Are video games dangerous to our health?

Do you think this research is a load of crap, or do you relate and think they are on to something?

I don't know what to say, because I'm neither overweight nor depressed. All of the video game players I know are perfectly fine. Maybe it's because we're still teens. Do these effects start to become more apparent during adulthood? Who knows. I want to read your opinions.

 

It's not the game that's the problem; it's the gamer. If you can't help yourself with something as simple as turning a game off, how could you overcome something serious like an actual illness? Every person I know who plays video games has never suffered from it.

 

What and who this research reflects are the gamers who have gone OVERBOARD with their likeliness for video games. That is an issue with the gamer more than the video game. Video games are there for recreation, to waste some time when you get free time. If the gamer chooses to ignore all other sects of life to grow into what's in their console, it isn't the game's fault. Being obsessive with video games is what the gamer chooses to do. It's really a load of bullshit to blame video games in general.

Hell, my MOTHER likes playing video games, she's still out and about. I still play video games and I'll continue to do so, but I CHOOSE not to get consumed by it. Play your games, and go outside...the game will still be there after you come back.

 

Exactly. They shouldn't link this to everyone, because not everyone who plays will become an obsessive gamer. There are those of us who just like kicking some ass on Xbox Live. If the games lead to problems, that means that there were issues within the person before they began playing. Am I right?

 

yeah, this is not every gamer, and besides i heard there are plus to playing games, Hand-Eye coordination, helps make you thumbs/fingers flexible etc

the only hazard i think is really possible are seizures and/or makes your eyes all dull

 

What I'm 35, I can't take the pro test now! :(. I'm overweight, thinks back to last year. "Hey anorexic guy," "Hey anorexic guy" How many times have I heard people yell at that to me. Yeah i'm 15 and weigh 89 pounds, and at the height of 5" 6'. I don't feel like talking about being depressed, because I only get depressed when I read sad manga, yeah I fail.

So pretty much this fail, total lie. And poor health, no I barely ever get sick and when it is its me turning my stomach inside out(if you get what I'm saying).

Yeah who ever said that, doesn't know anything and its most likely over the age of 45.
But I guess I can get ruled out because I suck at video games. Whats that you can't beat sephiroth at level 99 on easy mode.

 

This really doesn't apply to all gamers. Probably about 15% or so. But more importantly, are video games hazardous to your health?

To some (Seizures, Eye problems)

Can they be helpful?

Yes (Limited improvement of hand eye coordination, Improvement in patience)

So overall, I'd say that they can be both, but the negatives only apply to 15%, if not less, of gamers.

 

I agree pretty much 100% with this. A game is not a living creature, it cannot force you to do anything, or cause anything. It is down to the individual.

Also, I love Bejeweled C:

 

I'd like to add the parents' contribution to that. While I used to hate it myself when I was younger, I now realize the importance of parents keeping at least a little track of their brat's gaming habits. This watchful eye can of course turn a blind one when said brat grows older but young minds are too easily affected. And when it does wrong at a young age it'll keep on lingering until he's an average 35-year old, obese, depressed gamer.

 

Technically it can be.

Playing blood and gore games, or when you play Shooters and the such, it can result in desensitisation, meaning we aren't too bothered with firing guns, killing people and so forth. THis can be seen as a negative to our health since it can lead to flat emotions, lack of compassion for others, more likely to resort to violence, etc.
Physically it can lead to being unhealthy in being immersed into a fantasy world, where we ignore our basic needs, such as a healthy diet, or affect our vision and causes greater chance for Arthritis in the fingers, neck and wrists.

Technically everything we do from typing, to wlaking, to even breathing can cause us to deal with health issues, so gaming isn't really a new or deadly part of life.

 

You actually have to have the sense to turn the goddamned thing off, before you get addicted. Or at least have someone turn it off for you, like your mum or something.

Anywho, its never really the game unless you let yourself be taken over by the game, but even still its never the game. You need to control your actions, there is no such thing as "It told me not to" / "The Game told me to keep playing."< buch of bullshit

You have to have a balanced lifestyle. It all comes back to what your emotional status is, your health at the moment, whether or not your getting enough exercise, eating healthy< all those things.

Video Games are for fun, right? So why let it take over you life? Your the one at fault, you decide, you choose.

 

This research sucks

They try to paste this on everyone, but I don't know anyone who would waste their lives playing video games.

Heck, I play vidoe games more than most people I know, I'm 5"4' (I think, I'm not american) my B.M.I (Body Mass Index) is 20 which is just above underweight and sure I have less of a life than anyone else, but I am a much more excitable person and more patient than most people I know.

I think playing video games can be healthier, I mean most people I know that avoid video games go to parties, get,drunk/pregnant and do something they REALLY regret.​

 

You can't blame outside elements like games and link them to depression, shootings, etc. At the end of the day, its people who make lifestyle choices and descisions. Any adverse mental effects from gaming are probably the same ones you can get from sitting around on your computer/watching TV all day.

 

The reason I play more games than normal is because my ADD/Asperger's Syndrome pretty much slaughters my social skills. I'm overweight because the previous meds I was taking threw my metabolism to hell and back. I don't consider myself depressed at all - in fact, I'm having a pretty good time right now, and loving every minute of it.

So no, that study fails, because it doesn't take external factors into account. I would imagine that a lot of people like me (social disorders) get into gaming really heavily, since there is a lot less social interaction. Bet they never asked those kinds of questions!

 

I know what they are talking about.
When hardcore "gamers" come to mind, you usually think of somebody that is overweight, depressed, pimple covered, wearing braces and glasses. They based quite a bit of that stuff on an opinion.

I think that games don't effect one's health, it just depends on the bodily functions and system of the person playing them.

 

Oh, also, in addition to my previous post - among most "hard-core" gamers I've seen, 35 is considered ancient.

 

"Video Games are bad for you? That's what they said about Rock 'N' Roll" - Shigeru Miyamoto

:)

 

I stopped here.

You'd have to be high to believe that. Plus the CDC isn't exactly an honest institution. =/

But hey, that's just me.

EDIT: Also, for the record: when I think of hardcore gamers, I picture a skinny 16-24 year old wearing glasses. Probably doesn't dress very well, but that is irrelevant to their health. lol

 

I think it's total BS, really. Simply because there are similarities doesn't mean there's correlation. Video games can be dangerous in extremes, just like anything else; as long as you don't do nothing but play games, if you exercise and vary it up, you'll be fine.

 

i know that the research is based on real people that have had problems, and there have been some stories in the news about people having medical issues because of video games, but the problems are rare. i do think we need to be aware of our time usage, thats all. :D