Discussion Are video games more of a negative than a positive ?

[MrCasella]

https://www.mentalhealthforum.net/forum/threads/video-games-are-the-worst-thing-to-happen-to-humans-in-their-evolution.860100/page-2

 

[Mr. Snrub]

The title offends me and I also need an account there so I'm not going to read it. 'The worst thing to happen to humans in their evolution'...give me a break. I have plenty of examples in my own social circle of people that play copius amounts of video games with apparently no impairment to their mental health or family life. You might argue that they lack intellectual curiosity or whatever but that has nothing to do with mental health and general functioning.

Besides I'd say the worse thing that happened to us in our evolution was becoming aware of the insanity of our cosmological situation through the curse of consciousness.

 

[fallendevil]

I'm divided, I think that they can be great brain exercises because you're constantly challenging yourself with new levels and it can make your mind quicker, and they can be a nice escape from the hells of reality.

But some people go too far and become full blown gooners who exist solely for the video game and don't even leave their house. I think if you have a healthy balance of activities like an actual career and a life and you play the game occasionally then it's fine but if you do nothing BUT play the game and you start skipping on life to play the game then you have an issue.

Unless you're a streamer or competitive gamer there's absolutely no reason why Fortnite should be your main hobby when you're over the age of 18.

 

[Dejected 55]

Are organized sports more of a negative than a positive?

Is mountain climbing more of a negative than a positive?

Is hang-gliding more of a negative than a positive?

Is parachuting more of a negative than a positive?

Is reading romance novels more of a negative than a positive?

Are movies and TV more of a negative than a positive?

Is reading news (print or online) or watching news (TV or Internet) more of a negative than a positive?

Is reading any kind of book more of a negative than a positive?

I could go on...

People get their panties in a twist over some thing they don't like and decide it must therefore be harmful to others. Oh, that dude who killed someone liked to play Dungeons & Dragons so it must have corrupted him and made him evil because he never killed anyone before he played that game! I wish people weren't so damn stupid about this stuff... and I wish corrupt people wouldn't keep latching on to stupid shit to deflect from real problems.

Do you know that the world, on average, destroys more than enough food than would be needed to feed all the hungry people of the world? Think about that... we are already paying for the food that gets wasted and destroyed and people are starving and we could literally end world hunger in the blink of an eye if we brought people to the food or brought the food to the people... but too many want to argue over "charity" and "welfare state" and "how will we afford it" and shit, when we literally already pay for, then waste the food rather than let people eat it. Maybe too many video games is causing world hunger? If we pretend that it does, could we feed people? I'll blame video games IF we will actually feed the people once we "eliminate" the evil video games that are stopping people from getting the food.

*sigh*

 

[MrCasella]

Are organized sports more of a negative than a positive?

Is mountain climbing more of a negative than a positive?

Is hang-gliding more of a negative than a positive?

Is parachuting more of a negative than a positive?

Is reading romance novels more of a negative than a positive?

Are movies and TV more of a negative than a positive?

Is reading news (print or online) or watching news (TV or Internet) more of a negative than a positive?

Is reading any kind of book more of a negative than a positive?

I could go on...

People get their panties in a twist over some thing they don't like and decide it must therefore be harmful to others. Oh, that dude who killed someone liked to play Dungeons & Dragons so it must have corrupted him and made him evil because he never killed anyone before he played that game! I wish people weren't so damn stupid about this stuff... and I wish corrupt people wouldn't keep latching on to stupid shit to deflect from real problems.

Do you know that the world, on average, destroys more than enough food than would be needed to feed all the hungry people of the world? Think about that... we are already paying for the food that gets wasted and destroyed and people are starving and we could literally end world hunger in the blink of an eye if we brought people to the food or brought the food to the people... but too many want to argue over "charity" and "welfare state" and "how will we afford it" and shit, when we literally already pay for, then waste the food rather than let people eat it. Maybe too many video games is causing world hunger? If we pretend that it does, could we feed people? I'll blame video games IF we will actually feed the people once we "eliminate" the evil video games that are stopping people from getting the food.

*sigh*

Most of the things that you listed are very physical activities and I had to stop reading at the food part reminds me too much of past trauma not being able to afford food Multi times in the past.

 

[Forever Sleep]

It's probably like most things. In moderation, it's probably fine.

A friend once said that training surgeons are encouraged to play video games- to develop their hand and eye coordination. With computer technology, a surgeon can potentially work remotely now:

 

[starboy2k]

video games are awesome.
they keep me occupied when I dont want to leave my house and interact with people.

 

[upsidedowngoldfish]

Like a lot of things I guess it depends how you use them idk. GTA made me want to die less for a while.

 

[Niron1492]

Positive,they help mental health alot.I assume the reason why people think video games are a negative is because of shooters being the famous i guess?

There are countless genres which are relaxing,some i have in mind that would be helpful if you want to know history,lore and they mostly are for relaxing and roleplaying such as CRPGS(Dragon age,Mass Effect,Elder Scrolls,Baldur's gate) or strategy(age of empires,civillization) though i have mostly in mind the paradox ones that help you with history or lore if you play any submods (Crusader kings,Europa universalis,Hearts of Iron)

Though what Amerie said is truth since they can also be an unhealthy addiction,some people on sports games spend hundreds of dollars just to have a better player/team(what comes to mind is myplayer in 2k and ultimate team from FIFA)

I guess its just what you mainly play and how you play it that changes your perspective,games are way too diverse to make a general opinion on them.

 

[maylurker]

they entertain but depends on the genre. competitive can definitely bring problems due to chronic exposure to high cortison and adrenaline