Excessive Video-gaming Leads To...?

[MidnightEscapeArtist]

It took less than a day for videogames to be blamed for the Virginia tech shootings. Just enough time, apparently, for the link between violence and videogames to be researched in terms of his life, comparing it to other sources of stress, investigating his family history - was he abused? - etc. etc.

Or probably not investigated, just perhaps?

In the media, videogames can be demonized in this way with so much bias, it's hard to take seriously on any level.

But that isn't what I want to discuss, because things like that will never change.

What I want to put forward is the concept of videogames in a rationale, real light, outside the bullshit that is thrown back and forth politically.

Let me ask you this: are videogames at all harmful?

There is of course, no real answer. That's like asking if cancer is deadly. Uhhh, sometimes?

I used to be a diehard defender of videogames, especially when I heard self-serving shitheads like that asshole lawyer Thomson spouting lies and forming the media image.

But aside from that crap, I've come to believe excessive videogames in kids lives can actually result in a lot of harm.

And the reason I think that is because I know it's true for me. How do I know it's true? Because I was a kid who played a lot of videogames. As it turns out, I wasn't alone in that, nor was I alone in having this dysphoric, pseudo-depression later on in life, where nothing really phased me at all.

I bet you didn't know this: Videogames can be the direct cause of a dopamine disregulation during adolescence.

Apparently a growing number of young adults have this problem. Without a proper diagnoses being available, they have been left wondering why, oh why, is it they cannot seem to feel anything related to pleasure, motivation, or creativity?

Not like emo-kid, but like void. Nothing.

And over-stimulating videogames have brought this on. Apparently, the constant stimulation offered by videogames acts like a drug (it leads to the release of adrenaline, etc.), and like many drugs, it leads to an addiction, except earlier than most vices of addiction are available, during childhood.

During adolescence, when the disregulation sets in, the common behaviour is for that person to cease to enjoy their gaming and lives in general, yet compulsively continue to play videogames.

Know anyone like that? Probably.

The good news though is that this is easily treated, with the help of certain regulating medication. Even better is that the medication is the smallest dosage of a prominent anti-anxiety/depression medication, Effexor. (There's also a better one, but the name escapes me)

So maybe videogames don't lead to school shootings...

But that isn't all they could be doing to us.

[M-GOD]

I think in no way that video games influence behavior and believe in personal responsibility and not immediatly turning to medication. People who's actions are influenced by games are pretty stupid and shouldn't play them in the first place. But you're are more concerned about attitude than actions right? In which case all some one would need to do to not let games effect there attitude is not play them so much(simple isn't it?)

[Richboy6]

An interesting read, and most of it rings true I'd say. I agree with you about how it affects your mind and attitude but I wouldn't say it causes school shootings etc, to say it does would just be pointing the blame in the wrong direction, as you mentioned earlier in the post. The medication part was quite disturbing though. I mean, that has to be the worst case scenario, where you do nothing BUT play games. I guess its like everything, taken in moderation its fine. Also M-God said itd be easy to just play games less, but if you were THAT addicted to them in the first place, would it really be?

[Elfer]

Crazy predates video games.

[Al6200]

Do you have proof for any of your claims?

Like the Dopamine thing - what makes you think that boredness and dullness is caused by videogames? If that were true - wouldn't you expect people 20-30 years ago to be way more happy and lively than people today?

[Richboy6]

At 4/15/08 07:40 PM, Al6200 wrote: Do you have proof for any of your claims?

Like the Dopamine thing - what makes you think that boredness and dullness is caused by videogames? If that were true - wouldn't you expect people 20-30 years ago to be way more happy and lively than people today?

He didn't say that was the ONLY cause for boredness and dullness, he's just saying it can happen, which is probably true.

[Cuppa-LettuceNog]

At 4/15/08 07:39 PM, Elfer wrote: Crazy predates video games.

It's funny. Every single time theres a violent act, some partison asshole, without any clue if it applies to the case or not, say's "SEE! BAN VIDEO GAMES/PRESCIPTION ANTI-DEPRESENTS!!".

I'm not positive, but I'm sure at least one person managed to harm another person before video games and Prosac. I may be wrong, however, sense I havn't fully researched.

[SapphireLight]

Excessive video gaming leads to an erosion of one's sense of humour, that's for sure.

It can also cause:
depression
social awkwardness
loss of the ability to keep your fucking mouth shut

[GuitarSmuggler]

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I would like to remind ALL posters that any posts on a spam thread is also spam.

Please read the Code of Conduct, and the Forum Specific Rules, before you continue to use the forums.

[Al6200]

At 4/15/08 07:51 PM, Richboy6 wrote:

At 4/15/08 07:40 PM, Al6200 wrote: Do you have proof for any of your claims?

Like the Dopamine thing - what makes you think that boredness and dullness is caused by videogames? If that were true - wouldn't you expect people 20-30 years ago to be way more happy and lively than people today?

He didn't say that was the ONLY cause for boredness and dullness, he's just saying it can happen, which is probably true.

I never suggested that it was the only reason for boredness or dullness, I merely pointed out that if video games did indeed cause these features than we would expect to see them increase dramatically over the past 30 years as video games have reached the mainstream populace.

[MidnightEscapeArtist]

At 4/15/08 09:05 PM, Al6200 wrote: I never suggested that it was the only reason for boredness or dullness, I merely pointed out that if video games did indeed cause these features than we would expect to see them increase dramatically over the past 30 years as video games have reached the mainstream populace.

Videogames may have been around for a while, but what started off with two sticks and a bouncing square has become... quite a bit more than that.

The intensity of games has grown tremendously.

That being said, I want to be clear on something. I don't blame videogames for this outcome.

People confuse me by constantly needed something to attribute blame to, because a less-than-desirable outcome happens.

To me that's like flying to a tropical country for a vacation, catching a strange disease, and then blaming the place you decided to go, as opposed to realizing it's merely the odds of something bad happening coming to fruition.

Just because videogames can have a detrimental effect on the lives of a very small number of kids that play them, doesn't mean they're entirely bad.

Just like cars. Sometimes kids get in cars and never come out of them again alive. We don't blame cars for accidents, why blame videogames for this?

Cause and blame are interesting. If something is blamed, it becomes a matter of political debate, where no point is conceded and everything is cutt-throat.

If it merely causes something, which in other words means "has the ability to inflict harm", doesn't meant it's necessarily negative and needs to be banned.

I don't blame Australia if I go there and get a spiderbite. Lots of people would still go and just look out for spiders.

Just becomes videogames are a concept, instead of a place, doesn't mean they should be judged any differently. Does that make sense?

[JackPhantasm]

At 4/15/08 06:20 PM, M-GOD wrote: I think in no way that video games influence behavior

EVERYTHING influences behavior buddy.

[Al6200]

At 4/15/08 11:01 PM, Grammer wrote:

As I stated in the thread in General forum before it died, it has been scientifically proven that violent media, including video games, increase aggressive tendencies.

You can't actually prove anything in science, hard proves are generally only reserved for mathematics.

[Slizor]

At 4/16/08 06:18 AM, Al6200 wrote:

At 4/15/08 11:01 PM, Grammer wrote:

As I stated in the thread in General forum before it died, it has been scientifically proven that violent media, including video games, increase aggressive tendencies.

You can't actually prove anything in science, hard proves are generally only reserved for mathematics.

If you want to go down this philosophical road....... "Proof" in Mathematics only works within the boundaries of the axioms that form the basis of the subject. It's a glorious mindfuck to think of these things. Mainly because people rarely look at them.

[D2Kvirus]

Brief check, has anyone played Endless Ocean and lost a limb when tickling a hammerhead shark on the tummy?

In the UK, we just had The Byram Report, headed up by some TV child psychologist, and one of the main findings is that the ratings need to be made clearer so adults know what they're buying. Obviously the BBFC 18 ratings on GTA, Manhunt, Yakuza etc (or the 15 ratings on Resident Evil or Silent Hill) are marks out of 10. Seriously, confiscate theese people's driving licenses if they can't spot them, as they're a danger to us all.

As I keep saying, it's merely a case of new media = threat to our children's wellbeing (see also: the internet, VCR, punk, rock n roll, cinema, comics...), yet in this case it just doesn't seem to die down like the previous ones have - barring the internet, as all the social networking sites means paedophilia can be entwined with that "story."

[KeithHybrid]

The only bad things that I can see coming out of excessive gaming are a crippled social life and the "Tetris effect".

[M-GOD]

At 4/15/08 11:46 PM, JackPhantasm wrote:

At 4/15/08 06:20 PM, M-GOD wrote: I think in no way that video games influence behavior

EVERYTHING influences behavior buddy.

I'm sorry, I guess what I should of said is negatively influence behavoir. Just cause you play a shooting game doesn't mean you'll go on a shooting spree later, it's all up to you.

[Al6200]

At 4/16/08 08:51 AM, Slizor wrote:

At 4/16/08 06:18 AM, Al6200 wrote:

At 4/15/08 11:01 PM, Grammer wrote:

As I stated in the thread in General forum before it died, it has been scientifically proven that violent media, including video games, increase aggressive tendencies.

You can't actually prove anything in science, hard proves are generally only reserved for mathematics.

If you want to go down this philosophical road....... "Proof" in Mathematics only works within the boundaries of the axioms that form the basis of the subject. It's a glorious mindfuck to think of these things. Mainly because people rarely look at them.

I agree, it's pretty freaky. But you do agree with my point that Grammar couldn't have "proven" it.

Moreover, Grammar's method of "proof" seems to be meaningless correlations along with appeals to authorities in order to establish a casual relationship.

[SolInvictus]

At 4/16/08 02:17 PM, KeithHybrid wrote: The only bad things that I can see coming out of excessive gaming are a crippled social life and the "Tetris effect".

happened to me with Star Craft. damn SCVs; i'll teach you where you can and can't build.

[ReThink]

Actually they are thinking about putting video game addiction into the DSM-V (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). It would have a scientific classification as a process addiction similar to a gambling addiction or compulsive eating. There isn't enough research on the topic yet to currently make a solid statement, but many in clinical psychology are treating it as a real issue.

As far as violent video games, yeah, they do make you more prone to violent behaviour. Sorry.

http://www.physorg.com/news116155534.htm l

[Christopherr]

Excessive video gaming leads to death.

[Tony-DarkGrave]

Excessive Video-gaming Leads To nothing but entertainment

[TonyTostieno]

At 4/16/08 10:50 PM, SolInvictus wrote:

At 4/16/08 02:17 PM, KeithHybrid wrote: The only bad things that I can see coming out of excessive gaming are a crippled social life and the "Tetris effect".

happened to me with Star Craft. damn SCVs; i'll teach you where you can and can't build.

Fuck that happened with you too?

[CommanderX1125]

At 4/20/08 01:38 PM, Grammer wrote:

At 4/16/08 06:18 AM, Al6200 wrote: You can't actually prove anything in science, hard proves are generally only reserved for mathematics.

Well if you want to be extremely technical then sure, but it is fair to say the evidence points strongly towards the conclusion that violent media, including violent video games, increases aggressive thoughts and behaviors.

I'll teach you to defile our video game masters!
:Grabs a bat, raising high preparing to swing down and end the threat, but stopping at the last minute.
Err... I mean, ah hell... Anyway, I can't really say violent media, more particularly videogames, have had any negative effects on me. I don't generally raise my voice, I don't threaten people. Hell, it seems the only thing it has really done is increased my appreciation of the art effects that can be generated within games, and the amount of skill required to create AI that can be a challenge. That and the use of rockets whenever neccesary, or even when it isn't.

[Christopherr]

At 4/16/08 02:17 PM, KeithHybrid wrote: The only bad things that I can see coming out of excessive gaming are a crippled social life and the "Tetris effect".

Yeah I have that. Tetris was my favorite game for over 10 years.

The world is more interesting when you try to fit it together.

[bearchild]

Addiction is usually caused by doing something over and over again so if this VIrginia Tech kid kept playing Manhunt over and over, he would probably become a bit of a sadist because he'd get used to savagely killing people as the line between reality and game blurs.

[fallen-son]

At 4/15/08 07:39 PM, Elfer wrote: Crazy predates video games.

hitler listened to mozart and played chess alot. OMG CHESS CAUSE COLUMBINE! ITS TOO VIOLENT! OMG MOZART INFLUENCED THE HOLOCAUST HE WAS A BIGOT!