Tuesday, April 08, 2008

All Things Considered, Do You Think Video Games Are Good Or Bad?


Some things to think about:


-Do some games help younger children with brain function and hand-eye coordination?

-What is the effect of video games on teenagers? Do they become more lazy, more violent?

-Can video games aid older adults in keeping both mind and body active?


What other considerations come into play when deciding whether video games do more harm or good in our society?


How many hours a day or week do you spend playing video games on average?



Jeff Ogden (9:00)

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Overall I think video games are bad. It is a occupant of time and children have other things that can help the hand I coordination. Its better to do something active than just and move your hand and fingers for hours. For teenagers, video games make them lazy. A teen could have a job and be out in the world learning and preparing themselves for life. As for an older person video games are a great way to stimulate the brain with out using to much phyical energy, or putting others in danger with their driving. Its also good for mentally disable people. Its great for sight and recognization of things. Its difficult to teach a special needs person if its not interesting. I know a special needs person who at an age where he should be able to count to ten, but cant remember. We he plays the video game though he know every character and their names. Video games one of those things in society that are making it worse, even though the are great fun. I barely spend 30 minutes playing games a week.

English student said...

I think some video games are good. The Nintendo Wii can be used for exercise. I think it does help children with hand-eye coordination, but so much playing does make them lazy. It could make them more violent. I noticed when I started playing 007 for 64, I got into more fights with my sister. Maybe it was because we were growing up and having more differences, I just don't know. Too many kids now-a-days are playing video games instead of actually doing stuff outside. When we get older I think it's wonderful My boyfriends family and I get together some nights and play Nintendo Wii (including his parents and grandparents) and we have a wonderful time. We play the Mario and Sonic at the Olympics and you really get some exercise there.
I think it just depends if you start thinking about the society. You could set rules for your children to play so much on a game system. My sister and I usually had about 30 minutes of games, then the rest was outside doing yard work and playing. If you do that I think that the video games are good.
Now that I am 19, I usually only play the video games at my boyfriends house. I just don't have time between school and work. After all that I usually just wanna conk out and go to sleep.

Katelyn Watterson 9:00

English student said...

I think that video games are good and bad. I believe it does assist young children with hand and eye coordination, but can also cause some strain on the eyes( usually not noticeable)if the games are played for long periods of time. I never had video games growing up my Dad always said that they would make us lazy. I believe that is true. Todays generation is all about playing video games and the internet, kids need to get outside and exercise more. I believe that our minds benefit greatly from exercise and helps to keep it in a clear mental state. No wonder these kids today are growing to be more and more violent, with all the violence in the games and not getting enough exercise this can exceed to a negative state of mind. I do think that the Wii was a great invention because it brings families together and keeps those who play it somewhat active. I rarely play video games, but if I do its the Wii and only about once or twice a month if that.

Elizabeth Moore (0900)

English student said...

Ten years ago video games were nothing more than a mild form of entertainment, but today they have blown up. I can remember playing Duck Hunt at my cousin's house whenever we would visit, since my family didn't own any video game systems. Today people are paying entirely too much money for this newest generation of systems (PS3, Xbox, Wii, PC) and are spending entirely too much time playing them.

While they may provide slight brain function and hand-eye coordination improvement, video games cannot and should not replace old-fashioned sports. Throwing a football around is much better exercise than swinging your arm at a TV like a Wii. Video games are inspiring our younger generation to become lazy by encouraging them to spend more time indoors playing. All the violence in the games translates to a real threat in them, too.

I spend an hour or two a week playing video games, maybe playing golf in the winter with my family.

Michael Endris(9:00)

Anonymous said...

I think that it depends of the video game. There are some game systems made just for children. They have games that teach kids how to count, learn the alphabet, and recognize shapes and colors. I think it does help with hand-eye coordination, and brain functions. And I think it would probably work the same way for older adults. I dont think you can blame video games for teenagers being more violent, but i do think it does tend to make people more lazy.
On average I spend maybe 4 or 5 hours a week playing video games. It is usually more than that when I'm not in school.

English student said...

I think that video games have ther pros and cons. some good things are that it helps with hand-eye cordenation and remembering skills. it pretty much works that brain. Some bad things are that you sit on the couch staring that the TV or computer screen for hours a day. Also it involves constant finger movement withc could cramp up and cause carpotunle in the feuture. With older people, i think that some games would be good to play. I think that games that have to do with remembering things or easy going games.

Mike Handal (9:00)

Anonymous said...

I use to think that video games made people fat and lazy. But then I started looking into some of the educational videos for my kids. There are some really good games to help kids learn. My son was having a hard time in school with his reading and his teacher asked me to get a learning game for him. I did, and it really helped him. Now he have his own play station II that he payed for with his own money. I will only buy him games rated for his age range and he is only allowed to play it for 30 minutes a day. Some of the games we play as a family now. Not for hours at a time, but about once a week we sit down in the evening and play.
I really had a negative option of video games until I started doing a little research. Sure there are some really bad games I will never let my kids play, but if the parents take the time to help their kids pick the right games, they can be educational and great fun for the family.

English student said...

i think video games are okay and alot of fun. they are coming out with more games now that really involve the player to move around and stay active, like the wii. my friend has a wii and she has a game that you can play tennis and boxing and other physical things and i know when i play it i work up a sweat. on that same game actually their is a fitness test where you play the games and it tells you how old you are and they want you to do it everyday so you get better and get a younger age. there are also games that they make for younger kids that can help them learn how to read and do math, which i think is a good idea because they are learning but still having fun while doing it. there are certain games out their that i dont think younger kids or even teenagers should play because of the violence and what you have to do in the games such as stealing cars or robbing stores. those games are more for mature people who know that those things are wrong to do. there are some people out there who do become more lazy, but that is their own fault because not everyone who plays video games is lazy. i think if nursing homes had different kids of simple video games it would help the patients stay active and not get bored. i worked in a nursing home before and all the residents just seemed so bored even though they do have an arts a crafts time. i think allowing them to play video games would make them feel a little bit more youthful. i think parents need to make sure their kids are still getting their school work done and having a social life, not just playing video games all the time. also parents need to make sure the games arent giving the kids bad ideas such as stealing. i dont play video games very often but when i do go to my friends and play wii, id say we play for a few hours at the most.
kaleen bittner

English student said...

HILLARY FEARS.....VIDEO GAMED ASRE FUNDAMENTALS FOR CHILDREN NOW A DAYS. EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS DO HELP STIMULATE CHILDREN'S MINDS, BUT AS FOR OTHERS NO I DON'T THINK SO. FOR TEENAGERS VIDEO GAMES ARE A DISTRACTION THEY KEEP THEM FROM DOING WHAT THEY NEED TO DO PRORITY WISE. MANY TEENS ARE INFLUENCED BY WHAT THEY SEE THROUGH TV. GAMES ARE ADVERTISED ON T.V. ALL THE TIME, AND VIOLENCE PLAYS A BIG PART.NO I THINK OLDER ADUKTS BECOME LAZIER AND AREN'T AS ACTIVE. THE SHOOTINGS SHOWN ON VIDEO GAMES INFLUENCE STUDENTS, AND SHOW THEM GUNS ARE THE WAY TO GO. THESE TYPE OF GAMES DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD. I DON'T PLASY VIDEO GAMES AT ALL.

English student said...

I believe that video games can be good or bad depending on what games you are playing. As a child some games do help with hand eye coordination. But it seems as though the problem with video games lies with the teenagers and young adults. A lot of the popular games such as grand theft auto, halo, and many other bloody, gory, violent games can be harmful to a person. Games where your goal is to kill people or aliens or whatever can affetct a person. The worst part about it is you are the person actively killing in the video game. So not only do you see it happen, but you cause it to happen. Many of the recent school shootings have been by children that regularly play such video games. SOmetimes they wonder what it would be like to really kill someone as opposed to virtually. Video games like that are not a good idea to play in my opinion. But it seems as though those games are the most popular. That is why I think that the media portrays video games as being harmful. So depending on how you choose to play, it could be harmful or it could be beneficial. And I don't have a gaming system anymore. So I only play maybe an hour per week at a friends house.

Bryan Skaggs

English student said...

I see nothing wrong with video games. Video games might help a young child with brain function if the game makes them think, but a “shoot’em up game,” would not help. Teenager should be mature enough to know video games are fiction. So, you should not be more violent. Same “gamers,” are probably lazier than your average video game player. Video game for an older adult adduce could help keep their mind strong, if they could play the games. For the older adult’s I think it’s more important to think everyday rather than play video game, but what ever make them think. Like I said I done think there is anything wrong with video games. So, nothing comes to mind if they do more harm or good in our society. I play a video game ones ever two or three months.

From Steve Gratkins (9:00 a.m.)

Anonymous said...

Some video games are good to an extent. Like you said some are good for hand eye cordnation but other games do make children more violent. There are some games that help out with real world situations such as military games that can prepare people who are going into the military. I myself do not play video games on a regular basis. I very rarely play them. So am I to judge?

Anonymous said...

It really depends on what video games people are playing. Some video games, such as ones pertaining to racing or sports, are just fine and usually quite fun. Others, such as ones where the entire goal is to kill people, are a bad influence on many people.

I suppose that some video games (mainly ones played on the Nintendo Wii) can help younger children develop hand-eye coordination and brain functions, but I think children would develop these skills better and more effectively in the real world.

Video games are not the cause of laziness among teenagers. They just enjoy doing nothing but having fun, and generally video games are fun. However, depending on what games they play, they could become more violent - especially if they spend a lot of time playing video games. Whenever you spend a lot of time doing something, it just becomes natural to you. You can be influenced by something without even realizing it.

Video games can aid older adults in keeping their mind active, but I don't think they help keep the body very active. Other than the Nintendo Wii, which requires you to move your arm(s) around, you generally only move your fingers while playing a video game. Just moving your fingers are arms does not keep your body active.

There isn't a main effect on society as a whole. It really depends on each individual person. Those people are not really into video games and do not spend hours playing them are not likely to do any harm to our society (at least not because of the video games). Those who really get sucked into the games could cause harm if they are playing violent games.

I generally only play video games when I'm with my cousins because it's no fun to play by yourself. So, I usually play video games once or twice a month.

Anonymous said...

I believe for the most part video games are good if they are used wisely and with some time restraints. For the younger child, I believe they can be helpful with hand-eye coordination. I believe they can also help the child learn how to stay focused on something for a longer period of time. I believe teenagers should be allowed some time to play video games as long as it doesn't become excessive and they aren't playing adult or violent games. They can be very entertaining for teenagers and possibly keep them home where they are safe and out of trouble. I do, however, think this can lead to laziness if they are not monitored, and lead to violence if they are allowed to play the wrong type of games. I think the new more active Wii games are great for everyone including older adults. Anything that gets people up and moving more is good for them physically and most of these games are also mentally stimulating. I think the pros outweigh the cons when it comes to playing video games as long as you steer clear of the violent and vulgar ones and time restrictions are imposed. I personally do not play many video games but I would probably play more if I had a new Wii.

English student said...

video games are just another form of entertainment. The same kind of concerns were being raised when T.V. became more avalable. they said that you would rot your brain out, straring at it all day. not every game is made for every person and children need to be watched when they are playing these games. If you leave a movie on with violent sceens they will watch it. If it's a nice day out kick them out and make them play. yes video games can be addicting, I myself have sat down, then wondered where the time went. If done right (as most things) you can use games as tools to achive your own means. set standerds like good conduct around others or grade average must be kept up. also playing together with the kids you can see how they handle working togher or dealing with defeat. I play every so often when it's cold out.

Danny Wimmer 8:00 a.m.

English student said...

Video games are fine for people to play just as long as you aren't over playing them. An hour a day is fine to me, but thats it. There are too many things people need to think about and do before sitting down and playing video games. Yes I do think video games are better for kids than teenagers and adults. I do think games would help brain function and hand-eye coordination. Children should not be aloud to play for hours in a day though. I would only give my child an hour a day through the weekday , but many more hours on weekends. I believe teenagers play video games way too much and thats all they do. They need to think about growing up and becoming an adult. Adults can play video games too, I just believe teenagers over do it. Older adults could play games to keep active, but I doubt that they would. Video games are good just as long as you don't over exceed playing them. They are bad when thats all people want to do every day all day. I don't play video games because I always have a lot to do every day. If I had time to sit down and play I definately would.
Jennifer Woodward (12:00)

Anonymous said...

I think that video games can be good but that they can also be bad! I think that video games can be good because they give you something fun to do when you are bored so you can spend time doing that instead of doing drugs or something more harmful. Video games also help with hand-eye coordination and can help boost creative minds. However, what happens when you play a video game too much? My boyfriend used to be addicted to World of Warcraft! He would play that game for hours, and even days straight! He neglected to do things like work, study,have a social life or spend time with me! It almost ended our relationship and I am pregnant with his child! Thankfully, he has been able to cut down on his video game addiction.Unfortunately, video games have ended many peoples relationships! You can see examples if you search google for Warcraft Widows! It's very sad!I play video games less than two hours a week.

Anonymous said...

I believe video games are good to play. I think games may play a small role with helping children's hand-eye coordination.
The effect video games have on teen depends on the type of game that the teen is playing. If the game is a violent game, then I think the game is gearing the teen to be more violent. However if the game isn't violent, then I don't think the game is focusing on violence.
I think video games maybe helpful to older adults in keeping their minds and bodies active. I think it helps stimulate their minds and if they're playing the WII, then that would help with the body.

Anonymous said...

I think they are good, especially for older adults. My parent's birthday is coming up, I lost track of their ages-somewhere around 66. My siblings and I are getting them a Wii. Everytime I stop over to their house for dinner, they request that I bring along my Wii. My worst situation; I did this on a Saturdat night and they played until 11PM, I had friends waiting on me a a club.When they take care of the grandkids, guess who hogs the Wii for bowling?

English student said...

I am mixed on this subject. I believe that video games may help childrens hand-eye coordination but I also believe that it is helping younger children become more and more lazy. I think that video games don't make people more violent but if the person playing has mental problems it very well could. I think its a good thing that older people are playing Wii, it helps them move around and also have some fun. I believe that video games are making our society more lazy because more people decided to play video games then actually go outside and play.

I'm too busy to spend any time playing video games even though I have a video games system and a bunch of games ... I'd rather go outside and do something.

Justin Stout (1:00)

English student said...

I think video games are okay thing to do but is going down hill for people that are ridiculously addicted to them. I personally don't play video games no more just because I'm over that stage but when I was younger I played all the time. I think it kind of depends on the person because some people will get over the video game stage the older they get because they can go out and accomplish more then just sit down in front of a t.v. and play, I got over it quick and didn't really miss it but I do occasionally play when I have nothing else to do and only if it's with friends. Others can't get away from the games and have to have the latest games and systems, and that's a problem, especially when people use a big chunk of their pay checks to buy for their systems. Maybe in some cases it's good for hand eye coordination but I'd rather play a sport to pick that up then in front of a t.v. I also believe video games make people lazy because they play and don't get up and it's not much effort to play a video game. Anyone can do it and that maybe because why many people love it.

Cesar (9:00)

Anonymous said...

Video games do more harm then good,beacuse look at the obesity rates for the average person in America,kids no longer go out and play hide and seek,they sit like couch potatoes and eat,get fat, and get lazy.
If I have kids they will not have video games,I will instead have quality time with them outside hiking,walking,swimming,ect.
Perhaps if the person is paralyized and can't move any thing but the hands,maybe vidoe games won't be abad for them.
Then there's another thing the kids get addited to the vidoe games and there are violoent ones,they contribute no good right there.
Overall,my opinon is no video games is better for the kids,teenagers,ect.