Laziness, murder, suicides. Videogames have been linked to all sorts of sin and vice, so what's one more problem to throw on the pile? New "research" (i.e, some people with an agenda asked a bunch of students questions until they got the results they were looking for) shows a link between gaming and gambling, with teenagers who play games apparently more likely to fritter their money away on games of chance.
"If you look at those young people who are classified as pathological gamblers you will find that they do have a higher frequency of involvement with many different types of videogame," says University of Adelaide professor Paul Delfabbro. "They're much more likely to play games on Xboxes and similar consoles. They are also more likely to play arcade games.
"It does suggest that if you're a person who is playing very frequently, more likely if you're a male too, and doing it from you know year after year, it's probably more likely you'll have a pattern of activity which will make poker machines quite attractive when you turn 18."
I love how researchers try and spin these results. It never seems to occur to them that videogames are a hugely popular activity enjoyed by most teenagers, so there's bound to be a correlation between games and most other activities. Correlation which is not, of course, the same as causation. But try telling these morons that.
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:
9:00 AM on 08.22.2009
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I could suggest that you've wasted the time, money and resources of the University of Adelaide by connecting two things because they are both activites enjoyed by people. I could SUGGEST that but why introduce an element of doubt into something so obviously true?
don't forget to post the counter point of the article Mr. Sterling.
I think the other 44% are dweebs and need to live a little and get some booze, gambling and hookers into em.
Next on FoxNews.
addiction......check
violence.......check
gambling.......check
murder.........check
yep, it's conclusive, by my research, videogame researchers have a rare variation of down syndrome that is unnoticeable to average people.
So out of 2,500 teenagers that took a SURVEY they found that over 1,250 had GAMBLED at least once in the past and that 50 became compulsive gamblers.
So out of 2,500 random teens they found that 50 were compulsive gamblers. LINK FOUND!!!
Boycott video games!
That "study" is just biased and a waste of time (of their time too).
It does not say anywhere that playing games causes problem gambling behavior, and the article even goes on to include another psychologist's viewpoint on it, who even specifically says that this research does not indicate a causal link between gaming as a child and gambling as an adult.
So to everybody who hates on these studies simply because they put gaming in a bad light, please STFU, and maybe even try reading the primary literature, rather than a sensationalized piece from another sensationalized piece, before you go and say the studies are bullshit.
Granted, Casino Kid made me want to hang out at casinos less for the gambling and more for the bunny girl attendants. But that's beside the point.
Ban sports!
I was pretty unhappy about that, since it ruined any chance of Greek participation in the World Cyber Games that year.
I find statements like this worrying:
"It does suggest that if you're a person who is playing very frequently, more likely if you're a male too, and doing it from you know year after year, it's probably more likely you'll have a pattern of activity which will make poker machines quite attractive when you turn 18."
I'll admit to not having read the study, but if a Professor is saying this study even suggests this sort of thing, it is total bullshit. This is not a study that can show causal relations. It's like saying most serial killers are men, therefore all men are serial killers.
The study was set up to look at relationships between lifestyle and gambling, the professor should be saying:
"It does suggest that if you're a person who is gambling very frequently, most likely you're a male, and you are likely to enjoy videogaming as a recreational pursuit."
He's come at the statement from the wrong end.