Got news?   tips@destructoid.com  |  Never miss a story:   RSS + Twitter + YouTube
Hey! New here? Destructoid is a gaming discussion community, updated nearly every 20 minutes. Make a quick avatar to comment and enter our contests. Take the tour!

 


Home United Kingdom updates

Doctor blames videogames for lack of exercise, says funny British stuff

8:38 AM on 08.28.2008, Brad Nicholson 23 comments

Doctor blames videogames for lack of exercise, says funny British stuff photo
     United Kingdom

In The Sun’s column “Ask Dr. Keith,” Dr. Keith states that a small percentage of middle-aged males don’t engage in physical activity because of videogames. Keith draws the correlation from recent research that shows physical activity in the UK on the rise, but a fraction of the percentage of what would be the videogame demographic on the decrease.

The only bits of anatomy many young men exercise are their fingers and wrists. No sniggering at the back, please, I’m talking about computer games. All those leisure hours we used to fill with climbing trees or kicking balls have gone. Because we’re all too busy clicking on consoles with eyes glued to a screen.
Keith then lays out a plan for women to get their men off the couch. The list includes such hits as buying him a bicycle, dog, or punching bag and even inviting him to the bedroom for tea and crumpets. I suppose the last one mentioned would easily pull any male away from Disgaea 3.

Next page: More United Kingdom stories




Matlox's Avatar
Matlox at 08/28/2008 08:53
But what do you do if your girlfriend plays video games as well?
Trev's Avatar
Trev at 08/28/2008 09:02
Then it's both at the same time, Matlox. Hit that, for 113,471,998,929 damage. Multitasking is key.
Max Power's Avatar
Max Power at 08/28/2008 09:05
All those leisure hours we used to fill with climbing trees or kicking balls have gone.

I do indeed like to play video games and hardly ever climb trees any more, but if this Dr. Keith insists I could put down the controller for a second and kick him in the balls instead. Free of charge, too.
Ratcliff's Avatar
Ratcliff at 08/28/2008 09:18
He's completely right, it's just I don't see a problem with kids choosing Video Games over tree climbing.
Static Jak's Avatar
Static Jak at 08/28/2008 09:18
Has Dr. Keith ever heard of Television?
Clance's Avatar
Clance at 08/28/2008 09:32
I spent the second half of my childhood getting wrist action over page 3 of The Sun, it's their fault I don't climb trees anymore.
CALkulon's Avatar
CALkulon at 08/28/2008 09:37
I'm getting pretty bored of reading about the Sun on Destructoid. I'm yet to be convinced that you lot across the pond understand it's complete and utter trash =/

They say shit like this because it sells the papers, nothing more and nothing less.
Clance's Avatar
Clance at 08/28/2008 09:47
Dr. Keith doesn't sell any papers. The Sun is a British tabloid toilet trash institution which is mainly bought for it's sensationalist headlines, page 3, Dear Deidre and the sport.

It comes with a large pinch of salt and an even larger stigma these days. But it will always sell.
lubczyk's Avatar
lubczyk at 08/28/2008 09:52
So, if we all played Wii Fit then we wouldn't have a problem then?
necrozen's Avatar
necrozen at 08/28/2008 10:31
To take it seriously for a bit - the truth is, whether or not you play games, exercise is a personal decision that takes discipline. Your hobby is inconsequential if you lack the discipline to stick to a workout plan. Whether it's games you turn to in your laziness, or TV, or D&D or surfing the web or reading the newspaper on the toilet all day - if people don't want to get physical they will find something else to do instead.
bloodylip's Avatar
bloodylip at 08/28/2008 10:34
I'm supposed to still be climbing trees and playing kickball at 25 years old? So women can call me immature and tell me to grow up? I almost fell for your trick, Dr. Keith! Never again!
Ceri's Avatar
Ceri at 08/28/2008 10:37
the sun is a paper written for "adults" that have a reading age still in single figures. trash reporting on celebrity smut and sport that unfortunately passes for a mainstream newspaper with a million plus readership.

The only comfort can be that no one could attempt to use it as a credible source without immediately discrediting themselves.
Clance's Avatar
Clance at 08/28/2008 10:59
@bloodylip,

"kickball"...?
bloodylip's Avatar
bloodylip at 08/28/2008 11:56
@clance

Are you serious? Do you really not know what kickball is?
TrailerParkJesus's Avatar
TrailerParkJesus at 08/28/2008 14:50
At least all my fingers are really strong and healthy.

They can fing for hours!
TrailerParkJesus's Avatar
TrailerParkJesus at 08/28/2008 14:52
@bloodylip I think Clance is British or something.
Kalmah's Avatar
Kalmah at 08/28/2008 17:48
But will the girlfriend, dog, bike, or punching bag play Crysis?
Max Power's Avatar
Max Power at 08/28/2008 18:29
Kalmah:But will the girlfriend, dog, bike, or punching bag play Crysis?

Didn't Crytek claim some time ago that even a basic $500 girlfriend will play Crysis at a decent framerate?
Jaffacakelover's Avatar
Jaffacakelover at 08/29/2008 06:43
What you don't know is that The Sun is probably in the middle tier of national newspapers: The Daily Star, Daily Sport and Daily Express are WORSE.
In fact, they're all pretty bad, as this BBC comedian will demonstrate:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Hq5_joo5l5I
Poopface Morty's Avatar
Poopface Morty at 08/30/2008 10:13
Those people obviously haven't met me yet. I find time to workout about 8/9 times a week at a pro-athlete level, while still gaming, and working 40 hours a week, with a commute.
prev next

Returning Dtoiders: login now to post a comment

Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just Create an avatar now - it's fast and free: PLUS you also get your own gaming blog and begin posting stories and uploading videos in our open community area that may also appear on our home page. Sign up and we'll guide you through it, it's easy and 100% anonymous.




 Original Videos

 Reviews
Mad Dog McCree Gunslinger Pack
Overlord II
Yosumin Live!
Let's Tap
Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Wii)
View all Game Reviews

 Community blogs -   39780 Dtoiders!

This month's theme: Untapped Potential

New to Dtoid? Read the survival guide


 Originals

How Pokemon Red is blatantly better than Pokemon Blue











more original Destructoid stories



 Popular now more













Destructoid is:
Nick Chester
Editor-in-Chief
Jim Sterling
Reviews Editor
Dale North
News Editor
Hamza Aziz
Community Manager
Anthony Burch
Features Editor
Rey Gutierrez
Video editor & director
Niero
Founder, publisher
Letters to the editors
tips@destructoid.com
Associate Editors
Ashley Davis Jonathan Holmes
Brad Nicholson Jonathan Ross
Brad Rice Jordan Devore
Chad Concelmo Matthew Razak
Colette Bennett Tom Fronczak
Conrad Zimmerman Topher Cantler
Dyson Samit Sarkar
Contributors
Adam Dork
Ben Perlee
Daniel Lingen
Joseph Leray
Joe Burling
Mikey
Will Maddock
Stella Wong




get involved

register or login
post a blog
post a forum
enter a contest
discuss a review
contribute a news tip
write a guest editorial
support

new member's guide
login assistance
tech support
report abuse
email our editors
read our dev blog
nuclear crisis?
keep in touch

RSS feed
Twitter
Facebook
Myspace
Flickr
Game nights
Meet-ups
seriously

about us
advertising
terms of use
privacy policy
jobs at MM
buy our crap
our network

Tomopop
Japanator




Destructoid is an independently-run publication forged by our love of video games and the gaming community's need of accountable enthusiast press
living the dream since March 16, 2006