Version: 2008

Comments on: Why everyone should embrace gaming

Don Reisinger thinks everyone should embrace gaming, regardless of age or interests. Should they?

Add a Comment (Log in or register) (13 Comments)
  • prev
  • 1
  • next
by john55440 September 4, 2008 10:23 AM PDT
I'd rather read a modern classic novel, etc., than to play video games.
Reply to this comment
by ofmyony September 4, 2008 10:23 AM PDT
I personally ask myself the question, why? If occupying time is your reason I can agree with that. If it is fun I can agree with that. If it is to relieve stress I can agree with that. But it is still not for me!
Reply to this comment
by mbeast40 September 4, 2008 10:31 AM PDT
Why is it that gaming and violence seemingly blend into one? I am by no means an anti-gaming zealot. I have played and thoroughly enjoyed my share of games, violent and not. But one decision I made early on with my kids (I have four of my own, two of my partners and we foster still more) was no first person shooters.

I completely agree with most of what you say - games can be a great stress reliever, an escape, entertainment, and for kids, peer and even team building experiences. And I actually agree with you that more should embrace gaming. But I draw the line and don't agree with the violence, the human v human, first person shooter aspect of most games.

I also disagree with your analogy of getting enough violence by watching tv and observing the world around us - there is a distinct difference in 'watching' the news and observing violence, and being in a game and 'intentionally' trying to eliminate an opponent or any other act that the game requires. Watching and participating, even in an imaginary, digital world, are very different.

Pro gaming but anti-gratuitous violence.

$0.02
Michael
Reply to this comment
by pcnerd37 September 4, 2008 10:37 AM PDT
I completely agree. I have been playing video games since I was 2 years old and I have yet to kill or injure anybody. I find it a great way to relax, or I do until I find a frustrating point in a game where the only thing I can manage to do right is die. With the mess that my life has become through no fault of my own, I need something like video games to take me out of my life and let me live in an exciting fantasy world for a while. Honestly, I think that if I didn't have the stress relief of games, I probably would have beat on somebody by now.
Reply to this comment
by HarleyRacer September 4, 2008 11:00 AM PDT
I consider video games as a form of therapy. When life becomes difficult, it is better to shoot at imaginary enemies in a game than to make real people into enemies and shoot at them. The trick is balance. Fun and relaxation are good, obsession and addiction are bad.
Reply to this comment
by rpjohnt September 4, 2008 11:26 AM PDT
A lot of good comes out of the communties that have grown up around gaming. Many of them, like EdgeGamers, promotes family values and a clean place to play. I don't like playing in the zoo of online gaming where there are no admins or police keeping the porn and f*bombs out of the servers. There are many good gaming communties out there. EdgeGamers is one, GameCrossroads and a few others are good for the family.
Reply to this comment
by professionaladventurer September 4, 2008 11:42 AM PDT
Game all you want, more waves for me. Have fun in your gaming chair and talking to your friends on team speak. I am going on a hike with some real people. Play in your world, I'll play in mine. Don't come here, you'll get sun burned.
Reply to this comment
by rpjohnt September 4, 2008 11:58 AM PDT
But, I mainly game to save the planet. That way I don't start up my SUV and drive to the countryside where I go hiking. I save money and cut my greenhouse gasses.

Stay home, take out your frustrations with your friends. Consoles by the way are for whimps.
Reply to this comment
by berbar September 4, 2008 12:38 PM PDT
Very romantic. But as with everything else, there's people that like it and there' people that don't.

As for me, I just wish I had more time for video gaming.
Reply to this comment
by optionshiftk September 4, 2008 12:53 PM PDT
First of all, most of these skeptics who preach that gaming is some sort of evil act are completely technologically illiterate! Sure, there are some nasty scenes in GTA 4, but so is there in the real world. Just turn on the news and ask yourself if that is any better than COD4. If society continues to shield our children from every little thing, then the next generation will be living a fantasy. The world is not perfect and we need children to grasp that concept if we want them to succeed.
Reply to this comment
by rpjohnt September 4, 2008 3:01 PM PDT
Actually, it is also a place to teach manners. At least at =(eGO)= and I think at EdgeGamers they teach kids manners. The biggest downside to internet gaming is dealing with punks who think they can do or say anything because they are on the internet. It is nice to game in a place where you can mow someone down as a heavie in tf2 but don't have to listen to F*bombs and see porn sprays.

There are a lot of great gaming communities out there. The Online world is not so bad.
Reply to this comment
by jasonmr321 September 5, 2008 8:45 AM PDT
i agree that video games help the world.. i hope others will see that playing video games.. for fun not for a addiction.. can really help people with adhd and depression! (or just normal people also!)
Reply to this comment
by barry51o September 5, 2008 10:47 AM PDT
FREE HELP FOR THE EDUCATIONALLY CHALLENGED


www.TheEasyEssay.com is a free site that has had excellent results in teaching the learning disabled how to better communicate.

www.TheEasyEssay.com, an automated information organization program is also of use for business reports, inter-office communications, special and rehabilitative education, as well as speech organization.

It has been taught to individuals from eight to eighty and been used from elementary education to post graduate work and is excellent for SAT, ACT, and FCAT preparation.

The program allows for each individual to progress at his or her own rate.

We have also received excellent reports relating to ADHD and Special Education.

A noted side effect of the program is that users begin to communicate logically.

As an aid in research, the site is linked to GoogleŽ.

For longer papers it can automatically expand into a 17 paragraph thesis.

The Easy Essay is usable in any language.
Reply to this comment
(13 Comments)
  • prev
  • 1
  • next
advertisement

15 sites that went kaput in 2009

Web sites launch all the time, but they also shut their doors. We highlight 15 that bit the dust this year.

Top 10 news stories of the decade

Let the debate begin: Was the iPhone more important than iTunes? Was anything bigger than Google finding a great business model? CNET offers its list of the 10 most important stories of the '00s.

About The Digital Home

Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who has covered everything from HDTVs to computers to Flowbee Haircut Systems. Besides his work with CNET, Don's work has been featured in a variety of other publications including PC World and a host of Ziff-Davis publications.

Don writes product reviews for InformationWeek and is a regular contributor to Processor Magazine. You can visit his personal site at DonReisinger.com or if you would like to email Don with questions or comments, drop him a line at CNETDigitalHome@gmail.com. He is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CNET. Disclosure.

Add this feed to your online news reader

The Digital Home topics

Subscribe to the Digital Home podcast

Have you ever wanted a no-nonsense discussion on what is really going with all the tech topics related to your Digital Home? If so, join Don Reisinger as he brings you the same biting commentary you've come to expect from his Digital Home blog in all its audio glory.

Subscribe to this podcast using an RSS reader other than iTunes

Subscribe to this podcast using iTunes

Don's links
Don's Facebook account
Don's Twitter feed
Don's Friendfeed account
Don's Google Reader account
Don's Last.FM account
Don's Pownce account
Don's Flickr account
advertisement
advertisement