 students in his game safety portfolio. Can be used as a good discussion starter and includes realistic and balanced opinion. An gentle introduction to some deep topics.
Minnesota seems to have ignored much of the video game specific comments you made (perhaps he has never played many video games so that these comments did not have the same resonance). For example the issue raised about video game players who are distracted from the real world is not the same issue for rock climbers at all. For video game players this can mean not interacting positively even with those they play with, seriously damaged relationships with family members, skipping meals to the point of death and losing jobs. These are not the same issues typically faced by rock climbers who are generally socially, often climb in teams they interact well with, eat healthily and usually fit their sport into a sensible time in their schedules.

]]> By: Minnesota Attorney http://www.christandpopculture.com/games/the-dangers-of-video-games/#comment-5878 Minnesota Attorney Mon, 03 Nov 2008 15:05:44 +0000 http://www.christandpopculture.com/?p=664#comment-5878 These arguments only apply to gaming in excess. The problem with these arguments is that countless activities could be argued against using the same arguments. For example, replace "video games" with "rock climbing" in the following headings: Rock climbing can Distract from Real Life; Rock climbing can Reward Obsession; Rock climbing can Alienate you From Others; Rock climbing can Discourage Deep Thought About Critical Issues. In other words, anything taken out of balance is wrong. <abbr><em>Minnesota Attorneys last blog post..<a href="http://www.aaronhall.com/blog-law-copyright-trademark/" rel="nofollow">Blog Law 101: Keeping Your Blog Legal</a></abbr></em> These arguments only apply to gaming in excess.

The problem with these arguments is that countless activities could be argued against using the same arguments. For example, replace “video games” with “rock climbing” in the following headings:

Rock climbing can Distract from Real Life; Rock climbing can Reward Obsession; Rock climbing can Alienate you From Others; Rock climbing can Discourage Deep Thought About Critical Issues.

In other words, anything taken out of balance is wrong.

Minnesota Attorneys last blog post..Blog Law 101: Keeping Your Blog Legal

]]> By: Rich Clark http://www.christandpopculture.com/games/the-dangers-of-video-games/#comment-2940 Rich Clark Tue, 15 Jul 2008 02:33:42 +0000 http://www.christandpopculture.com/?p=664#comment-2940 Thanks! Rich Clarks last blog post..<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ChristAndPopCulture/~3/335483142/" rel="nofollow">Netflix on your Xbox 360: New ways to watch</a> Thanks!

Rich Clarks last blog post..Netflix on your Xbox 360: New ways to watch

]]> By: Jayson http://www.christandpopculture.com/games/the-dangers-of-video-games/#comment-2939 Jayson Tue, 15 Jul 2008 02:17:55 +0000 http://www.christandpopculture.com/?p=664#comment-2939 Wow, quite frankly I want the two minutes of my life back it took to read your blog post. Marked as "dislike" in Stumble Upon. This blog has no real information, just some schmoes opinion about video games. You add no information to back your claims, no studies, no science.... no nothing. What a waste of web space. Wow, quite frankly I want the two minutes of my life back it took to read your blog post.

Marked as “dislike” in Stumble Upon. This blog has no real information, just some schmoes opinion about video games. You add no information to back your claims, no studies, no science…. no nothing. What a waste of web space.

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