In pleasantly shocking news, mainstream media outlet The Star-Gazette reports today that parents, not videogames, are responsible for the development of their own children. I'm sure you're reeling from the shock of such an announcement, so I'll give you a minute to let that sink in. Everyone good to go? OK, moving on.
A concerned parent, displaying a disturbing aptitude for regurgitating prime time factoids and an inability to communicate with her own child, wrote in with this question:
Without my approval, my ex-husband gave our 11-year old son, Clayton, video games for Christmas. My son has wanted them, but I resisted. Now he hardly stops for food, and he's fighting his school routine. I've heard that doctors consider video games addictive, and think I should take them away, but this would cause a fight I don't need with him or his dad. I e-mailed his teacher about the "addiction" aspect. She says some games might lead to violent behavior but doesn't know about addiction. Can kids get addicted to video games?
Ignore for a moment the fact that, seemingly at her wits end, this mother turned to a small newspaper in New York for advice and reflect instead on the greater issue here. When faced with adversity with her kid, rather then trying to determine a fair, effective way make him respect her wishes (or pill him up, whatever), the parent immediately lays blame at the feet of games.
Now granted, a child growing out of their younger years and into adolescence, losing interest in things they previously enjoyed, and focusing instead on a world many parents know nothing about can be incredibly scary. However, to immediately assume that the media itself is to blame rather than an inability to command respect from an 11 year old is not only moronic, but dangerous.
Children are like animals you see, plain and simple. A moral compass doesn't come standard with every baby last time I checked, and to shift blame from yourself as a parent to an inanimate object for a failure to raise a child correctly is likely the best way to start churning out beastly sociopaths (we'll know for sure once they've fully matured). While an army of children devoid of ethics and morals trained in virtual combat sounds pretty cool, it is unfortunately not really conducive to the continued survival of mankind. Sorry folks.
Thankfully, it seems like at least some of the mainstream media are starting get with the program and are doling out rational advice. Heres to hoping a majority of parents follow suit in short order.
[Thanks, Jonathan]
Contest:
10:28 PM on 01.07.2008
| 
"If you've played any of these games, like I have..."
"If you've played any of these games, like I have..."
If she doesn't need to fight over it, it can't be that big of a deal can it? If she caught him smoking and his Dad said ok, would she just shrug and go 'I'm not making a fuss over this with them' with that too?
www.ectomo.com - get with the program fool
No one wants to think, no one wants to take responsibility, no one wants to use a little common sense. Kids get addicted to video games because they're FUN. Kids being addicted to fun is nothing new. If your kid is over-playing his games and not listening to you, then you act like a bloody parent and you take away his games until he learns moderation. It's not rocket science. Parenting, unfortunately, IS, and you're going to have to exert some effort in it, folks, instead of blaming video games for everything.
This isn't good for my already-borderline blood pressure...
Judge not, lest ye be judged. Before someone blames themself, authority is blamed first. So if you're going to point toward video games, point toward yourself first.
...This is the way the world will end (sarcasm, obviously).
I think it's high time I find a neutral country (Switzerland, Iceland, Canada) and demand political asylum!
Ah, who am I kidding? Who the hell would want us!?
are kids addicted to comics?
are kids addicted to tv?
are kids addicted to fap?
A heaping helping of common sense?!
Good Lord.
Sure,
Dear Ms. Landsmann,
I want to applaud and thank you for your response in your weekly Our Schools column on http://www.star-gazette.com. Instead of doing what so many irresponsible media outlets do in this day and age and point the finger squarely at video games, you instead gave the educated and healthier response of having the parents become more involved and educated about their child's interests.
I became aware of your article through Destructoid.com, a popular gaming blog and like many of the readers there, I was very presently surprised at the excellent and reasonable advice you gave. I have been an avid gamer for many years and also work in the game industry myself and like many other gamers, I am increasingly frustrated by the constant demonizing and finger-pointing at video games as the root of all evil. These same individuals in the media that are quick to blame video games, not too many years ago, had the same accusations thrown at their interests like rock and roll music.
I can only hope that your voice of reason will be heard by the mother that wrote that letter and by people in the media and government, who will take the initiative to educate themselves about what they are so quick to blame and we can all move on to more important matters facing everyone today.
With much gratitude and respect,
Will Maddock
Gamer
I will forever cherish this moment.
*grabs common sense and starts dancing with it to loud music*
Apropos loud music - Didn't our grandparents use to claim rock music makes you stupid ?
Now, that's not all of my fellow Americans, but the mass majority...
Seriously, this is good news.
I have a strong bond with my mum and dad, we are always talking and having a laugh even through my teens, I even did all my chores, still even help out around the house.
I did this because my parents raised me right.
they set boundries, If my parents said no i accepted it and did something else.
i still play games, its my hobby and guesss what its proven to increase IQ.
studies have shown children who play video games have higher IQ's of those then those who play board games.
shame it never helped much with my english much though.
I have a strong bond with my mum and dad, we are always talking and having a laugh even through my teens, I even did all my chores, still even help out around the house.
I did this because my parents raised me right.
they set boundries, If my parents said no i accepted it and did something else.
i still play games, its my hobby and guesss what its proven to increase IQ.
studies have shown children who play video games have higher IQ's of those then those who play board games.
shame it never helped much with my english much though.