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Arngrim
Dragonstar
Joined: 06 Sep 2006
Posts: 173
Location: In a pirate ship waiting to take your mind away
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 Posted: Sun 04 Mar 2007 10:41 Post subject: Video games rot Brains? |
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I want to put an end to the rotting brain theory. I am a constant gamer who plays at least 5 hours of games a day. I have an A- average and have been playing games since i was 2. Can anybody prove me wrong that video games do rot brains? cause i beleive its a bunch of phony balooney.
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the Adventures of Sonic the hedgehog TV show was, and still is, awesome.
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Ragnarok
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Joined: 27 Sep 2004
Posts: 1091
Location: Tucson, AZ, USA.
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| Posted: Sun 04 Mar 2007 11:34 Post subject: |
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Most of what I've heard about the negative effects of video games has focused on linking them with violent behavior, and video game addiction, not specifically with lowered academic proficiency.
However, after doing a few google searches aimed specifically at the last issue, I came up with this, which reads in part:
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GPA was lower in those who played video games for more than one hour. Even though this study cohort had a relatively high overall GPA, the difference between an "A" (less than one hour of video games) versus a "B" (more than one hour of video games) is a significant change in grade. For students who are less academically proficient, this may be especially important. There was also a trend towards a lower GPA in students who watch television for more than one hour. Excessive television has been reported to be associated with poor school performance.
This investigation found that playing console and Internet video games for more than one hour a day has negative social and academic effects in adolescents. This association does not depend on being "addicted" to video games or playing for excessive time periods. Furthermore, there was no difference between playing video games on the Internet or on a console system. The intensive nature of video games is likely to cause this time dependent relationship between video games and behavior disorders, regardless of whether it is over the Internet or on a console system. |
Of course, there could also be some potential positive effects. I remember hearing several months ago about a study which showed that due in part to some detail-oriented TV shows (24, Lost, etc, in which details from one episode are relevant and may need to be recalled even several seasons later), people today are better at assimilating large amounts of information then were people even one or two generations ago who did not have to deal with such programs. I don't think there have been any studies like this done on video games, but I wouldn't be suprised if there were a similar correlation, especially given that in so many games now (especially those in the strategy and RPG categories) there is a huge need for the brain to be able to deal with a large amount of information almost instantly (dealing with a sudden attack or a losing situation in a strategy game, or dealing with equipment and accessories or strategies in RPGs). However, as I've said, I don't think any studies have been done on this issue, so this is my own guess.
EDIT: I found the article: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4762320. It's a 17 minute-long interview and a lot of text at the link, but it's really worth a listen and read.
Arngrim, the main problem with saying "because I do ____, and have no negative effects, therefore ____ has no negative effects" is that in any sample, there are outliers and exceptions. You could be just one such example. Also, there are other factors that need to be taken into account, your age, for example. In elementary school, you can probably get away with lots of gaming because most of the work is very simple. In middle school, it gets a little more difficult, as work becomes more intensive. In high school, course workload can become very time-intensive. In college (or later, in the working world), it becomes even worse, where you may need to spend hours doing a single assignment (or days, if it's larger project). In those latter cases, losing 5+ hours of work time a day to video games will likely have a more negative effect on GPA or on work performance.
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Arngrim
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Joined: 06 Sep 2006
Posts: 173
Location: In a pirate ship waiting to take your mind away
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| Posted: Sun 04 Mar 2007 12:33 Post subject: |
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you are right that i am an exeption. I have a photographic memory, the ability to multitask, I am 16, do not usually have a lot of homework, and I have a lot of time to waste time on video games. I just wanted to lay a passed down parent-to-child rumor that video games rot brains to rest. I have heard that hundreds of times and I want it to stop permanently.
(I think that video games causing violence and unhealthy video game addictions is a bunch of bullspit too.)
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"You Spoony Bard!" Tellah from FF4.
the Adventures of Sonic the hedgehog TV show was, and still is, awesome.
"Igyrari!" Pheonix Wright in Japan. |
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Ragnarok
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Joined: 27 Sep 2004
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Location: Tucson, AZ, USA.
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| Posted: Sun 04 Mar 2007 13:26 Post subject: |
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You can't put any of the myths to rest when study data (see the links in my previous post) says otherwise. You may disagree with it, try to draw alternate conclusions from the data, or whatever you like, but you can't simply dismiss it by saying "I think it's wrong," and expect that to make any sort of a difference.
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To win against an opponent stronger than yourself, you must not be weaker than that opponent. - Takamachi Nanoha |
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Arngrim
Dragonstar
Joined: 06 Sep 2006
Posts: 173
Location: In a pirate ship waiting to take your mind away
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| Posted: Sun 04 Mar 2007 18:13 Post subject: |
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Okay, ill have to convince other people that it is wrong before i fly off the handle like that, I am sorry for the interruption on this page. I am new at debating things, I need to learn more about debate before I try that again.
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"You Spoony Bard!" Tellah from FF4.
the Adventures of Sonic the hedgehog TV show was, and still is, awesome.
"Igyrari!" Pheonix Wright in Japan. |
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scarletnightdragon
Shining Dragonstar
Joined: 04 Apr 2006
Posts: 189
Location: Home...
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| Posted: Wed 07 Mar 2007 9:31 Post subject: |
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i dont think playing games rots your mind.... it it rotted your mind you would be well...dead! 
as for the fact of getting worse grades...its the childs fault for not working hard enough to get the good grades that they want. think about all the game programers! they are supper smart! and the make the games!
so i say no...it does not rot your brain 
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Rayadragon
Shining Dragonstar
Joined: 28 Oct 2003
Posts: 264
Location: Somewhere between reality and imagination
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| Posted: Wed 07 Mar 2007 13:07 Post subject: |
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I think both Ragnarok and Arngrim have valid points. Like Arngrim, when I was younger I played several hours of video games a night, kept up a straight A average, but also had little housework and no job to compete time wise with video game playing. Now, however, I have relativly little free time to devote to game playing. I now play in a week what I used to play in a day (if I'm lucky).
I haven't read Ragnarok's articles yet, but I think there's some validity to the claim that more time playing games means less time studying or doing "real" work. Therefore, your grades would slip or your work would slip.
As a side note: Playing video game's helped my disabled brother's hand to eye coordination tremendously. He can still beat me to a pulp on the old side scroller types.
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SilverDragon
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Joined: 04 Dec 2006
Posts: 97
Location: Enceladus
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| Posted: Thu 08 Mar 2007 4:59 Post subject: |
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I think I pretty much agree with Ragnaroks points.
I beleive that video games are more damaging to the imagination than anyhting else. A bit like TV really, but worse because not only are they vivid they are interactive, meaning the storylines can eally consume your mind..
I don't have any evidence for that (though there's probably some out there somewhere, the internet's a big place). It's just my opinion really. If I were you Arngrim I'd try to spend some of that five hours reading books, they're far better than games!
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