by M.K.Channing.

Created on: October 03, 2008

I'm not saying video games are bad per se, but could potentially have bad consequences.

I love video games. My dad worked at a video/game store growing up, so we had opportunities to check out new games and consoles before they were sold to the public. Nintendo powerpad and duck hunt rocked my face off. I often played them so much, I would get in trouble for not doing my homework. THAT is where the problem starts.

Some people don't know when to stop playing and come back to reality. There are things in our lives that need done. Pure and simple. They aren't going to do themselves. Even things as basic as bathing have been compromised.

I can attest to this because I am guilty. I love RPG's. Get me into a good one, and you won't see me for days or even weeks on end. My best friend rolls her eyes every time I start to tell her about a new game, and simply says 'ok..well, call me when you beat it.' It's never intentional, and I've never let it affect my job, but if I have a day off and I'm in the middle of a game, it's easy for me to wake up and 'play for a little while' and completely lose track of time. People ask me to hang out, or I need to run errands, but I need to beat the next boss and level up, ..then I'll do it. I never realize that I just sacrificed my social life and other important things, for a game..that I don't even get a reward for winning. An entire day is lost, and I have nothing to show for it, except an achy back from sitting so long.

Some people are more extreme. I've known people to call off work for video games. I'm sorry, thats a little much. Thats the point where you should stop and imagine where you are doing to go in life by playing video games so much you are putting your job and bank account in jeopardy. Can't afford any more games if you don't have a job to pay for them.

I know of people that pee'd in soda bottles so that they didn't leave the game. I even met a guy that played games with his dad so much, that his mother left his dad, because it's all they ever did. So, yes, games do have a negative impression on people who don't know where to draw the line between entertainment and the real world.

In saying that, I'm not so sure that 'Games' are really the source for violence. Again, certain people could be influenced by anything. Anyone with an idea in their head can influence someone else to believe in it. Video game, Television, or spoken word. Just because I kill mythical creatures with a big sword doesn't mean I'm a violent person because of it. I'm just a person holding a remote-controller, I still cry when I run over bunnies.

Ok, I did stab my brother in the foot with a pencil once for not letting me play Super Mario, but I was six, and he kept taking my turn and telling me he had extra lives. Cruel and unusual punishment, but at the time I thought he deserved it. That wasn't the games fault though, it's existence merely presented the situation that produced the reaction. So it doesn't really count.

Learn more about this author, M.K.Channing..
Click here to send this author comments or questions.