Dear Frumpy Middle-Aged Mom,
I'm aware that you've received hundreds of responses to your "Video Games were Created By Satan" blog. Most of which were nearly unintelligible or just full of expletives. I would just like to tell you right off the bat that while I disagree with your reasoning, I'm not here to insult you or your beliefs. I only want to perhaps clear up some of the confusion you might have about games, and express my own opinions as a gamer.
First of all, I'd like to start with the story you linked from the Boston Herald. I had read this story when it was first released and dismissed it. But since you are using it as evidence I'd like to give my two cents on the issue. This mother completely over reacted to the situation. Early morning gaming is quite common for most gamers, (usually on weekends and holidays) but even if her child was refusing to obey her, could she not simply unplug the console? If he was playing the game on an Xbox 360, the mother could implement the built in parental controls to set a time limit for her son's gaming. Furthermore, Grand Theft Auto does not offer any specific reward for doing progressivly more violent acts. The game is rated M (17+) by the ESRB. The Entertainment software ratings board was implemented for this exact purpose. The ESRB rating is clearly displayed on both sides of the game box with an explanation as to why the game received said rating. An M rating requires ID to purchase, so the boy's mother had to have been the one to buy the game for her son. Rather than call the police, some simple good parenting and authority would have done wonders.
When do I ponder the universe or develop my own opinions? Pretty much every day. Not only am I an honors student, but I am a voracious reader on my own and frequently have philosophical conversations with my father whom attended bible college. In short, the kids who play games who want to think deeply an analyze the world around them will. Those who wouldn't have in the first place will simply continue to not contribute.
Video games are proven to improve hand eye coordination and problem solving skills. They are not proven however to increase violence and aggression. Anyone who is unable to differentiate between real life and the events unfolding in a video game already has deep seeded emotional or mental issues and should be given help by a professional. Many games like Scribblnauts and Brain Age rely on the player's creativity or logic to solve the puzzles within the game.
Now allow me to take a moment to get on my soapbox and tell you why games appeal to so many, and the double standard that video games suffer. For many, including myself, video games are an escape and a way to release stress. Playing a video game offers an entire new dimension to entertainment. By allowing the player to assume the role of a character, and take that character through moral choices and difficult trials, a bond is formed. I have found myself frequently more emotionally moved by games than books or films. By being a part of the story, and actually experiencing the action and plot, the player learns to solve problems, make moral decisions, and develop analytical skills. I encourage you to try games for yourself, because explaining this to a person who has never played games before is like trying to describe color to someone who was born blind. They simply can't comprehend it. (By the way that analogy came from a video game. Mass Effect, a science fiction role playing game with branching dialogue options and different consequences depending on the player's choices throughout the game.) It truly puzzles me as to why video games receive so much flak, when movies like Saw and Hostel portray nothing but human torture that looks much more realistic than anything modern video games can produce.
In the end it truly comes down to the parents. You have every right to stop your son from playing video games, but I think you should hear the story from the gaming community's side. If your child is spending too much time playing games, limit the time he is allowed to play, or take it away if the problem persists. Parents have plenty of tools to monitor what and how much their kids play, so demonizing all games with rash generalizations is a little unwarranted.
I hope you don't take offense to my criticisms, I only wish to exert my own opinion.
-This is my email to her. I thought some of you might like to read it. I don't know why. All I got was thanks for responding as her reply.
