Games, like before and forevermore, have come under heavy scrutiny by the best-for-everyone public. Fortunately there's a silver lining for every game lover out there. Some people actually consider many games not all that bad for you!
For example, recently the National Institute of Media and the Family, along with Senators Joe Lieberman and Herb Kohl, came out with this year's Video and Computer Game Report. The report reviews over 70 of the most popular games that might be on kids' wish lists this year, and grades each game on any harmful content the game might contain. Even though many games contain questionable content, the computer gaming industry passed this rugged test, mainly because each game is labeled with a publicly accepted rating. However, stores that sell games only received a "just passing" grade. This rating is due to the lack of enforcement on mature games which may be bought by anyone, even a toddler caring fifty bucks. Anyway, you can get your own copy of the report by calling 888-772-2264.
Too bad there's always a downside to good news, and here it is.
"These games are not harmless fun, as some suggest. They are, in fact, digital poison." — Joe Lieberman.
Unfortunately, Senator Lieberman may be right about games. There might be harmful side effects to playing computer games, such as computer addiction. The article from the Sydney Morning Herald is by Dr. Brent Waters, a child psychiatrist. He notes that the following may be symptoms for computer addiction:
This is a serious matter, so don't laugh.
"As with other addicts, computer addicts need to achieve an aroused or euphoric state from computing. As time passes, they develop a level of tolerance and they need to increase their level of exposure to achieve the same state. They become caught in a vicious cycle in which it becomes harder and harder to control the 'habit.'"
This addiction usually afflicts children, but there are "cures" to this addiction. As kids start to use a computer in any way, standards have to be set, including accountability and responsibility. The whole article can be found at http://www.smh.com.au/icon/content/971025/wiredChild.html.
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