Does games ruin people or are they already ruined first?

[HighRolla]

What is it about videogames, WoW in particular, that turns people overweight, dull, apparent wastes? Is it the sitting there for long periods of time with no social interaction, or is it something in the games themselves? Again, particularly WoW.

Or is it that the people who play them are already shut-ins generally incapable of most human-to-human interaction That seems like a much simpler explanation.

Don't get me wrong, I think video gamer's a pretty cool guy. Eh, can sit for hours and doesn't afraid of anyone, but I've just been wondering. I've never really gotten exactly what it was. So were you neurotic before or after you started playing videogames?

Thanks for sating my curiosity! :)

[mince]

Little of both imo. I was always a little shy and weird as a kid but I still had friends and I still played with the other kids.

Then one day when I was 9 or 10 I came home from a holiday in Cornwall, and my friends were straight at the door asking for me. I ran upstairs to put my bag away before I went out, only to find a brand new Amiga sitting there on the desk. I shrieked, "oh my god!!!" and told my friends "sorry, i'm not coming out, i'm playing my Amiga."

And that was the beginning of the end of my social life. The rest of primary school, all of high school and beyond, I spent most of my spare time on the computer. It wasn't until I was 22 did I finally manage to build a circle of friends again.

[wyno]

Its a good topic to focus on indeed.

Now myself, iv been gaming the whole of my life, started when I was 5 with an Atari 2600 Junior. Now I used to play this damn thing all day like fucking religion. Now as I got older I got the following Sega Master System 2, Sega Mega Drive 2, Game Boy, Playstation, Game Boy Pocket, Game Boy Advance, Playstation 2 then Playstation 3 which out off them all I paid with my own money the rest where gifts.

Now, back on topic here, 'Does games ruin people or are they already ruined first?'

I'm bit of a yes/no here, as I don't believe some people are destined to be seen as 'ruined'

I myself play WoW, I'm not addicted, I can easily stand up from that game, walk away do something else. Its annoying when you see people making a fuss about people being addicted to a game, there are a lot fucking worse things out there that you can be addicted to, drugs and alcohol for example. Now I remember watching a video on youtube about a teen who was addicted to WoW and his mum was bitching him about it. My dad even said, 'what would you rather have your son doing? Being save inside a house playing a computer game or outside, doing drugs or what not?' Which I stand completely by what he said about it.

Now, some people might be social outcasts due to being bullied at school or what and see things like WoW being a good thing for them that they are interacting with other people who all have the same love for a game that they all play, they get to do something that they cant do in real life because of what other people make them out to be, these people I would never say are 'ruined'

Now you get these murder cases that just do my fucking head in, video games that cause people to murder each other, I really cant stand it when the media have nothing to relate a death to other than "oh this person played a game called Grand Theft Auto, it must of been the game that did it!" Everyone in the fucking world has played GTA and everyone isn't killing each other, honestly there is nothing worse than video games/music/film being made as a scapegoat for someone else's death, its really pathetic.

Basically what I'm saying is that everyone is born the same. Its what happens to us in our life's that make us do things, being bullied for having no friends or what will make getting friends a lot harder for you as people are like sheep and go with what's cool, so maybe then the only thing you can do is play WoW, make friends on there, get fat, whatever. Or it can make you pick up a gun and kill your school mates whatever.

[aooga12]

its personal responsibility man, its your own fault.

[HighRolla]

Thanks for your answers. MY other question is, how long do you have to play videogames for before you become impotent? I know most players are impotent and I think it's around a month or two semi-regularly, but I've heard of there being an exception once or twice.

Thanks!

[Trenaur]

My dad even said, 'what would you rather have your son doing? Being save inside a house playing a computer game or outside, doing drugs or what not?' Which I stand completely by what he said about it.

I agree with what you said overall...but this particular comment is off base. It basically insinuates that people must choose one evil or another evil and that's it. You dont HAVE to do anything. Yes, I agree in general that your dad's position is you are safe at home where they know right where you are and what you are doing. But it can be just as damaging if you are of an unbalanced mind set in the first place. Anything in excess is usually a bad thing.

My wife's sister has her Masters degree and is going for her PHd right now in education and I asked her her thoughts on gaming and kids and possible links to huge incidents like Columbine and so on (remember when the FBI said that those kids playing DOOM was basically a training simulation game to later do what they did bullshit?). Her comments were boiled down to kids that do these things already have much bigger issues going on. Their parents not giving them proper attention and guidance, issues at school, and so on. Games do not cause those issues, they are merely a release. Yes, some people take it too far and the media grabs onto the first thing that is a popular "cause" which happens to be video games right now.

All those kids that died at Columbine can directly blame the parents for not doing their job, paying attention to what their kids were into and helping them. Period.

And I am a parent...

[PsiRedEye22]

its personal responsibility man, its your own fault.

I agree completely.

I had a Nintendo the day I was born, literally. I learned to fuck around on Mario pretty much before I knew how to walk, and I never recovered from it. The most fucked up part is that I can't even imagine a world without video games at all. I go crazy when I am not around electronics for a certain period, it seems like a lack of seeing a TV somewhere is my kryptonite.

Example: I went to my cousin's high school graduation when I was like 6. I didn't really mind walking in, but when I got to the auditorium, after an hour or so I threw an uncontrollable fit. I was put in the lobby for the remainder, and was absolutely fine watching their crappy school TV ads.

I have no idea what causes this in me, but it's something that has always been there. I seem extremely normal socially, but inside I am pretty sure that the only things that can ever keep me truly happy are my wife, my family, and video games. I absolutely need all 3 of those to stay sane, and I could even do without my real life friends, although they do buy me free alcohol.

[SnAiLz]

I used to play outside lots with friends untill one day we found the game Runescape... yes runescape. It ruined my life so to speak. I played it when i was about 12-13 with friends but they soon quit. I stayed playing it untill i was 15½ (june 06') and during that time i made excuses not to go out and play. Playing pcgames/internet is still takes up a big chunk of my free time but now i spend alot more time with my friends.

EDIT: wow computer games have taken up my whole life. Since i was like 5 playing on the Playstation1, then gameboy then PS2 then computer...:uhoh:

EDITEDIT: cant wait to see how advance Games will be in another 10 or so years!!

[DarkTalon]

this thread is bullshit, it's just shit the media throws out when they want to blame someone for Americas "crysis(s)" (see ut i did thar)

-we can't blame the irresponsible parents, otherwise they'll stop watching our wonderful programing.

-can't blame kids, they're all cute n' innocent

-can't blame the media (thats us!)

-can't blame the viewer for not taking control of their life (they're watching us!)

-video games can't defend themselves

[rand0m]

I don't think I've ever met a fat, lazy, spotty waste of life that plays wow. Now if you want me to describe the people that love to hate on wow, you got another story.

[staek?]

its personal responsibility man, its your own fault.

QFT

It's all about moderation. People tend to play games to the point where it's a permanent part of their life. Jobs and relationships are destroyed because people can't put down the game they're playing. I actually think it's fine if you play a lot of games, just don't let it get in the way of things that are actually important (Family, friends, jobs etc).

[kazuri]

social interaction

People who play MMO games are interacting socially with far more people than the people who dont play them.

[navid]

it unleashes your personality. that why some are addicted and some arent. you don't gain a new personality by playing video games and become a loser/addict. you were probably a destined loser, and it just showed you whats right.

haha, suckers.

[IGneois]

i didnt read your post but from the thread title im already laughing.


fat people play wow because..well.. theres nothing else they can do.

the end.