10 priests were asked to write 4 sentences on the topic of video games. Here's what they said…

[CatholicWhovian]

Looking at this irony already taxes my sanity. But you know what’s worse than that? It’s what taxes my patience. Nothing makes me sicker than seeing a religious person advocating the same mentality that left unfortunate geeks at the mercy of physically superior jocks.

Quotes like these are what spawn the cult of the athlete. You think that’s just an American problem? Oh no. We have jocks here too. They may play basketball instead of football but the discrimination was the same.

“People who bench press are better than you boy.”

This is the message I see every time a priest thinks video games are waste of time. They bear the stain of the same chauvinism that believes all boys should be out there, flexing, heaving, and pouring out sweat. “Quit playing games and be a man! Go out there and do manly things!”

What’s so ridiculous is that I used to be a fat kid before I full dived into the world of games. I used to played basketball, biked around the neighborhood, and ran around.

If I met any of these priests, no doubt they’d want me to go back to that… even though my childhood had me bullied for every reason imaginable. Those activities didn’t help me cope.

Gaming did. By the time I graduated, people who knew me as a kid are nothing short of shocked. I’ve had girls nearly begging me to tell them my ‘secret.’ My own sister occasionally demands that I give her my seemingly mutant metabolism. All the while my answer really has been the same. I just played more and learned to eat less. (Hardly a bad thing when I was that fat. )

So the next time I see a priest (or any person) with the presumption that video games die away for the sake of physically demanding (a.k.a. ‘worthy’) pursuits, this is what I tell them.

“You wanna who else worshiped jocks? The folks at Columbine. Looks like Jack Thompson lied to you.”

Well I have to agree that restricting manliness to physical activities only is just too narrow a view. Painters can be “manly” through how they express truths about life in their art. Philosophers can be “manly” through how they give wisdom to the layman. Cooks can be “manly” through their passion in, well, cooking food. Theologians can be “manly” with respect to how they honor God through reason.

I mean a man can still be a man, and have that ambition of becoming a better person, while doing things that aren’t stereotypically “manly”. I may be a gamer but I have this goal of becoming a better man - a better person. I plan to exercise more and work out. I plan to join social groups to converse with people better. I’m already smart but I plan to increase my knowledge more and be wiser. All while having plans to play Bioshock Infinite in my Xbox in the future. I don’t actually feel pressured by society to do exercise, or be more social, or to be smart; even though the society I was raised - like any society from any former Spanish colony - sees machismo as THE definition of manliness. I feel like I would want to do these things because I want to be a better person.

We all want to be better human beings with full dignity in some way or another. It’s the way God created us. And I don’t think that’s subjective.

I don’t blame the priests themselves for making those statements. Again I blame the generation gap.

 

[Joe_5859]

#1. Sociability

Social skills are ultimately subjective. On one thread, a poster humorously pointed out that the Church shouldn’t be in the business of having a field guide to every aspect of life. Yet when I look at these quotes; read up on sites that share them; and find people who agree, posters like that are now striking me as naive. There are people who insist on a Catholic-centric brand of socially interacting (among other things). These are the same people who want church activity to be the de facto center of their social lives. These are the same people who are venomously opposed to any form of subjectivity as hellroad to relativism, even if said opposition isn’t even backed by any actual Church teaching.

People like this believe that the only social life worth living is within the parish community, the youth group, or the soup kitchen. That’s sociability for them and they want everyone to abide only by that.

But you know what? No matter how social you think the above makes you, that’s not what makes it so.

It’s social because you’re hanging out with people who want to be Mother Theresa.

You want to know how half my friends define social? They define social as clubbing. Bar hopping. Moderate to excessive alcohol consumption. Pot smoking. Picking up chicks. And of course, it’s not complete without several one-night stands and the occasional orgy.

Then again, this is being social if you like living life thinking you’re a celebrity (and I have to admit, that’s something when they’re actually pretty loaded and have modeling careers).

As for me, I’m comfortably sociable within my own shoes. I find that closer to being the key to social interaction. I don’t have to find one reality preferable to another. I live in all of them and they all know me. They may know me as this or that, but those are me too. And ultimately, I don’t care if they don’t really have the whole picture.

My guess is that what the priests are criticizing is the tendency of some to withdraw into their own world of video games that is devoid of real world human contact.

I think that can be a danger for some, especially with the advent of online gaming. For me growing up, gaming was social. First, I always had my brother to play games with. But even besides him, I had my grade school friends that we’d play with. We’d go over to their house and play games or they’d come over to our house and play games. It was just as much a social activity as playing baseball in the front yard or going over to the park.

In college, my brother and I had the most popular dorm room on our whole floor because we were the only ones with a video game console. I had guys in and out of my room all day playing Mario Kart and Goldeneye.

So I do think the social concerns can be overstated. Video game play need not be intrinsically anti-social. Nonetheless, there is a danger for introverted individuals to rely on the “easy” social interaction of online gaming for their social “fix” rather than seek out real world friendships. I think that can be problematic as we are social creatures by nature. My guess is that the priests are sensitive to that danger and succumbed to speaking hyperbolically and/or in an overly broad way.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

We all want to be better human beings with full dignity in some way or another. It’s the way God created us. And I don’t think that’s subjective.

It’s just really telling that I don’t even need to disagree with a fundamental Catholic belief in order to see how much societal damage the human side of the Church is already capable of. And yet, the most that other lay Catholics have done is shrug them off and say that it’s their opinion.

C’mon, there’s got to be a better response to that. It’s like a milder version of a sex abuse cover up. Priests who hold views like most of the quotes need to be held accountable. It’s not enough to just say they’re sending a wrong message right after it’s been received by a hapless bloke with scruples.

My guess is that what the priests are criticizing is the tendency of some to withdraw into their own world of video games that is devoid of real world human contact.

With all due respect Joe, I think the heart of the problem goes deeper than that. If avoiding human contact is what concerns these priests, it boggles me why they don’t apply the same concern for monastic religious. Gemma Galgani was an introvert. Is anti-social escapism only acceptable when God is the scapegoat? This strikes me as no different than declaring murder to be unacceptable unless it’s for God’s sake.

So many of these priests advocate us to get out into the world yet this is the same world that so many religious despise, condemn, and tell the youth to approach with a very long stick.

If you ask me, I say the extreme introvert cases need to be left alone. It’s what they’d want. It’s what I used to want at times. The last thing they need is to be dragged out by parent activists, pastors,and now even Catholic priest so they could show them to the world and shout, “LOOK!!! DON’T YOU SEE!?!? THIS IS WHY WE SHOULD BAN VIDEO GAMES!!”

 

[Cat]

I guess I just want to live a real life in the real world with real people doing real things in real time.

I don’t even like to spend too much time reading, because it’s not the real world.

My dad died at the age of 83 in 2013. He lived a very real life. He knew everyone and everyone knew him. He wasn’t famous. He didn’t travel much (except around Northern Illinois). He wasn’t rich, but he sure wasn’t poor. He was always honest with himself and did what he loved to do–farm, antique, drink coffee, eat sweets (he was in great shape, never overweight), talk talk TALK!

I think we need to think about the end of our lives. My dad got cancer and died four months after the diagnosis. He had four months to contemplate his life.

My brother lived with him, and he told me that one day in October, Dad asked him to please drive him out to the fields. My brother did so, and my dad just stood out there for a long long time. Then he turned around and asked to be driven back to the house.

He told my brother that he was saying goodbye to it all.

The one thing that my Dad said that expressed regret was this: “I wish I had eaten more.”

He was so careful about his diet, and even though he ate sweets, he controlled his intake. Yet, at the end of his life, he wished he had eaten more.

So when we get to the end of our lives, if we have the privilege of lying in a bed cognizant, in possession of our thoughts, and we can think about the life that we have lived, what we will feel about our life?

Will we wish we had “eaten more?”

Will we be glad that we spent a few hours every day playing video games? Will we feel that this was a good investment of our life’s time?

Or will we be regretful that we didn’t get outside more and admire God’s creation? Will we wish that we had learned to play an instrument and then played it during church for the glory of God and the edification of others? Will we wish that we had held more parties and reunions in our living place? Will we wish that we really had sat down and written that novel or series of essays or poetry? Will we wish we had made love more with our spouse? Will we wish we had petted our cat more? Will we wish that we had prayed more to the God that we are about to meet face to face?

If you can honestly say, “I will lie in that deathbed and be GLAD that I played video games,” then everything’s fine.

One other thing that Christians need to think about–the Bible says that we should do ALL for the glory of God. We need to think about how we are glorifying God by spending a few hours or more each day playing video games. If we can honestly say, “Yes, To God Be The Glory!” and know in our heart of hearts that God IS being glorified, then again, everything’s fine.

I hope this post is helpful and thought-provoking.

 

[CatholicWhovian]

Will we be glad that we spent a few hours every day playing video games? Will we feel that this was a good investment of our life’s time?

Or will we be regretful that we didn’t get outside more and admire God’s creation? Will we wish that we had learned to play an instrument and then played it during church for the glory of God and the edification of others? Will we wish that we had held more parties and reunions in our living place? Will we wish that we really had sat down and written that novel or series of essays or poetry? Will we wish we had made love more with our spouse? Will we wish we had petted our cat more? Will we wish that we had prayed more to the God that we are about to meet face to face?

Well we can’t do everything at once, now can we? It’s not like it’s our duty to do at least anything one.

It’s just really telling that I don’t even need to disagree with a fundamental Catholic belief in order to see how much societal damage the human side of the Church is already capable of. And yet, the most that other lay Catholics have done is shrug them off and say that it’s their opinion.

It IS merely their opinion. Maybe we shouldn’t expect much from priests since they’re also humans capable of committing error. We can say that 9/10 priests are wrong about video games. We can say there are things which those priests said which we can agree on. I mean they’re not the Magisterium or the Pope speaking through an encyclical which we should follow. Maybe we shouldn’t treat priests as if they are gods on earth. Nobody’s perfect in this world anyway. Nor we should think that everyone in the Church thinks the same way.

And if as you say the human side of the Church has caused such damage, then maybe we should blame people for being wrong about things. Or we can blame society because it has evolved into some selfish monster which feels like it doesn’t want the Church to interfere with their lives and gets scorned when the Church enters in. Or maybe we shouldn’t criticize other people’s lifestyles so long as that lifestyle doesn’t lead them to sin. That’s the thing. When some members of the Church criticize people’s lifestyles people get easily offended. Because they have a mindset that what they’re doing is okay so long as it doesn’t hurt other people, and that they feel that anyone judging them has no right to interfere with their lives or individuality.

If you ask me, I say the extreme introvert cases need to be left alone. It’s what they’d want. It’s what I used to want at times. The last thing they need is to be dragged out by parent activists, pastors,and now even Catholic priest so they could show them to the world and shout, “LOOK!!! DON’T YOU SEE!?!? THIS IS WHY WE SHOULD BAN VIDEO GAMES!!”

Look, I’m an introvert myself. I also feel frustrated when people would want to invite me to big parties and call me “anti-social” if I refuse. Filipino society is an extremely extroverted one. I’ve noticed most of the priests in the article are Americans. American society is an extroverted one and, from what I’ve noticed about extroverted societies they see introvertism as something to be avoided - as a “disease to be cured” - and not a personality trait. That’s what I felt when people avoid me because I’m eating alone, or when I avoid them so I can eat alone.

I somewhat feel your frustration - being pressured by extroverts to become extroverted even though I don’t want to. But sometimes we have to be open to some things people say and think about them. I want to go beyond just playing video games and be more social and active because I feel it’s best for me as a person. You don’t seem to like it how people tell you to be active and go out. I understand that. And I feel you don’t want to reconsider.

 

[meltzerboy]

I guess I just want to live a real life in the real world with real people doing real things in real time.

I don’t even like to spend too much time reading, because it’s not the real world.

My dad died at the age of 83 in 2013. He lived a very real life. He knew everyone and everyone knew him. He wasn’t famous. He didn’t travel much (except around Northern Illinois). He wasn’t rich, but he sure wasn’t poor. He was always honest with himself and did what he loved to do–farm, antique, drink coffee, eat sweets (he was in great shape, never overweight), talk talk TALK!

I think we need to think about the end of our lives. My dad got cancer and died four months after the diagnosis. He had four months to contemplate his life.

My brother lived with him, and he told me that one day in October, Dad asked him to please drive him out to the fields. My brother did so, and my dad just stood out there for a long long time. Then he turned around and asked to be driven back to the house.

He told my brother that he was saying goodbye to it all.

The one thing that my Dad said that expressed regret was this: “I wish I had eaten more.”

He was so careful about his diet, and even though he ate sweets, he controlled his intake. Yet, at the end of his life, he wished he had eaten more.

So when we get to the end of our lives, if we have the privilege of lying in a bed cognizant, in possession of our thoughts, and we can think about the life that we have lived, what we will feel about our life?

Will we wish we had “eaten more?”

Will we be glad that we spent a few hours every day playing video games? Will we feel that this was a good investment of our life’s time?

Or will we be regretful that we didn’t get outside more and admire God’s creation? Will we wish that we had learned to play an instrument and then played it during church for the glory of God and the edification of others? Will we wish that we had held more parties and reunions in our living place? Will we wish that we really had sat down and written that novel or series of essays or poetry? Will we wish we had made love more with our spouse? Will we wish we had petted our cat more? Will we wish that we had prayed more to the God that we are about to meet face to face?

If you can honestly say, “I will lie in that deathbed and be GLAD that I played video games,” then everything’s fine.

One other thing that Christians need to think about–the Bible says that we should do ALL for the glory of God. We need to think about how we are glorifying God by spending a few hours or more each day playing video games. If we can honestly say, “Yes, To God Be The Glory!” and know in our heart of hearts that God IS being glorified, then again, everything’s fine.

I hope this post is helpful and thought-provoking.

Well, what you write IS certainly helpful and thought-provoking, Cat. They say that no one regrets at the end of their life that they had not spent more time at work, on the job, in the office. What many do regret is that they did not spend enough time with family and friends. Although it appears your father literally regretted not eating more, his statement can also be taken as a metaphor for tasting life. If one is confined to the virtual reality of video games throughout their life, I can see where one might regret at the end not having participated more in other activities.

 

[gam197]

I guess I just want to live a real life in the real world with real people doing real things in real time.

I don’t even like to spend too much time reading, because it’s not the real world.

My dad died at the age of 83 in 2013. He lived a very real life. He knew everyone and everyone knew him. He wasn’t famous. He didn’t travel much (except around Northern Illinois). He wasn’t rich, but he sure wasn’t poor. He was always honest with himself and did what he loved to do–farm, antique, drink coffee, eat sweets (he was in great shape, never overweight), talk talk TALK!

I think we need to think about the end of our lives. My dad got cancer and died four months after the diagnosis. He had four months to contemplate his life.

My brother lived with him, and he told me that one day in October, Dad asked him to please drive him out to the fields. My brother did so, and my dad just stood out there for a long long time. Then he turned around and asked to be driven back to the house.

He told my brother that he was saying goodbye to it all.

The one thing that my Dad said that expressed regret was this: “I wish I had eaten more.”

He was so careful about his diet, and even though he ate sweets, he controlled his intake. Yet, at the end of his life, he wished he had eaten more.

So when we get to the end of our lives, if we have the privilege of lying in a bed cognizant, in possession of our thoughts, and we can think about the life that we have lived, what we will feel about our life?

Will we wish we had “eaten more?”

Will we be glad that we spent a few hours every day playing video games? Will we feel that this was a good investment of our life’s time?

Or will we be regretful that we didn’t get outside more and admire God’s creation? Will we wish that we had learned to play an instrument and then played it during church for the glory of God and the edification of others? Will we wish that we had held more parties and reunions in our living place? Will we wish that we really had sat down and written that novel or series of essays or poetry? Will we wish we had made love more with our spouse? Will we wish we had petted our cat more? Will we wish that we had prayed more to the God that we are about to meet face to face?

If you can honestly say, “I will lie in that deathbed and be GLAD that I played video games,” then everything’s fine.

One other thing that Christians need to think about–the Bible says that we should do ALL for the glory of God. We need to think about how we are glorifying God by spending a few hours or more each day playing video games. If we can honestly say, “Yes, To God Be The Glory!” and know in our heart of hearts that God IS being glorified, then again, everything’s fine.

I hope this post is helpful and thought-provoking.

\

Great post!

originally posted by metzerboy

Yet I think video games are part of a wider problem, that is, modern technology. While technology can be great, it is my hypothesis as a psychologist that the speed of technology is changing the cognitive processing of people, particularly young people. And not only with respect to a diminishing attention span, but also, on a cognitive motivational level, changing their perception of reality. What I mean is they think their needs must be satisfied immediately and have no tolerance for the slightest delay of gratification. Now children have always been impulsive, developmentally speaking, but I believe that their use of modern technological devices, including but not limited to video games, has increased their impulsiveness as well as decreased their desire and ability to wait until the next day or even the next moment. This may be linked to an increase in suicide attempts among young people (actually, this has recently plateaued, while middle-aged people’s incidence of suicide has begun to increase), who demand instant gratification and instant solutions to their childhood and adolescent problems. I am NOT saying that playing video games will in most cases result in suicide, nor that technology is the only risk factor; but I do think there MAY be a hi-tech connection.

:thumbsup:That is what I see also. Video games are relatively new - 30 years old. Males play more and I also see they often lack the patient to do long-tern tasks This is crucial for education… I like video games but there does seem to be this withdrawal from human interaction. I think the priests are just issuing a warning.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

If one is confined to the virtual reality of video games throughout their life, I can see where one might regret at the end not having participated more in other activities.

Anyone can make the case that if one is confined to anything, they’ll regret everything else they missed out on.

Unfortunately, it’s often video games and gamers who get beaten by this short stick. I’m actually praying now for more people to say they regret the time they spent cooped up in the Church instead of playing games.

 

[meltzerboy]

Anyone can make the case that if one is confined to anything, they’ll regret everything else they missed out on.

Unfortunately, it’s often video games and gamers who get beaten by this short stick. I’m actually praying now for more people to say they regret the time they spent cooped up in the Church instead of playing games.

You may be right. I once heard a (musical) conductor say that what he regretted was the amount of time he missed outdoors. It’s a matter of setting priorities in life but also of establishing some kind of balance.

 

[Cat]

You may be right. I once heard a (musical) conductor say that what he regretted was the amount of time he missed outdoors. It’s a matter of setting priorities in life but also of establishing some kind of balance.

Nowadays, most of us don’t regret spending more time indoors than outdoors. Hopefully we will escape skin cancer.

I am serious about the above statement, but I also think that those people who are in professions or involved in leisure activities that keep them indoors should attempt to spend at least a few minutes everyday outdoors if it’s possible for them to do so. I think that sometimes, people with allergies or phobias about bugs or sensitivity to the sun gravitate toward indoor professions and leisure activities out of an instinct for survival.

And in the same way, those who live and work outdoors need to find time to spend indoors with family, in church, in concert halls and school rooms. Sometimes the outdoor dwellers tend to have disdain for those who live indoors. This, to me, is tantamount to the same kind of snobbery that management has for labor, or merchants have for farmers, or scholars have for workers. Snobbery is wrong. That’s all there is to it.

We need to see the good in everything and appreciate everyone’s choices.

And I still think that we need to strive to live in the real world instead of a fantasy world.

 

[Cat]

One concern that I have not seen raised on this thread is over physical health and fitness.

Those who spend many hours a day involved with sedentary activities, either work or play, must be careful to eat a healthy diet and spend at least some time doing physical activities to keep the weight down and the muscles and joints in good shape.

My husband attends comic book festivals, where there is often gaming going on. The stereotype about the corpulent “gamer” seem to be true more often than not. And the stereotype about eating junk food and drinking Mountain Dew also seems to be true more often than not.

Sitting for hours everyday playing video games is not conducive to good physical health. (Neither is sitting at the piano for hours every day, or sitting at a microbiology bench for hours every day.)

I’m sure that there are video game enthusiasts who are in excellent shape and who eat a stellar diet. And it’s certainly not fair to ascribe blame only to video games for obesity, Type II diabetes, weak muscles, etc. As I have already said twice in this thread, any sedentary lifestyle will often result in poor physical condition, but I realize that it doesn’t have to.

But still–I think that those who spend hours each day playing video games need to be extra careful about maintaining at least a minimum fitness level, and eating at least a kind of healthy diet.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

But still–I think that those who spend hours each day playing video games need to be extra careful about maintaining at least a minimum fitness level, and eating at least a kind of healthy diet.

According to my health-conscious gamer friends (yes, they exist ), losing weight was already half the battle.

And that half I bypassed with a relative ease that shocked even them! All thanks to more focus on virtual fun instead of real food. (I suppose some level of drastic does work on a select few, if I do say so meself.)

 

[Joe_5859]

My husband attends comic book festivals, where there is often gaming going on. The stereotype about the corpulent “gamer” seem to be true more often than not. And the stereotype about eating junk food and drinking Mountain Dew also seems to be true more often than not.

I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s true more often than not (i.e. more than 50% of the time), but there definitely is truth to it. I’ve even seen Mountain Dew capitalize on it by releasing a special limited edition flavor when some Call of Duty game came out.

I do like both video games and Mountain Dew, but I assure you the connection is entirely coincidental! I do exercise every day, too, though. Honestly, I don’t drink much pop anymore. I do like it a lot, but I know my health and wallet are both better off without regular consumption.

 

[suko]

Those who spend many hours a day involved with sedentary activities, either work or play, must be careful to eat a healthy diet and spend at least some time doing physical activities to keep the weight down and the muscles and joints in good shape.

Sitting for hours everyday playing video games is not conducive to good physical health.

I agree with what you’re saying, but I just wanted to mention that there are games like DDR (Dance Dance Revolution) that can also help with keeping oneself in shape. I used to exercise a lot with that game. It’s something I advise to other gamers who are trying to lose weight and have fun at the same time.



Source ~ Apparently this middle school in California had used this game to help kids battle against obesity.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

I do like both video games and Mountain Dew, but I assure you the connection is entirely coincidental! I do exercise every day, too, though. Honestly, I don’t drink much pop anymore. I do like it a lot, but I know my health and wallet are both better off without regular consumption.

That’s actually a stereotype I wished I lived up to more. :crying: Some Mountain Dew, a bowl of chips, cheese dip, a table all set for a 5th ED D&D campaign. Now THAT is what I call Christmas! ;w;

 

[CatholicWhovian]

I agree with what you’re saying, but I just wanted to mention that there are games like DDR (Dance Dance Revolution) that can also help with keeping oneself in shape. I used to exercise a lot with that game. It’s something I advise to other gamers who are trying to lose weight and have fun at the same time.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CRXG-kbKm.../D8CwSOfyOUI/s1600/Dance+Dance+Revolution.png

Source ~ Apparently this middle school in California had used this game to help kids battle against obesity.

Well I have Kinect Adventures and Kinect Sports at home. I play them. Does that count as exercise?

Maybe LostWanderer is right. Maybe those priests in the article need to play Wii Sports with each other to see the other, more active, more social side of gaming.

 

[redbaron162]

I have been an avid gamer since I was in middle school. Back then I played ALOT of video games. As I have aged and have more responsibilities I spend most of my time at work or with my family. Thus I play a lot less games, however when I have time alone, playing video games is still my leisure activity of choice.

I have also become a lot more discerning in my choice of games. When I was younger I played all sorts of violent games such as “GTA” or “Mafia” etc… where you often engage in a wide variety of negative activities. Now I will not play games that glorify criminal activity or sinful lifestyles.

Most of the games I play now are RTS (Real Time Strategy) games. These are games where you have to effectively run a nation and control its armies etc… basically it is like extreme chess.

Does video game addiction exist? Yes. Are there some games that are outright Immoral? Yes. Are some children playing way to much? Yes

Of course this has a lot more to do with the failure to parent than the video game industry. M rated games have to have an adult there to buy them and a parent should always be engaged in what their children are doing. No one forces anyone to play M rated games, in fact the majority of the market is not in M rated games. A parent (especially a gamer like me) should screen a game just like a parent would pre-screen a movie before they let their kids watch it.

What may surprise many people is that video games are not just a children thing. Many adults (like myself and many of my friends) also play video games. A good many of my friends and co-workers play some kind of video game and all are productive members of society with families. This has especially become prevalent in the mobile (Phone) game industry. Gaming can also very much be a family thing. My wife and I play Star Wars: The Old Republic “An MMORPG” together and have a great time.

Just like any leisure activity, responsibilities come first an use moderation in all things. Again as in all things discern well what your playing. There are many games that have very positive messages (In fact in most games you play as a hero figure)

 

[1newcatholic]

As a gamer myself I know when my body knows it’s time to take a rest. One to two hours into playing and I can feel that I’m already tired…

Sounds like you need to practice more to improve your stamina.

 

[Cat]

I have been an avid gamer since I was in middle school. Back then I played ALOT of video games. As I have aged and have more responsibilities I spend most of my time at work or with my family. Thus I play a lot less games, however when I have time alone, playing video games is still my leisure activity of choice.

I have also become a lot more discerning in my choice of games. When I was younger I played all sorts of violent games such as “GTA” or “Mafia” etc… where you often engage in a wide variety of negative activities. Now I will not play games that glorify criminal activity or sinful lifestyles.

Most of the games I play now are RTS (Real Time Strategy) games. These are games where you have to effectively run a nation and control its armies etc… basically it is like extreme chess.

Does video game addiction exist? Yes. Are there some games that are outright Immoral? Yes. Are some children playing way to much? Yes

Of course this has a lot more to do with the failure to parent than the video game industry. M rated games have to have an adult there to buy them and a parent should always be engaged in what their children are doing. No one forces anyone to play M rated games, in fact the majority of the market is not in M rated games. A parent (especially a gamer like me) should screen a game just like a parent would pre-screen a movie before they let their kids watch it.

What may surprise many people is that video games are not just a children thing. Many adults (like myself and many of my friends) also play video games. A good many of my friends and co-workers play some kind of video game and all are productive members of society with families. This has especially become prevalent in the mobile (Phone) game industry. Gaming can also very much be a family thing. My wife and I play Star Wars: The Old Republic “An MMORPG” together and have a great time.

Just like any leisure activity, responsibilities come first an use moderation in all things. Again as in all things discern well what your playing. There are many games that have very positive messages (In fact in most games you play as a hero figure)

I do agree with you about failure to parent. My husband and I did not allow any video games in the house while our girls were growing up other than a Mahjong game on the computer, and tetris. (They grew up in the 1990s.) They usually only played while they were on the phone with friends, or waiting for someone to come and pick them up.

But I do think that parents today are torn between keeping their kids away from video games and allowing them to blend in with all the other kids. Some kids can handle being “different” and even become leaders among all the other kids. Kids look up to them and admire them because “they don’t play any video games! Wow!”

But many kids can’t handle being “different” from the other kids, and feel excluded. They often get made fun of or even bullied.

This is why my sister-in-law initially bought video games for her son (our nephew). I don’t blame her–the poor kid didn’t fit in at all with the other boys, and while they were all playing with their hand-held video games, he was just standing around trying to get someone to talk to him.

When he got his hand-held, it’s amazing how the kids started paying attention to him.

But now it’s turned bad because he’s so addicted that he shuts all the other kids (and adults) out. I can’t even imagine how his school teachers deal with him. He’s tested at a college level (11 years old), but he can’t pay attention in school and he’s so anti-social that he can’t do a lot of stuff in the classroom. It’s so sad that the only times when he’s not getting in trouble are when he is engrossed in the game.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

But many kids can’t handle being “different” from the other kids, and feel excluded. They often get made fun of or even bullied.

I actually think that using video games as a mark of social ineptitude is why gamers and general society have never gotten along.

However, you see this not so much in the shunning of video games but in the cult-like worship of those who sport physical superiority over gamers. People like to cite the Columbine massacre as an example of what happens when video game addiction go wrong.

A more in depth look however will reveal that the crazed murderers were in fact just one of the many victims of an egotistical student hierarchy that worshiped its jocks above all else.

It’s why, in spite of my sociability, I no longer see that much value in activities outside of games. It’d be the same glorification that I give the games themselves. To really put things in moderation, you have to realize that one reality isn’t really all that better than the other.

I can’t speak for your nephew, but if I were in the same shoes (and I’m someone also admired for his brains) I’m best left alone. Maybe he does need to get out more. Or maybe, he’s more observant than you give him credit for and thinks that these social circles just isn’t doing it for him.

I go out and enjoy time with family and friends. But no matter how much I love it, there are still times when the mundane aspects of daily life just don’t… speak to me. I feel nothing. I can’t always be part of a conversation that I don’t take interest in. And why should I? Why must I always conform? Everyone is always preaching conformity. This religion. Society. Family. There’s a line you end up drawing between adjusting and being more amiable and just plain old, people-pleasing selling out.

I value my friends. However, it’s usually my gamer friends that I’m more ‘in tune’ with. My workmates, nice as they are, sometimes feel just too steeped in their own reality of outdoor activities, club hopping, and common man culture. I mean, there’s only so much I can get from trying to be ‘one of them’ when I’m just not.