I recently saw a news report stating that the huge rise in video games are bad for kids, teenagers and even adults due to there addictive game play. For example World of Warcraft, arguably the biggest/most popular and most addictive game around is it bad for you to play games like this as you get so involved in the game and get attached to your character and do they actually get addicted to the game or is it just a hobby?
So my question to you is are video games bad for you?
[highlight](User was banned for this post ("low-content OP, no argument presented - read the sticky" - Megafan))[/highlight]
Too much of anything is a bad thing. I think they are a good thing. They allow you to travel to new worlds, see things you'd never see before, and experience thrilling stories.
Assuming you keep variety in your gaming habits that is.
Well by its nature, you're unhealthily sitting down for hours on end staring at a bright screen for hours on end. Of course they are bad for you. But they are a legitimate form of entertainment and it should be taken in moderation. IMO any more than two hours per day is probably too much. I like to play them to relax after work or on my days off, but then again I don't often get the chance due to having to look after a home by myself and working close to 38 hours every week.
[QUOTE=Antdawg;43628648]Well by its nature, you're unhealthily sitting down for hours on end staring at a bright screen for hours on end. Of course they are bad for you. But they are a legitimate form of entertainment and it should be taken in moderation. IMO any more than two hours per day is probably too much. I like to play them to relax after work or on my days off, but then again I don't often get the chance due to having to look after a home by myself and working close to 38 hours every week.[/QUOTE]
I completely agree that moderation is the key to gaming, but at the same time im contredicting myself as i play 3-4 hours in the week days not every day but 3/5 id say and the weekends i play 4-6 hours as i 40 hours a week i find it good to relax.
Also i do work in IT so i look at a screen all day everyday for the past few years and i have no effect from it at all i don't even need/wear glasses.
I will admit, 2013 was the kind of year for me where I had to look at myself and wonder if I wanted to spend most of my time when I'm not with my girlfriend playing games forever, because that was seriously all I did.
For me I think it's true that gaming counters productivity by a lot. It's the main reason I failed in High School, with most of my time being spent on massive video games (like Skyrim, Fallout generally stuff that I needed to put a lot of time into) rather than studying or doing homework. Then again this isn't the games fault that was just on the account of my laziness mainly. In fact I remember skipping an exam in 5th year because I had just gotten the new Mortal Kombat for the PS3.
This year however I've decided to treat games mostly like I treat my cheat days, If I've spent most of my week when I have spare time studying and going to the gym, I'll knock in a few hours of the casual smaller games like Super Mario 3D World or Wonderful 101 or whatever on weekend nights when I'm not out, for me I guess it's a lot more fun that way, I've found myself getting more excited over playing a new game than I ever was because it's something I rarely get to do now.
[QUOTE=usaokay;43629179]Well, it depends on how you justify on whether if it's good or bad from your viewpoint.
Video games fall under the same medium that of books and films. You're thrust into this indifferent world with a (maybe) likable cast of characters, shown what the goal is, and seek to see it done. It's the same basic principle done throughout most works, which I found to be exhilarating. Video games provide a bigger sense of immersion since we control the characters and story (to some extent provided by the developers).
However, what scares me the most from my viewpoint is that I cannot seem to quit games altogether. I know how damaging it could be to me physically, mentally, and socially when I play games more than two hours a day. If I was raised a bit different, I could have probably focused on reading books - which could provide almost the same amount of immersion a video game could hold, but no, I wanted that momentary benefit of success.
I think that's what causes me to continue playing and purchasing more video games. I could get off my ass and exercise, make new friends, and/or maybe get laid -- which could all provide me with long-term benefits (unless the sex part gives me STDs), but I'd rather just play Team Fortress 2 for the next 24 hours just to get that fucking hat I've always wanted. I would put my computer on idle just for that hat, despite that the electricity bill would be going up. I didn't care. I just want that hat.
I've also caused a financial strain on myself every damn time a sale arrives. I see a game that sort-of remotely interests me? I'll go outside to get it price-matched at the nearby Best Buy or Fry's Electronics. I usually find myself with a bank account less than $50 a week because of all the impulse purchases. In fact, just two days ago, I bought a $20 Steam Card that was on sale for $19. Last friday, I bought Crysis 3 and Dragon Age 2 (I know, I know) for $15 because both games were on sale. I already have a shit load of games and cosmetic items, so why do I need more? Maybe it's that sense of accomplishment I get when I make a purchase, or the accomplishment of showing off my new purchase. Ever since I graduated from high school, my gaming library and cosmetics crap have greatly expanded. I could have saved that money for a bigger TV, a better laptop, or a new paintjob on my car, but I'd rather buy a god damn $10 hat.
During my time off from FP, I disconnected my entire PC, and hid it in the closet. Even though I was still playing games on my 3DS, my grades drastically improved and I managed to nearly complete the scripts for my comics. I learned that you need to have self control, but it takes a bit of action to get it moving.
Are video games bad for me? Yes. Why? Because I don't take it in moderation and it has resulted me into a lazy socially-inept asshole who is a danger to himself and others in the long-run. I need to learn how to make better choices for my life, and I am well aware that continuing down the road isn't the answer.
So all in all, you need to have some great self-control or a good enough reason to not play video games for the next five years. I suggest making friends, join a club; or focus on your career and hobby. Entertainment stuff will always be there for you, but those are only short-term accomplishments. Larger necessities will last a life time.
I should probably get back to playing Dota 2 for the next 48+ hours.
[url]http://steamcommunity.com/id/usaokay/games/#0|10[/url][/QUOTE]
This doesn't seem to be a problem with games and more a problem with your spending habits.
I'm sure if games somehow didn't exist you'd probably be frivolously spending elsewhere, no insult.
[QUOTE=usaokay;43629179]Well, it depends on how you justify on whether if it's good or bad from your viewpoint.
Video games fall under the same medium that of books and films. You're thrust into this indifferent world with a (maybe) likable cast of characters, shown what the goal is, and seek to see it done. It's the same basic principle done throughout most works, which I found to be exhilarating. Video games provide a bigger sense of immersion since we control the characters and story (to some extent provided by the developers).
However, what scares me the most from my viewpoint is that I cannot seem to quit games altogether. I know how damaging it could be to me physically, mentally, and socially when I play games more than two hours a day. If I was raised a bit different, I could have probably focused on reading books - which could provide almost the same amount of immersion a video game could hold, but no, I wanted that momentary benefit of success.
I think that's what causes me to continue playing and purchasing more video games. I could get off my ass and exercise, make new friends, and/or maybe get laid -- which could all provide me with long-term benefits (unless the sex part gives me STDs), but I'd rather just play Team Fortress 2 for the next 24 hours just to get that fucking hat I've always wanted. I would put my computer on idle just for that hat, despite that the electricity bill would be going up. I didn't care. I just want that hat.
I've also caused a financial strain on myself every damn time a sale arrives. I see a game that sort-of remotely interests me? I'll go outside to get it price-matched at the nearby Best Buy or Fry's Electronics. I usually find myself with a bank account less than $50 a week because of all the impulse purchases. In fact, just two days ago, I bought a $20 Steam Card that was on sale for $19. Last friday, I bought Crysis 3 and Dragon Age 2 (I know, I know) for $15 because both games were on sale. I already have a shit load of games and cosmetic items, so why do I need more? Maybe it's that sense of accomplishment I get when I make a purchase, or the accomplishment of showing off my new purchase. Ever since I graduated from high school, my gaming library and cosmetics crap have greatly expanded. I could have saved that money for a bigger TV, a better laptop, or a new paintjob on my car, but I'd rather buy a god damn $10 hat.
During my time off from FP, I disconnected my entire PC, and hid it in the closet. Even though I was still playing games on my 3DS, my grades drastically improved and I managed to nearly complete the scripts for my comics. I learned that you need to have self control, but it takes a bit of action to get it moving.
Are video games bad for me? Yes. Why? Because I don't take it in moderation and it has resulted me into a lazy socially-inept asshole who is a danger to himself and others in the long-run. I need to learn how to make better choices for my life, and I am well aware that continuing down the road isn't the answer.
So all in all, you need to have some great self-control or a good enough reason to not play video games for the next five years. I suggest making friends, join a club; or focus on your career and hobby. Entertainment stuff will always be there for you, but those are only short-term accomplishments. Larger necessities will last a life time.
I should probably get back to playing Dota 2 for the next 48+ hours.
[url]http://steamcommunity.com/id/usaokay/games/#0|10[/url][/QUOTE]
i agree with your comment "Are video games bad for me? Yes" due to pure disregard to self control and moderation, I've managed to play video games fairly hardcore for well over 6-7years while going through school and i did fine due to moderation and a good dad (which granted not everyone has) but whats more is i did a full time college course while working after and weekends i still manged time for my gaming, girlfriend, family and also college work.
Im not trying to say your lazy or anything like that my point is life is all down to management, set yourself a time scale or to-do list also when it comes to money have 1 day a week/month or what ever that you allow yourself to buy 1 item on the game for less than £10 that's what i did when i was in a financial stick spot.
Learn to control your own day to day activities rather than allowing games to control your time.
I'm making myself vulnerable by saying this, but up until I started playing video games on the PC I could barely read. I kinda just learned from playing Gmod and TF2, and afterwards Gmod Roleplay basically taught me how to write well.
Anything to the extreme is obviously bad. Watching movies for 12 hours a day can't possibly be healthy but that isn't the fault of movies themselves. They can be enjoyed in moderation and be part of a healthy lifestyle.
One thing I'm not sure about though is mmorpgs. These things are for the most part basically designed to be addictive so that people play for as long as possible, even when they stop having fun themselves.
Hell if you think about it even reading obsessively could be bad for you. Sure you might gain knowledge and what not, but if you never apply to anything there's no point to it.
I learned English, i learned programming, i learned lots of computer skills, i learned how to improve at things on my own how go identify weaknesses and improve them, and i got better at some core things like logical thinking.
However 90% of people who use computers, don't learn english, don't learn programming and don't learn any computer skills from/around playing games.
And then when only the things like Reaction Speed, Logical thinking n stuff remains, it all of a sudden becomes a kinda unhealthy hobby when you do it for 6+ hours a day.
However imo regardless of what you make out of it, its at least gone be a lot better then watching TV.
What is "good" and what is "bad"?
Also, unless you have serious mental issues which interfere with your perceptions of reality, nobody would ever fall into thinking a game was real, or that it represented acceptable real life actions.
Well, it's dependent on the person. A very small amount of people have mental issues (like the guy above me has said) that makes it hard for them to realize that a game isn't real. However, the majority doesn't seem to have these problems.
"Everything in moderation" Deng Sho Ping
Ofc video games aren't good for you. You aren't benefiting much from it. I think it's up to the person playing video games to decide how much they should play. That's what determines whether video games are bad for you or not. Otherwise, an hour or two a day with a few breaks in between won't so much harm.
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