Videogames and Their Stereotypes
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English Comp. II
8 November, 2012
Videogames and Their Stereotypes Over the past 65 years that videogames have existed, they have slowly but surely gained negative stereotypes such as causing obesity, poor social skills, violence, and laziness in those that play games regularly. In that span of time the games themselves have changed drastically, from controlling a square made up of a few pixels to bounce a ball around, to the sprawling 3D worlds that connect you with players from all around the globe. There is no denying that videogames are here to stay as a major form of entertainment, the question though is what kind of effect this media will have on gamers and society as a whole. Videogames are often seen as a solitary activity, keeping players from having meaningful relationships with other people. In one very extreme instance, there was a couple that was so consumed with playing video games that they ended up neglecting their 3 children to the point that they were malnourished, naked, and covered in their own feces (Henshaw). An addiction to gaming this drastic will obviously lead to being cut off from the outside world, but there are even more ways that games can connect us with other people. It 's always seemed obvious to families that activities like playing board games, make-believe, or even making music together could strengthen the family bond. But in today’s technological age “video games have in fact emerged as a viable option for family game time that can potentially offer great benefits to families who are willing to enjoy them together.” (Steinberg). Playing games with people other than your
, 2 family is also a positive influence on gamers. Most online games today are played internationally. This can introduce you to players of different nationalities and cultures, promoting friendships among people from all over the world. There are many abstract concepts that can easily be learned through games that are otherwise difficult to
English Comp. II
8 November, 2012
Videogames and Their Stereotypes Over the past 65 years that videogames have existed, they have slowly but surely gained negative stereotypes such as causing obesity, poor social skills, violence, and laziness in those that play games regularly. In that span of time the games themselves have changed drastically, from controlling a square made up of a few pixels to bounce a ball around, to the sprawling 3D worlds that connect you with players from all around the globe. There is no denying that videogames are here to stay as a major form of entertainment, the question though is what kind of effect this media will have on gamers and society as a whole. Videogames are often seen as a solitary activity, keeping players from having meaningful relationships with other people. In one very extreme instance, there was a couple that was so consumed with playing video games that they ended up neglecting their 3 children to the point that they were malnourished, naked, and covered in their own feces (Henshaw). An addiction to gaming this drastic will obviously lead to being cut off from the outside world, but there are even more ways that games can connect us with other people. It 's always seemed obvious to families that activities like playing board games, make-believe, or even making music together could strengthen the family bond. But in today’s technological age “video games have in fact emerged as a viable option for family game time that can potentially offer great benefits to families who are willing to enjoy them together.” (Steinberg). Playing games with people other than your
, 2 family is also a positive influence on gamers. Most online games today are played internationally. This can introduce you to players of different nationalities and cultures, promoting friendships among people from all over the world. There are many abstract concepts that can easily be learned through games that are otherwise difficult to
Cited: DoctorSteve03. "I Am an Academic Who Studies What, Why, and How People Learn From Video Games. Ask Me Anything." Reddit.com. N.p., 16 Sept. 2012. Web. 07 Nov. 2012. Henshaw, Jon. "Top 5 Reasons Why Video Games Can Be Bad For You." FamilyResource.com. N.p., 2000. Web. 07 Nov. 2012. "The Positive and Negative Effects of Video Games." RaiseSmartKid.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2012. Steinberg, Scott. "Why Video Games Are Good for Your Kids." The Modern Parent 's Guide to Kids and Video Games. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. ReadWrite.com. 29 Feb. 2012. Web. 7 Nov. 2012.