A "Bad Reputation"

This clip from ‘The Early Show’ which our awesome tutor showed us highlights the problems in the media with the representation & reputation gaming & gamers have (I guess to the outside world).  According to the ‘American Academy of Paediatrics’ 92% of children aged 5-18 are playing video games & secondly that 10% are addicted.

Problems with this information include:

·         No clear definition of the type of games being played

•          Definition of addiction

o   To me, the term addiction evokes images of drug & alcohol addicts with punctured holes in their arms & UDSs (Unidentified Drunken Scars)

·         The word scary is constantly used throughout the opening sequence, yet another alert word, as a scaremongering tactic. 

Tech Lifestyle editor @ Tech.com Jennifer Jolly claims that video game addiction is linked to issues of;

•          Depression
•      Social phobia
•            Poor grades
•         Childhood obesity
•          Dementia

These examples clearly accommodate all types of addiction.  Most of these examples of so-called ‘addiction’ to video games can be associated with pre-conditions and the natural propensity of that person. 

According to Ms Jolly going to the mall & shopping with friends is a great hobby, but video gaming is not deemed a hobby.  If so than what in the world could it be?  A hobby is defined as an enjoyable activity; an activity engaged in for pleasure & relaxation during spare time.  Hmmmmmm interesting seems to me the definition of a hobby is wide enough to include video gaming. 

Why is video gaming so problematic in terms of ‘social norms’ & behaviour within our ‘civilised’ world?  As my nanny would say “back in my days… we had no time for hell-a-stupid games.”  That’s what my nan calls them & times have indeed changed. 

I see video games as a both a tool for learning & play.  Those that criticise the function of video games clearly have conducted limited research into it & their conduct is shaped by the rest of the media hype surrounding video games. 

Instant reaction to the percentage of children playing video games were probably towards violent games (yet another overly hyped media discourse issue).  A great question is to whether parents/guardians are being responsible over the material youth are exposed to.  Games are an expensive & lucrative market, these ‘kids’ cannot but these themselves. 

Parental responsibility is (I think) one of the main issues surrounding this issue (although I’ve heard that the US doesn’t have age restrictions on violent games) it can still be an issue in NZ.

Just my 5cents worth of muddle