Video games are the new crack.

[Sock Full of Boiled Dimes]

Ya know...

At some point in the future when mankind becomes the husk shell of what it used to be. I'm sure everyone will look back and blame video games.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLwovxj-j3Y

[Darkblade]

omg they are such retards..

since when has concentration and training hand dexterity been considered a drug?

and they are taking everything out of context. the "forget their friends and family, addictive blah blah" pertains to UNSUPERVISED children whose parents are incapable of .. well.. parenting. Sure if you ignore your kid and leave them alone to amuse themselves for hours on end with games, they are going to "get hooked" on it.

They failed to mention that children who were given constructive games develop intellectually much faster than those who have no access to them.

and anti-social? well if its a console game, maybe, but other games like a MMORPG promote at least an e-social life.

[Zonehunter1]

Its not video games fault. People need to learn to control themselves and not spend all day playing these games. They need to step away and go outside. To blmae videogames for societies problems is not the solution to the problem, it just makes the problem a whole lot more confusing.

[General_Failure]

They have said this about comics, tv, toy guns, fireworks, and just about everything that is fun. This is why I hate society, people look for ways to blame THEIR problem on someone else. Cause when are parents wrong? Look at the women who are poping out babies like sling shots, but don’t have the decency to get a fucking job to support those 50 kids themselves, or find a man that can help them, but us tax payers foot the bills, while they bitch about how uncontrollable their fucking kids are cause of “videogames”.

[Praetorian]

Even though I'm a video game player, I think I'd have to agree with one thing he said, though. The part about adreanaline. I play video games often. From slow games where you need to think hard like Civilization, to action-paced online videogames such as Battlefield. It is true that I'm always looking for something better and more exciting. I am bored a lot. I'm not as easily entertained or excited as others my age that do not play videogames nearly as much as I do.

I'm not sure if this has anything to do with my personality or, indeed, videogames.

That said, without videogames I'd not be half the person I am today. I'd not be able to speak English, I'd not care about history, sociology, microbiology, entomology and many other things. If I had not started playing Dune 2 back when I was 7 or 8 on a third hand computer I got from a family friend, I'd probably be a completely different person. In that way, I am glad for computer games. They - coupled with the internet - have taught me so much more than I have ever learned in school.

Also, there are many studies that show videogames are good for you.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/2943280.stm

http://msnbc.com/news/919010.asp?cp1=1

Summary of "everything bad is good for you";

Worried about how much time your children spend playing video games? Don't be, advises Johnson—not only are they learning valuable problem-solving skills, they'd probably do better on an IQ test than you or your parents could at their age. Go ahead and let them watch more television, too, since even reality shows can function as "elaborately staged group psychology experiments" to stimulate rather than pacify the brain. With the same winning combination of personal revelation and friendly scientific explanation he displayed in last year's Mind Wide Open, Johnson shatters the conventional wisdom about pop culture as pabulum, showing how video games, television shows and movies have become increasingly complex. Furthermore, he says, consumers are drawn specifically to those products that require the most mental engagement, from small children who can't get enough of their favorite Disney DVDs to adults who find new layers of meaning with each repeated viewing of Seinfeld. Johnson lays out a strong case that what we do for fun is just as educational in its way as what we study in the classroom (although it's still worthwhile to encourage good reading habits, too). There's an important message here for every parent—one they should hear from the source before savvy kids (especially teens) try to take advantage of it. Agent, Lydia Wills at Paradigm. (May)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

[kyaa the catlord]

Wait... videogames? Crack? Say it ain't so, World of Warcrack!

[General_Failure]

World of Warsuck

Full of 13 year olds that scream in l33t.



*goes back to FFXI with the gilsellers* -.-

[Decade]

This is why I hate society, people look for ways to blame THEIR problem on someone else.
Thats not true! That's not true! I hate you! I blame all my problems on you! My dog scruffy ran away 5 years ago because of YOU! It doesnt matter that I left the door open, it's all YOUR fault, I'm totally not to blame!


:rofl:

[Zonehunter1]

Now that WOW is done will that mean a Starcraft 2?

[DragoonPlatoon]

Now that WOW is done will that mean a Starcraft 2?

Nice off topic randomness Zone. Maybe thats why you call yourself the thread killer?

Anyway, though I do not agree with their calling of video games "The new Crack", I do agree that too many video games can directly relate to social ineptness. I did like that they said at the end "You shouldnt cut them out alltogether, just limit them, and participate with them in other activities." I paraphrase, but basically this is a local news station saying, pay attention to your damn kids, noob.

So ya, games are definetly beneficial to children, but with all things, too many can cause problems.

[Jay]

I totally agree with that topic.

Now I'm off to play some Gran Turismo 4 on the PlayStation.

[Dräco]

I'm playing Gran Turismo 4 as well.

[Jay]

You sir, I approve of.

[kyaa the catlord]

I'm playing La Pucelle Tactics, I may actually finish the game someday.

Or write NAUGHTY Alouette x Prier fanfic.

Either way, I win.

[Yang]

That is so bullshit....

i was raised with video games....i take inspiration from them since i was child to create my artwork....video games are healthy....without them...i would be nothing....

thx to video game, i became an ilustrator....and it's my job now T_T andi plan to play video games until the day of my death!!!!

[Dead Sexy Vocab]

So what, The Conservatives are STILL blaming Videogames the horses of Troy?

Bastards.

[Collapse]

Same here, but I've discussed this a million times over anyway.

It's all about discretion from the person, a distinctive line between reality and fantasy. However, mostly nowadays video games can be a bit on the "realism" side (not wholly that real, but it's damn close) that some people lose perspective on things. Also psychologically, when nothing goes to the person's way, video games can be one of their fantasies. Nothing wrong with that, the problem is becoming way too obsessed with it so that it limits your responsibilities in life. All I can say is, it's quite the drug itself, but one effect is losing the line of reality and becoming way too obsessed with it.

On the positive side, video games do develop dexterity and cognitive specialties. Again, skills can be learned here while having fun. Visual experience with hands-on training while having fun? Why not?

I personally believe those who criticize videogames hasn't completed their research and/or isn't empathic about other people who do play (or formally played anyway).

[Decade]

Prostitutes of America, rejoice! And then go get that new crack you were complaining about hurting you.

[Crowley]

Can't deny it. They're horribly addictive. Ask any Everquest widow. The most responsible parent of a gamer in the world is a gamer themselves, so they can truly understand and put the proper restraint in place. (spoken as a parent and a gamer)

[SDSUMarcus01]

Video games ARE the new crack. My little brother (18 and in college now) does nothing but play computer games. He never leaves his computer. He never goes out except to go to school. His sleep patterns are erratic. He gets pissed if the internet goes down and he can't play his online games. He gets pissed when he's asked to do chores because they interrupt his game. He spends all of his money on games. Every week he's looking for a new game to play.

If that isn't addicted, I don't know what the hell is.

[Masa the Masta]

I'm playing Gran Turismo 4 as well.

This guy is win.

[Jay]

Y'got that right.

[Tekkarath]

What I love about the story is that basically it says nothing about banning videogames, or really even not letting your children play them. It just tells the parents to BE PARENTS and make sure their kids arent on it 24/7

Thank you for the insight WGN9 News team, parents should parent their children. :duh:

[paul]

Online games are the new crack :P

Truely, people who lack self-control, and direction can get sucked in pretty easily. These are people who do not keep in mind whats really important in life. I shall give advice!

My personal philosophy is, if you don't pay for a game, you're not obligated to play it. I've never paid for an online game. Sure if a new one comes out I may be addicted to it and forget homework for a couple of days. But once the novelty wears off, its back to normal scheduled gaming.

On the other hand if you paid for the game, you're not only addicted, but you feel obligated to play 'cause you're paying for the time.

Some people are more prone to addiction than others, just keep your priorities straight and you'll be fine. Either way, the games themselves are not to be blamed... its the damned Koreans I say! They keep making these damned things!

[mugen]

games ARE dangerous!

proof: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNQPYY9ZzzU&search=crazy%20german%20kid

[Masa the Masta]

It's gonna start..yes..starting..

And people wonder where the Nazi's come from. :boggled:

[Fallen Angel]

games ARE dangerous!

proof: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNQPYY9ZzzU&search=crazy%20german%20kid

This KID is dangerous. People who are not mentally stable (like this kid) shouldn't play violent games. Or watch violent movies/shows. Happily, we're not all like this.

Anyway... I think video games can be bad, but only if you don't control yourself. Otherwise, it can be a good thing.

[Blind_Dog]

i dont think its the games in this kids more like hes just fucked up

[gyoza]

That kid's got nothing on me.

Me, in a slow soft voice: "I'm going to say this once and once only. As my personal computer you were created for one purpose and one purpose only. To entertain me. That means, when I tell you to do something, you do it." *hand slowly moves towards slipper*

Computer craps his epants and starts working again. :D

[Invisible]

I can see how they can say games are addictive, but to call it crack is a bit extreme. It's an escape from reality like pretty much anything else that's fun and entertaining to do, and it can be dangerous. But they neglect to focus on the real problem with kids getting addicted, and that's the fact that parents are actually letting them get addicted. Parents need to be parents and limit fun time AND work time. The only thing worse than a kid that plays games all the time is a kid that does homework and studies all the time.

I learned alot from games, but I've wasted alot of time playing them, too. I used to play World of Warcraft all of the time, partly because I wanted to catch up with my friends, and partly because it was just damn fun. But in the end I realized I had learned as much as I could from the game, and I stopped playing it. I'm the type of person that plays many different kinds of games, so I know that games enhance problem solving skills, logic, and even mathematics. I've learned philosophy from games, as well as techniques to cope with some real life situations. It's not all good, but as that video fails to show, it's not all bad either.