http://www.salon.com/tech/feature/2002/ ... dex.html?x
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I personally would just like to say that while I applaud the effort
you've all put in to look after your childrens welfare, I don't
believe computer games have any negative impact on a childs behaviour.
I think part of the problem is that most games are played by young
children, specifically males. Now if you sat one of these boys down
and gave him everything he needed to learn knitting the chances are
the first thing he'd do is start stabbing things with the needle and
then probably make nooses out of the wool.
I am more than happy to agree that children are influenced by them
(often positively but not always) however this influence is just as
bad as TV, music etc. For instance in England a fair few years ago a
couple of young boys brutally murdered a 5 year old. They were...
'inspired' by a series of horror movies called 'Chucky'. If they
hadn't seen those films they would have still killed the child, they
would have just done it in a different fashion. All entertainment
gives us new ideas but the impulses to carry these ideas out come from
ourselves, from 'human nature' and yes, from our upbringing too.
I have played computer games for the past 15 years now and will
continue to do so for a long time to come. They have been my main
source of entertainment and one of my major hobbies yet I have never
committed a crime, I'm not at all aggressive and could count on one
hand that times when I've lost my temper. I go online everyday, I have
been part of a 'clan' for a couple of years until recently and I have
met plenty of friends though it, it's probably the most social hobby I
have actually.
While gaming can be addictive it depends on the persons personality.
Those who 'obsess' about games tend to have addictive personalities
and if it weren't for games then they would be addicted to something
else instead. Gaming, just like everything else, must be done in
moderation but that is the parents job. To give their child the
ability to prioritise, to understand that a game isn't reality and
that there is a whole world away from their games. Just as you would
for movies, music, sports, anything that can be used as an 'escape'.
Please just read the article, it's a well thought out, intelligent and
unbiased viewpoint, far better than anything I could write.
If you use this Email for anything I would appreciate it if you ask my
permission first and nothing should be taken and used out of context.
Thank you for your time.
S.West"
Censorship should be censored:)