posted September 17, 2006 10:04 PM            

You were born blonde.
You are blonde.

See the difference?

posted September 18, 2006 07:07 PM            

I'd rather play pacman or tetris.

My kids can play non-voilent games. I even find voilence on tv really offensive so I switch it off.

I was watching the news recently and some parents are blaming voilent video games for their kids suddenly wanting guns to play with. I think it does have some influence, but it depends on how stable the child is.

posted September 19, 2006 02:15 PM            

I think the main problem is that people are working more and using things like the TV and video games to babysit their children.

I've been an avid gamer since my Dad bought Pong in 1978. I love video games - believe it or not, they can help to teach things like critical thinking, problem solving skills, project planning, and even hand eye coordination.

But like AG mentioned, my mom would also tell me to go out and play. And I loved to go out and play as much as I loved my Atari 2600.

IMO the key is, just like TV, knowing what they're playing and how much, ensuring that the games they are playing aren't voilent, and making sure that they have more to their life than just video games.

Games like San Andreas and HALO are rated Mature and are designed for adults. I won't deny they wouldn't love to market them to kids, they want to make a buck sure, but ultimately it's up to the parents to keep those games out of their kids hands IMO. As an adult gamer, I don't think they should stop making certain games because of children. I think parents should do their job and pay attention to what their children are doing/playing, and keep the games out of their kids hands.

posted September 19, 2006 04:39 PM            

While we're talking about games, everyone who doesn't think they'll corrupt your soul or whatever should try N (free, flash-based ninja game): http://www.harveycartel.org/metanet/n.html

posted September 19, 2006 08:19 PM            

While we are on the talk of games, the one I really like is http://www.silkroadonline.net It's a free MMORPG and the graphics are fantastic.

I think MMORPGS are just as addictive as any other game.

Actually, I think the worst game ever is the Sims. That game...I could be on that game for 6 hours and think I've only been on for an hour.

posted September 20, 2006 12:38 AM            

MMORPGs aren't good IMO for people with obsessive personalities, addictive personalities, or those that have little to no self discipline. In that case, it could (and I've read it has been) as damaging as alcohol abuse can be. Like people losing their jobs, not eating, blowing all their money on in-game currency and items, becoming emotionally dependant on superficial relationships within the game....

But the majority of people who play seem to have balanced their gaming with their real life responsibilities.

posted September 21, 2006 01:01 AM            

I mean, the game is so important that they can't get up to use the phone and have it delivered? Holy **** , Batman.

posted September 21, 2006 07:43 AM              

Say one more word and I'll blast you homie! CJ GET THE CAR! lets ice her!

Video games rock!!!!!! but obviously there should be a blance...

From dangerous dave to war3...they mean a lot to me..game fan in general...not just video,pc too...

Systems owned:atari(dad's),atari 2600(dad's again),nintendo(original 8bit),sega,playstation2...And pc of course!....and ps3 soon!

posted December 16, 2006 12:03 AM            

( I was looking for another thread, but this seems to be a hot topic.)

posted December 16, 2006 12:36 AM              

It just seems like videogames are an easy scapegoat. Yes, there are some violent ones, but there were violent ones even back when Atari existed. Games like Chopper Command where you fly a helicopter and shoot at other jets and helicopters. In fact a lot of Atari games were shooting at things. And this was in the 80s! Which means people who are now in their 40s possibly played those games. If videogames really did turn people into mass murdering shooters, then people in their 40s right down to babies should be running around killing. There should be mass murders! But there aren't.

I grew up with videogames. I played violent ones even when I was young, and I used to play them for long periods of time. I've never been in trouble with the law. Ever. I'm 24. I have 3.77 GPA. I get outside. I get exercise. I go to college. If videogames were as bad as people want to believe, how did this happen? When others were out getting into fights, getting pregnant at a young age, shooting each other, doing drugs, I was playing videogames.

A couple of years ago I stopped playing videogames, and I fell into a social youth oriented music scene. You know what? That was more violent than videogames were, and because it was more violent, I left, and I've gone back to videogames.

Also, for every videogame out there thats really violent, there's a lot of ones that engage the mind. Nintendo has been gearing games towards this as well. Brain Age and Big Brain Academy have little educational games on them (if you're familiar with Sudoku, I know one of them has that on it as well!).

I feel a little defensive about it because it's a favorite pasttime for me and a lot of my friends, and none of my friends are bad kids, and most of them are avid gamers. It's a past time, just as bowling, rollerskating, dancing have been pasttimes. And look at pasttimes that have been around, like hunting, or rugby. They are both rather violent. In hunting you shoot things and they die, and it's extremely realistic, because it IS real life. Rugby, they run into each other, tackle each other, to get a ball! Wrestling and boxing! These things existed before videogames and they are violent. As I said, it's obvious that videogames are being used as a scapegoat to cover up bigger, more widespread social issues that most people don't want to deal with because they are very hard, very ingrained into our society.

posted December 16, 2006 12:51 AM              

video games, TV, even the Internet are distractions..

from knowing the True God. ...

posted December 16, 2006 12:57 AM              

Leisure is a big thing for me to release stress. Games for me are leisure, and a stress release. My time is for me to say what I want to use it for, it is shameful for you to judge me for how to choose to live my life.

posted December 16, 2006 02:06 AM              

the friends I had who were gamers were generally slackers, and a had a boyfriend who was obsessed with Evercrack- most boring relationship I was ever in..

But THEN... in my net wanderings, after I read this thread, I stumbled onto this... very icky...

Quote:

What's the fun of enjoying your second life in Second Life without a little ultraviolence? Click the above to enlarge. We're not as conversant with SL's moral conventions as your average nerd, but it surprises even our jaded souls that you can indulge in rape fantasies (options: "Rape victim," "Get raped," or "Hold victim") for a trifling 220 Linden dollar things. Nice that the purchase takes place in an evocative back alley, with the actual rape set in some kind of red cobblestone gimp-dungeon.

End of disturbing quote..

Pretty f'ing bad, don't you think?

here's the link, if you really want to go there...
http://www.gawker.com/news/second-life/second-life-rape-for-sale-222099.php

This, I feel, is less a comment on video games and more a statement on society.

It's wretched.

posted December 16, 2006 09:42 AM            

quote:

---

Perhaps, One could think of many other things to do with One's TIME,
video games, TV, even the Internet are distractions..

from knowing the True God. ...

it's your Free Wi11, do as you like

---

God also placed the burden on a true believer to not judge his/her fellow being's actions. "Judge Not Lest Ye Be Judged."

Some would call Video games a distraction but yet Japan has encouraged the use of them amoung its teenagers (non-violent titles mind you.) According to Jackson et al (2006,) "playing videogames, especially those games that are solution-based video games, has a positive impact on children's cognitive skills (in logic thinking for example.)

The reasoning behind this is simple:

In a typical hit title VG, you're given a goal and an obsticle. There are many solutions to getting past the problem and getting to the goal. The player just has to get creative and think about how he/she will reach that goal. This promotes creative reasoning at an early age with is a VERY important skill especially for the modern workforce.

And the little bit on VGs protoming violence. Some do, some don't.