I rarely whip out the ORLY owl, but sometimes a post just warrants it. Such was the case in this tidbit from Yahoo news about parents' commentary on their children's video game habits. Not shockingly, there was a lot of negative feedback. An average of 43 percent of parents think videogames are a time waster for their children, according to a recent Associated Press survey. One commented in specific:
"I don't think it's good for them, the violence, the obsession," said Karen Kimball, 55, of Hale, Minn., another nonplayer who estimates her 17-year-old son plays 25 hours weekly. "No longer is it, 'Let's go out and throw a football.'"
While videogames can be positive and even life-changing, Karen has a point in there somewhere. Games, like anything else, can be overused and turned into an obsession. It's the gamers that know how to use the medium for their fun and enjoyment that this kind of news saddens the most, and I can't say I blame them.
On a slightly more positive note, one dad talked about playing Halo 3 regularly with his son and said of the experience, "That game has bonded me with him." It's interesting to see the opposite side of the coin -- and worth considering the impact that kind of experience makes on a child. It seems parents that do play with their children tend to be younger, single and working part-time, therefore allowing them more time and energy to spend with their kids.
Of course, there's tons to be said here, but I'll keep it short and sweet. If your kids like games, you should try to play with them or at least spend time with them while they do so. It means a hell of a lot to a kid to be able to tell his parents about what he or she is enjoying. If it wasn't for my grandmother listening to me detail out the plot of The Legend of Zelda ad nauseum, I don't think I'd be where I am today.
Hit the jump for more survey results.
[Thanks, Joe!]
- 44 percent said they play over the Internet.
26 percent said they spent nothing on the pastime last year, another 46 percent spent up to $200 and 12 percent spent $500 or more, with men usually the bigger spenders.
Price is the chief factor for people purchasing a gaming console, followed by the availability of games.
- The poll involved telephone interviews with 2,016 adults conducted Oct. 9-11 and 16-18, and had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 2.2 percentage points. Included were 770 people who said they play computer or video games, for whom the margin of sampling error was plus or minus 3.5 points.
- 81 percent of children age four to 17 play computer or video games at least occasionally, compared with 38 percent of adults.
- 59 percent of those age 18 to 29 play at least sometimes, double the rate for people age 50 to 64. There is little difference among users by race or region, with middle-income earners likeliest to indulge.
- Casual games like card or board games were the favorite of 31 percent of gamers, about twice the number who like action games, the next most popular alternative. About half of women cited casual games as their favorites, triple the number of men who did so, while twice as many males than females preferred action games.
Contest:
2:41 PM on 11.12.2007
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Oh yes, they will learn to respect game time. And they will LOVE to respect frisbee golf/surfing/outside time.
@grrlaction
Ratings are only meant as guides for parents. If you actually look at Halo 3's content, there's nothing that really deserves more than a PG-13. I mean, Manhunt and Jericho are one thing, but Halo's an entirely different animal.
And, I used to read game reviews to my parents, so they´d buy them for me. They still think videogames are a waste, more of money than of time, but they don´t judge me when I say: I plan on dedicating my proffessional life to them. That´s cool.
Things will change with time, but when we will be the parents, we'll sit down with our childrens (yeah I know it sounds ridicously, but...). Probably there will be something, what we will hate...
Games are awesome, but kids shouldn't be playing them to the point where they ignore chores, family, and schoolwork. If that's the case, then the parents have let things get out of hand.
That doesn't mean I think 9 year olds should be able to buy M rated games.
I'll be using some of this for a project I'm working on for my speech class now!
My mom used to play Super Mario Bros on NES with me back in the day, but she was always pissed cause I would pla till like world 5, then die, and she'd play for 2 minutes on world 1. It was nice she played though.
I was insecure, lonely, and sad, and games were one of the only outlets for entertainment. My whole life was games.
and you know what? at some point, I had to break out of the rut, use games as entertainment, and nothing more. I started playing tennis (brought about from Mario Tennis) and started making friends on my terms.
That's the deal with so many gamers; the games become an extension of themselves. That's why I'm actually disturbed by fanboyism, as there is an emotional attachment to an object. Veneration of a product made by a huge corporation is never a good thing. Ever.
BTW, I havent been on DToid in like a fucking week. Always nice to see another good post from Collette. What's happened in the last week? I've been stuggling to overcome my addiction to CoD4. It feels good to break free. I'm so lost right now. See what games have done to me? Thank God my penis has a mind of it's own, otherwise I would have never left the house in my younger years. Honeslty, I sometimes wish I never did.
He also took the time to take me camping and hiking, and teach me how to fish. I still love outdoor activities and gaming to this day.
Parents like that woman bother me, because if it wasn't videogames, it would be something else: music, comic books, cartoons, maybe even sports. The point is, these parents should take an interest in their kids and their hobbies, and also maybe try to influence their kids by teaching them something cool, instead of being completely dismissive.
I totally agree with sirpalee, the key isnt moderation, its just a kneejerk reaction from the older generation about stuff they don't understand.
How much TV do your parents watch on average per week? I bet its more than 25 hours...
My grandma used to complain because I read too much as a kid, have you ever heard that one? :)
(I have always wanted to use "malarkey" in a post ;) )
81 percent of children age four to 17 play computer or video games at least occasionally, compared with 38 percent of adults.
So, what's the age range for adults? 18 to death? Because that's an incredibly skewed comparison if you ask me. Especially when you consider most people over 50 or so were already adults when videogames were invented.
So, I would guess that there's a huge interaction with age among the 43% that think games are a waste of time for their kids. How many parents under the age of 50 feel this way? under 40? etc.
you win.
They don't play, but they at least understand why we enjoy playing, give a damn enough to understand what's going on, and when they say "turn it off, time to go out", my brothers listen.
They don't play, but they at least understand why we enjoy playing, give a damn enough to understand what's going on, and when they say "turn it off, time to go out", my brothers listen.
I actually strted to play video games because of my father. We had the PSone when inwas like 7 years old, and we would always play Starwinder, or Spyro, or Crash Bandicoot (which I re-downloaded on the PSN, and my dad payed for). Looking back, I'm glad we did that because I got to soend time with him, and just have fun. As for my mom, she dosn't like the idea of me playing violent video games, but she knows I'm not an idiot, and will come into Gamestop with me to get M-rated games (I'm only 14).
Oh and Sirpalee, I like what you said, games will probably be more accepted in the years to come, when our generation rules the world. And we'll hate the robots, thinkin they be human and what not...
[/zen]
But no, seriously. It is.
Hey, pick up a controller and play with your kid, and maybe foster some good memories. You know, just a thought.
Seriously - If you buy the game for your kid and let them sit in their room playing on it 24/7 YOU CAN'T THEN COMPLAIN LIKE IT'S SOMEONE ELSE'S FAULT.
Also, not liking something because it is a new concept to you is pretty narrow-minded. Taking no interest in your what your child does is plain and simple bad parenting whether it be school, music, gaming or whatever and something far far far too common these days.