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Tenofovir
Guest
Surely a game can be a reflection of the state of mind or the soul of the people who make the game. And surely if these people wish to convey good ideas, then surely God can be found that way too?
10 priests were asked to write 4 sentences on the topic of video games. Here's what they said…
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Joe_5859
Guest
Right.
I think the core concern being raised by those who would rather do without them altogether is that there is something about the medium itself (an immersive, visual media) that more readily lends itself to addiction, anti-social behavior, and malformation of well-roundedness.
I can appreciate such arguments even if I am skeptical of the conclusions. I suppose more studies need to be done (or maybe I just need to be made aware of studies that have already been done).
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BrentH77
Guest
Hello everyone,
I’m glad I found this thread for a few reasons. Number one, kids should be outside, not glued to a screen. We had a problem with my eldest son and video games a few years ago. I took it upon myself to be more active in his life and introduced him to CAMPING. There is no other way to get a kid out of video games than the great outdoors! In fact, a few of his friends have gone too and I can see them getting away from games too. It’s bad enough that most of us have to work in front of a screen all day, but to go home to them and entertain yourself is just ludicrous.
Any thoughts on this?
Brent
I’m glad I found this thread for a few reasons. Number one, kids should be outside, not glued to a screen. We had a problem with my eldest son and video games a few years ago. I took it upon myself to be more active in his life and introduced him to CAMPING. There is no other way to get a kid out of video games than the great outdoors! In fact, a few of his friends have gone too and I can see them getting away from games too. It’s bad enough that most of us have to work in front of a screen all day, but to go home to them and entertain yourself is just ludicrous.
Any thoughts on this?
Brent
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Tenofovir
Guest
Well I can certainly see the idea of social isolation (withdrawal from the world, responsibility) and and feeding oneself with a fantasy instead of the real thing. Sort of like these Hikki guys and TypeB anime/manga fans who get waifus and prefer 2D to 3D. Instead of finding female companionship or platonic companionship, people choose to get virtual companions.
However, surely any other medium could be placed here too. Too much TV? Too much book reading? Too much of any hobby?
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Joe_5859
Guest
I agree with you. But I can see people making the point that video games are different because of the level of involvement. You’re not just watching TV but are immersed (in a sense) in the virtual world. You become a participant in it. Again, I don’t really buy into that argument, but I can understand that it sounds reasonable.
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Tenofovir
Guest
Yeah I guess. But then there’s a subjective aspect too. Not everyone is the same. Some people are really into their sport whether on TV or in the form of matches and prioritise that over community and even more so religious/moral responsibilities. You also get your casual gamer and you get your enthusiast and fanatic. And I guess what you say is that gaming can be more addictive, then surely it also depends on the sort of game too (MMORPG vs a simple game of solitaire or a simple beat them up game).
Then there is the cause and effect relationship. Do Hikikomori type gamers, game because of the addictive nature of the games or is it because they suck at relationships - autistic or just very shy? A lot of it is that. Some people are very shy and they game. I guess they could go out and force themselves to go clubbing or boozing or womanising, but not all of those activities are wholesome. Maybe there is a place for “Catholic” or “Christian” gaming clubs or leagues which while devoted to gaming can at least keep the moral Christian aspects of life alive and promote that. You’re a shut in. But heck you can at least enjoy Catholic company online and maybe use your geek talents to generate funds for Christians in Iraq or homeless people.
I guess if you come from a starting off point of a wholesome family life with some Christian values in it, excessive gaming can be detrimental. But if modern culture in general these days is atheistic and trashy, then gaming need not take much away from it. Then again, even if trashy are human interactions still better than virtual ones with fake people (NPCs) or online people?
In addition there are health issues with too much traditional gaming. And a persons’ body is a temple of God.
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Joe_5859
Guest
I agree. There are all sorts of things we can get obsessed about when we don’t put God at the center of our lives.
It is interesting what you say about being shy. It has me wonder if there is a correlation between introversion and video game playing.
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AndrewRaZ
Guest
The first gut-reaction unreflective and uncharitable response I had was “Is Fr. Schneider more comforting because his words prick your conscience less than the others?”
Now, there’s background to that: that was my reaction years ago when I heard something similar.
I’m a seminarian studying for the priesthood. I’m 31 now. I grew up with video games, so I’m not some old fart that thinks all those young whippersnappers should get outside and play (ok, so I am an old fart according to some, but that’s beside the point). I have personal involvement with the video game industry–I got a BFA in Interactive Design and Game Development from Savannah College of Art and Design. I played video games extensively. I loved them. I wanted to spend my life making them.
My senior year of college, Electronic Arts (game publisher) got sued for not paying overtime. 60, 80, or 100-hour workweeks on salary, with no overtime for months on end was the norm. Plaintiffs in the class-action lawsuit cited health issues, emotional distress, losing friends, spouses divorcing them, all kinds of things. And I asked, “Is this the kind of thing I want to dedicate my life to?” A couple years later, I read an article about a young artist who lived that kind of life, did freelance work on the side, his wife had left him, and he had already had three minor heart attacks. He was in his 30’s. I was 24 at the time. That was the bright future I had to look forward to.
That was when the obvious fact dawned on me. I was sitting on my butt all day making a product that whose sole purpose was to make other people to sit on their butts all day and play it. It seemed like it was only about gratification, as much as anyone loved making or playing them. Nobody ever made games (that I know about) thinking “this game will make people better human beings.” Nobody (that I know of) ever played games thinking “this game will make me a better human being.” I could be wrong.
I didn’t give up games right then. (I actually worked at a couple game studios in Los Angeles, which pretty much confirmed that I loved the art, and didn’t agree with what the end product was doing to society.) In fact, it wasn’t until a few months before seminary that I gave them up for good. I haven’t played games in almost five years, and I don’t miss them one bit. I had dedicated a substantial portion of my life to them, and I don’t miss it at all. Why? Because it’s not what God made me for.
Now, that’s my experience. I can’t absolutize that or force it down someone else’s throat. I think a better theologian or anthropologist could explain it better. But I think it’s significant that physical and mental health professionals, lawmakers, journalists, and religious authorities have all repeatedly expressed concern about what the effect video games have on our society. It’s indicative of a concern.
I don’t want to get into a treatise on Christian anthropology. This life isn’t a waiting room for heaven. Heaven, in a sense, is a waiting room for the new earth, the resurrection. We don’t know what will be there, but I doubt there will be video games. Our responsibility as Christians isn’t just to “not screw up too badly” and slide into heaven. Our duty is to participate in God’s creation and cooperate with his grace in bringing the Kingdom of Heaven to fulfillment with every action. Where do video games fall on that scale? I’m not sure they rank highly on the scale of participation in God’s goodness.
Most people I saw believe in the God who created the universe. If we believe that God gave us dominion of creation, we have to ask where video games fit in God’s concept of dominion. That’s not an optional part of our faith: it’s what we will answer for when we meet him face to face, and he judges us each based on our works (Rom 2:6, Ps 62:13, Prv 14:12, etc.)
(Not very thought-out response, I have to get back to studying. I’m sorry if anything is unclear or abrasive)
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Midwest88
Guest
Mightily interesting thoughts. I think each priest had something truthful to say about gaming - at least those that let game engulf their lives and whose life is gaming.
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Lost_Wanderer
Guest
They don’t represent a majority of gamers. That’s the problem. The source site alone reminds me of what my mom used to be (to her great regret).
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SuperLuigi
Guest
How is that any different than getting lost in a book?
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Lost_Wanderer
Guest
It isn’t. Kinda funny how people still can’t see the parallel. Smells like denial.How is that any different than getting lost in a book?
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CatholicWhovian
Guest
That’s the kind of thing we want to disprove. If we do spend our time 9 to 5 looking on our screens and go home to watch a movie to entertain ourselves what’s the difference with that and playing video games?
I do recognize how those other priests are concerned about the well-being of other people. And personally I do want to do what God made me for and be a better human being - while being a gamer. It’s just that most of the priests there see video games as intrinsically harmful and something to be avoided.
Well what do you expect from EA? I know some gaming companies who do value their workers. It’s like any industry out there. I’m not sure if there have been similar reports from, say, accountant firms.
There are such games now that do want people to be better human beings - either aesthetically, mentally or physically. It’s obvious that people in the gaming industry are taking notice that people can exercise through playing video games. There are examples of such games mentioned in this thread.
Video games can also improve mental and cognitive skills. There are studies which say such but probably most of you wouldn’t believe them. In my experience playing lots and lots of real-time strategy games, especially those based on history, have improved my cognitive and critical thinking skills. I guess if it wasn’t for video games I wouldn’t have my love for history - or get high grades in history classes. And probably I wouldn’t have this aspiration of mine of becoming a historian if it wasn’t for video games.
For the aesthetic - I think personally I’ve recently seen - and played - games which are thought-provoking and beautiful that they somehow reflect on the human condition. There are also Christian Bible games out there, but like most Christian movies they have the moral value but lack the aesthetic value. I think that video games are just like any other medium. People can sit their butts all day making special effects for a movie… so people can watch it while sitting on their butts all day. I think what’s important is to recognize if these games, like what you said, make people better human beings.
Well I guess to each to his own when it comes to professions. If a profession doesn’t really suit you, or hinders you from your journey to have a better relationship with God and be a better human being then best get out of it.
Obviously video games, like pop music, don’t rank highly because their entertainment, but that doesn’t mean some of them have to just remain in that level. They can have that capacity to improve people.
I guess other arguments have been answered by previous posters in this thread so i’ve exhausted all I can muster.
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1newcatholic
Guest
I am glad they didn’t.
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SuperLuigi
Guest
Reading through the responses the priests wrote makes me think it’s a generational thing, but still, you’re right about the parallel. :yup:
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Lost_Wanderer
Guest
I go by the observation that video games are just a new medium that is undergoing its initiation rite of being attacked by elders.
It’s just rather sad that this generational habit doesn’t spare the minds of the clergy. Aren’t the religious supposed to be a little more transcending than this? Anti-escapism isn’t a virtue.
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TornyHusky
Guest
Video games are basically like alcohol. They’re good during times of happiness because you feel even happier. However, they’re bad during times of loneliness or depression because we use it as a means to hide from our source of sorrow. This will make you addicted to it.
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TornyHusky
Guest
Honestly, video games have a better storyline that most movies they release on Hollywood nowadays. Take Brothers: a tale of two sons and the Expendables as an example.
Brothers: a tale of two sons teaches us about fraternal love and sacrifice. Go ahead and play it because I don’t want to spoil its beautiful storyline.
Expendables are about immortal dudes who can’t be killed like gods. They’re just shooting people up mindlessly.
Brothers: a tale of two sons teaches us about fraternal love and sacrifice. Go ahead and play it because I don’t want to spoil its beautiful storyline.
Expendables are about immortal dudes who can’t be killed like gods. They’re just shooting people up mindlessly.
meltzerboy
New member
Doesn’t the discussion depend somewhat on the kind of video game we’re talking about, as well as the kind of book? Full disclosure: I know next to nothing about video games.How is that any different than getting lost in a book?
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balto
Guest
Yeah, I think it does. There is quite a lot of trash out there in the video game world, which is what I think most people are responding to. It seems to me to be getting worse unfortunately. But look at all the trash on television, in the movies, and even in books. Fifty Shades of Gray was a best seller, wasn’t it?
But I think for everyone here that enjoys playing video games, we do have to admit that there is quite a lot of immoral stuff out there and that people do become addicted to them and the addiction is bad. I remember I used to play obsessively as a kid and it sometimes led to me becoming a nasty person. The priests are right to criticize addiction and idolatry of video games for things like that.
Is it fair that everybody else seemingly gets a pass for their pleasures? No, but life isn’t fair. Take their advice to heart and use it to grow as a better person. The priests are probably giving other people grief for their pleasures and they similarly write it off. If other people want to act like everything they do is just peachy, then so much the worse for them because they could become better people by doing some introspection on what is really important to them.
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