We have all heard some teachers and parents say that video games are bad for the children. That the more you play a game the more effect they have on your brain. Games like Grand Theft Auto, if played too much, can influence a child to commit acts seen on the game. They all present a list of negatives:
In many violent games, players must become more violent to win. In "1st person" violent video games the player may be more affected because he or she controls the game and experiences the action through the eyes of his or her character.
Academic achievement may be negatively related to over-all time spent playing video games. (Anderson & Dill, 2000; Gentile, Lynch & Walsh, 2004) Practicing violent acts may contribute more to aggressive behavior than passive television watching. Studies do find a relationship between violent television watching and behavior.
Women are often portrayed as weaker characters that are helpless or sexually provocative.
Game environments are often based on plots of violence, aggression and gender bias.
Many games only offer an arena of weapons, killings, kicking, stabbing and shooting.
These five negatives suggest that the games are to blame for a child’s violent behavior and actions. That woman are put down and seen as weak in video games. These are all wrong. People see these negative and run with them; never seeing the light or positives to gaming systems. So let’s state the positives.
On the USF Tampa Campus, the ROTC uses a big gaming system when practicing combat training. As an orientation leader, I was presented the opportunity to play this game. The officers give you a real M16 with a clip that when entered into the gun, must be cocked back and safety released in order to be fired. Though the gun, clip, and every other part are real, the weapon is wired into a computer that monitors your shots. You aim at a huge screen which gives you different war scenarios. This is just one way that the technology of gaming has positively effects others.
Leap Frog has reached new heights in the gaming community. With games that range from all subjects, math, science, and reading, Leap Frog has one of the strongest positive influences on young children. My nieces and nephew love leap frog and will play for hours if not stopped. This is such a great advancement in the gaming community because it takes the fun of gaming and combines it with education, child do not realize they are learning by playing the game.
The Wii has become not only a system for learning with games that mentally stimulate the mind and helps create better problem solving skills but now effecting people physically. The Wii has developed gaming programs that gives people the opportunity to get off the couch and physically become a part of the game. With games such as Wii Sports, gamers have the ability to be a tennis player, boxer, golfer, etc. It is a perfect way to end the thought that games contribute to a percentage of fat people.
Other Positives include:
Manali Oak states that “Playing video games involves problem solving, planning, estimation and analysis of the moves or actions of both you and your opponent. This affects the player positively by developing in him/her problem-solving skills, analytical and estimation skills and quick decision-making.”
Video game playing introduces children to computer and information technology.
Games can give practice in following directions.
Some games provide practice in problem solving and logic.
Games can provide practice in use of fine motor and spatial skills
Overall, GAMES ARE FUN!!! Who doesn’t love playing a game with friends all night? Who doesn’t love getting on line and playing against people from all across the world? Who doesn’t like to learn while having the time of their life? People who are trying to down play gaming are haters. They should realize all the positives that can come from picking up a controller and letting yourself enjoy life a little more.
I'm tired of hearing about violent games being bad for children. I have been playing violent games since I was old enough to hit the buttons of a Nintendo. I have turned out just fine. I even let my 6 year old cousin play games like Scarface and Grand Theft Auto. She knows the difference between reality and games. I agree games build skills.
ReplyDeleteThis is something that's always interested me, as I'd been into videogames since I was little. I remember when Mortal Kombat 2 first came out, and how controversial it was. I think I tend to agree with Noam Chomsky that, regardless of whether or not violent videogames can be correlated with a statistical increase in violence, they can be psychological harmful. I don't know if movies are any different. Ultimately, I've always thought that if some kid is messed up enough to be inspired by videogames to hurt someone, he's messed up enough to have done it without videogames.
ReplyDeleteThis is also an argument that I have grown tired of. I've been playing video games hardcore since the SEGA Genesis days and while I have my aggressive tendencies, I'm not violent at all. There's a difference between games and real life, and those who take it to the next step have something that had already been affecting them negatively. It isn't fair to place a unilateral label on violent video games as "bad" because millions of people play them and only a very small percentage go crazy, and we can't pinpoint that on Grand Theft Auto.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I can't say that I don't enjoy standing on a building-top and taking out innocent bystanders with a sniper rifle, or running over kids with a Ferrari!
This topic is so stupid!!! I have had a Xbox for several years and I will be the first to tell you that game systems are absolutely horrible for kids. They brainwash the kids into thinking they are actually part of a game. Some kids have a hard time separating the two. I personally think that they extract quality time away from parents and friends. They also create communication problems. Kids who are video game freaks tend to have a harder time communicating with others. This is why they are usually called weird because they do not communicate affectively
ReplyDeleteThere are definitely two extreme ways to go with this topic, and people seem to either have to pick one or the other. I feel that while maybe some games are too voilent for children, that should be up to the parent/ or guradian's discretion. Maybe taking the time to weed out the horrible ones, will leave room for ones that are just entertainment, or even helpful, like Leap Frog that you mentioned. If a child is regulated by the games they play, and how many hours a day they spend playing them, it can be perfectly harmless. Yes, children are impressionable, but who's to say video games are any worse than what's on television now. There is always going to be something that will affect a child's thought process, and mannerisms. It's up to those smarter, older and in charge of children to figure out what are positive influences or not. Bad behavior can't be blamed on just one aspect in a child's life.
ReplyDeleteI saw only one slight problem with your argument. you mention how certain games such as first person shooters are bad for kids and all the negatives, then you only use how military uses a simulator with no controller but an actual gun as a defense with no source or articles on how it works (which I would have liked to see, btw), but then you just go on and mention a million other non-violent game systems that arent violent. you mention the worst, all its cons, a small pro, then a bunch of things that are irrelevant to the argument of violence in those video games. Those kids from columbine had gone on record saying that they had learned how to strafe, aim, and shoot using first person shooters. the argument just seemed rather weak, ya know?
ReplyDeleteHope that helps,
Bane
You mention a bunch of games that have constructive intentions. I can remember when I was little, I learned alot of my typing and reading skills from video games. I know you're just completing an assignment saying these things. I did it too. Games like GTA are awful influences for younger players. That's why they have ESRB ratings. I love GTA, but I know better than to do in real life what I'm doing in a video game. Younger players are not so enlightened.
ReplyDelete