Videogames cause rape, murder, domestic abuse, obesity and now they are kind of responsible for CO poisoning. That's the word coming from a new report that says people are using gas-powered generators during electrical outages so they can continue to play games, blissfully unaware that they're filling their lungs with delicious carbon monoxide.
Hurricane Ike left millions of people without power in September 2008, and the Houston area saw twelve seperate cases of poisoning thanks to the use of generators. Of those twelve cases, five of them were because people needed some juice for their videogames.
"This is the first study to suggest that generators are commonly used immediately after a large-scale power outage to power entertainment electronics for children," said researchers in the June issue of Pediatrics magazine. According to the US Consumer Products Safety Commission, using a gas generator is as good for your health as having hundreds of cars running inside your house at the same time. So, not an entirely splendid idea.
Videogames seem to be the biggest reason why people want to run generators in a power cut, even more popular than keeping food fresh. Obviously, the report isn't trying to demonize videogames with this story, but it kind of shows just how popular gaming has become, when people are unwittingly poisoning themselves to play. Would you risk filling your lungs with noxious fumes to get just a few more Golden Skulls? You're not alone.
[Thanks, Dexter!]
Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
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Contest:
9:30 PM on 05.26.2009
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It's not like we have a lack of humans on the earth.
That said...I love video games. But the last thing I'm thinking of during a power outage or hurricane is how I am going to play my 360. Besides, there's always the DS...