Nov 11 2010
Game Off
I like video games. I’m not crazy about them. I played Spyro growing up, and only play Halo now if I am severely intoxicated. I still enjoy playing video games, but I’ve found I just don’t have the time to sit for three or four hours in front of a game console when I have numerous other tasks to accomplish.
Now, that doesn’t mean games are bad. Actually, I think that video games can be quite educational. Growing up, I played Math Blasters, Oregon Trail, Treasure Mathstorm, and more to learn valuable math, writing, critical thinking, and problem solving skills. By the time I was in 4th grade I was a self-declared genius because I had beat Treasure Mathstorm ten times (but usually always died on the Oregon Trail).
However, there needs to be a balance today. Gaming can definitely be an addiction. The kids in South Korea usually spend whole days gaming, every day. There’s even boot camps where children can go to break the gaming addiction. When kids spend that much time playing video games they potentially do worse in other areas like school or social interactions.
I grew up with video games and the great outdoors. There was a healthy balance between the two. I never played my PlayStation for more than 2 hours tops, and I never played it every day.
Sometimes, video games like World of Warcraft help people branch out from all corners of the world. Players will interact online but never physically meet each other unless they arrange something or meet at an international W.o.W conference.
This can be good for people who have difficulty meeting others. But gaming can still suck up a lot of time without users realizing where it’s gone. It can be hard to break a habit, but there are so many other things besides compulsive gaming.
I don’t see compulsive gaming being a problem in the USA like it is in South Korea. The two cultures are entirely different, and unlike in South Korea, the USA doesn’t have internet cafe’s on every street. BUT Americans do have at least one computer in the household. So, maybe compulsive gaming isn’t as publicized as it is in South Korea. Since the computers are more a domestic involvement, perhaps compulsive gaming is hidden within individual homes.
Either way, parents should be monitoring how often their children game, and adults who play video games should be informed about the risks of over stimulation.