Poll: Kids and video games.

[DrStupid87]

Hello Escapists.

A relative of mine recently commented on something I posted on Facebook. I posted a link to a cracked article:
http://www.cracked.com/blog/5-crucial-lessons-learned-by-watching-kids-play-video-games/

Basically, it looked at features of video games, like excessive cutscenes and explained why kids are right in not liking the features. It's a good enlightening read if you've got a few minutes spare.

But out of nowhere, this relative of mine (who doesn't approve of video games in general, who also recently qualified in childhood studies) came along and said:

"And have you also read the stuff about the nuerological and developmental damage caused by allowing children access to tv and gaming? Very very powerful scientific evidence of damage to brain development"

I didn't post the article to try and proove that games are a health benefit, I was posting it because I thought it was an insightful piece into the evolutions of gaming.

I thought "You're an idiot. And where is this evidence you failed to show? Games are not responsible for making the kids, the parents are. What you're doing is a really lazy way of saying 'I can't be arsed looking after my own children'"

Am I right/wrong? Should I be more concerned with the effect games can actually have or should I just unfriend this relative?

Discuss, mighty Escapists!

EDIT: UPDATED piccy of the Facebook post:

[http://img696.imageshack.us/i/facebookgvx.jpg/]

 

[DrStupid87]

By the way, I know there's tonnes of research about this touchy matter out there. I just thought it was stupid that this relative didn't bother to post any to support their claim. Like relying on their qualification gave them the unversal right to "always be right".

 

[Spartan448]

Look, first of all, that's a humor site. The site title even says "America's only HUMOR SITE since 1958". Since the interwebs wasn't around in 1958, that's just more evidence that that site is full of bull****. There is evidence to show that games can affect the minds of kids, even if it's only a little bit. Kids see things in games. They learn it, and try to copy the characters to be cool. That's why the U.S. Army made a game to boost recruitment: People played it, and wanted to imitate the characters in the game to be cool. Same thing with fucking Columbine. All it took was playing a modded version of Doom to push two otherwise respectable students over the edge.

 

[Zoomy]

Look, first of all, that's a humor site. The site title even says "America's only HUMOR SITE since 1958". Since the interwebs wasn't around in 1958, that's just more evidence that that site is full of bull****. There is evidence to show that games can affect the minds of kids, even if it's only a little bit. Kids see things in games. They learn it, and try to copy the characters to be cool. That's why the U.S. Army made a game to boost recruitment: People played it, and wanted to imitate the characters in the game to be cool. Same thing with fucking Columbine. All it took was playing a modded version of Doom to push two otherwise respectable students over the edge.

First of all, Humour =/= fiction. Read a few of the articles. It's well researched stuff, explained in the medium of dick jokes. And the 1958 line refers to Cracked magazine, which started in 1958.

You know what is equal to fiction? Claims that the Columbine kids played/made a DooM mod based on their school. That never happened, it was a lie invented to demonise games*. One did say "it's gonna be like fucking DooM!", which is not in any way an admittion that DooM made them do it. If they had done so in the 1940's, they'd have probably said "It's gonna be like fucking Pearl Harbour!".

*Similar lies were told about Marilyn Manson and the Matrix, I believe.

 

[DrStupid87]

Look, first of all, that's a humor site. The site title even says "America's only HUMOR SITE since 1958". Since the interwebs wasn't around in 1958, that's just more evidence that that site is full of bull****. There is evidence to show that games can affect the minds of kids, even if it's only a little bit. Kids see things in games. They learn it, and try to copy the characters to be cool. That's why the U.S. Army made a game to boost recruitment: People played it, and wanted to imitate the characters in the game to be cool. Same thing with fucking Columbine. All it took was playing a modded version of Doom to push two otherwise respectable students over the edge.

AWhat about the Columbine kids being social outcasts who were being pushed around by jocks 24/7 had nothing to do with it? Or the fact that one of the Columbine killers was mentally unbalanced (forget the name, sorry) and the other had an "easily influenced personality"?
Don't get me wrong, I fully appreciate that the games can lead to bad things happening but they can't be the only scapegoat. If murders happened only because of games then more than likely, they would be illegal.
I remember playing Doom at age 9 and thinking, "Christ, if I did this to a real person, I would ruin their shit!". I owe it to my parents for giving me the moral guidance to make those decisions.
Plus Cracked has actually done truthful reports, just explained in a funny way to help the average reader understand it.

 

[Zoomy]

If murders happened only because of games then more than likely, they would be illegal.

Not to mention there'd be a spike in violent crimes since about 1990, when violent video games started to become a thing. Oh, wait, that never happened. In fact, violent crime rates have fallen: http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/uscrime.htm

Research is a lovely thing.

 

[DrStupid87]

If murders happened only because of games then more than likely, they would be illegal.

Not to mention there'd be a spike in violent crimes since about 1990, when violent video games started to become a thing. Oh, wait, that never happened. In fact, violent crime rates have fallen: http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/uscrime.htm

Research is a lovely thing.

Escapism is a lovely thing too!

 

[2fish]

Ok time to re-rail this thread.

I agree with the text overload as I have that. I like to have the option to read bonus info but the main story flows for me if it is not text based.

I question the age of the kids and if they will act this way as they mature as I also did the smash the world to shit in GTA but after I got out of college I played Saints Row more for the random and funny missions and every so often I would go crazy after I beat the game.

I Also agree with the grinding because at some point it goes from a mission to padding the game out. You must clear this room 20 times before you can go on for no reason other than levels is a bs move when I already have done all the side quests. It changes the game from an RPG to a monster slaughter game.

I have seen some people get the you cannot lose situation, however that seems to be an age thing so again I ask the age of the kids. A game with no challenge is just boring to me. So I figure the argument is false in a big picture but there will always be some game that fuel the argument. Most of the cannot lose issues I see are in multiplayer when people whine and ***** that they are not best.

I cannot really comment on the skipping cut scenes as i only do it after I have beaten the game and know the story.

Spoiler

It is like where's waldo but with spelling and grammar errors

Edit: Reason I cannot vote

I belive the media has become a sensationalist organization thus they overhyoe everything. Every so often they surprise me and don't do it but mostly I avoid them.

Want more info well there is a wiki for that
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sensationalism

 

[booker]

Several studies on video games' effects on child development have been conducted, published and peer reviewed. Many of them conflict each other; others are posted in "easy-reader" versions that outright twist the facts (such as saying that violent video games increase adrenaline levels, therefore increasing aggression in children).

I am of the opinion that parenting and the child's surroundings are what actually affect children. I use myself as an example: my parents didn't pay attention to ESRB ratings (lol) and I've played games of all kinds growing up. Some of my fondest memories I have are in games like Unreal Tournament and Return to Castle Wolfenstein. But I am capable of understanding "humanity". That is, I know not to replicate what I see in the game in the real world.

Most of the outcry is just hype; people complaining about a medium they don't understand and won't take the effort of understanding.

 

[the spud]

As long as said child is aware of the difference between reality and a video game, then said child will be fine. Also, punch that relative right in the jaw.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Of course games have a big effect on children, the same as any important cultural things do.

It's just that the media likes pointing out at the effect games have, and not, say, the effects the media has, for some reason. Hmmm...maybe people should make games about using the media to destroy the youth of today.

 

[InfectedStar]

I believe that the amount of influence the game has on the child's mind depends on how old the child is 5-11 year olds are extremely influenced by video games, especially violent ones but your right it is the parents fault if the kid is getting ahold of these games to begin with. Older (but still quite young) kids between 12-16 are still influencial but to a lesser degree, and around 17+ are not so much because most people this age know the difference btween fiction and reality. I've been playing games since I was 4 and I'm 17 now, now growing up and seeing the people around me growing up in the same conditions as myself I HAVE NOT been affected by brain damage from video games and nor have those other people. Though times have changed and parents are buying violent video games for 6 year olds now so I can't compare my childhood to those of children now-a-days but atleast i know not to point a loaded gun at my friends trying to reenact a scene from games like "GTA".

 

[DrStupid87]

POINT 1...outright twist the facts (such as saying that violent video games increase adrenaline levels, therefore increasing aggression in children).

POINT 2I am of the opinion that parenting and the child's surroundings are what actually affect children. I use myself as an example: my parents didn't pay attention to ESRB ratings (lol) and I've played games of all kinds growing up. Some of my fondest memories I have are in games like Unreal Tournament and Return to Castle Wolfenstein. But I am capable of understanding "humanity". That is, I know not to replicate what I see in the game in the real world.

POINT 3Most of the outcry is just hype; people complaining about a medium they don't understand and won't take the effort of understanding.

In response to:

Point 1 - I wonder if this whole 'research says one thing, other research says the other' is flawed. Take the testing criteria. It only applies to the selected individuals who took part in the test and then those results are extrapolated to the rest of the world. The whole goddamn thing of "Everyone is different" will invalidate all research that is done until a time when it's possible to test an entire nations responses to research criteria.

Point 2 - Couldn't agree more. It saddens me that in a world where people are trying to promote unity through diversity, that people still cling to old beliefs that always take us back to square one of an argument. IMO, people that cling to said beliefs, much like South Parks portrayal of John Edward, are slowing the progress of the rest of humanity.

Point 3 - I suppose most people like taking the easy route of a point of view. Reminds me of the dark ages...

 

[DrStupid87]

As long as said child is aware of the difference between reality and a video game, then said child will be fine. Also, punch that relative right in the jaw.

I love you

 

[DrStupid87]

mmm...maybe people should make games about using the media to destroy the youth of today.

I think Spore came closest to the "use media to destroy" thing where you were a religious race and attacked an enemy city by broadcasting religious propaganda via a MASSIVE hologram over the enemy city until they gave up and converted to your side.

 

[booker]

Also, punch that relative right in the jaw.

I think that might be a bit counterproductive for our campaign...

 

[DrStupid87]

Also, punch that relative right in the jaw.

I think that might be a bit counterproductive for our campaign...

Hah! Nothing like that little bit of primal satisfaction now and again.

 

[Zoomy]

Also, punch that relative right in the jaw.

I think that might be a bit counterproductive for our campaign...

Perhaps, but who would they tell? Can't speak with a broken jaw. Smileyface.

 

[DrStupid87]

Also, punch that relative right in the jaw.

I think that might be a bit counterproductive for our campaign...

Perhaps, but who would they tell? Can't speak with a broken jaw. Smileyface.

Next problem: I need to become Iron Man.

 

[Smooth Operator]

They do affect you but not in the demonic ways the nay sayers want it to.
Games are just this generations "devil maker", before that was music, D&D, TV, movies, radio, books,... hell even washing at one point was the devils work, you heathens shalt not wash off gods dirt!

Best way to set those religious extremists straight is a good backhanded slap, but you really haveto plant it well to work. (that ofcourse was a joke, tho it's worth a shot)