I’m sure that a lot of folks out there are aware of the ongoing debate on whether video games are detrimental, beneficial or negligible to a person’s development.  Personally, I have been playing games all my life and I have not felt my life has been diminished in any way.  I hold two degrees, a steady (and enjoyable) job, successful relationships and a healthy social life.  Granted, my parents were very involved in my development, so perhaps they had a hand in my current happiness but let’s forget their influence and focus on the games.  It seems the argument is that video games only offer our children glimpses into violence, sex, drugs and shady characters.  Furthermore, children see these images and it warps their fragile minds so that one day they will grow up to be mass-murdering lunatics.  First, think about how many video games are sold and how many copycat or game inspired acts of violence occur.  Perhaps I read about a 12 yr old stealing a car to emulate GTA about once every 4 or 5 months.I would have to say that the ratio of game purchasers and violent gamers is fairly askew.  If video games were that damaging, wouldn’t there be about 20 million gamers stealing cars and chasing cops?

As for what type of images our children should be exposed to, haven’t you noticed in other countries where “illicit” images are everywhere (nudity in Italy for example) that it winds up that the so-called illicit behavior becomes less highlighted, less risky.  Italians don’t walk around naked all the time, they understand where it is appropriate and where it is not.  They educate their children to shoo away the taboo and to understand the appropriateness.  I think that if we spent enough time with kids teaching them that violence is only appropriate in a fantasy setting that the whole argument of violence in games would dissolve.  (I also have to point out that a lot of the folks that disparage gaming have never actually played the games themselves.)  I understand that it takes a village to raise a child but ultimately it is the parent’s responsibility.

So here are some of the useful skills and beneficial effects of playing video games: challenges mental dexterity, improves spatial abilities, develops the ability to create and apply multiple strategies, develops critical analyzing techniques, helps the socially inept socialize, helps get fit (Wii), hand-eye coordination (I happen to be blind in one eye, so I can’t tell you how important improving hand-eye coordination really is), imparts education (historic, mythic, cultural), increased concentration, and encourages creativity.  I could keep going but I think you get the point.

Tags: benefits of gaming, debate, gaming, video games, video gaming debate