Stories From The Authors Of 8_4

Parents these days commonly frown upon children sitting in a dark room, eyes locked on their screen, backs hunched and thumbs consistently slamming against a clicker playing video games as they believe that it is a waste of time. A sight that would make any parent worried especially when the games promotes cruel behaviour. There are also cases where parents absolutely isolate their children from any sort of violence as they feel like it is a bad influence on their kids, but does the violence in games contribute to youths violence? Although lots of parents disagree with video games, there is always two sides to a story.

As has been mentioned, playing video games do come with a price. Studies have shown that too much gaming can be linked to addiction, depression and more acts of violent behaviour. The players learn to associate violence with pleasure like in the “High-Jinks: Shoot-Out”, winning by shooting people. This undermines moral sensitivity. These games also influence players to behave like a criminal and to intentionally hurt others, as the players practise these violent behaviour hundreds and thousands a time.

Similarly to anything, their are also pros. Yes, video games do have a light at the end of a tunnel. Video games aren’t all that bad for adolescents in fact, it is shown that games can be brain-training tools which can improve skills of critical thinking, problem solving, quick thinking, multi-tasking, collaboration, task switching, accuracy and memory. An example of collaboration and creative thinking is in the “High-Jinks: Shoot-out” by Guy Martin, a group of innovative seniors, with “Walgreens-Issue water pistols”, waited outside of their opponents house, with the help of teamwork, used a cell phone to pretend to be one of his teammates. This was a way for them trick him in coming out of the house so they can shoot him in order to win the game. Unintentionally, when playing games, it is often a frustrating learning experience that requires you to repeatedly problem solve learn new strategies in games. James Paul Gee, an author who wrote about the impact of video games, suggests that you even learn “the scientific method” through the necessary trail and error of figuring out how to meet goals in the game. Believe it or not, even the kind of controller, whether being Wii remote, X-box remote, keyboard or mouse, it helps with multi-tasking and hand-eye coordination. The use of having to keep eyes on the screen while using the remote to control the game with accuracy, helps children learn how to use both hands and eyes cooperatively. It is also said that surgeons were faster and more efficient at an operation- like surgery tests after playing video games. On top of that, studies have shown that video games help improve reflexes and quick thinking as players are repeatedly on a lookout for something attacking them.

Contrary to popular belief violent video games are not the cause of the increase in violence in the world. As a matter of fact, from 1990 to 2008 studies have shown that while violent video games sales increased, violence around the world has decreased. Violent video games make up about 11.7 of the world’s economy, if people were to ban video games, it would put about 32,000 people out of jobs.

Playing games with a friend, may be better then playing alone. The positive from teamwork, is that multiplayer games is likely to counterbalance some of the negative effects of virtual violence. To avoid negative effects cause by gaming from happening, it is advised for children to have a balanced life with real-life face to face interaction with people in a good environment. The violence in games doesn’t have to influence kids, as long as children have a balance of game time and having real life interaction being able to use the positive skills they learn from video games. We don’t want kids to develop a “game brain” where all they associate life with are games. 

Due to the popularity of video games, completely eliminating them from your child’s life might be difficult. However, you can decrease the negative impact that they could have on your child, like knowing the rating of the game, not installing video game equipment in his or hers bedroom and supervising the amount of game time a child spends. 

Banning violent video games as a way to “protect”kids, would not make a difference. Violent videos have actually decreased crime rates and are teaching kids skills such as problem solving. Banning violent video games would put thousands out of work. It may seems like a good idea, but it wouldn’t shield children from violence. Many parents blame the video game manufacturers for violence, but it’s actually the parents responsibility to monitor.

By Elizabeth