In this week’s classes and lecture, we learned about the various types and users of games. We talked about many ways gaming could be beneficial to its players and then discussed the ways that it could be construed as negative. How do you feel about gaming in general?
As talked about in class and by our speaker, Diane Pozefsky, gaming can be a very helpful learning and rehabilitation tool. Pozefsky noted in her lecture that games could be used to help children learn. She explained that they had an extremely beneficial impact on those students who were falling behind, and even to the average and above average student, the effects of learning games were nothing but positive. Games are also used for helping patients with physical therapy and post-traumatic stress. There are so many positive effects of gaming that are overshadowed by the negative effects. When does gaming cross the line into being harmful?
On Wednesday, we talked in class about Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD). We discussed in groups how the disorder could be exist or be the result of other psychological problems. Is it just the highly involved games such as Second Life or World of Warcraft that cause this phenomenon? We heard extreme cases of game/internet addiction cases in class, such as parents neglecting their kids in favor of playing a game, but is that entirely the game’s fault?
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From a personal viewpoint, I have never really gotten into gaming, and as a result, I have very little gaming experience. My experience is limited to your standard solitaire and minesweeper or in your standard social setting. But for some reason, when I learned of all the positive effects of gaming, I was more surprised and intrigued than I was when I learned gaming's negative features. Without thinking about it, I was influenced by those who believe physical activity is better than violent video games for younger kids.
ReplyDeleteNow I realize there are tons of great benefits for younger children when gaming. In addition, I believe individuals are more likely to use gaming in moderation and therefore receive its positive benefits. While there is room for many disorders and negative consequences such as suicide, my overall feeling is that video games have the potential to do more good than cause harm.
As we discussed in class, I think it's important to note that these studies show a correlation between violent games and aggressive behavior, but not necessarily a causation. In other words, does playing these violent games cause people to be more aggressive, or are people with pre-existing aggression more drawn to these games? I'm apt to lean towards the latter simply because the level of appeal that exists among its players. Those that show a great interest in simulated violence such as first person shooters or one-on-one fighting are perhaps drawn to them because they allow them to act out their violent tenancies through an inconsequential outlet. And in contrast, if you aren't amused with the game, you're probably not amused with the behavior they simulate.
ReplyDeletePerhaps I'm over-simplifying the issue, but if you really want to blame the game, then we have to assume that people are incapable of suppressing the negative influence that they may have on them.
In another note, after a thrilling session of Grand Theft Auto, I still have no desire to go out and hijack a car.
I think that videos games are not the problem. I feel like many parents do not pay attention to the types of games their children play. And, with adults, we are all accountable for our behaviors, so if an (adult)individual has incorporated the fantasy of the game into their reality, it is not the fault of the game. And, the same thing goes for the children, it is the responsibility of the guardian to closely monitor the child and to buffer premature exposures to things. Besides, all games have proper warnings and classifications (where appropriate), because of legal requirements.
ReplyDeleteIt is the fantasy aspects that increase the selling potential of many games in the first place.
On a side note, and I think many would agree that it is when gamers began to misconstrue and integrate the fantasy (of/that are many games)into their reality--at this point--that it becomes problematic and dangerous.
I do not feel that video games are a problem. Like Mollie said, there are so many benefits that can come from video games that they certainly outweigh the negative externalities that come from them. In fact, I learned how to type by playing video games so I can atest to the help of video games first hand.
ReplyDeleteWith regards to Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD), I do not believe such a thing truly exists. People addicted to World of Warcraft or Second Life do not have an addiction to the internet, they have an addiction to the game. People do not get addicted to the internet, they get addicted to whatever they are doing on the internet. Furthermore, almost all jobs now require some use of the internet, whether its email or other forms of communication. I would argue that since the Internet has become so common in our lives that we cannot simply say that someone has internet addiction because they are on the internet all day long.
Abnormal psychological disorders are usually judged by the 4 D's: deviance, distress, dysfunction, and danger. I think that IAD can't be classified as a true disorder because it doesn't fulfill the "deviance" requirement. Internet use is very widespread that it's considered to be "normal." The internet is such a recent phenomenon that its critics are quick to "diagnose" those who may use it excessively - but who is to say how much is excessive? Considering that technology is always advancing and the limits of Internet have not yet been defined, it's difficult to determine the parameters or conditions of "unhealthy" Internet use.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that the game is to be blamed for a person's obsession with it. Different personality types react to games differently. Some people view gaming as entertainment, others as a way to escape their life situations, others simply as a way to pass the time and avoid boredom. The majority of people in our population from my perspective seems to have a healthy relationship with video and computer games. While I see video games as a waste of time which could be better spent socializing, reading or watching a movie, etc, this is my personal view. On the other hand, if a group of people are playing an interactive game (say a sports game) with multiple players, this seems to be a social and healthy interaction. While other games are more violent and could trigger similar behavior in real life, the type of person which would be impacted by these has problems already. To sum my view on your first point (covered in class on Monday,) I don't think gaming is to be blamed but is merely an easy target for those who are seeking to find an answer for these people's problems.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that just because educational gaming has been used in some instances as a rehabilitation tool means that things like first person shooters can't have a seriously negative impact on a child's upbringing if abused. You or I may play Grand Theft Auto and not come away from it thinking we want to hijack a car, but an impressionable young kid just might. If I have children, I think I'll want them playing games that have some form of of strategy or redeemable value and I'll want them balancing the time they spend gaming with things like reading, drawing, playing sports/music etc.
ReplyDeleteLike any activity, I feel like playing video games can be beneficial if it is done in moderation. I view video games as a hobby, although many may disagree with that notion. As a result, I think its OK to play video games as long as it isn't interfering with other life activities. The instances we discussed in class, like the parents neglecting their children to play games, are harmful behavior and steps should be taken to prevent that. I agree with the idea that video game addiction isn't necessarily a separate mental disorder, but it may stem from another medical issue. Otherwise, based on Pozefsky's discussion, I think video games can be a helpful learning tool and social activity.
ReplyDeleteOnce again, this issue is too broad to assign it any "good" or "bad" all-encompassing answer. Yes, people can become addicted to games that are unproductive and don't stimulate any brain activity. There are also other games out there that serve a purpose beyond entertainment: those educational programs like Brad cited. To say that all gaming (or the Internet) is addictive and bad is like saying that all TV is bad. Obviously there are programs that are created purely to entertain, but there are also plenty of instances where you'll find televisions in a classroom. Everything here is circumstantial, so we can't generalize something as overly broad as gaming or the Internet.
ReplyDeleteI think gaming can have a very positive effect on people if used in the right way. If children can play games that help them learn to read or advance their math or geography skills, then I think games are one of the best ways to learn. Children are much more susceptive to learning if they are having fun while they are learning. When children start playing games that have no educational value like "Grand Theft Auto" and others, ethical issues arise. Then the blame gets shifted to the parents of these children rather than the game-makers who try to get children to play their games in hopes of having a life-long customer.
ReplyDeleteI agree that some games are invaluable learning tools. I remember when I was in elementary school it was a huge deal to get to go to the computer lab and play educational games, even if the core of the game was multiplication or spelling. The fact that the child is learning in a new interactive way stimulates interest and motivation. However, most of us figured out after elementary school that there are much better games on the internet that have nothing to do with multiplication or spelling. Just like any other technological innovation, there is a very small percentage of the technology devoted to education or philanthropic goals, and to say that the majority of games are beneficial is simply untrue. I think it would be a stretch to say that tetris helps with hand eye coordination or to strengthen focus, after all the point of tetris is distraction! My point is that any innovation can be transformed into something beneficial but it's important to note most are created for monetary incentive and thus lack any deeper meanings or benefits to society.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with Braxton when he mentions that many of these negative side effects seem to be manifestations of issues that people already seem to have. From some of the examples we went over in class, it's obviously not a video games 'fault' if someone becomes so engrossed in it that they neglect their own (or their child's) needs. There are many issues there already, and I wouldn't be surprised if this person could find something other than a video game to distract them. We keep mentioning web addiction as well, and I find it a bit unfortunate that the internet gets such a bad rap for people that are on it for long periods of time. Sure, spending 4 hours of your day facebook-stalking isn't really beneficial to anyone, but I know I've had plenty of evenings where I've stayed up late reading articles on Wikipedia or browsing news stories on Digg. Yes, I probably should have been sleeping at that point, but is it so bad to stay online to read about something you're interested in on a site like Wikipedia and expand your knowledge of something you enjoy? I just think both sides deserve to be represented.
ReplyDeleteVideo games can have a tremendous positive impact as many have stated. I volunteer at Abbey Court and we provide ESL learning classes to kids and adults. For the kids we use a video game that incorporates both Spanish and English and we noticed a drastic improvement in their language skills. It is a wonderful tool. As far as addiction goes, there is just a certain limit in my opinion where you draw the line between placing blame on something versus yourself. Recognizing that spending too much time playing games should be something that parents should deal with. A good balanced upbringing is essential for preventing 'addiction'
ReplyDeleteNearly anything can become addicting. Althought I find this important to look at, I also am interested in the positive affects of gaming.
ReplyDeleteWhat I found most interesting about the presentation in recitation was how gaming is being used for children in intensive burn units in order to distract them enough to deal with dressing wounds and other rehab based care. This does demonstrate that gaming offers a distraction from stress when it can help raise the threshold of pain for children. So, although there are some serious problems related to gaming for a few individuals, it also acts as a wonderful resource for others.
As npatel said, video games can have a tremendous positive impact. A game that came out for the Wii called Trauma Center is a surgery simulation game. This game requires immense mental concentration and teaches players human anatomy. You try to recover patients from injuries sustained from gunshot wounds, car accidents, and heart attacks.
ReplyDeleteThere have also been studies that indicate that playing video games (even sports games) can improve math skills. Kids learn and memorize fractions/percentages after constantly seeing a basketball team's field goal percentage or a baseball player's batting average.
As for gaming addiction, I believe many who deal with this are those who largely play role-playing games. These individuals try to imagine themselves in the situation of their gaming character and receive satisfaction from this.
In response to Mollie's blog, I do not think that it is just the game's fault for this gaming addiction. People need to know that they cannot spend endless amounts of time playing a computer/video game. They should have enough self-control to step back and tell themselves that they should be doing other things such as feeding themselves or their children. They should be able to step back and tell themselves that they should be doing other things like going to school or their jobs. If they cannot do those things, they have bigger issues than just being addicted to a game and it is not the game's fault.
ReplyDeleteI am definitely split about the idea of gaming in general. My little sister needs physical therapy so her therapist has her playing her Wii on a foam block so she is working on his stability and strength in her legs rather than just playing games. She uses certain games on the Wii fit to also increase stability and leg strength. On the other hand though, she really can't entertain herself without video games or computer games. She really doesn't have much of an imagination. It's the same thing I see when we have family get togethers. All the kids get together to play video games. No matter or old or young they are.
ReplyDeleteIn my pediatric dentist's office, she has PSP at every chair and she said that she has seen kids calm down tremendously because they can play before they get their teeth cleaned and then they are given the incentive of playing after if they are good while their wait for the dentist. When I interned with her before this, her only option was to strap the kids down from head to toe.
Personally I don't think that the Internet and gaming simply bring out pre-existing psychological conditions, or that people's addictions to them are based in other things. While no game or Internet site lures people in, we really can't discount the fact that many people become unreasonably dependent on these forms of entertainment simply because they are enjoyable and thus, perhaps some will become addicted to them in an unhealthy way just as people become too dependent on alcohol/drugs, shopping, etc. because those things are fulfilling for them and thus they want to spend as much time as possible doing that thing that brings them "happiness."
ReplyDeleteGaming and addiction can not be generalized to effect society in similar ways. Internet games and groups such as Second Life create advantages and disadvantages specific to the user. Similar to gambling, one participant may be a leisurely user and acquire entertainment or joy from participating. Conversely, another user may not have the self-discipline to limit addiction. Games used in therapy and settings with children can be extremely beneficial; however, the same games may be harmful to another user. It is important to provide supervision and regulation to such games. While some may see this as invasion of personal rights, regulating a site to a certain number of uses per period can offer the same benefits while negating the possibility of harmful addiction.
ReplyDeleteGaming just like anything else in life can become addicting and just like anything in life too much of one thing isn't good. After focusing on Second Lives for most of the semester I think addictions are very common and easily picked up because technology has come a long way to make things on the internet very "real". Second Life is done by hundreds and hundreds of people, controlling their lives. Many articles I read were about marriages breaking up due to one of the individuals being addicted to their second life and neglecting their real life. Just like anything else in life, it needs to be done in moderation.
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