I've never really been much of a "gamer", so I'm not very educated on a subject like this. I guess it would depend on which games you were playing. I guess certain strategy games or sort of puzzles work the mind more academically than those that require shooting space ships, other people, or random aliens. War games might have multiple opinions. Some might argue that they educate those playing them about the history of our world and some might argue that the shooting and language causes more violence to occur in our world. I believe age groups have a lot to do with this topic. By that I mean the rating of the games and the age of the kids/adults playing the certain games. I believe that the world has really changed and that parents are becoming more lenient as to what games their children are playing because "all of their friends are playing them and they don't fit in if they aren't".
- we as humans need to play more video games for a longer amount of time each week. (3 billion hours isn't enough...we need 21 billion hours)
- "I'm not good enough (at life)"
- epic wins - we love epic wins...on the verge of accomplishing something "important" in order to get a good positive feeling out of it.
- urgent optimism (we continue to try and try our hardest until we succeed or reach a certain goal..until we win)
- Super-Empowered Hopeful Individuals
1.) We as humans need to play more video games for a longer amount of time each week.
I think McGonigal is crazy. Humans play enough video games and I believe that is part of the reason why there is so much violence in the world today and in little kid's lives. Kids today are growing up playing war games and shooting people and things. Many studies have been done to help prove that video games cause nerve damage in the brain and cause strain to the eyes. Playing more video games for a longer time period each week would only make this problem even worse. McGonigal states, "3 billion hours isn't enough...". I think 1 billion hours would still be too long.
2.) We love epic wins...on the verge of accomplishing something "important"...
Video games are in no way important unless they are being played in an academic environment. The only video games that I would agree are important are online computer tutoring programs or study programs for students. We should allow students to yes, feel a positive feeling about learning instead of taking their academic time away and allowing them to play pointless killing games.
3.) Urgent optimism - we continue to try our hardest until we succeed or reach a certain goal...until we win.
I was born an athlete, I will always be an athlete. I'm not saying everyone was born to have a ball in their hands or at their feet, but there is more to life than having a controller in your hands. Why not feel the urge to win or accomplish a certain goal not sitting on your rear end? Why not have the confidence to go out and show people there is more you can do to prove you accomplish things other than in video games?
I am not hating on video games in any way shape or form because I occasionally do sit down to take a break and hold a controller for an hour or so. And when I say occasionally, I mean maybe 3 times a month. My schedule is too full and I am way too busy with everything else in my life. I know people have the urge and the talent to play video games every day. That is alright, as long as it isn't all day. Make time for your studies and make time for friends so you can be social. Gamers are often looked at very differently by other groups of people, but sometimes people need to step back and see that this may be a skill that they have and they are just using it to their advantage for their own well-being.
No comments:
Post a Comment