by Gary Maclean

Created on: July 27, 2008   Last Updated: February 10, 2009

When some notable personality makes a comment regarding video games and related teen violence, everyone listens. A network news anchor makes a statement that associates video game violence with the latest teen crime and it sticks. A video game gets branded for it's "excessive" violence and the entire industry takes the rap.

Negative statements like these, against a new technology that already irks the average parent, sticks, because we, as adults and a general public, are more sheep than we are lion. We prefer to follow more than lead. We crave the direction of the wise and the instruction of the learned. We need someone to take our leash and lead us to water.

In general, people listen to these baseless accusations because they simply cannot cope with the success of the video game. The video game has taken charge of their teenager. Their teen now strives for something other than that which the parent feels is best for them. They prefer to spend their time pushing buttons and chasing bad guys then they do grabbing some guy around the legs and jerking him down to the ground or running so hard they stumble from heat exhaustion or jumping so much and so high they are constantly suffering from strained leg muscles. They want to play the games, they want to beat the monster, they want to capture the bad guy. That's all, they want to complete the quest, they just want to do it on screen.

Video games are indeed good for our teens. They are not just acceptable; they are not simply to be tolerated, they are absolutely good. Typically, if you do it right, video games will keep your teen off the streets, hopefully further away from drugs, and in your house at night. Is that all bad? If your teen has the right video games he or she is less likely to wander around the house mumbling "There's nothing to do."

I believe video games are so good for teens that I think it is worth the regular investment of $50 or $60 every six to eight weeks to get a new game disk for your teen. It doesn't matter if the first one has been conquered yet or not, just go get one. Ask at the counter what game is the most popular and get it. Go ahead and exercise some parental control if you feel you must and select only the one you think is best for your teen, but get the game none the less.

Pay attention to what your teen is playing and buy games in that genre. Don't get so uptight about adult themes either. This is cartoons folks, drawings, graphics, animation; not life. Put a little bit of trust in

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