Sports are worse than videogames

[Deadman Walkin]

I agree with the violence, and with the obsessive behavior. The injuries...that goes both ways.

Violence
I play hockey, I have seen some pretty bad stuff. My defensive partner was poking at a guy to bother him, the guy turns around and swings his stick with both hands across his chest. He had a horrible bruise from side to side.

Obsessive Behavior
This one is a no brainer. "Clicks" in school talk about the thing they all have in common. For example, some girls I know who drink and party, they only talk about well...drinking and partying. Jocks talk about sports, the advanced placement kids talk about school and the "nerds" (like me sort of) talk about games. That is just how it works, to single out gamers or nerds from it is idiotic.

Bad For Your Health
This depends. The people who do nothing but games it is bad for your health. The people who stay active, it stays neutral. I do both, but I have lots of problems with bones and such. For example, my neck doesn't work properly, something is wrong with my right knee which causes my muscles from the hips down to tighten up and spaz. Tendinitis in both of my elbows from working out, I am a walking problem. I still don't let that stop me from dominating in hockey though! Just have to be more careful then normal people!

 

[silversnake4133]

*facepalm* Oh god. I'm sorry, but what? Where exactly are you getting these percentages? If you really want to sound like you know what you're talking about, please...PLEASE! Do some research first, especially if you're going to be spouting off statistics, percentages, and figures to back up your argument. That being said, let's move on.

Okay first point: You claim that sports make people violent and not video games. In this highlighted paragraph, you stated that "all the studies" have yielded results revealing a definite trend between video games and desensitization. What studies are you talking about? What list of medical and psychological journals did you excerpt this from? I'm sure there are plenty of studies and surveys that have been conducted that yield these results. But to make your argument valid, you should either list a good number of them (3 minimum sources) or tone down your accusation (ie "a large number").

As for the sports you mentioned, the athletes themselves do not "beat the crap out of each other". Sure the action does look rather aggressive, but I'm pretty sure the athlete who was "beating the crap" out of his/her opponent would be disqualified from the match/game. (Believe it or not, there actually are RULES AND REGULATIONS regarding conduct and behavior in sports). Last point: please learn the difference between an ATHLETE and a FAN. Athletes are usually the more reserved ones while fans are the crazy nut balls that paint their chests and throw things at the opposing team's vehicles.

Next argument: sports make people obsessive. Once again, I'd like to redirect your attention to this statement: Please learn the difference between an ATHLETE and a FAN. I have a very athletic background (my family is big into sports and my brother and I have participated in many different sports during our grade school years), and I can assure you that while we enjoy displays of athletic prowess, we don't think about it 24/7. FANS on the other hand think about nothing but sports. They are usually the ones clamoring at the front gates of any given stadium before game time. They are the ones that are usually huddled around the bar with their friends adamantly watching/commentating on the current game that's on. And they are the ones that usually paint their chest/faces with the colors of their favorite team and cheer like maniacs before, during, and after the game. (See the post Philadelphia Phillies World Series celebration.) Granted this isn't how ALL fans act, but rather the more OBSESSIVE ones.

Now a fan (or fanatic) is basically a person with an obsessive interest or enthusiasm in something or someone. An athlete is a person who is proficient in sports and other forms of physical activity. In a way athletes and gamers are fans of their hobbies. However (this is speaking from personal and observational experience) I often find gamers conversing more so about: what game they like, what level they have yet to beat, what game they really want next, what they're friends are playing, etc. in a more repetitious manner than an athlete would about their sport.

The second paragraph of your second argument is still stating your confusion between a fan and an athlete. As for the confusion of work/schooling schedules, you're kind of off about it. Speaking from experience, I find I'm more focused after a two-hour workout running the track and lifting weights than I would be just coming home from a long day of learning. If anything, I would think that video games are worse for your concentration because a person (even casual gamers) can become immersed within the flashy, beautifully rendered expanses before him/her without bothering to notice the clock. And that's where the phrase "Time flies when you're having fun" comes into play.

And last but not least: sports are bad for your health. I hope you don't say that too loudly lest the people in charge of healthcare hear you. While I can see that in some cases this argument can go either way, and that as time progresses video games are becoming a more active hobby. However, that's just it, not ALL video games are active hobbies. The only real active games that can work up a sweat that I know of is Dance Dance Revolution and possibly some of the Wii-sport games. However, most of the motion control games don't really contribute to a healthier living style. Why? Well from the list of games that support this feature, (Wii Sports Okami, LoZ:TP, Wii Play, a few Star Wars games etc.) the most you're probably going to be working is your right or left shoulder and wrist, and possibly your waist on a few. But overall, you're still standing/sitting in front of a television watching brightly colored pixels dance about. Dance Dance Revolution is probably the closest you can get that combines physical activity and gaming into an even hybrid. I firmly believe that Wii-Fit is a game that improves coordination and equilibrium rather than improving shape and fitness level.

I don't want to sound too much like a biased ass, but are you made of paper? Sure sports and any physical activity have their dangers, but sports aren't played so that the main goal is to see who can receive the most damage at the end of a set time period. What drives athletes to become more aggressive while playing is a little something called "competition". Gamers should easily recognize this because the same thing occurs when they play a game against another person. However, I seem to find from many observations at school, at home, and at my friends' houses that people are more competitive in a negative fashion while gaming than they are while playing sports. You claim now that you have played Soccer before correct? While involved in that sport did you happen to take an account of what it was that you were instructed to do during practice? If not, here's a general rundown of any usual practice for any sport: Warm-up run, stretching, pliometrics, drills, rules/plays/team activities, team building runs/activities, final runs/sprints/plios, cool-down run, and finish it with a good ten to fifteen minutes of stretching. If anything, the rules and plays that are practiced in most sports receives the least amount of time when compared to the rest of the workout. So unless you count throwing your controller and screaming at the screen in frustration a workout, I don't really see how playing video games for three hours is remotely comparable to an athlete's three-hour workout.

If you like to claim that most of the game is spent sitting on the bench then you should probably realize that you need to step up your game if you want to play. Unlike video games that are immune to judgment and prejudices, in sports you actually have to TRY. The coach isn't going to hold your hand and constantly reassure you that everything is going to be okay. Unlike in video games where you can just use cheat codes and walk-through guides to achieve victory, in sports, you have to actually WORK for your merits while competing not only against the opposing team, but your own teammates as well. But this brings the conversation right back to competition. And as a last note, things like broken bones and concussions are usually worst case scenario occurrences. How do you think karate masters are able to break bricks and concrete with just their bare hands? They actually impose fractures upon their knuckles, fingers, and forearms because in the rebuilding process, their bones grow stronger. Why do you think physicians and doctors strongly encourage people to live more active lives? Because exercise allows for bones, muscles and ligaments to stay strong. As for concussions, yeah they can have adverse side affects, but one concussion isn't going to ultimately leave the person mentally disabled or incoherent. (My brother had 4 in his football and wrestling career, and he's an electronics technician.)

In conclusion, you can have a good argument with this topic. However, your presentation would just have you laughed at by any good debater. If you really want to make a strong impression and even gain backing, you have to present more than just your opinion. And stereotypes are not a good source of information. If you really want to debate this topic go back and research your points of interest. Cite at least 3 note-worthy sources with a handful of personal observations thrown in to alleviate any assumptions that would lead others to speculate that you're just a computer savvy elitist with only stereotypes to back you up.

 

[Thaius]

You definitely have some good points. I think most anti-game people will deny you on principle, since this argument pits video games against something they probably support (making them get defensive about it), but you definitely have some good points.

 

[squid5580]

Ahh yes lets fight against the stereotype while maintaining it. Good job. We truly are our own worst enemies.

 

[Dexiro]

Sports make people a lot LOT more violent than gamers.

I'm in England and constantly hear about people beating each other up over football, fighting over who gets the biggest boner over sweaty men playing with balls in a field.
It's ridiculous and pretty much an everyday occurrence, you rarely hear about sports related attacks these days unless it happens to someone you know, which it does.

 

[Grimcicle]

I've never seen anyone 'roid-up to play Street Fighter.

 

[migo]

Steroids don't cause roid rage. That's a myth. People who just work out do fine, it's those who play contact sports with high injury rates who will rage, but that's due to the repeated concussions causing a sort of dementia, and has nothing to do with steroids beyond the correlation between injury and taking steroids to recover quicker.

 

[DSEZ]

Pretty good points TBH i am obessed with the sports i play because i love them and im good at wrestling and jiu jitsu and baseball

 

[Whitethunder]

WoW wtf are you on??? This is the most ricockulous statement I have seen spelled out on paper...more people have died from video gaming than have died from football.

I cannot bring myself to believe that you are really serious about your original post...there is no way. That being said I'm not even gonna waste my time arguing with you on this subject.

Please tell me that you are just kidding around...

 

[TheTim]

wait a minute, wouldn't contact sports be a way for people to take their violent ambitions and get rid of them on the field???

and with sports your body is getting stronger and you aren't sitting on the couch looking at a tv.

extremly weak arguments.

 

[Twilight_guy]

Your last point is dumb. Most sports involve quiet a bit of running or moving running at some point. Video games never involve much physical activity. The movement and exercise is good for your health and the sitting of video games is... not.

As for the other two points, no. Video games and sports do not make people violent or obsessive... people are already violent or obsessive and these symptoms just manifest when given the right outlet (namely sports and/or video games).

Your argument is a nice try but is debating moot points. The problem is that sports are seen as legitimate and good and video games are not. Your argument should address why video games are not legitimate. Still, good try.

 

[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?

its called muscles?

regardless if you are getting bigger or not, your turning fat into muscle. believe me, i've done it for years, especially during soccer season.

during the summer id end up losing 5 pounds or so then during the fall and spring i'd put it back on plus an addition 5 for newer muscle developed, and from freshman year in highschool i went from 125 pounds to a whopping 160 as a senior, in which i only grew 2 inches height wise so my body really developed just from playing sports.

just because your gaining weight doesn't mean its bad


OT: those points can be used yes, but they can also be turned on themselves pretty decently so its hard to really use those in a solid arguement.

During sports season I don't have as much time to work out because of games and practices. Matches have virtually no physical value where as the amount that practices give is barely anything compared to what I could be doing. I still get time to play videogames while working out over the weekend so it's not like I'm fat during sport season. The bigger thing is that I lose upper body muscle mass because they don't do any upper body strength training for soccer. Honestly though I've never actually weighed myself, so I might actually be getting lighter, but I look like I've gained a noticeable amount of weight when I look at myself in the mirror (fat). I lose it all instantly as soon as the season's over though.

To the OP: Even though the comparison is valid, i think what sets videogames apart from sports are all those little variables mentioned in previous posts. You have some good points, but they dont hold up that much cuz you are focusing in what they have in common, not what makes them differrent and what ultimately could disprove your theory. Now, you could make a point on how all those things can help you prove how absurd all those affirmations against videogames are, based on how they can be applicable to many other things (in this case sports) ; but that didnt seem the point in your post.

Part of my point is that those anti-gaming people are a bit absurd, but also I feel like sports can be bad if done too much.

 

[Ungenericteen]

I have to agree do people break out in riots over Tf2 no, but there are police details(riot prepared no less) at every baseball game

 

[Kagim]

[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.

In high school the kids who got into fight were the duggies. The athletic crowd had a bit to much ego but ultimately didn't bother to start fights. Only the drug addicts and mechanics class students seem to want to fight anyone. At least thats how my schools went.

I played football. You don't beat the crap out of people.The defensive line men are trying to slip by the Offenses guards, not hit them. Most moves you learn are how to deek by someone, not put them into the ground. Most of the time plays are beaten by interceptions, not tackles.

Its about being agile, not violent.

Wrestling according to my friends who were in it for three years is all about holds and overpowering someone without hurting them. Taking a swing at someone or kicking them is not wrestling. WWE is not pro wrestling in the slightest. I don't however speak for UFC or anything like that.

Yeah, your supposed to get aggressive when playing a sport. After the game, you feel better. You take everything that's pissed you off all week and concentrate that into power. When its all over your not aggressive or angry, your laughing because your so damn tired.

Don;t get me wrong, i've seen some angry mother fuckers. I've had teamates i really was not comfortable around. Some people are just assholes....

[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.

Jocks will be Jocks and i find them just as annoying. Jocks are the pinnacle of obsession when ti comes to sports and if you think overhearing them in the halls is bad its MUCH worse when they are on your team.

For pretty much everything said here you can easily say about video games though. Most of the players i was on the same team as and i billieted under it was just a game nothing else. I realize I am only speaking for the couple hundred players i have met but most realize its just a game and have fun with it. Yes, i have had the displeasure of being around Jocks, then again elitists piss me off a fair bit more.

I won't say sports are time consuming. Three practices a week, hour and a half each practice, and a game on Saturday around one and a half to two hours long. Averaging out to around 6 hours a week. If you have so much homework you can't spare six hours a week to get exercise something is wrong. As well my coach made us hand in our report cards to him, if we were under a c+ we were benched till we brought the mark up. I had a really good coach though and i know not everyone was as lucky as me.

[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.

Let me start off with saying please never mention motion controls again. The amount you work off playing with motion controls for an hour is far less then spending 10 minutes seriously doing jumping jack.

More to the point your first paragraph is a tad confusing. What sport do you play exactly? For football we got a heavy mix of cardio and strength training. We stretch out, push ups, sit ups then five laps around the field in full gear. After skill practice we usually ran the murder runs.

Which were ten yards forward push ups back.
Ten yards forward pushups ten more yard forward push ups back.

Rinse and repeat across the field. If that's not exercise well i don't know what is.

There is no standing around in football. Most drills the coach expects you to be doing hot feet while your in line. Sitting is punishable by push ups for the whole team. Very rarely did we spend any time sitting around.

Finally getting hurt. It's actually quite rare. Concussions are pretty rare, in my years playing i only say maybe three people get one. Never saw a crippling injury as well. So there's that.

People might get hurt sure, but you could get creamed by a bus tomorrow. Or slips on a bar of soap in the shower. Or just slip.

Hell there's a .89% chance you will accidentally strangle yourself with your sheets in bed tonight. Sleep tight!

Life is dangerous, that's not an excuse to draw the blinds and hide inside your house.

While not altogether wrong is some cases, except the exercise one... seriously do you play baseball? What you say reeks of the same over-exaggerations the anti-gamers say.

Whats funny is people agree with you despite the same tactic being used. Which showed enlighten others as to the why so many people are willing to believe the crap people say about video games.

Ultimately the loud obnoxious ones from both groups ruin it for the rest of us. Both gaming and sports can have down sides yeah, but neither of them will end your life and sooner then the other.