Sports are worse than videogames

[Chunko]

Okay let me start by saying that if you like sports, and do them for fun that's cool. We live in a free country, and I you can do what you want. I don't want to start a flamewar here, just a discussion.

I've been thinking a lot of the arguments against videogames seem equally as applicable to many other things in life. Specifically I noticed a lot of parallells to negative effects of sports. I'm not saying that sports are bad, but this is just something to think about:

[HEADING=1]Videogames Sports make people violent[/HEADING]

I really don't buy into this one. I feel like videogames help me get out violent feelings. All the studies have found is that they make us desensitized to violence. I'm not so sure that that is that much of a bad thing. I also read in "Grown up Digital" that violent crimes have been incredibly low in recent years, there may be a cause and effect relationship.

But lets think about sports for a moment. I don't think this applies to non-contact sports like cross country. But in sports like wrestling and football and lacrosse people are straight up beating the crap out of people. In my experience people also seem to get very aggressive when playing sports. I've seen fights break out over games. Additionally at my school the only people who ever seem to get in trouble or get into fights tend to be the athletic types, not the gamers.

[HEADING=1]Videogames Sports make people obsessive[/HEADING]

So this one is pretty true for games. I only play on average 2 hours a day, but I talk about videogames a lot. I've seen a lot of my friends spend too much time on videogames.

But you can say the same things about sports. Jocks seem to only talk about the game the other day and professional games on T.V. It's all they ever talk about and to me it seems like they're way more obsessive. All of them get really involved into teams and seem to forget that it's just a game. At least most gamers recognize that gaming is an escape. Not to mention whenever there is a game it throws off your homework schedule. Sports are really time consuming and can hurt people academically.

[HEADING=1]Videogames Sports are bad for your health[/HEADING]

This argument has always seemed ridiculous to me. People jump to the conclusion that if you play videogames you automatically do it in excess and are overweight. There's no rule that says you have to stay inactive while you're playing videogames. I personally work out while gaming. I'm in far better shape outside of the sport season when I have more time to play videogames then when I'm inside it. This is because the type of workout you get from sports is negligible when compared to how much you can work out with videogames as a distraction. Additionally motion controls make up a large part of gaming, in a few month every console will have some form of motion sensing on it.

Sports are the other hand force you to stand around doing nothing, when you're not sitting down doing nothing. 90% of the time is spent watching a game, and practices are focused around becoming better at playing the sport as opposed to staying fit. Not to mention people get concussions and hurt themselves all the time. Sports are dangerous and can end in broken bones as well as brain damage.


I don't think I could pass off this argument in real life, but what do you think?

 

[RooftopAssassin]

Pretty good points. Any hobby will make people obsessive, it's human nature. Sports and video games are pretty similar.

Also, try to remember that not everyone lives in the U.S.

 

[Chunko]

Pretty good points. Any hobby will make people obsessive, it's human nature. Sports and video games are pretty similar.

Also, try to remember that not everyone live in the U.S.

I was thinking about saying "American Football" but it just sounded kind of weird when writing it down. I actually called soccer "Football" frequently without thinking about it when the world cup was going on because my family is Italian.

 

[Sacman]

I think you should go on Fox and get ignored just like the last 5 guys.
but seriously, even if you do make the argument everyone who is against gaming has been stuck in there own special world since Pacman was release where everyone is as easily manipulated and as violent as Anakin Skywalker...

 

[Juven Ignus]

This will actually work pretty well in real life. If you were planning on using it for a debate or something, go for it.

 

[Radeonx]

Sigh.
Sports can be just as bad as videogames in terms of these things[footnote]Well, not in terms of injury, but that's because of the nature of how you play videogames, which involves very little physical activity.[/footnote], as can any other obsessed hobby.
And some of your points are false.
Have you ever been to a real sports camp? Probably not. A good 70% of my sports experiences have been spent in the gym, working out, and getting into and staying in shape. And sports put in every rule possible to help people from getting injured. Fighters wear gloves, football players wear helmets and pads, basketball rules have been scaled down intensely (These days, a push warrants a suspension, where in the 80's, clotheslining someone warrants 2 free throws). Yes, sports can be dangerous, and yes, videogames aren't as dangerous. But they are both equally obsessive.
And athletic kids aren't the only ones who get into trouble. That's either a blatant stereotype of the cocky jock kid, or your are just spouting out misinformation to help bring your point across.

 

[shticks]

Just because you work out while you play videogames doesn't mean that sports are worse for your health that videogames.

I don't think I could pass off this argument in real life, but what do you think?

No offense intended but that argument doesn't pass anywhere (the health one is the one i have problems with)

The other two points are a matter of opinion.

I've personally always hated when people told me i was obsessed with video games when i tried to talk about them with people (as I'm sure alot of people here have). Really what they are saying is I don't like what you like.... you should like what I like instead.

Also.... Violent people will be violent. Play hockey twice a week all year round, a naturally "violent" sport. The way i play the game is alot less physical that many people and i am the same way when I'm not playing.

 

[Chunko]

This will actually work pretty well in real life. If you were planning on using it for a debate or something, go for it.

I wasn't planning on using it, just wanted to talk about this and see what others thought.

 

[Tryforlive]

hobbys make people do these things i do karate hockey swimming and running and i still game it depends on the sport you do really like my friend plays football and hes uber aggresive

 

[Chunko]

Just because you work out while you play videogames doesn't mean that sports are worse for your health that videogames.

But I can clearly see myself gaining weight when soccer is in season. It's pretty undeniable. How are sports not worse for me?

 

[Burningsok]

the first argument is a little off. As for overall danger yes sports are way more dangerous. But what you got mixed up is the players are usually only aggressive on the field. A lot of kids in high school that live near areas with high violent activity usually play sports to keep themselves occupied, and not going out joining gangs. The sports teach them discipline and hard work.

the second argument I believe is mostly right. However you got to look at it like this. Even though it's just a game, the players are taught that the game is more then just that. Its about what I said in the first argument, discipline and hard work. This wins and loses show how much you and your team have developed over time. Now I'm not against you on this I was just clarifying somethings. The boneheaded jocks you speak of really don't care as much as they should. They do learn though soon after when their in college, but when it's high school half of their minds are focused on going out with that hot chick.

 

[shticks]

Just because you work out while you play videogames doesn't mean that sports are worse for your health that videogames.

But I can clearly see myself gaining weight when soccer is in season. It's pretty undeniable. How are sports not worse for me?

Your argument is that sports are worse than videogames. This is a blanket statement. I have not seen many videogames that help increase your chest press weight..... or make it easier to run an 8 minute mile.

Even still it is not the video game that is better for you. It is how you choose to use your idle time in the offseason.

Your point would be slightly more valid if you chose to say that videogames are better for you personally. But it is still actually the fact that you choose to exercise in a way that is more effective when you are not exercising playing soccer.

I never played organized soccer. I also went through a period of my life where I didnt do much else than video games.... it was not until I started going to the gym that I was in better shape.

EDIT:

There's no rule that says you have to stay inactive while you're playing videogames.

There is also no rule saying you have to be active.

 

[Chunko]

Just because you work out while you play videogames doesn't mean that sports are worse for your health that videogames.

But I can clearly see myself gaining weight when soccer is in season. It's pretty undeniable. How are sports not worse for me?

Your argument is that sports are worse than videogames. This is a blanket statement. I have not seen many videogames that help increase your chest press weight..... or make it easier to run an 8 minute mile.

Even still it is not the video game that is better for you. It is how you choose to use your idle time in the offseason.

Your point would be slightly more valid if you chose to say that videogames are better for you personally. But it is still actually the fact that you choose to exercise in a way that is more effective when you are not exercising playing soccer.

I never played organized soccer. I also went through a period of my life where I didnt do much else than video games.... it was not until I started going to the gym that I was in better shape.

The point that I was getting at is that it's unfair to say that videogames are the reason for people being out of shape. They don't make you obese, the fact that a lot of people do nothing while playing them does. This isn't a forced part of gaming, so I have no idea why people jump to that conclusion that videogames make you out of shape.

EDIT:

EDIT:

There's no rule that says you have to stay inactive while you're playing videogames.

There is also no rule saying you have to be active.

The exact same concept applies to sports, there's no rule saying you have to try. I can't get into it and as a result just sort of stand around and pretend to try to get the ball when it comes near me. 99% of the time I'm on the bench.

 

[HonorableChairman]

The first two points are okay sort of but the last point just doesn't make any sense.

You're trying to claim that physical activity is BAD FOR YOU.

 

[ProfessorLayton]

I always found it strange that when you can rattle off every player on a certain football team, you're cool, but if you can name every gun in Gears of War, you're a nerd. At least in gaming you're interacting with something and having your mind constantly stimulated. You brought up some good points, but it's a shame this is on a video game website and chances are the only people who will read this will already be gamers so I doubt you'll really change anyone's opinion. Let's spread this.

 

[manythings]

Umm... it's not exactly true. Gaming and sports are both good and bad. To call one worse than the other would probably be a misinterpretation of facts. Hell even the idea of good and bad is widely open to personal interpretation. Assholes who play sports are a problem just like assholes who play games. It's not the sports or games, it's the assholes that are the heart of a problem.

 

[Chunko]

The first two points are okay sort of but the last point just doesn't make any sense.

You're trying to claim that physical activity is BAD FOR YOU.

I'm promoting physical activity. As I said I work out while I game, I encourage others to do the same. I'm implying that sports are bad because you're less active, but likely to get the crap beat out of you and wind up with broken limbs and half your IQ score.

I always found it strange that when you can rattle off every player on a certain football team, you're cool, but if you can name every gun in Gears of War, you're a nerd. At least in gaming you're interacting with something and having your mind constantly stimulated. You brought up some good points, but it's a shame this is on a video game website and chances are the only people who will read this will already be gamers so I doubt you'll really change anyone's opinion. Let's spread this.

I think I can still change a few opinions here. A lot of people have been lectured so much that they actually believe that crap you hear on the news about people who have no idea that we don't have 8-bit graphics anymore, and get there stories from there tween's best friend.

 

[lizards]

1 no sports dont make people violent and that is the EXACT arguement that people use that video games make people violent, by that logic paintball would make people mass murders, however even irregulars that come to watch have commented on people being fairly friendly and calm (at the place i go to anyways) and they are very calm and nice, or maybe its just because a majority of them smoke weed a lo........i mean are good people

2 having a hobby makes people get really into it, otherwise they wouldnt play it all that much

3 regardless of injuries people tend to try and get into shape for sports let alone just playing it helps, but im a paintball addict and i think this is the only sport where that doesnt apply



(no most painballers dont smoke weed and strangely, a lot of them are very health conscious and get at me to stop drinking mountain dew even)