GAMERS HAVE NO LIVES, ARE ANTI-SOCIAL, DANGEROUS, AND AMOUNT TO NOTHING! im jk. but my teacher isnt. i know the "video games are bad for you" has already been beaten to death by our dear and loving senators, but today in english, i witnessed possibly the most bigoted persuasive speech ever. My teacher was "teaching" us about counter-arguements and presenting both sides of an issue. She decided to give us two handouts with essays on them. One "supported" the anti-video game side. The other article...also supported it. How exactly is that presenting both sides of an issue? Context aside, the articles were well written, but the support for it was not in context. The most common support/reason/detail/fact was that video games increase agression, because a scientist saw the brain grow... Then the teacher decided it was time for her to add her 2 cents in and liberate her vulnerable students from the negative influence of video games. In her 25 minute rant and discussion time, my teacher asserted that gamers:
-had no life, because they constantly sit in front of their computer and play violent computer games like doom (excuse me, i would like to add that GTA is also violent) -were violent and aggressive because of these video games -because of the apparent aggression, gamers have a negative relationship with their family. -gamer's hack into the internet and steal money and identities. -are obsessed with computer parts, and therefore are broke -which can lead to criminal behavior -they also do bad in school -other things that cannot be mentioned in our brotherhood of gamers.
So basically, her thesis is the title.
Discussion time was limited to us only being allowed to support her rant. When i attempted to refute her points, i was labeled as a gamer. Sigh, im half expecting to be called a terrorist tomorrow.
1. Gamers do have a life. I am in a band, i practice 3x a week. I go to church on Sundays, and i do not hang out in front of internet cafes. 2. Im actually rather mellow, and calm. I try to analyze things in a logical way before voicing my opinion 3. I have a good relationship with my family, my grandparents come over every year, and we spend the summer watching baseball games, or going to see the Sacramento Rivercats. (04 CHAMPS!) 4. I have no idea how to hack, yet the real term is "crack", not hack 5. I enjoy upgrading my computer, how is it any different from a hobby in liking fast cars, and working on your car on a Saturday 6. I have never been arrested, nor am I in any lack of money. I work at Carl's Jr. 7. I have a 4.25 GPA
sigh, again... are there really people so misinformed and bigoted in America?
this happen to you guys? ever seen it? tell me about it. >.
GAMERS HAVE NO LIVES, ARE ANTI-SOCIAL, DANGEROUS, AND AMOUNT TO NOTHING! im jk. but my teacher isnt. i know the "video games are bad for you" has already been beaten to death by our dear and loving senators, but today in english, i witnessed possibly the most bigoted persuasive speech ever. My teacher was "teaching" us about counter-arguements and presenting both sides of an issue. She decided to give us two handouts with essays on them. One "supported" the anti-video game side. The other article...also supported it. How exactly is that presenting both sides of an issue? Context aside, the articles were well written, but the support for it was not in context. The most common support/reason/detail/fact was that video games increase agression, because a scientist saw the brain grow... Then the teacher decided it was time for her to add her 2 cents in and liberate her vulnerable students from the negative influence of video games. In her 25 minute rant and discussion time, my teacher asserted that gamers:
-had no life, because they constantly sit in front of their computer and play violent computer games like doom (excuse me, i would like to add that GTA is also violent) -were violent and aggressive because of these video games -because of the apparent aggression, gamers have a negative relationship with their family. -gamer's hack into the internet and steal money and identities. -are obsessed with computer parts, and therefore are broke -which can lead to criminal behavior -they also do bad in school -other things that cannot be mentioned in our brotherhood of gamers.
So basically, her thesis is the title.
Discussion time was limited to us only being allowed to support her rant. When i attempted to refute her points, i was labeled as a gamer. Sigh, im half expecting to be called a terrorist tomorrow.
1. Gamers do have a life. I am in a band, i practice 3x a week. I go to church on Sundays, and i do not hang out in front of internet cafes. 2. Im actually rather mellow, and calm. I try to analyze things in a logical way before voicing my opinion 3. I have a good relationship with my family, my grandparents come over every year, and we spend the summer watching baseball games, or going to see the Sacramento Rivercats. (04 CHAMPS!) 4. I have no idea how to hack, yet the real term is "crack", not hack 5. I enjoy upgrading my computer, how is it any different from a hobby in liking fast cars, and working on your car on a Saturday 6. I have never been arrested, nor am I in any lack of money. I work at Carl's Jr. 7. I have a 4.25 GPA
sigh, again... are there really people so misinformed and bigoted in America?
this happen to you guys? ever seen it? tell me about it. >.frost_mourne13
Tell your teacher that I know a lot of doctors and engineers who love to play video-games. They all have a higher education than she does, I also bet they got higher grades than her in school. They have jobs they like, love their families, make good money and some of them save lives, what's more fulfilling than that? I wonder what scientific study that woman is basing her opinions on?
Tell you're teach what is the difference: TV: -Violent shows with guns -the average American (I'm a american, no offense to anyone) watches about 7 hours of TV A DAY. -did I say violence? -Violent music videos talking about sex, drugs, killing, blah blah etc. or Video Games: -Interactive violence -Sitting there for 7 hours also -did I miss anything? yeah no difference really.
i think she was referring to a generic mold/stereotype that the public has about people who play video games. i believe there was an article a few weeks back, i dont remember which one, that said how scientists checked the brain of gamers 30 minutes after playing doom or some game and noticed that the part of the brain that releases emotion was enlarged...it didnt explain what would happen after 1 hour, or 2 days.
If i heard ur uninformed teacher id prolly start telling her that she doesent know what teh hell shes talking about and she should stop before she embaresses herself any more. I mean how dumb can you get? by going on that rant she automatically exposed herself as a superficial stereotyper. please for me, tell her that because if i were in the classroom i wouldve said that without a doubt. I say u print this (all of these) and show it to her. You cant get any better counter arguements than what angry gamers will post here. plus shell prolly give u extra credit for bringing in material out of class:)
Ive been growing up being told to never ever stereotype and here i see possibly the biggest stereotyper ever. i mean she literally has no facts whatsoever in there. there all "steryotypes society has created over the years" as someone earlier said.
Your teacher sounds like an imbecile that shouldn't even be teaching in the first place. Having an opinion is fine but when she comes up with those kind of absurd generalizations you know something is very wrong. She also doesn't seem to knowledgeable on the subject if she thinks gamers steal money and identities.
i think she was referring to a generic mold/stereotype that the public has about people who play video games. i believe there was an article a few weeks back, i dont remember which one, that said how scientists checked the brain of gamers 30 minutes after playing doom or some game and noticed that the part of the brain that releases emotion was enlarged...it didnt explain what would happen after 1 hour, or 2 days. frost_mourne13
Well, I am a medical student on my 5. year and I would love to read that article, if you have a link, I'd appreciate it.
I'd rather have my kids sit in front of a computer screen and play a great game for a few hours than watch any of the bollocks that comes out of TVland or hollywood or, in this case, your teachers mouth. What other entertainment media allows you to practice critical thinking, hand-eye co-ordination, problem solving and experiance well crafted stories expertly told. If i were you i'd write a formal complaint detailing exactly how close minded she is, and describe your wish not to be tought by an idiot. If she can't form an intelligant unbiased opinion on video games how is she expected to teach her subject without bias.
Oh, well then your teacher was just on her period. Don't think anything about it.Â
Anyways, the only people who say these things don't know anything about video games to begin with. They are the same people who buy GTA for their kid and then are SO SHOCKED when it has profanity in it. They probably couldn't find the power button on a damn 360 (hint its the BIG one).
Life is what you make it. Doing what you love is priceless. Gaming is social. I made more friends because of it. Games bring people together. I'm a better person because of it. Games can be dangerous but wouldn't let a 4 yr old use the stove now, would you? There's alot of people who QUIT college because they landed 6 figure income jobs thanks to computers and gaming. His name is Bill Gates, maybe she's heard of him. Â
Oh, well then your teacher was just on her period. Don't think anything about it.Â
Anyways, the only people who say these things don't know anything about video games to begin with. They are the same people who buy GTA for their kid and then are SO SHOCKED when it has profanity in it. They probably couldn't find the power button on a damn 360 (hint its the BIG one).
Life is what you make it. Doing what you love is priceless. Gaming is social. I made more friends because of it. Games bring people together. I'm a better person because of it. Games can be dangerous but wouldn't let a 4 yr old use the stove now, would you? There's alot of people who QUIT college because they landed 6 figure income jobs thanks to computers and gaming. His name is Bill Gates, maybe she's heard of him. Â godofratz
you know, i probably will, and do my very best to refute her point. frost_mourne13
if shes stuborn then just say screw it, shes stuborn. theres no arguing with stuborn people because theyre so blinded by their own bull**** ideas of the world that they wont open theyre minds to new concepts.
my teacher is really good at debating, but ill settle for at least convincing my class. frost_mourne13
who cares about what she thinks? teh point is to get that steryotype out of everyones heads. All u need to say is stop stereotyping and thats how racism started.
ooh, thats good. She won't challenge the racism card... Have you guys ever had something like this happen? i know some teachers/parents actually care and wish the best for their kids, but i think something like this is just emotional ranting, and if its her opinion, she shouldnt force it down out throats, because some of us know the truth of the matter.
ooh, thats good. She won't challenge the racism card... Have you guys ever had something like this happen? i know some teachers/parents actually care and wish the best for their kids, but i think something like this is just emotional ranting, and if its her opinion, she shouldnt force it down out throats, because some of us know the truth of the matter. frost_mourne13
tell her about that forcing down our throats thing to.
haha, that guy has some balls. funny tho, he is right in some ways, but he cant stereotype and expect everyone to believe it, i think most are nerdy and have no social skills. but thats most, i havnt met all.
Have you guys ever had something like this happen? frost_mourne13
I've had a teacher call all video games the "Devil's toy" and refer to anyone who plays them as people who waste their lives away. Another teacher (huge sexist) says that guys play video games in general more than girls because, since they aren't as smart, they are more easily entertained. :|
she...my english teacher is a woman, a frail looking woman. not that i have anything against women... my friend never played DOD, then the first time she played she killed me 3 times out of 5...
Seriously, if your teacher needs some evidence, just tell her to contact many of us on this board. We seem to be a diverse crowd! I thought my gaming and normal life was over when I joined the Peace Corps, but I lucked out and now I teach IT. On the days when we have electricity, I get to teach applications and curriculum development. On the days we have free time AND electricity, I get to show them new games and technologies. And if my weekends are taken with community development, I take a break and sit down with the game of the week, which is currently Gothic 3. Gotta love life in the barangay!
Good luck in your debate, but don't be discouraged if they completely reject your arguements. Just content yourself that while they accuse you of wasting your time with your favorite RTS, at least you didn't spend your entire evening watching reality shows.
[QUOTE="frost_mourne13"]Have you guys ever had something like this happen? AlbertE-
I've had a teacher call all video games the "Devil's toy" and refer to anyone who plays them as people who waste their lives away. Another teacher (huge sexist) says that guys play video games in general more than girls because, since they aren't as smart, they are more easily entertained. :| rofl i wouldnt waste my time on argueing with that one. shes an utter N000BBB FATTTEEE
Seriously, if your teacher needs some evidence, just tell her to contact many of us on this board. We seem to be a diverse crowd! I thought my gaming and normal life was over when I joined the Peace Corps, but I lucked out and now I teach IT. On the days when we have electricity, I get to teach applications and curriculum development. On the days we have free time AND electricity, I get to show them new games and technologies. And if my weekends are taken with community development, I take a break and sit down with the game of the week, which is currently Gothic 3. Gotta love life in the barangay!
Good luck in your debate, but don't be discouraged if they completely reject your arguements. Just content yourself that while they accuse you of wasting your time with your favorite RTS, at least you didn't spend your entire evening watching reality shows. akeanon
i agree, how could one be an mongering, shifty gamer if your in peace corps and helping people around the world. i think this just shows that its not the video games that makes a person bad, its the person.... just like guns dont kill
GAMERS HAVE NO LIVES, ARE ANTI-SOCIAL, DANGEROUS, AND AMOUNT TO NOTHING! im jk. but my teacher isnt. i know the "video games are bad for you" has already been beaten to death by our dear and loving senators, but today in english, i witnessed possibly the most bigoted persuasive speech ever. My teacher was "teaching" us about counter-arguements and presenting both sides of an issue. She decided to give us two handouts with essays on them. One "supported" the anti-video game side. The other article...also supported it. How exactly is that presenting both sides of an issue? Context aside, the articles were well written, but the support for it was not in context. The most common support/reason/detail/fact was that video games increase agression, because a scientist saw the brain grow... Then the teacher decided it was time for her to add her 2 cents in and liberate her vulnerable students from the negative influence of video games. In her 25 minute rant and discussion time, my teacher asserted that gamers:
-had no life, because they constantly sit in front of their computer and play violent computer games like doom (excuse me, i would like to add that GTA is also violent) -were violent and aggressive because of these video games -because of the apparent aggression, gamers have a negative relationship with their family. -gamer's hack into the internet and steal money and identities. -are obsessed with computer parts, and therefore are broke -which can lead to criminal behavior -they also do bad in school -other things that cannot be mentioned in our brotherhood of gamers.
So basically, her thesis is the title.
Discussion time was limited to us only being allowed to support her rant. When i attempted to refute her points, i was labeled as a gamer. Sigh, im half expecting to be called a terrorist tomorrow.
1. Gamers do have a life. I am in a band, i practice 3x a week. I go to church on Sundays, and i do not hang out in front of internet cafes. 2. Im actually rather mellow, and calm. I try to analyze things in a logical way before voicing my opinion 3. I have a good relationship with my family, my grandparents come over every year, and we spend the summer watching baseball games, or going to see the Sacramento Rivercats. (04 CHAMPS!) 4. I have no idea how to hack, yet the real term is "crack", not hack 5. I enjoy upgrading my computer, how is it any different from a hobby in liking fast cars, and working on your car on a Saturday 6. I have never been arrested, nor am I in any lack of money. I work at Carl's Jr. 7. I have a 4.25 GPA
sigh, again... are there really people so misinformed and bigoted in America?
this happen to you guys? ever seen it? tell me about it. >.frost_mourne13
 I think your "Teacher" needs to inform her self more. I love to play games, Violent ones also but only for entertainment purposes. After im done playing, i have no desire or intention to grab a gun and start trying to kill someone. As someones else stated here on this forum.. Television is just as bad, if not worse than Gaming.. Music Videos talking about smoking blunts, Killin *****'s, F**n Hoe's, and other great shows that involve young teens talking about "OmG, Like.. OmG im totally Hot, and like... Me and Brad Had a really, Like HOT night" Pushing sexual situations on younger viewers. I play alot of games and i have a great relationship with my family, Alot of friends,  I have a Job as a System/Network Admin here in NYC, a wonderful fiance that likes to play games too. Games do not change the way i think or my attitude in anyway.
[QUOTE="artur79"] Tell your teacher that I know a lot of doctors and engineers who love to play video-games. They all have a higher education than she does, I also bet they got higher grades than her in school. They have jobs they like, love their families, make good money and some of them save lives, what's more fulfilling than that? I wonder what scientific study that woman is basing her opinions on? I'm an engineer-to-be, myself.
yES! i found it.... here it is dude... http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16099971/
frost_mourne13
Well, first of all this article says that there might be a correlation between violent games and certain reactions in your brain (like amygdala, the emotion center). And there's still a lot of studies that have to be made in this area. Maybe Manhunt or Gears of War are making children more aggressive, hey, COD 3 on Veteran made me mad as hell, but to draw a conclusion that kids shoot each other because of videogames, I don't know... You never know how a boy with some behavioral disorder will react, but most kids are "normal" and they know what's right and what's wrong. If they have parents that care, that is. I hope your teacher did not use this article to draw all the other ridiculous conclusions like "gamers have no life, are criminals" and so on. This article said no such thing. Just because an MRI shows that your amygdala is more active while playing a violent game does not automatically make you a criminal or a bad person. It is also interesting that watching violent Rocky-clips give the same results as playing Call of Duty. Last time you saw Rocky, did it make your relationship with your family worse, did it make you go out and steal a REALLY expensive DVD-player?
really, thanks guys for your opinions. (aka fact =P) Im going to use some of these statements in my upcoming persuasive essay, if its ok with you guys. Hopefully when i read it in front of my class, ill "drive that sterotype out of their heads" (ps what a wonderful figure of speech) Again thanks for the affirmation, i feel justified that i have a right to stop this nonsense from my teacher
guys, if you dont want me quoting you in my essay, please tell me. i dont want to get sued or get an f for plagarizing...
that would confirm her suspicions. if i were to confront her i would have to confront her with solid logical evidence supporting my "opinion" though i admit it would feel a lot better if i did hit her...but then she would probably die..XD then everyone would go "Buuuuurrrnnnn"
you will probably run into a wall trying to explain specifically why videogames don't make people violent. i mean, everything contributes to our violence. instead, you should just try to separate violence itself from any scapegoat.  explain that violence is a human trait as old as time, and if someone is predisposed to violent, obsessive behavior (i'd look at family first), almost anything can fuel that fire. it's up to the individual (starting w/ parents while still a child) to help put that "character defect" in check.
sounds like your teacher has a gamer in the family...
Yup its amazing that that level of bigotry, ignorance, and prejudice is still around in this day and age; and from a teacher no less. I would have asked for credible scientific/documented proof of those statements. I'll admit I'm no social butterfly but I'm not anti-social, have never been arrested, and I was in the top percentage of my graduating class.
whatever argument she has that blames videogames, can be boiled down to human characteristics. all of those things you mentioned were problems looooooong before videogames came along. obsessive gaming (or anything) can make the problems bigger, but your teacher would have to be an absolute fool not to see that the real issues are with the person, not the product.
I think that is completely wrong that your teacher thinks this. It just goes to show the lack of well educated people in America. Im not bagging America or anything (I live in Australia btw) but it is stupid that someone with the views as your teacher is allowed to teach mate. If she thinks this about gamers I can't imagine whate she would say about important issues such as cloning or terrorism.
I also have a teacher at my school who sounds alot like yuor teacher. She is one eyed and Believes averyone with an oppinion differing to that of her own is wrong. I have told her this on many occasions and she just sends me out of class because she knows im right hahahahah. My teacher is also sexist. Your teacher may be saying these things because most gamers are obviously male.
Oh wow, you too? I'm getting constantly bombarded with arguments from my parents and teachers. They never seem to understand the benefits of video games. I have a thread too that shows how my parents and teachers are stating negative things about video games, yet they have no evidence. Also, I see that you're from Elk Grove, same city I'm in. We should meet and argue out our parents or something one day -.- P.S. Can I get free fries at Carl's Jr if I see you? xD
I didn't read all the posts in this thread, so excuse me is someone already said this. But keep in mind that you must not let what anyone tells you or tries to teach you offend you. Take it with an objective grain of salt and don't let it get to you. As far as teachers go, this old saying comes to mind, "Those who CAN, DO. Those who CAN'T, teach."
I didn't read all the posts in this thread, so excuse me is someone already said this. But keep in mind that you must not let what anyone tells you or tries to teach you offend you. Take it with an objective grain of salt and don't let it get to you. As far as teachers go, this old saying comes to mind, "Those who CAN, DO. Those who CAN'T, teach."1Lonehawk
I know some great teachers: but a large majority of them teach in private schools/colleges or those who excel and teach in the public system tend to teach at the undergrad level and up. Not to say there aren't some good teachers in the public high school system, but there do seem to be a lot of duds. Â
Â
That sounds like a really painful English class you had to endure, sorry to hear it. Not as painful as this download time I am experiencing on the supreme commander demo though :-(
It sounds like your teacher's husband plays WoW and she's mad that digital elves are getting more lovin' than she is because she's a real life troll.buckfush311
she...my english teacher is a woman, a frail looking woman. not that i have anything against women... my friend never played DOD, then the first time she played she killed me 3 times out of 5... frost_mourne13
I'm assuming she's also somewhat old, right? Like over 40-50? Our generation that grew up with NES socially accept gaming moreso than the ones around +40.Â
I'd say just wait about 10 years or so, and they'll all die out or will be too senile to care about it anymore. :wink:
Log in to comment