NationStates Jolt Archive

I believe that video games benefit the economy and youth of the world, but I was wondering if anyone else thought otherwise and why.

They're fun, so yes.


Well, they're not all fun, but some of them are.

I believe that video games benefit the economy and youth of the world, but I as wondering if anyone else thought otherwise and why.

I detect a slight hint of bias?!

and thus naturally all video games should be banned because *points at stereotypical gamers*

It depends on the videogames, and it depends on who plays them and how seriously they take it.

Violent videogames, for example, are all well and goods when used by adults/people who are mature enough to handle the contents. I would not, however, let a child of my kin play Grand Theft Auto.

Likewise, Massively Multiplayer Online RPGs, while being nice and swell to boost profits for the game industry, cause a host of social and health problems by causing some players to become dependant and unable to stop playing.

Others, like Dance Dance Revolution, are actually a boon to the physical health of our youth.

So yeah, like I said, it depends on who's playing what.

I believe that video games benefit the economy and youth of the world, but I as wondering if anyone else thought otherwise and why.

Oh i can see where this will end up.
Someone, if not me will bring up the subject of 'Is the violence in videogames effecting our kids behaviour? Do we need to ban war games? Are x-boxs replacing homework?'

I have no problem with Video Games. I love them. In fact, i am a girl and i own an xbox and a playstation and i play 'boys games'. However, its not an issue for me as i am not at an age to be so called 'influenced' by the violence or the sexual references or the shooting of hookers. I enjoy them and think its healthy to have a good balance of work and play and obviously for some peopel thats what video games do. If you arent into golf or chess or reading, why not play some WoW or GTA?

However, i don't think little kids, young kids i mean, should be playing M/R rated games. Unless of course they have been taught that these things are just games and not how things are done in real life.

I think it's perfectly healthy to spend a weekend finishing the latest Gears of War or whatever it is youre into. As long as you arent doing it every day/night.

I think with everything...there always needs to be a balance. Personally i dont see the point of sitting there in front of the tv for 28 hours straight shooting people while my mates go to the fridge for me. I do not think thats healthy. But if its just to relax or do something other then work. Then why not?

Oh i can see where this will end up.
Someone, if not me will bring up the subject of 'Is the violence in videogames effecting our kids behaviour? Do we need to ban war games? Are x-boxs replacing homework?'

I have no problem with Video Games. I love them. In fact, i am a girl and.....

No girls on the internet.



;)

No girls on the internet.



;)



Oh. Crap. Did i say i'm a girl? I meant. i like girls. yes...thats what i meant.

I am not worried about video games with violence. It has already been proven that the fears the violence in video games does not affect the youth as much as claimed. People said the same about D&D and it seems that generation turned out fine.

I'm basically going to repeat what I said in the other thread: Not harmful as long as they don't rule your life.

Sure, we would be able to survive without them, but there is nothing stopping us from surviving with them, so meh.

I am not worried about video games with violence. It has already been proven that the fears the violence in video games does not affect the youth as much as claimed. People said the same about D&D and it seems that generation turned out fine.

That's true. Although when you look at school shootings and children getting into fights, some news programs or papers can't help but mentioning the violence kids are subjected to these days in the media and in games/movies etc. Whether its them trying to put the blame somewhere or if they really do think this is true, who knows?
But int he end, a game is a game. Its made for fun. People enjoy those games, kids and adults. I dont think they will ever change or go away, if anythign they are just getting more graphic and more violent. But just like the debate on Gordon Ramsays swearing on tv. If you dont like it. dont watch it.

I am not worried about video games with violence. It has already been proven that the fears the violence in video games does not affect the youth as much as claimed. People said the same about D&D and it seems that generation turned out fine.

so a 6 year old chainsawing hookers is A-okay?

so a 6 year old chainsawing hookers is A-okay?

That's the sort of thing that you should be taking up with the ratings-defying parents though.

so a 6 year old chainsawing hookers is A-okay?

No, i dont think thats ok at all. But then again thats also up to the parents how how they are taught and what they are told. You cant bring up a child to be naive about these things. You know full well, 6 years and older go to school, talk to kids who play the games and are going to learn/hear about it in someway or another eventually. So if they play it or see it and are taught that it isnt the right way to do things and its just a game and have parent supervision, then i suppose its just a matter of opinion.

Its like, i would prefer my kids to tell me they want to try a cigarette or a bottle of beer then go and do it behind my back. So if these kids are going to grow up in a world with war and hate and racsism, why cant they play a game and be taught that its just a game? Afterall, they probably will see much worse in real life.

Am i making any sense or am i rambling

Of course video games are beneficial to society. Video games remove certain people from public for extended periods of time, thus freeing me and other Normals from their fat, sweaty presence.

Of course video games are beneficial to society. Video games remove certain people from public for extended periods of time, thus freeing me and other Normals from their fat, sweaty presence.


So all video gamers are fat and sweaty? I beg to differ. That is a grose stereotype.
I consider myself a 'normalton' but i am mor ethen happy to run off and play on the 'ol nintendo just as quick as the next 'sweaty fat man'. :)

Its like, i would prefer my kids to tell me they want to try a cigarette or a bottle of beer then go and do it behind my back.
I agree! If a 6 year old is going to go and chainsaw a hooker, they should ask permission from a parent first :)

On the serious side, I do agree with what you say. It is up to a responsible parent to moderate their exposure to violent or potentially shocking games. Ie, start off on "Barbie/lego wonderland" before moving up to "SUPER ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE IV!" gradually...

Computer games can be a great education tool, but not social education. That has to be learnt from real interactions with friends, relatives and other people.

I agree! If a 6 year old is going to go and chainsaw a hooker, they should ask permission from a parent first :)

On the serious side, I do agree with what you say. It is up to a responsible parent to moderate their exposure to violent or potentially shocking games. Ie, start off on "Barbie/lego wonderland" before moving up to "SUPER ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE IV!" gradually...

Computer games can be a great education tool, but not social education. That has to be learnt from real interactions with friends, relatives and other people.

I agree also. Social activity is much more important in a childs life then video games will ever be.

I also like how you added the '!' after SUPER ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE IV!. Just for that little bit of kick.

Some people read books, some people watch movies, some people play video games. They all offer different user experiences, none are "better" then the other. I prefer all of them.
Violent videogames, for example, are all well and goods when used by adults/people who are mature enough to handle the contents. I would not, however, let a child of my kin play Grand Theft Auto.
What decides when a kid can handle the violence? I'm 17, but I play GTA4, wich is 18+ here, is it baaaad for me now? My brother is 15, and can handle it as well, same wich Ninja Gaiden 2. Besides, people who are anti-violent video games make me wonder: real life is MUUUUCH more violent, this is just fiction.

Back in the fifties some people seriously proposed to make rock & roll illegal since they claimed it had a corrupting influence upon the youth of America. Nowadays we have conservative crackpots which call Dance Dance Revolution a "murder simulator". Some people never learn, I guess.

Ummm....I don't see a whole lot of benefit. Certain games help physical fitness, improve reaction times, or help teach us about history.

Other games hurt physical fitness or teach us a twisted interpretation of history.

I'd say it balances out. No net gain or loss.

I would say video games don't benefit our society... except for the economy game.

Oh-and Wii Fit plus DDR and other exergames.

Otherwise no.

Video games are beneficial to society as long as they're good games.
For example a game like say...Marios adventures (or whatever they're called) are pretty useless.
Games must be well made otherwise they become alot of wasted time.

Yes they do. Most people think video games are for amusment and entertainment and occasionally the ability to get away with being a criminal (GTA *cough*) but besides the home console games or the MMO where everyone comes to bash everyone (NS *cough*) games are also used to train piolites, we use them to train soldiers. Training soldiers in virtual reality saves some money. If you did half-and-half (half field training and half-VR training) you save 50% basically.

No more or less than TV, or books, or music.

When I need to vent steam, it really helps to start up Unreal Tournament or some other FPS and just blast away until I'm calm again. Other people go to a bar, drink heavily and get involved in drunken brawls. The average Halo or Counterstrike gamer doesn't do stupid shit like that. I don't see why video games are worse than, for example, comics or cartoons. Violence is a part of human nature, it's only natural to see it reflected in pop culture as well as high culture.

Video games are great, theyre both fun and social! now stop the video game hate or ill go GTA on you! :mp5:

Well they add another lucrative market I guess and give us something to do, they also are a good vessel for technological development. On the negative side, they keep a lot of people inside not doing anything pro-active.

You could say the same about books or online forums, Hydesland.

They don't really benefit our society. Studying do but you don't see many kids that want to study instead of playing games.:(

Without video games, we'd be watching TV. So let's go over the merits and demerits(?) of both.

TV

Merits:
1. Educational channels.
2. Teaches excellent use of the thumb.
3. Finding out the latest news:)

Demerits:
1. Doesn't require a whole lot in the decision department.
2. Most people don't retain said information from educational channels.
3. Finding out the latest news :( (It's a double edged sword)
4. Desensitization to violence and sex.

Video Games(Woot!):

Merits:
1. Improves hand-eye coordination
2. Improves searching skills (Whatever that's called)
3. Improves puzzle solving skills.

Demerits:
1. Desensitization to violence and (Sometimes) sex.

Winner: Video games. Yes, this was biased :D

Think of video games as a filter for the genepool. They let the reasonably ok stuff back in, but they keep a decent amount of the crud out. :)

Yes they do. They're fabulous

video games: improve reaction times, (mostly) relieve stress, and provide a safe release of aggression (case and point being the popularity of shooters).

Likewise, Massively Multiplayer Online RPGs, while being nice and swell to boost profits for the game industry, cause a host of social and health problems by causing some players to become dependant and unable to stop playing.

Does the game have a gun that it points at players heads or does it work the same way as when a Twinkie causes me to eat it?

Does the game have a gun that it points at players heads or does it work the same way as when a Twinkie causes me to eat it?

That twinkie was taunting me man!:p

well i think the idea of there being such a thing as video games is a good one, but the direction, the market that the dominant culture creates for them to go, by what it romantacizes, and therefor what people will be attracted to as exciting to them, well when i look at the world this has created in real life, i'm just not satisfied that what's being simulated, and i understand that is what there's a market for, which comes back to things people don't think about, from what they romantacize and create a market for by how they live, well escape is good, i mean everybody needs that, but i think also, that like all forms of story telling, these games and simulations, also influence the direction in which cultures evolve, and i think there's maybe, at least potentially some slight problem with where that's been headed, or appears for the most part to be.

so i'm really, well mostly neutral on this. not an opponent as such, but certainly not so thrilled by their content on average and generally as to be any kind of enthusiastic supporter either.

i think its another thing that's being exploited, that holds out the promise of being creative, of being, providing a channel for being creative, and then betrays that promise, just like television did.

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