Do you think video games are bad or good for society as a whole?

1. 61

   BROkaryoticposted 10 years ago

   Do you think video games are bad or good for society as a whole?
   
   This has been a debatable question for quite some time but I like to think that video games aren't necessarily bad for us. As with anything, moderation plays a big part in whether something can positively or negatively effect us.
   
   I have done research and found that many experts believe that video games help us with hand-eye coordination, social skills and problem solving. Video games also provide us with stories, entertainment and gratifying challenges.
   
   

   replyreport
2. 74

   Edwin Thomasposted 9 years ago

   VIDEO GAMES- PROS AND CONS
   
   PROS
   
   * Video game users are said to have increased multi tasking capabilities
   *It increases decision making power
   
   CONS
   
   * It is a waste of time
   * Long time use can damage eyesight

   replyreport
   1. 0

      Manish Chandolaposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Multi-tasking is counter-productive and harmful for memory in long-term.

      replyreport
3. 85

   tsmogposted 9 years ago

   As suggested the mechanics of game playing with the apparatus involved most likely have positive attributes and effects enhancing wellbeing. However, the games themselves are what may be of greater debate regarding positive values especially with social factors.

   replyreport
4. 85

   M. T. Dremerposted 9 years ago

   Personally, I don't think this question was ever debatable. Like with the introduction of comic books, movies, and television, everyone worries the newest media for young adults and children is somehow damaging. But we don't really debate the impact of those other things anymore. We still talk about individual movies or television shows, but we aren't debating the industry as a whole.
   
   Which I think comes from the continued misconception that video games are just toys for children. The Atari and NES generations are adults now, productive in the working world. Not only did they turn out okay but they are now a huge market of gamers who are looking for more mature titles (that they would never let their children play). If anything, they are better informed about games their children should and shouldn't play, because they know what to look for.
   
   So, while my first inclination is to say the influence of video games is neither good nor bad, just the same as what came before it. I actually think that the results are more positive. Since movies/television/comic books aren't interactive. Games can teach problem solving, critical thinking, and hand-eye coordination in a way that media couldn't before.

   replyreport
   1. 61

      BROkaryoticposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      This is excellent insight, thank you.

      replyreport
5. 68

   blargablargaposted 9 years ago

   I actually did quite a bit of research into this when I was studying psychology and couldn't find a single study that produced a /negative/ effect on the participants.  Generally, subjects who played video games regularly experienced a plethora of benefits. 
   
   They had higher level problem solving skills, reading comprehension, spatial recognition skills, geographical skills, and participation skills than control groups.  There has been a slew of recent research done on the Nintendo Wii for it's ability to aid in physical as well as mental rehabilitation, and on social gaming platforms in their work for cooperative social skills.  It turns out that participants who work in group in a game apply the skills that they learned in their guild to real world social settings, allowing them to be more productive in group activities.
   
   There are tons of other benefits that come to mind, but those are just the ones that come off the top of my head.  Much of it boils down to the Neo-Vygotskian idea of motivational developmental psychology, which sounds complicated, but is fairly simple to summarize.  If a person likes doing something, and does it voluntarily, they get more benefit from it than if they were forced to do it.  For example, a person stacking pokemon stats will learn relative statistical properties and their application faster than someone in a statistical design and analysis class because the kid playing pokemon wants to beat their friend's team via superior math, the kid in class wants to go home and play pokemon.
   
   https://www.corahealth.com/services-wii-hab.asp
   
   http://positivevideogaming.web.unc.edu/sample-page/
   
   http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/0 … 05895.html
   
   http://www.forbes.com/sites/jordanshapi … ematician/
   
   http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/ … games.aspx
   
   etc

   replyreport
   1. 61

      BROkaryoticposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for this and the extra references!

      replyreport
   2. 0

      Manish Chandolaposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      The person in  statistical design could learn faster if he was made to understand it in a proper manner. Since he handles real world situations, he, inevitably will be better  in statistics .

      replyreport
6. 79

   chuckandus6posted 9 years ago

   I think that they are not bad overall but they should take the sex'-/nudity out kids don't need this in their lives

   replyreport
   1. 0

      Manish Chandolaposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Even 30 minutes of games over a period of 1-6 months can affect his subconscious brain, changing him forever, but you won`t realise this in form of indications till the damage is already done. Be careful. Give him e-books, music, dance,etc. instead.

      replyreport
7. 61

   lorenfawnhubsposted 9 years ago

   I don't know about scientific studies and results but I personally I don't think video games are bad for society. the only negative aspect I can think of is that gaming consumes alot of time, some people say it's a waste of time but then again, almost everything we do for fun is basically the same (not everything but almost everything)

   replyreport
8. 58

   sarahspicexoposted 7 years ago

   "Video Games are bad for you? That's what they said about Rock-n-Roll" - Shigeru Miyamoto

   replyreport