The Beneficial Impacts of Video Games

Good Afternoon Grade Eight Parents!

Games have been a part of all of our lives from kindergarten till to today, from duck-duck goose in grade one, to the game of poker you played last night in Marina Bay Sands. It seems hard to imagine life without these pleasurable pastimes, especially as technology begins to pervade our daily life, and virtual games of all sorts are at our fingertips.

However, the digitization of reality through video games has had its fair share of controversy. Specifically, concerning violent Role Playing Games (or RPGs), which have gained phenomenal success among teenagers. RPGs involve players taking on a character persona in a semi-predetermined storyline. Stimulated violence, as seen through major brands such as “Assassin's Creed”, “Call of Duty”, and “Halo” has however had submerged this form of entertainment in criticism, as the graphic imagery and violence is deemed detrimental to a player's mental wellbeing. However, most fail to acknowledge RPGs as unparalleled facets to improve performance in cognitive tasks , develop their emotional resilience, and attain independence.

In the modern day and age, there are a range of skills and qualities that promise a good future, in what ever field of work you practice. Parents, all the times you tell your children they will not get anywhere in life because they are always playing video games. Nevertheless, it is because of their video games they are learning skills to get them somewhere in life. Science has shown that children who play leisure games with simulated action have sharper vision, better hand eye-coordination skills and can envision shapes and objects more efficiently from different angles. All these qualities, though can be applied anywhere, particularly within STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). A former student of UWCSEA, Minsoo Kim, once mentioned, “Geometry has become a lot easier for me because in video games like, ‘Call of Duty’ I can rotate my view around a lot and I see objects from different angles, this makes envisioning shapes on a paper much easier.” Minsoo attained great marks in his Mathematics course. Moreover, Minsoo mentions that in the 21st century being a videogamer already provides jobs itself. One of the most successful team of professional video gamers (Team Newbee, from China) have earned approximately, USD $1,005,661 (one million, five thousand, six hundred, sixty one dollars) each from playing Dota 2. To conclude, it is not a prosperous industry, but a platform for personal development of players.

Emotional Resilience, an immensely valuable quality in people, it is the ability think and adapt to situations under pressure or during crises. For example League of Legends, a online-battle game which is popular within our UWC community, requires quick decision making skills and reaction times to attack and defend your persona. According to Russell Koh, an avid player, “Though Leauge of Legends is only an online game, I have improved my real-life reaction time, and also, I interpret information better to make informed choices, because in the game you have to also keep in mind what character the other player is using and how you can beat them.” Moreover, LoL requires many skills such as: collaboration, with your team of five you must all play specific roles and support each other to ensure success; (PAUSE) critical thinking, to create strategies and last minute battle plans to win matches; and creativity, to set up game plays that will surprise the opposition. Games with fighting often improve team-work skills, but they also teach players how to be independent and persevering individuals.

Independence is something that is not easily taught, but somehow is easily learned. Socrates, a famous philosopher said, “To find yourself, think for yourself.” Often violent role playing games require independence, self-awareness, and self-reliance. For example, in numerous New York State high schools, a water balloon war takes place before the school year ends. In the game, players are given targets to catch in order to get a new target, so on and so forth, and finally after defeating all other from different teams, win the game. These catches often require strategic thinking and to be performed alone. In a particular case, one student traveled all the way to Newark Airport to catch his target before he boarded on a plane. This shows the passion the game builds, and the freedom of control you have on your choices of attack, defense, and extent of will in the game. Coming back to the quote I previously mentioned, games that require one’s own ideas and thinking will later help your children discover their talents and strengths. They may develop into great leaders, strategizers and creative minds.

Some may argue that games with simulated violence are more detrimental than beneficial to a player’s mental health because with so much exposure to blood and gore they will begin to be unaffected by many of the problems in the real world, and that the inconsequentiality assigned to death and crimes in games players will forget about the ramifications one could face if they reenact anything from their games in real life. This is a valid assertion, but a recent study has shown the opposite, it explains that ‘video games can make children more morally aware’. Researchers believe that when the player is involved with the game they can choose to be a bad character and experience the results being bad has, or play as the good character, and see what the villain has to face in the end, both subconsciously teaching the player to make better choices. This will apply especially from a young age to players.

Video games provide stress-relieving and fun leisure activities for players, but they also help to prepare children to be the best they can be in many aspects, from their hand-eye coordination to their team-work skills. Some of you still may not believe this, but I hope I have swayed some of your opinions, but if I did not that is also okay, you are free to have your own judgment, but at least believe that games with violence do have many beneficial and valuable lessons for your children to learn, and just think, would you have a problem if all the violence was in a book?

By Mehak

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas: The Exploration of Innocence

“He alone, who owns the youth, gains the future.” Adolf Hitler once remarked during a speech. During the Holocaust, Hitler targeted the youth to support his cause, as they would be the generation to continue his dream of a 1000-year Reich. Hitler was a role-model and an inspiration to the children of Nazi Germany. Although this was true for most of the population, in ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ by John Boyne readers meet eight year old Bruno, the son of a high-ranked Nazi soldier stationed in Auschwitz, Germany, who does not recognize Adolf Hitler when he joins his family for dinner. In the story the readers see Bruno is curious about his father’s job and the areas which his parents pronounced, “Out of bounds at all times and no exceptions”. Nonetheless, Bruno chooses to ignore his parents and ventures outside his house. On this exploration he finds something unexpected: a boy behind a fence, a boy in striped pyjamas. Unaware that Shmuel, the Jewish boy on the other side of the fence, will die at the hands of Bruno’s father, they become friends. One theme this story suggests is that people try to protect children from the horrors exposed in the world as they are very impressionable in their youth and easily impacted by trauma, but protecting one’s innocence only deteriorates their maturity.

From the beginning of the novel, John Boyne depicts Bruno as a notably innocent boy. His naivete is first conveyed by him mishearing and subsequently calling Auschwitz, “Out With” and the Führer, “ [the] Fury”. From his misinterpretation of words, we can see how untouched he is about the world around him, and the atrocities it is committing. Throughout the story, Bruno’s parents rarely try to correct him about this, which suggests that they may be trying to shelter him from reality. The fact that his only knowledge of these concentration camps is based of mishearings also suggests that he is solely exposed to his parents’ perspective on this issue, and literally only hears of anti-semitism in his parents’ biased words. Bruno likely makes no sense of these words either.

A scene that supports the idea of innocence deteriorating one’s innocence is seen when in the end of the book Bruno as decides to crawl under the fence and help Shmuel find his father. There is no way to blame Bruno as his request to come over is of good intentions, since neither of them are aware of the truth behind a concentration camp. Shmuel and Bruno find they are cramped into the gas chamber Bruno then grasps on Shmuel’s hand and says, “You’re my best friend Shmuel... My best friend for life.” Despite both of them being in such an undesirable situation, Bruno whispers this to Shmuel showing the extent of his innocence. This passage shows how unclear Bruno was to his extremely tragic end was coming for him, the root cause of this was because his little knowledge of concentration camps and the Nazi rule. This further supports the claim as only Bruno’s parents are to blame since they brought the pain upon themselves by not letting Bruno know about the problems around him.

On the other hand, we can see Shmuel and Bruno’s friendship blossoming, they play games together, learn more about each other, and coincidentally even have the same birthday. However, one day, Shmuel is brought to Bruno’s house to do chore work. When Shmuel is in the kitchen he is seen by Bruno who generously offers him some chicken. Certainly this was an act of kindness, but Shmuel was accused of theft and beaten by Lieutenant Kotler, a young Nazi soldier. Bruno later takes Shmuel’s side and begins to despise Kotler. Bruno doesn’t see this situation the same as Kotler, he sees it from an unbiased point of view. He sees a child being beaten for something he did not do. Whereas Lieutenant Kotler, sees it as a Jewish boy who was given an opportunity too great for him (being able to come out of the camp) and disrespecting it. Unaware of their political differences Shmuel and Bruno’s friendship is stronger than the divides that are put against them and the norm of Germany during 1933 to 1945. This piece shows the benefits that Bruno obtained staying clueless to the fact that it was terribly wrong for them to be friends but since he was not aware of that, he met his best friend.

Though some may argue that only because of Bruno’s innocence he matures the most, since Shmuel and his friendship -a consequence of Bruno’s lack of knowledge- is the way he gained the most sensibility. Bruno learns about Shmuel's culture, traditions and beliefs. He learns about what is like to be Jew, and how kind they really are. The side that debates the belief that Bruno’s understanding of other cultures and respecting them has matured him the most, and that innocence has nothing to do with learning he has about the world, as everyone will eventually do that themselves when they are of the right age. Though this a good point, Bruno does not mature by understanding Shmuel’s culture but in actuality he only learns about it, nothing more.

Innocence can shelter one from what is happening around them, as it shelters Bruno throughout the book. This eventually causes him to lose his life, leading the readers to believe that protecting one is extremely bad since you do not allow them to fully experience the world and it will only come back to bite them.

By Mehak

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas: An Exploration of Innocence (Author’s Craft)

Nazis, concentration camps, Hitler; those are a few words that come to mind when recalling Germany between the years 1933 and 1945. However, all these words were foreign to eight-year-old Bruno, the protagonist of John Boyne’s masterpiece, “The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.” When Bruno, the son of a highly-ranked Nazi captain, moves to Auschwitz, his parents declare the intriguing forest behind his home “out of bounds at all times and no exceptions”. Nevertheless, his uninhibitedly curious mind sends him venturing into the forest with little hesitation. In the forest, Bruno meets Shmuel, a Jewish boy imprisoned in Auschwitz concentration camp. Shielded by naivete they become friends, without the merest clue about the irony of their friendship. Through the novel, John Boyne uses an array of literary techniques such as symbolism, tone and word choice to convey the extent to which Bruno’s innocence fosters his and Shmuel’s incredible friendship to ultimately portray a sheltered upbringing as an unnecessary evil.

Boyne navigates through the story from Bruno’s childish perspective. The language he uses to narrate is simple and accessible, but not due to the fact that the story is plot driven but because the language is used to foreshadow Bruno’s thoughts. The straightforward language displays how Bruno is simpleminded and does not look deeply into things, he simply sees things as they are. Bruno never describes anything in detail, which conveys to the readers how little Bruno actually knows about what is going on around him. For instance, on page 200 after Shmuel states his father is missing, Bruno simply says, “‘Can’t find him? That’s very odd. You mean he’s lost?’” Here Boyne expresses Bruno’s sinless thoughts using simplistic diction. Bruno does not even acknowledge the possibility of anything bad happening to Shmuel’s father.

From the beginning of the novel, John Boyne depicts Bruno as a notably innocent boy. His naivete is first conveyed by him mishearing and subsequently calling Auschwitz, “Out With” and the Führer, “ [the] Fury”. From his misinterpretation of words we can see how untouched he is about the world around him, and the atrocities it is committing. The fact that his only knowledge of these concentration camps is based on mishearing. John Boyne uses these uncomplicated words to create a tone throughout the book to show the extent of Bruno’s innocence, as Bruno cannot even pronounce the name of his country’s leader, and also his father’s boss.

In “The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas”, a recurring symbol is the fence between Bruno and Shmuel. In the story the fence is what keeps Bruno and Shmuel apart, and represents barrier which all the adult problems create because of polar opposite worlds they live in. Bruno’s existence is tokened by indicators of carefree, privileged childhood; meanwhile Shmuel’s is overwhelmed by pain and confinement. The small hole in the fence symbolizes power of their friendship and tacitly conveys how affection can overcome the barricades built to represent enmity and victimization.

Throughout the novel, Boyne uses several literary devices to illustrate the extent of Bruno’s innocence, but only in the end do we witness the ramifications of his protected childhood. Bruno's friendship with Shmuel cost them both their lives, but his naivety blinded him from the fact that he was walking on the path of death itself when he enters the concentration camp with a shaved head. Boyne teaches many lessons through his writing. However, the most significant is that if one is shielded from reality, they will never experience the world as it is, and ultimately face bitter consequences for their naivete. Just as Bruno did.

By Mehak

Behind the Beat

She’s not allowed to take off her sunglasses.

Singer Natasha Low tells the interviewer from a local newspaper. She’s not allowed to take off her sunglasses because of the chance of someone clicking an unflattering picture of her. This is not an uncommon rule in this booming industry. Celebrities in this business are clearly told what they can and cannot do, what is right and what is wrong, and who and what they are. Once these hopeful stars sign their contracts, they find themselves as nothing more than pawns in a game of fame and fortune, it’s the survival of the fittest, it’s a game we call KPOP.

Bright lights, catchy beats, and extraordinary dance moves, those are the first things that come to mind when the topic of Korean pop music, commonly referred as KPOP or Hallyu (한류). In this rapidly growing industry, worth US$30 million, there is a side that most people are unaware of; a side many fans choose to overlook: the dark side of South Korean Pop music.

Rape, abuse and drugs. These are some of the last things that come to mind when thinking of KPOP. However, as harsh as reality is, behind the dyed hair and dynamic music videos is a world of disturbing scandals. Not only are these young idols pushed by their seniors in the company to gain fame, they are also pushed into things which are morally wrong such as, stripping, drinking, drugs, and sex at a young age.

Another famous case of mistreatment in the Hallyu industry is that of two ex-members of one of KPOP's biggest names, a Korean-Chinese boy band, EXO. Lu Han and Wu Yi Fan were in the Mandarin subgroup of EXO, EXO-M. Luhan and Kris, both Chinese members from EXO sued their entertainment agency to the same reasons, "unfair treatment, forced schedules, financial problems". Lu Han also added on his case, “the discrimination between the Chinese and Korean members.” Luhan and Kris both suffered from medical issues, and were still forced to continue working their strict schedules as well as being treated prejudicedly. 

The typical schedule of a KPOP idol starts with school in the morning (if applicable), then the daily practice regimen, which can last up to 16 hours daily. This consists of dance practice, vocal lessons and language lessons every day of the week. If the group is shooting a music video, the shooting usually takes a endless 24 hour day. A star said, “If I were lucky, I’d get 2-4 hours of sleep.” The singers only a small percentage of their earnings from their music, the rest all going to the company.

On the 18th of September 2014, E News released a story focusing about lawsuit from a young trainee whose company’s CEO had constantly sexually abused him throughout his years in the company (name of the company concealed for the trainee’s safety). The trainee had mentioned that, "They [the company workers] rented a room to drink for one of the staff members birthday and had a male trainee perform strip shows while girls poured drinks on him and touched him inappropriately." The trainee later mentioned that the reason he did not quit was because of his will to become an idol, ”I have to do what I’m told by my company, and if I don’t they will release me. So [I] had no choice but to do it,”

In a recent survey conducted by a popular children’s internet portal in Korea, the results showed that 41.6% of the 10,487 children (or 4,364 children) wanted to be singers. This data shows that many adults and children have fallen for the illusion of Korean pop music. “It makes me feel sad that people are being treated this way just so that they can "entertain" people,” Russell Koh, an avid KPOP fan says, “I do feel guilty in a way, I feel guilty and sad because i know these artists are being treated badly but i still listen to their music.” Another KPOP fan, Sunyoung Cho, takes a strong stand as well, knowing how these trainees are treated, “it makes me feel like not listening to KPOP sings and just shutting myself from KPOP because it’s embarrassing that my country is just treating their young people like dirt.”

It’s not possible to get the whole world to stop listening to KPOP, but there is something we can do to help. Share this article and help people become more aware of what is under the surface of KPOP. Promote the awareness of a cause that is morally wrong. We can sign this petition to help promote a better living condition for Korean idols. Tell the world you’re not happy with they way these stars are treated. After all, they are human too.

By Mehak

Math, The 'Most Valuable Subject ', But Is It?

Meghan N., a high schooler at UWCSEA East, stands against the wall of her house’s common room as she nervously taps her foot as she waits for her mother to get off a phone call. Meghan looks up at the white walls covered with post-it reminders of homework, meetings and shopping lists in a failing attempt to distract herself from her mother’s reaction to what she will soon announce to her.

Meghan’s attention snapped back to her mother as she heard the telephone click.

“Mom, the math test didn’t go that well. It was really hard, and our teacher never taught us half of what was there on the test!” Meghan admitted her mother, looking down as she noted her mother’s displeasure caused by her daughter’s confession.

“Why? You should still know, I helped you study, and you went to tuition for what? Five hours? Do you want me to tell your father?” Meghan’s mother snapped, “Never mind that, go read the next chapter in your textbook, I don’t ever want you to come home again telling me you found a test ‘hard’. Till then I’ll set up another tuition session for you,” Meghan’s mother grumbles some inaudible comments while hastily punching in her daughter’s tutors cellphone number.

“I can’t mum, I have a Spanish quiz tomorrow, I need to study for that!” Meghan interjected, while she waved her arms frantically, similar to a drowning child.

Meghan’s mom put her hand on her phone to muffle her voice to the other end of the line, “First go finish your math, then start Spanish, math is always the first priority.”

In the year 2014, many things have changed and developed in the past hundred years, things that have forever changed the way the world works, the way people act and what people believe. The discovery of airplanes have forever changed the definition of traveling. The discovery of nuclear weapons have forever changed the definition of war. However, math still remains the definition of education. In a recent survey by ‘Gallup Poll’ concluded that 32% percent of adults think math is the most valuable subject for children to learn, but is it? Only two out of the ten best paying jobs in America require a major in mathematics. Then why are children taught that math in the most valuable subject thats taught to them in their schooling years? Is it for jobs in the future? Money? Or parent’s personal point of view?

“My mother always told me that math has the most stable career options, and as a parent now, I want my child to have a bright future and math can provide them that, that’s why I push them to strive in math.” A mother of three explains. Many people believe that it is an old mindset that art, English and other majors of such sort will not be able to help provide one stability for a life time. Another father agrees, “In this new era, with so many people following their dreams of becoming a model, fashion designer and other professions like such, the world lacks mathematicians, which is why I firmly believe we need to help our children choose to follow those paths for the better of everybody.”

In contrast, other parents believe that everyone should follow their own dreams and enjoy what ever subject they would like to. One mother believes that Languages are the most important subjects taught in school, “Without languages it’s not possible to communicate, and for that matter, even learn math.”

In the modern day and age, with so many possibilities for career options, and so many opportunities, math is not the only subject that will get you a good job. Do what you want to do and do what you love; and if you love math, go ahead and do math.

Written by Mehak

Singaporean Snakes

Screams erupted from the Ardmore Park playground. Late that Sunday evening, a Reticulate Python was slithering on the cold metal playground equipment. As the children stood in place and sobbed, one child got up and ran for his mother.

Many would have stood and watched, but he ran for help.

Singapore, previously a water gypsy-rainforest, was and still is home to many snakes. The most common snaking in Singapore being the Reticulate Python. They are experts in climbing and swimming, and have no problem going through pipes. Though they are not venomous, they can give a nasty bite.

Five out of ten people do not know what to do in an encounter with a snake. According to ACRES, the Animal Concerns Research & Education Society, if you see a snake in the wild you should let them be, as they are quiet and shy but they can get aggressive if aggravated. If you see a snake in the urban area, recently they have paid visits to the ATM’s at orchard road and the swimming pool of Tanglin Swimming Club, one should call the ACRES 24 hour wildlife rescue hotline at 9783 7782.

As mentioned before, Singapore is a snake haunt and wildlife haunt (as it was previously a rainforest), but many Singaporean and expats alike are worried about the frequent appearances of snakes in houses and condominiums. “I wonder if younger children know what to do and are educated about this matter, they could get in serious danger if not careful but the best thing to is make sure they are not in the condos at all” Elizabeth Knight-Hassell comments.
In contrast, some people welcome snakes to their home. These people believe that is is actually the fault of humans of destroying their habitats of snakes and building concrete buildings. “We should respect snakes, we are the ones who cut down their homes, the least we can do is let them come to ours.” Manish Parwani, a resident of a snake infested condo explains, “This is what happens when we build on habitats.”

Written by Mehak