Vidya gaemz be BAD 4 U! And the Beatles also.

In these days of increasing solitude, obsessive heat and polite resentment towards any human that happens to pass through my seemingly long and empty life trying to cheer it up I have taken up videogaming more and more to take my attention away from all these people who seem to be having so much fun and act like they all are getting laid tonight... I'm not complaining though, I like it that way, I'm used to it. I don't play much actually. 2-4 hours a day, which may seem a lot if one doesn't have comparison with some people who play whole night. Nowadays it's GTA3 mostly. I like GTA-series, but that's another topic. Anyways my mom has been complaining about me being a computer-game-addict or something like that. And when she comes telling me that it is harmful and stuff I politely agree. "Video games are a danger to the public - they spread violence, ignorance and destroy our nations (and not just our nations) health. I should take up something more healthy. Something less time and money consuming. How do smoking, drinking, drugs and partying until I drop sound, mom?" Remember "Musta pori näkku" (you have heard of it most likely, even if you haven't read it)? I'm the most boring person I know, maybe it is because I have to stand myself 24/7 but also the seeming sainthood of my manners that makes me a drag to every party or social event I attend to. Cheapest and most healthy also. This sounds like a pick-up line: "Hey, babe, I'm economically more efficient than your current boyfriend..." *points to the young Greek-god-look-a-like coming out of his BMW mobile with a bottle of champagne*

But anyways, back to the topic. Yes, computer games are a waste of time. I admit that. You can spend hours playing them and achieving nothing in the real life...says a person who spend his/hers nights watching TV (like my mom at the moment). I could read...I would read, but the only book I have to read is a textbook about hypnotism for beginners. It's great stuff and all, but reading it makes me awful sleepy.... Anyways, I could also do something but it's too hot really...I know, I know, I'm making up excuses, but try to do something useful with 30+ degrees Celsius.

Dr T.Roll: "But, Egon, you could go to the beach and also get laid tonight and solve all your problems. Shore side full of desperate hot girls!"

Me: "Yes, my dear who-ever, but to the beach I would go on a bike which might end up bad for me (heatstroke etcetc since heat seems to be cumulative and I had my share yesterday, I won't discuss it here) and also since I'm leaving this place in autumn, so there's no point creating something that will end in a week or four."

Dr T.Roll: "Have you heard about non-commiting recreational things called "one-night stands"?"

Me: "Yes, thank you for implying that I'm an idiot. I have heard but I'm not that handsome and they aren't THAT desperate or that numerous that I could find one even moderately hot (or any kind in that case) and sex-deprived chick from a random beach on a random point of time. So, be quiet. Besides, I'm not complaining about that in that post. Do you ever think about anything else than sexand violence?"

Dr T.Roll"NO! Fine, but you're still a jerk and a computergame addict. Hope you'll be a lonely misery suffering miser until end of your life..."

No doubt in that, but back to the games. I searched a little and found some reasons why they are harmful. Just type in "why are video games bad" and you should find them. In italic are the claims.

1. Video Games Can Be AddictiveAddiction is defined as "The condition of being habitually or compulsively occupied with or involved in something."† Anyone who has really been into video games has experienced this. Kids and adults alike think about getting home and playing games. They also spend a great deal of time reading gaming magazines, participating in online gaming forums, looking for future game releases, and of course, spending countless hours playing games. When they aren't doing any of these things, they're wishing they were.

Yes, but so can one say about breathing or eating. There are people who should play less. Like this guy from some odd Asian who gamed 72 hours straight and died after that due to the heart stroke. Natural selection I say. These people apparently haven't got anything smarter to do. 20 years ago they would have played chess or messed around with something like car engines. In the end, it is a way to SPEND your time and to forget stupid reality which is over-rated anyways. Of course some idiots get obsessed and addicted, be it computergames, chat rooms, vodka or chess. Natural loss.

2. Video Games Can Be Expensive It cost a lot of money to stay current with the latest video games and hardware (console and/or computer). Many gamers spend all of their money on gaming. For example, it's not uncommon for a gamer to have 50-100 games that cost $40-$50 each. They also often have at least 2 different game consoles and 1 high-end PC. This can easily add up to thousands of dollars a year to maintain a typical gamers habits.

I see no problem. I play pirated games...*SWAT team flies in through the roof, laser beams and machine guns and Egon is taken to the secret prison where he shares his cell with islam and christian fundamentalists, a nazi, a serial rapist and a drug addicted teletubbie Po*

3. Video Games Can Hurt RelationshipsThere's often a direct correlation with the amount of time spent playing video games, and the amount of time spent engaging in a quality relationship. In the most extreme example I could find, 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. Although that's an extreme case, I still think there's something to be said about people who spend the majority of their free time playing video games. My guess is that they're probably not dating or pursuing a meaningful relationship in their free time.

Update: A reader brought to my attention an online group dedicated to loved ones who have been affected by their partner's addiction to World of WarCraft (WoW). Their description includes the following

Do you have a loved one that plays World of Warcraft so much that you feel like you are a widow? This group isn't just for wives, but for anyone, husbands, girl or boyfriends, mothers, fathers, sons or daughters, or anyone that has had a relationship effected by this addictive game.

Some people shouldn't breed. This is one of the first things I'm I going to handle, when I become the ruler of this world. Although, mom told me some warning story that she saw in the TV in a show about game addicts (she shouted every supposedly shocking phrase there although I was in the next room, I perfectly heard and understood everything) and there was some story about a boyfriend who didn't notice his girlfriend because he was so taken away by games. What can I say. Girls, if your boyfriend is a jerk who prefers virtual reality over you...or, boys, if your girlfriend keeps annoying you during intense online-gameplay with tedious attempts to have sex, anyways my number is 53225445....I won't host any children or minors though...

4. Video Games Can Be DistractingAvid gamers are similar to people who smoke a lot of marijuana — in that they don't get much done. Reading a good book, taking care of bills, writing an article, inventing something, mowing the lawn, etc... are simply not a priority when it comes to getting to the next level or finishing a game. Many gamers have things they would like to do in life, but they never get around to it, because they spend so much of their time playing games. Then, when they do have time to work on one of their projects, they're too tired to do it, because they stayed up till 3am playing a game.

This is RECREATIONAL activity, which means that this doesn't have to be useful. Only some idiots forget that and take it to seriously. They will remember to do some work and handle the bills when the electricity goes away.... And with the words of Bill Hicks regarding marijuana but relating to the computer games: "They lie about marijuana. They tell that it makes you unmotivated. LIE! When you're high you can do everything you normally do just as well, you just realise that this is not worth the fucking effort."

5. Video Games Can Rob You Of Real Life ExperiencesInstead of taking a trip, mountain biking, or hanging out with friends at a cafe, gamers spend their time in a virtual reality.

Whereas real life experiences bear long lasting friendships and memories, videos games do not. The only pictures that come from video games are screenshots, and the memories that are created from playing those games are ultimately meaningless. Living means interacting, growing, learning, teaching, and loving — none of which can be accomplished in the virtual wasteland of video games

Although it sounds more deep than other claims, it is no really stronger than others. They can't rob anything that you won't give them. Yes, you won't have life or any real-life experiences if you play 18 hours a day. That's why we were given a thing called self-discipline.

6.When playing online, your kid can pick up bad language and behavior from other people,

and may make your kid vulnerable to online dangers.

Online gaming and school....

7.Video games may also have bad effects on some children’s health, including obesity, video-induced seizures. and postural, muscular and skeletal disorders, such as tendonitis, nerve compression, carpal tunnel syndrome

That's why I go jogging everyday. Christ sake, how is it that this is a problem even though around here there even the First Lady advertises sport and in TV you see no game ads. Although I can see how in the USA or some place like that it might be a problem 'cause there it is vice verse.

8.Academic achievement may be negatively related to over-all time spent playing video games. Studies have shown that the more time a kid spends playing video games, the poorer is his performance in school. (Anderson & Dill, 2000; Gentile, Lynch & Walsh, 2004)

9.Games can confuse reality and fantasy.

To the both of them I say: "Use your fucking common sense!" To the parents and children, who I like to believe aren't as stupid as they seem. I played games relatively often and I even got in to the med-school. Maybe I lost a medal because I didn't do all my homework all the time but I don't regret because in some days games were the only thing that helped me to keep my sanity. If your child thinks that he/she can jump from 100 metres and survive (like one in GTA series often does) he/she is so dumb that he/she will disappoint you in the future anyway so it's the best time to get rid of your child while making it seem as an accident...

10.video games teach kids the wrong values. Violent behavior, vengeance and aggression are rewarded. Negotiating and other nonviolent solutions are often not options. Women are often portrayed as weaker characters that are helpless or sexually provocative.

As in others there is a point but...Regarding women, I remember there was this Tomb Raider. Actually many movies, books portray women helpless and weaker. Nobody says that the Bible or Koran are harmful although they propagate the same things...anyways violence-last but no the least. Violence is a natural part of being human. What kind of computer games did Jack The Ripper play? Ivan the Terrible? I bet that if Adolf Hitler would have spent more time killing people in the computer and less time doing it in the real-life, world would be a better place today. In my opinion, computer games to not endorse wrong values or violence more than TV, books or any other part of our culture. In my case other people, books and TV have created more violent fantasies than any computergame ever could/had. If a man wants to kill another man (just because gender became a topic, I say like many military manuals that the word "man" does not implicate a male person always, unless it is stressed, women have the same right to be violent) then he/she will find a reason/motivation everywhere. Anyone remembers Charles Manson? No, he's not related to Marilyn. Few know this nazi asshole today because no matter how fucking crazy massmurderer/serialkiller you are tomorrow you are made into a film and day after that you are forgotten. Anyways search him. He got the inspiration to kill from the Beatles, more exactly their songs. Do you get it? THE FUCKING BEATLES MADE HIM KILL. Surreal songs about unity of humans, drugs, girls and sex, written by the calmest, pacifist people in the World were interpreted as a command to start the race war and mass slaughters. People are killers by the nature and sometimes it acts out with or without games. I, for an example, actually use computer games to vent my violent desires. God know how many school shootings or something like that I would have committed without this way to release my bad emotions.

There is one statement that I agree totally though.

11.Video games do not exercise your kid’s imaginative thinking. Using imagination may be important in developing creativity.

Yes. We are raised in the same culture, in the same environment, before we at least had different real-life experiences, but virtual-life is so unified and so mind killing that sooner or later we will end up with the most boring civilisation in the history with no imagination (which is bad, even if the imagination mostly serves bad purposes like Inquisition). Although I have way too much imagination that needs to be killed off anyway.

What can I conclude? Nothing that you wouldn't already know really-video games are not the safest thing in the world, but when one uses his or hers mind then we can even have a happy ending to this story. Like alcohol an tobacco...bad examples... People (as a mass) are stupid and do stupid things, just don't come to me and start banning things just because some idiot couldn't help him/herself. I believe that computers are evil anyway, but since we have them why not use them for little entertainment - common sense though. And don't give computer to your 4-5 year old also, I'm getting creeps from these young boys and girls, 10 years old or less, talking about head shots and stuff like they just came from Afghanistan....but since the world is going to the hell in a handbasket anyway, let them be...maybe the next generation will be smarter and if they are not, then we got what we deserved....

PS: But the Beatles really were dangerous. This song inspired one of the Mansons followers to kill her (yes her, girls are not so weak afterall, right) victims with a hammer.

Post scriptum scriptum: Made it little more readable.