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

[Cat]

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.

Lost Wanderer, my nephew is only 11. He needs to be away from the video games so he can learn how to function in the real world. When he grows up, if he chooses to spend all his non-working hours playing video games, that’s his right. But while he is a child, he needs to be learning the skills that he needs to choose a job path and get a job that enables him to at least provide himself with his basic survival needs. And even though no one is expecting him to be Mr. Social, I think he needs to learn enough social skills to not get himself shot. Since he has Asbergers’, he needs to work even harder to learn social skills and norms, which means that the less time he spends buried in a fake world, the better. He only has 9 years left of being a child. It goes fast.

But when he’s grown up, yes, I agree, if he wants to hide from everyone and everything, well, OK. But not when he’s a child.

 

[Potter]

For those of (us) who play video games to one degree or another, what’s your take on performing immoral acts within a game? I don’t imagine many Catholics would be interested in a game like the GTA series, but I never play Civilization without waging war, sometimes without any provocation at all.

 

[Kithrus]

Lost Wanderer, my nephew is only 11. He needs to be away from the video games so he can learn how to function in the real world. When he grows up, if he chooses to spend all his non-working hours playing video games, that’s his right. But while he is a child, he needs to be learning the skills that he needs to choose a job path and get a job that enables him to at least provide himself with his basic survival needs. And even though no one is expecting him to be Mr. Social, I think he needs to learn enough social skills to not get himself shot. Since he has Asbergers’, he needs to work even harder to learn social skills and norms, which means that the less time he spends buried in a fake world, the better. He only has 9 years left of being a child. It goes fast.

But when he’s grown up, yes, I agree, if he wants to hide from everyone and everything, well, OK. But not when he’s a child.

Well if thats what you think video games are for then of course.

Course thats what you think, to barrow the words of the priests reality is outside that.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

Lost Wanderer, my nephew is only 11. He needs to be away from the video games so he can learn how to function in the real world. When he grows up, if he chooses to spend all his non-working hours playing video games, that’s his right. But while he is a child, he needs to be learning the skills that he needs to choose a job path and get a job that enables him to at least provide himself with his basic survival needs. And even though no one is expecting him to be Mr. Social, I think he needs to learn enough social skills to not get himself shot.

Look, I’m just speaking from my own experience. I may not have a mental illness but my childhood’s just as damaged from my unnatural tendency to attract the worst bullies every, single year.

You know, when you’re desperate to get someone back in the real world, you accidentally leave them at the mercy of it. I am simply saying that getting rid of video games is just not the way to go. In fact, you could very well be getting rid of the only thing that will tell you what goes on in his head.

Someone else brought up the ‘great outdoors.’ Let me tell you a brief story. A couple months ago, I climbed my country’s tallest peak with my office friends.

It was intense. It was cold. Still, I had a great time overall. The experience was worth it. And yet, as I was finally at the peak, getting in line to have my picture taken, I still couldn’t keep my mind from imagining grander experiences.

I didn’t just want to trudge through a rainforest. I wanted to run swiftly through the trees. Neither was I satisfied with just seeing the clouds fly past me as I looked down on the rest of the world. I wanted a dragon to fly up from underneath and have me jump on it towards even greater heights.

I wanted more.

And you know what else? I didn’t choose to join an expedition just because I wanted a trip with friends, to push my physique, or to prove something to somebody. I did it because I wanted to experience the very things my own characters do every time I log-in. They’re the ones often running across plains, traveling great distances, and climbing perilous mountain ruins. I wanted to immerse myself directly in their experience… even though I knew the best of reality still couldn’t compare.

Quoting George R.R. Martin:

Fantasy is silver and scarlet, indigo and azure, obsidian veined with gold and lapis lazuli. Reality is plywood and plastic, done up in mud brown and olive drab. Fantasy tastes of habaneros and honey, cinnamon and cloves, rare red meat and wines as sweet as summer. Reality is beans and tofu, and ashes at the end. Reality is the strip malls of Burbank, the smokestacks of Cleveland, a parking garage in Newark. Fantasy is the towers of Minas Tirith, the ancient stones of Gormenghast, the halls of Camelot. Fantasy flies on the wings of Icarus, reality on Southwest Airlines. Why do our dreams become so much smaller when they finally come true?

Reality has its perks. But when parents are running scared from seeing their kids out of it, they don’t stop and see the reflection within their fantasies.

Have you actually ever played the games your nephew plays?

 

[DlandFan06]

For those of (us) who play video games to one degree or another, what’s your take on performing immoral acts within a game? I don’t imagine many Catholics would be interested in a game like the GTA series, but I never play Civilization without waging war, sometimes without any provocation at all.

The difference between the GTA series and games like Civilization is content. There is a lot of explicit content in the GTA series whereas in Civilization and games like it there isn’t. Also, in games like Civilization you’re in charge of fictitious events. I’ve played Civilization myself and conquered whole countries, on multiple continents yet I’ve never thought it was immoral because it’s fake. You know?

 

[Cat]

Look, I’m just speaking from my own experience. I may not have a mental illness but my childhood’s just as damaged from my unnatural tendency to attract the worst bullies every, single year.

You know, when you’re desperate to get someone back in the real world, you accidentally leave them at the mercy of it. I am simply saying that getting rid of video games is just not the way to go. In fact, you could very well be getting rid of the only thing that will tell you what goes on in his head.

Someone else brought up the ‘great outdoors.’ Let me tell you a brief story. A couple months ago, I climbed my country’s tallest peak with my office friends.

It was intense. It was cold. Still, I had a great time overall. The experience was worth it. And yet, as I was finally at the peak, getting in line to have my picture taken, I still couldn’t keep my mind from imagining grander experiences.

I didn’t just want to trudge through a rainforest. I wanted to run swiftly through the trees. Neither was I satisfied with just seeing the clouds fly past me as I looked down on the rest of the world. I wanted a dragon to fly up from underneath and have me jump on it towards even greater heights.

I wanted more.

And you know what else? I didn’t choose to join an expedition just because I wanted a trip with friends, to push my physique, or to prove something to somebody. I did it because I wanted to experience the very things my own characters do every time I log-in. They’re the ones often running across plains, traveling great distances, and climbing perilous mountain ruins. I wanted to immerse myself directly in their experience… even though I knew the best of reality still couldn’t compare.

Quoting George R.R. Martin:

Reality has its perks. But when parents are running scared from seeing their kids out of it, they don’t stop and see the reflection within their fantasies.

Have you actually ever played the games your nephew plays?

I respect what you are saying, and you say it well.

I think it’s quite esoteric when it comes to childrearing. To me, it’s difficult to come up with a concrete “strategy” for raising a child based on what you are saying.

What ARE you saying? What would you tell the parents of my nephew to actually do?

I was bullied as a child, to the point where I still have fantasies (at age 57) of suing the school where the bullying took place. Not for money, but for vindication.

My brother was bullied as a child.

This was back in the 1960s, so a lot of child-development science still hadn’t happened yet. Parents and teachers didn’t have much a clue how to deal with it.

Dr. Dobson actually tells parents to MOVE their children out of schools and other situations where they are bullied. I think that’s interesting, and a very good strategy, one that I have advised for my nephew.

As for whether I have ever played video games, no–I wouldn’t go near them. I have played Pong a few times when I was a teenager. That’s my sole experience with any kind of “video” game. They are not a wise thing for me to do because I do have one of those addictive personalities, and if I ever got interested in video games, I would play them night and day, just like my nephew.

And perhaps that’s what needs to be deteremined here, Lost Wanderer and others–whether or not the games are being played because the player is addicted, or because the player freely chooses to play and is completely comfortable with walking away from the games, forever if necessary.

My nephew is addicted. He gives up food, sleep, and all other activities to play video games for many hours on any given day. His school life and family life are deteriorating. He cannot walk away without experiencing debilitating stress. When he is away from the console, all he talks about is the game.

Other people can play for a few hours on a Saturday evening and then go to bed and forget all about it.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

As for whether I have ever played video games, no–I wouldn’t go near them. I have played Pong a few times when I was a teenager. That’s my sole experience with any kind of “video” game. They are not a wise thing for me to do because I do have one of those addictive personalities, and if I ever got interested in video games, I would play them night and day, just like my nephew.

See, this is the problem. I’m not asking you to play (the parents maybe but I’m not in any position to really say). All I’m simply saying is to understand your nephew’s world. What does he see in the game? Who does he talk to? What does he get the most out of it?

My nephew is addicted. He gives up food, sleep, and all other activities to play video games for many hours on any given day. His school life and family life are deteriorating. He cannot walk away without experiencing debilitating stress. When he is away from the console, all he talks about is the game.

Yes, you’ve told us how obsessed he is. We get that. It’s not good. I’d advise him to take a break too. However, you’re not going to help if you suggest that he cut off video games completely without at least understanding what is in that world.

I repeat: You don’t have to play. It just makes more sense if you at least looked at the world your nephew is immersed.

What’s the name of the game anyway?

 

[Potter]

The difference between the GTA series and games like Civilization is content. There is a lot of explicit content in the GTA series whereas in Civilization and games like it there isn’t. Also, in games like Civilization you’re in charge of fictitious events. I’ve played Civilization myself and conquered whole countries, on multiple continents yet I’ve never thought it was immoral because it’s fake. You know?

GTA is fake, too, but the violence there is more…personal. If I take a city in Civilization, well – big deal, their archer just fell down and now the city’s changed its colors. It’s a lot different from the graphic displays of death and dismemberment GTA creates on-screen. What about first-person shooters like the Medal of Honor series? I’m fairly comfortable with that one because there’s no blood.

 

[john1513]

Good considerations however attachments to TV, internet, and social media far outweigh the harm from video games. Video games are just an easier target. I hope they have the same advice for watching football all weekend, binge watching The Office, religiously scheduling Dancing with the Stars, checking social media every hour, or listening to talk radio in every car ride.

A good practice for every Catholic is to routinely measure how much time they give to God and others compared to how much time they give to the world and themselves.

 

[meltzerboy]

Good considerations however attachments to TV, internet, and social media far outweigh the harm from video games. Video games are just an easier target. I hope they have the same advice for watching football all weekend, binge watching The Office, religiously scheduling Dancing with the Stars, checking social media every hour, or listening to talk radio in every car ride.

A good practice for every Catholic is to routinely measure how much time they give to God and others compared to how much time they give to the world and themselves.

I especially like your last statement, which applies to every Jew as well.

 

[Cat]

See, this is the problem. I’m not asking you to play (the parents maybe but I’m not in any position to really say). All I’m simply saying is to understand your nephew’s world. What does he see in the game? Who does he talk to? What does he get the most out of it?

Yes, you’ve told us how obsessed he is. We get that. It’s not good. I’d advise him to take a break too. However, you’re not going to help if you suggest that he cut off video games completely without at least understanding what is in that world.

I repeat: You don’t have to play. It just makes more sense if you at least looked at the world your nephew is immersed.

What’s the name of the game anyway?

Minecraft

Why do you think it’s important to understand what is in the Minecraft world? What would we do with that information?

 

[Cat]

Good considerations however attachments to TV, internet, and social media far outweigh the harm from video games. Video games are just an easier target. I hope they have the same advice for watching football all weekend, binge watching The Office, religiously scheduling Dancing with the Stars, checking social media every hour, or listening to talk radio in every car ride.

Why do you say that attachments to TV, etc. outweigh the harm from video games? Can you link me to some studies thatsupport this statement, or is this your personal opinion?

Although I agree with you that anything can be harmful if done to excess and if it enslaves someone, I don’t agree with the statement that these other attachments outweigh the harm from video games. First, all of the “attachments” that you mention are often sociable. My husband and I watch Dancing with the Stars together, and for him, it’s been helpful in his ice dancing (he trains everyday and competes with a female partner). DWTS has also gotten him involved with ballroom dancing classes. I also tried ballroom dancing classes, but I was soooooo bad at it (couldn’t remember the steps to the dances even on the same evening, let alone the next night, plus the simplest of maneuvers really hurt my arthritic knee. Yes, I know, it’s pathetic.)

Watching football all weekend can be very sociable; lots of families watch together, or have house party during the games, or people go to sports bars to watch with friends or with a crowd of fellow fans.

However, video games are basically solitary, although I know that some video games are played online with thousands of unseen people, which makes them social. Also, some video games are played with friends.

Also, as I mentioned in another post, video games have been proven to stimulate the pleasure centers of the brain at a much higher rate than the other activities. This is why they are so addictive.

A good practice for every Catholic is to routinely measure how much time they give to God and others compared to how much time they give to the world and themselves.

I also don’t agree with this. ALL that we do should be done to the glory of God, including all our time with video games and other leisure-time activities. There is no such thing as “activities that we give to God” and “activities that we don’t give to God.” We should give ALL to God.

 

[pnewton]

I think the “10 priests write” format suits area of Church doctrine better than child-rearing, especially with that exorcist answer. I find that one odd to say the least. I also think the statement that video games are like Hell indicate someone who is not familiar with the actual problem. Yet for the most part, the answers focus on the real dangers that video games bring. I guess the same type of warnings were given for TV, radio, reading, and in the case of my own dad, playing football. Idolatry is a danger we all face. For those uninterested in playing video games, it is no doubt easier to see the possibility for idolatry. It is usually easier to see sin in others than ourselves.

The question is not whether video games can be a source of misplaced priorities on our time, talent and money, but rather what in each of our lives serve as temptation to us.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

Minecraft

Why do you think it’s important to understand what is in the Minecraft world? What would we do with that information?

Well, looks like you need to spend some time watching him play. Minecraft’s the gamer’s Lego. You could have an architect in your hands.

 

[Cat]

Well, looks like you need to spend some time watching him play. Minecraft’s the gamer’s Lego. You could have an architect in your hands.

Lost Wanderer, he’s eleven and he can’t even tie his shoes! I have a hard time thinking about standing in any building that he designs!

He hates school. He tells us he hates it. And architects have to study and learn within the context of school. They can’t opt out of it.

His Aspergers makes it difficult/impossible for him to “get” the concept of analogy. If we tell him, “You like Minecraft. You would love building things!”, he’ll say, “No I wouldn’t. I just like Minecraft.” We’ve heard this over and over before. If you tell him, “You’re as handsome as a prince,” he’ll say, “I’m not a prince. Don’t say that.” He doesn’t get it.

This is a problem that many people with Aspergers have. My friend at work has son with moderate Aspergers and it’s been interesting and excruciating to watch him grow up. If my friend tells him, “We’re going to the grocery store,” and then they stop at the gas station, he will have a breakdown in the car and blow up over the deviation in plans. I can’t even imagine how he managed to get through school, but my friend says that they made a mistake sending him to a Christian school because he was coddled, and they allowed him to call the shots and opt out of things if he felt “uncomfortable.” Now that he is out of school, the rules aren’t being bent for him, and he’s not dealing with it well. Every day is a struggle for this family, and I know their greatest fear is whether their son will ever be able to live independently and support himself. Although SOME Catholics have no objection to their children living at home with them forever, this family is Protestant, and they want their kids to live on their own and support themselves.

Anyway, I appreciate all your help and kind suggestions. I just think that kids with Aspergers need to be handled differently and kept safe and AWAY from activities that allow the brain to develop a “pathway” (I’m speaking of a true biological pathway, not something psychological) that they have an extremely difficult time breaking out of . Regular people have a hard enough time breaking addictions, but the implications for those with Asperger’s are daunting.

 

[DlandFan06]

GTA is fake, too, but the violence there is more…personal. If I take a city in Civilization, well – big deal, their archer just fell down and now the city’s changed its colors. It’s a lot different from the graphic displays of death and dismemberment GTA creates on-screen. What about first-person shooters like the Medal of Honor series? I’m fairly comfortable with that one because there’s no blood.

I see what you’re saying but strategy are all fake and even though the stuff in GTA is fake, it’s all too real, y’know? Lots of blood and violence and just being destructive. I have played one GTA game back when I was younger and that’s what I did. I just wondered around and destroyed things.

So far as first-person shooter games go like the Medal of Honor series, if you’re referring to their WW2 series then it’s fine. I know their more recent games are rated M but I wouldn’t myself have a problem playing it because it’s fictitious; meaning the war’s you’re fighting are fictitious and you are playing a fictitious character. That’s the best I can explain it.

 

[jimmy]

The main problem these priests have with video games is an alternate reality. If playing a game that involves alternate realities is problematic, then so is reading fiction. It also involves alternate realities. The difference between reading a book and playing a video game is that you can play a video game with other people. So in the end, the book may be far worse because it has no social aspect.

It could also be argued that all games are bad, including monopoly and risk. Sports as well. They are distractions from reality.

We should all just work, because that is reality. Work, work, work, work.

When it comes to addiction, anything can be considered addictive. There are addicts of everything, including drugs, alcohol, sex, work, sleep, admiration, sports, reading, coffee, music, food, and etc. Any action or inaction can be addictive.

 

[GEddie]

So in the end, the book may be far worse because it has no social aspect.

Not necessarily.

There are such things as book clubs; I am in several.

For that matter, many video games are played solo. Also, online gaming played against disembodied names is hardly (unlike a meeting of a book club) really social interaction, which takes place in bodyspace, IMNAAHO.

ICXC NIKA.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

For that matter, many video games are played solo. Also, online gaming played against disembodied names is hardly (unlike a meeting of a book club) really social interaction, which takes place in bodyspace, IMNAAHO.

Ever been in a Filipino net cafe?

 

[GEddie]

Ever been in a Filipino net cafe?

Never been to the Philippines, sadly…

ICXC NIKA