What? Parents care more about violent video games than drinking?

http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/playback/playback-10/1241359

I don't believe this. That's messed up.

http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/playback/playback-10/1241359

I don't believe this. That's messed up.

Slick_Rican

No, it's not. Video games are something parents have to constantly worry about. Drinking can be done responsibly, even by teenagers. If I were my parents, I would certainly trust me to drink responsibly. The same goes for all of my friends. FFS, I bonded with my best friend's dad over a couple of glasses of scotch when I was fourteen. For some families, drinking simply isn't a worry.

But video games? Habitual gaming takes the place of alcohol abuse. They can't get access to alcohol as minors, but they CAN get access to games. It's just as addictive, and it's just as destructive to a teenager's sense of responsibility as alcohol abuse is to an adult.

THAT is why parents worry more about video games than drinking.

According to that, parents are also more worried about violent games than teenage sex...

Whoever these parents were that contributed to this, shouldn't be parents. Period. They should be forced to wear helmets at all times. And ball gags, so noone ever has to hear their idiotic thoughts.

[QUOTE="Slick_Rican"]

http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/playback/playback-10/1241359

I don't believe this. That's messed up.

mjarantilla

No, it's not. Video games are something parents have to constantly worry about. Drinking can be done responsibly, even by teenagers. If I were my parents, I would certainly trust me to drink responsibly. The same goes for all of my friends. FFS, I bonded with my best friend's dad over a couple of glasses of scotch when I was fourteen. For some families, drinking simply isn't a worry.

But video games? Habitual gaming takes the place of alcohol abuse. They can't get access to alcohol as minors, but they CAN get access to games. It's just as addictive, and it's just as destructive to a teenager's sense of responsibility as alcohol abuse is to an adult.

THAT is why parents worry more about video games than drinking.

Did you just call video games as destructive as alcohol? You say that "For some families, drinking simply isn't a worry". And video games is a worry in every family? It would be ridiculous to say so. You also say that drinking can be done responsibly. But video games can't be?

Well obviously... playing a video game that shows drinking might actually lead to drinking...

That's why they care more about video games than drinking. :?

Ignorant, irresponible parents are doing more to mentally destroy the worlds children than drugs, booze, and video games combined.

lol, irony.

Everything can be done responsibly, but with sex, drinking, sports, video games, children and teenagers may not be mature enough to be responsible. It's up to parents to maintain some level of control, yes, but also educate their children and set guidelines. I can see how some might believe that video games are worse than sex or drinking, since there is so much media attention, and in most cases can seem innocuous. Parents often times don't spend the time to understand, telling themselves they just don't understand video gaming. That's a crock, and a cop out.jimkabrhel

It's pretty easy to teach kids how to drink responsibly, because kids KNOW that drinking is "bad." But they don't consider games to be bad, so it's harder for parents to get their kids to take the detrimental effects of video games seriously.

[QUOTE="jimkabrhel"]Everything can be done responsibly, but with sex, drinking, sports, video games, children and teenagers may not be mature enough to be responsible. It's up to parents to maintain some level of control, yes, but also educate their children and set guidelines. I can see how some might believe that video games are worse than sex or drinking, since there is so much media attention, and in most cases can seem innocuous. Parents often times don't spend the time to understand, telling themselves they just don't understand video gaming. That's a crock, and a cop out.mjarantilla

It's pretty easy to teach kids how to drink responsibly, because kids KNOW that drinking is "bad." But they don't consider games to be bad, so it's harder for parents to get their kids to take the detrimental effects of video games seriously.

Kids know drinking is bad, but that doesn't mean they'll drink responsibly. Drinking alcohol is just as addictive as violent video games, and it has effects that can destroy your family, friends, etc.

[QUOTE="mjarantilla"]

[QUOTE="jimkabrhel"]Everything can be done responsibly, but with sex, drinking, sports, video games, children and teenagers may not be mature enough to be responsible. It's up to parents to maintain some level of control, yes, but also educate their children and set guidelines. I can see how some might believe that video games are worse than sex or drinking, since there is so much media attention, and in most cases can seem innocuous. Parents often times don't spend the time to understand, telling themselves they just don't understand video gaming. That's a crock, and a cop out.tmatte

It's pretty easy to teach kids how to drink responsibly, because kids KNOW that drinking is "bad." But they don't consider games to be bad, so it's harder for parents to get their kids to take the detrimental effects of video games seriously.

Kids know drinking is bad, but that doesn't mean they'll drink responsibly. Drinking alcohol is just as addictive as violent video games, and it has effects that can destroy your family, friends, etc.

[QUOTE="Slick_Rican"]

http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/playback/playback-10/1241359

I don't believe this. That's messed up.

mjarantilla

No, it's not. Video games are something parents have to constantly worry about. Drinking can be done responsibly, even by teenagers. If I were my parents, I would certainly trust me to drink responsibly. The same goes for all of my friends. FFS, I bonded with my best friend's dad over a couple of glasses of scotch when I was fourteen. For some families, drinking simply isn't a worry.

But video games? Habitual gaming takes the place of alcohol abuse. They can't get access to alcohol as minors, but they CAN get access to games. It's just as addictive, and it's just as destructive to a teenager's sense of responsibility as alcohol abuse is to an adult.

THAT is why parents worry more about video games than drinking.

You make it sound like video games can not be played responsibly.

http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/playback/playback-10/1241359

I don't believe this. That's messed up.

Slick_Rican

According to that, parents are also more worried about violent games than teenage sex...

Whoever these parents were that contributed to this, shouldn't be parents. Period. They should be forced to wear helmets at all times. And ball gags, so noone ever has to hear their idiotic thoughts.

ericsp2081

There's nothing wrong with teenage sex. As long you have the proper swim gear, I say, dive right in.

[QUOTE="ericsp2081"]

According to that, parents are also more worried about violent games than teenage sex...

Whoever these parents were that contributed to this, shouldn't be parents. Period. They should be forced to wear helmets at all times. And ball gags, so noone ever has to hear their idiotic thoughts.

DragonFlyJ

There's nothing wrong with teenage sex. As long you have the proper swim gear, I say, dive right in.

Sex can be addictive you know. :p

[QUOTE="mjarantilla"][QUOTE="Slick_Rican"]

http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/playback/playback-10/1241359

I don't believe this. That's messed up.

AAllxxjjnn

No, it's not. Video games are something parents have to constantly worry about. Drinking can be done responsibly, even by teenagers. If I were my parents, I would certainly trust me to drink responsibly. The same goes for all of my friends. FFS, I bonded with my best friend's dad over a couple of glasses of scotch when I was fourteen. For some families, drinking simply isn't a worry.

But video games? Habitual gaming takes the place of alcohol abuse. They can't get access to alcohol as minors, but they CAN get access to games. It's just as addictive, and it's just as destructive to a teenager's sense of responsibility as alcohol abuse is to an adult.

THAT is why parents worry more about video games than drinking.

You make it sound like video games can not be played responsibly.

They can, but the line between "responsible gaming" and "abusive gaming" is much thinner than the line between "responsible drinking" and "abusive drinking." It's much easier to slip into abuse with gaming.

[QUOTE="jimkabrhel"]Everything can be done responsibly, but with sex, drinking, sports, video games, children and teenagers may not be mature enough to be responsible. It's up to parents to maintain some level of control, yes, but also educate their children and set guidelines. I can see how some might believe that video games are worse than sex or drinking, since there is so much media attention, and in most cases can seem innocuous. Parents often times don't spend the time to understand, telling themselves they just don't understand video gaming. That's a crock, and a cop out.mjarantilla

It's pretty easy to teach kids how to drink responsibly, because kids KNOW that drinking is "bad." But they don't consider games to be bad, so it's harder for parents to get their kids to take the detrimental effects of video games seriously.

What a stupid point.. Video games can just as easilly be monitored hell it can be monitored hundred times better with teh ability to program games to only be able to ply a few hours tops a day.. Alochol is not only a mental attachment its a addictive drug phyiscally.. So you fail buddy, Video games are just a habit.. One can say that reading can have the exact same affects of addiction as video games.

[QUOTE="AAllxxjjnn"][QUOTE="mjarantilla"][QUOTE="Slick_Rican"]

http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/playback/playback-10/1241359

I don't believe this. That's messed up.

mjarantilla

No, it's not. Video games are something parents have to constantly worry about. Drinking can be done responsibly, even by teenagers. If I were my parents, I would certainly trust me to drink responsibly. The same goes for all of my friends. FFS, I bonded with my best friend's dad over a couple of glasses of scotch when I was fourteen. For some families, drinking simply isn't a worry.

But video games? Habitual gaming takes the place of alcohol abuse. They can't get access to alcohol as minors, but they CAN get access to games. It's just as addictive, and it's just as destructive to a teenager's sense of responsibility as alcohol abuse is to an adult.

THAT is why parents worry more about video games than drinking.

You make it sound like video games can not be played responsibly.

They can, but the line between "responsible gaming" and "abusive gaming" is much thinner than the line between "responsible drinking" and "abusive drinking." It's much easier to slip into abuse with gaming.

False.. Video games is like any activity tha can be absued.. There is no thin line about it.. Its just like any hobby.. You have no evidence to show that its difference because it ISN'T.. While drinking in general not only affects your judgement, giving you mental addiction like your video games.. But it gives you PHYSICAL addiction.. There is a difference, gaming is not like the addiciton of drugs.

Saying Video games are more adictive than drinking is like saying stamp collecting can be more destructive than drinking. The only "Gaming addiction" I have ever seen is in MMO games that require players to invest months or even years into it. Like any Hobby it can become destructive in the worst ways.

But drinking also causes not only a mental, but also physical addiction. just because drinking is not a problem for "some" children doesnt mean it's the bane of teenage issues below drugs.

This survery was conducted on the web correct? well the web is a small fraction of the parents out there today, perhaps the fact that most parrents who are addept at using the internet would know the issues of violent video games more than they do about underaged drinking. it's a skewed poll if you ask me.

Saying Video games are more adictive than drinking is like saying stamp collecting can be more destructive than drinking. The only "Gaming addiction" I have ever seen is in MMO games that require players to invest months or even years into it. Like any Hobby it can become destructive in the worst ways.

But drinking also causes not only a mental, but also physical addiction. just because drinking is not a problem for "some" children doesnt mean it's the bane of teenage issues below drugs.

This survery was conducted on the web correct? well the web is a small fraction of the parents out there today, perhaps the fact that most parrents who are addept at using the internet would know the issues of violent video games more than they do about underaged drinking. it's a skewed poll if you ask me.

Jynxzor

Not to mention that the poll it self, the parents did not care about video game addiction.. They cared about violence caused from violent video games.. Which there has been no correlation.. Though some striking cocidences have been made.. Notice that A) Sense the internet has boomed along with teh pornography industry, rape has plummeted in the past decades by a huge amount..

B) Then on top of that look at the fact that violent crimes has not been going up it has been drasticially going down.. It is infact at a all time low!

Clearly drinking can be a far more trying concern.. Though in all honesty I think all those catagories are overblown to the extreme..

[QUOTE="jimkabrhel"]Everything can be done responsibly, but with sex, drinking, sports, video games, children and teenagers may not be mature enough to be responsible. It's up to parents to maintain some level of control, yes, but also educate their children and set guidelines. I can see how some might believe that video games are worse than sex or drinking, since there is so much media attention, and in most cases can seem innocuous. Parents often times don't spend the time to understand, telling themselves they just don't understand video gaming. That's a crock, and a cop out.mjarantilla

It's pretty easy to teach kids how to drink responsibly, because kids KNOW that drinking is "bad." But they don't consider games to be bad, so it's harder for parents to get their kids to take the detrimental effects of video games seriously.

It's been a while since you were a teenager, hasn't it? Anyone who is one or has recently been a teenager knows that there are plenty of things they KNOW that are bad, but they do it anyways because they damn well pleased.

[QUOTE="Slick_Rican"]

http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/playback/playback-10/1241359

I don't believe this. That's messed up.

mjarantilla

No, it's not. Video games are something parents have to constantly worry about. Drinking can be done responsibly, even by teenagers. If I were my parents, I would certainly trust me to drink responsibly. The same goes for all of my friends. FFS, I bonded with my best friend's dad over a couple of glasses of scotch when I was fourteen. For some families, drinking simply isn't a worry.

But video games? Habitual gaming takes the place of alcohol abuse. They can't get access to alcohol as minors, but they CAN get access to games. It's just as addictive, and it's just as destructive to a teenager's sense of responsibility as alcohol abuse is to an adult.

THAT is why parents worry more about video games than drinking.

Ok....my parents never cared what I played or watched, and I didn't let that effect me. But no matter who you are, alcohol does effect you. Drinking shouldn't be something you just do, it's to relieve stress, or maybe to enjoy a wonderous moment just a little better. I've never heard of someone getting killed in a car accident, or killing someone else in a car accident because of a video game. Not to mention alcoholism, which you clearly have no understanding of. Comparing alcoholism to video games is like comparing cancer to a common cold...it's just insane. So please stop.

[QUOTE="Slick_Rican"]

http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/playback/playback-10/1241359

I don't believe this. That's messed up.

mjarantilla

No, it's not. Video games are something parents have to constantly worry about. Drinking can be done responsibly, even by teenagers. If I were my parents, I would certainly trust me to drink responsibly. The same goes for all of my friends. FFS, I bonded with my best friend's dad over a couple of glasses of scotch when I was fourteen. For some families, drinking simply isn't a worry.

But video games? Habitual gaming takes the place of alcohol abuse. They can't get access to alcohol as minors, but they CAN get access to games. It's just as addictive, and it's just as destructive to a teenager's sense of responsibility as alcohol abuse is to an adult.

THAT is why parents worry more about video games than drinking.

Yes, because I'm sure video games have caused more deaths than alcohol related incidents. According to MADD, "In 2006, an estimated 17,602 people died in alcohol-related traffic crashes." That is only traffic related and does not include domestic violence and all the other social problems caused by alcohol. Alcohol is infintately more destructive than video games will ever to to teenagers and adults.

[QUOTE="AAllxxjjnn"][QUOTE="mjarantilla"][QUOTE="Slick_Rican"]

http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/playback/playback-10/1241359

I don't believe this. That's messed up.

mjarantilla

No, it's not. Video games are something parents have to constantly worry about. Drinking can be done responsibly, even by teenagers. If I were my parents, I would certainly trust me to drink responsibly. The same goes for all of my friends. FFS, I bonded with my best friend's dad over a couple of glasses of scotch when I was fourteen. For some families, drinking simply isn't a worry.

But video games? Habitual gaming takes the place of alcohol abuse. They can't get access to alcohol as minors, but they CAN get access to games. It's just as addictive, and it's just as destructive to a teenager's sense of responsibility as alcohol abuse is to an adult.

THAT is why parents worry more about video games than drinking.

You make it sound like video games can not be played responsibly.

They can, but the line between "responsible gaming" and "abusive gaming" is much thinner than the line between "responsible drinking" and "abusive drinking." It's much easier to slip into abuse with gaming.

And what will happen if you "abuse gaming"? Will you get "gaming poisoning" and have to get your stomach pump? Will you stop paying child support as an adult because you have the latest GTA? Drinking alters your mindset and ruins your judgement. Gaming does not.

[QUOTE="Slick_Rican"]

http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/playback/playback-10/1241359

I don't believe this. That's messed up.

mjarantilla

No, it's not. Video games are something parents have to constantly worry about. Drinking can be done responsibly, even by teenagers. If I were my parents, I would certainly trust me to drink responsibly. The same goes for all of my friends. FFS, I bonded with my best friend's dad over a couple of glasses of scotch when I was fourteen. For some families, drinking simply isn't a worry.

But video games? Habitual gaming takes the place of alcohol abuse. They can't get access to alcohol as minors, but they CAN get access to games. It's just as addictive, and it's just as destructive to a teenager's sense of responsibility as alcohol abuse is to an adult.

THAT is why parents worry more about video games than drinking.

:lol: LOLWUT? is this some kind of joke, looking at this thread, most people including me completely disagree with you. how can you compared alcohol abuse to video game 'abuse' if there is even such a thing. like somone else said its like comparing cancer to the common cold.

Parents don't know whats best for their kids these days. Thats whats wrong with EVERYTHING.

Parents don't know whats best for their kids these days. Thats whats wrong with EVERYTHING.

Cedmln

Surely all Video Games should be rated with a PG,12,15 and 18 certificate... and this should be enforced... If a shop is caught selling to minor then fine them... Parents should be aware of the video games these kids are playing and not be stupid enough to buy games rated 18 for their 12 year old...

Drinking and Sex can be explained to kids, but video games not so much this is where the parents should be educated about video games...

Then Video Game Companys and the media(like gamespot, IGN, Console mags) should take responsibility on the advertising of these games.... If your a kid watching TV in the afternoon and a GTA4 ad appears glorifying violence and making it look cool your gonna get your parents to buy it for you..

[QUOTE="AAllxxjjnn"][QUOTE="mjarantilla"][QUOTE="Slick_Rican"]

http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/playback/playback-10/1241359

I don't believe this. That's messed up.

mjarantilla

No, it's not. Video games are something parents have to constantly worry about. Drinking can be done responsibly, even by teenagers. If I were my parents, I would certainly trust me to drink responsibly. The same goes for all of my friends. FFS, I bonded with my best friend's dad over a couple of glasses of scotch when I was fourteen. For some families, drinking simply isn't a worry.

But video games? Habitual gaming takes the place of alcohol abuse. They can't get access to alcohol as minors, but they CAN get access to games. It's just as addictive, and it's just as destructive to a teenager's sense of responsibility as alcohol abuse is to an adult.

THAT is why parents worry more about video games than drinking.

You make it sound like video games can not be played responsibly.

They can, but the line between "responsible gaming" and "abusive gaming" is much thinner than the line between "responsible drinking" and "abusive drinking." It's much easier to slip into abuse with gaming.

[QUOTE="Slick_Rican"]

http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/playback/playback-10/1241359

I don't believe this. That's messed up.

mjarantilla

No, it's not. Video games are something parents have to constantly worry about. Drinking can be done responsibly, even by teenagers. If I were my parents, I would certainly trust me to drink responsibly. The same goes for all of my friends. FFS, I bonded with my best friend's dad over a couple of glasses of scotch when I was fourteen. For some families, drinking simply isn't a worry.

But video games? Habitual gaming takes the place of alcohol abuse. They can't get access to alcohol as minors, but they CAN get access to games. It's just as addictive, and it's just as destructive to a teenager's sense of responsibility as alcohol abuse is to an adult.

THAT is why parents worry more about video games than drinking.

This survey was about fears over violent games, not habitual video game playing. I'm sure there's truth in obsessive game playing being detrimental to anybody, but this isn't about that. It's about shallow, stupid parents looking for a scapegoat for their own inadequacies and carelessness, and saying violent video games cause more damage to a person's life than underage drinking and teenage sex (not even mentioning constant bombardment of violence from movies, books, the news, and the internet). Nothing more, nothing less.

[QUOTE="Slick_Rican"]

http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/playback/playback-10/1241359

I don't believe this. That's messed up.

mjarantilla

No, it's not. Video games are something parents have to constantly worry about. Drinking can be done responsibly, even by teenagers. If I were my parents, I would certainly trust me to drink responsibly. The same goes for all of my friends. FFS, I bonded with my best friend's dad over a couple of glasses of scotch when I was fourteen. For some families, drinking simply isn't a worry.

But video games? Habitual gaming takes the place of alcohol abuse. They can't get access to alcohol as minors, but they CAN get access to games. It's just as addictive, and it's just as destructive to a teenager's sense of responsibility as alcohol abuse is to an adult.

THAT is why parents worry more about video games than drinking.

This folk right here is drunk. Only explanation.

Can Video games do this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwWJZ1MiApw (viewer discretion advised)

exactly

Alchohol is 100x more dangerous than video games

damn, my 9 year old brother played EVERY single grand theft auto game (GTA3, GTA:VC GTA:SA GTA4) and nothing is wrong with him

These parents probably think Mass Effect is just full of thos naked women who are used as tools.

I've never gotten drunk...but I KNOW being drunk is much more dangerous than playing any video game.

LIVES are mush more likely to be lost...where playing video games are not.

[QUOTE="Slick_Rican"]

http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/playback/playback-10/1241359

I don't believe this. That's messed up.

mjarantilla

No, it's not. Video games are something parents have to constantly worry about. Drinking can be done responsibly, even by teenagers. If I were my parents, I would certainly trust me to drink responsibly. The same goes for all of my friends. FFS, I bonded with my best friend's dad over a couple of glasses of scotch when I was fourteen. For some families, drinking simply isn't a worry.

But video games? Habitual gaming takes the place of alcohol abuse. They can't get access to alcohol as minors, but they CAN get access to games. It's just as addictive, and it's just as destructive to a teenager's sense of responsibility as alcohol abuse is to an adult.

THAT is why parents worry more about video games than drinking.

you arent from the US are you?

This is ridiculous. Have You actually watched the video?
Look at the poll they used.
They use only one poll and it reads:

What would YOU be most concerned about your under-17 year old child having indulged in while sleeping over at a friend's house?
Drank beer: 14%
Smoked marijuana: 50%
Watched pornography: 17%
Played Grand Theft Auto: 19%

Uhmmmm do You notice something there? Marijuana is at 50%, the others are just left overs.
And what a difference that is... 2%, 5%, how many people voted here?
KungfuKitten

i'd be more concerned of my child getting drunk over smoking marijuana... cuz if they smoke you know they arent going to go anywhere fast outside of ihop or something. And why are parents concerned about porn, thats what the internet is for

[QUOTE="mjarantilla"][QUOTE="jimkabrhel"]Everything can be done responsibly, but with sex, drinking, sports, video games, children and teenagers may not be mature enough to be responsible. It's up to parents to maintain some level of control, yes, but also educate their children and set guidelines. I can see how some might believe that video games are worse than sex or drinking, since there is so much media attention, and in most cases can seem innocuous. Parents often times don't spend the time to understand, telling themselves they just don't understand video gaming. That's a crock, and a cop out.Verge_6

It's pretty easy to teach kids how to drink responsibly, because kids KNOW that drinking is "bad." But they don't consider games to be bad, so it's harder for parents to get their kids to take the detrimental effects of video games seriously.

I remember perfectly well what it was like to be a teenager, and I also remember that to me and my friends, drinking was no big deal. It was a part of every day life. Some of my friends shared a drink with their dads or uncles every single day, and they were no worse off for it.

If you want to drive your kid to abuse alcohol, go ahead and treat it like a forbidden fruit. That will certainly push them towards it. But if you, as a parent, show your teen how drinking can be done responsibly by treating it as just another precaution to be aware of, then it becomes no more of a problem to deal with than warning him/her to look both ways before crossing the street. Maybe it's simply cultural, but where I grew up, that's how it was, and that's why I don't see it as much of a problem to be constantly afraid of.

[QUOTE="mjarantilla"][QUOTE="Slick_Rican"]

http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/playback/playback-10/1241359

I don't believe this. That's messed up.

blackeneddeath

No, it's not. Video games are something parents have to constantly worry about. Drinking can be done responsibly, even by teenagers. If I were my parents, I would certainly trust me to drink responsibly. The same goes for all of my friends. FFS, I bonded with my best friend's dad over a couple of glasses of scotch when I was fourteen. For some families, drinking simply isn't a worry.

But video games? Habitual gaming takes the place of alcohol abuse. They can't get access to alcohol as minors, but they CAN get access to games. It's just as addictive, and it's just as destructive to a teenager's sense of responsibility as alcohol abuse is to an adult.

THAT is why parents worry more about video games than drinking.

you arent from the US are you?

Born here, but not raised here.

What a stupid point.. Video games can just as easilly be monitored hell it can be monitored hundred times better with teh ability to program games to only be able to ply a few hours tops a day.. Alochol is not only a mental attachment its a addictive drug phyiscally.. So you fail buddy, Video games are just a habit.. One can say that reading can have the exact same affects of addiction as video games.sSubZerOo

You must be a teenager. Or at the very least, you're nowhere close to being a parent yet. Only someone who has never considered the challenges of parenthood would say that it's "easy" to monitor anything. And only someone with no experience with alcohol beyond the cliches of bad high school driver's ed videos would treat alcohol like it was the plague. AND only someone who has never seen the side effects of video game addiction first-hand would dismiss the addictive properties of video games as "just a habit."

[QUOTE="mjarantilla"][QUOTE="AAllxxjjnn"][QUOTE="mjarantilla"][QUOTE="Slick_Rican"]

http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/playback/playback-10/1241359

I don't believe this. That's messed up.

ericsp2081

No, it's not. Video games are something parents have to constantly worry about. Drinking can be done responsibly, even by teenagers. If I were my parents, I would certainly trust me to drink responsibly. The same goes for all of my friends. FFS, I bonded with my best friend's dad over a couple of glasses of scotch when I was fourteen. For some families, drinking simply isn't a worry.

But video games? Habitual gaming takes the place of alcohol abuse. They can't get access to alcohol as minors, but they CAN get access to games. It's just as addictive, and it's just as destructive to a teenager's sense of responsibility as alcohol abuse is to an adult.

THAT is why parents worry more about video games than drinking.

You make it sound like video games can not be played responsibly.

They can, but the line between "responsible gaming" and "abusive gaming" is much thinner than the line between "responsible drinking" and "abusive drinking." It's much easier to slip into abuse with gaming.

[QUOTE="Slick_Rican"]

http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/playback/playback-10/1241359

I don't believe this. That's messed up.

mjarantilla

No, it's not. Video games are something parents have to constantly worry about. Drinking can be done responsibly, even by teenagers. If I were my parents, I would certainly trust me to drink responsibly. The same goes for all of my friends. FFS, I bonded with my best friend's dad over a couple of glasses of scotch when I was fourteen. For some families, drinking simply isn't a worry.

But video games? Habitual gaming takes the place of alcohol abuse. They can't get access to alcohol as minors, but they CAN get access to games. It's just as addictive, and it's just as destructive to a teenager's sense of responsibility as alcohol abuse is to an adult.

THAT is why parents worry more about video games than drinking.

This survey was about fears over violent games, not habitual video game playing. I'm sure there's truth in obsessive game playing being detrimental to anybody, but this isn't about that. It's about shallow, stupid parents looking for a scapegoat for their own inadequacies and carelessness, and saying violent video games cause more damage to a person's life than underage drinking and teenage sex (not even mentioning constant bombardment of violence from movies, books, the news, and the internet). Nothing more, nothing less.

Correct, this survey is about violent games, but this is NOT about violence IN games, it's about violent games in general.

When a parent thinks about Grand Theft Auto or Halo or whatever, they're not thinking, "OMG, this game will turn my kid into a psychopath!"

No, they're thinking, "Little Jimmy is starting to spend a little too much time with his games.... he doesn't spend time with his friends or family anymore, and he gets angry when we try to take him away from his games.... I'm afraid he might not consider anything else important anymore..."

What parents want is PREVENTION. You're saying addiction to games is better than addiction to alcohol? Well, DUH! But parents would rather not have any addiction at all! Which is why they're more afraid of games than they are of alcohol: the simple fact is that kids are a HELL of a lot more likely to get addicted to games than to alcohol.

[QUOTE="Slick_Rican"]

http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/playback/playback-10/1241359

I don't believe this. That's messed up.

mjarantilla

No, it's not. Video games are something parents have to constantly worry about. Drinking can be done responsibly, even by teenagers. If I were my parents, I would certainly trust me to drink responsibly. The same goes for all of my friends. FFS, I bonded with my best friend's dad over a couple of glasses of scotch when I was fourteen. For some families, drinking simply isn't a worry.

But video games? Habitual gaming takes the place of alcohol abuse. They can't get access to alcohol as minors, but they CAN get access to games. It's just as addictive, and it's just as destructive to a teenager's sense of responsibility as alcohol abuse is to an adult.

THAT is why parents worry more about video games than drinking.

Are you serious?:| No just no.