Video games are actually good for you

As she has not provided any framework, I will begin argumentation in this round, and also rebut her arguments as well. The BoP will be shared between the two sides. Pro must prove that video games aren’t harmful, while I must simply prove that they are not. Both Pro and Con must prove their side on a general basis. Whichever side more effectively solves their BoP should win the debate. Let’s begin. -=Case=- One of the most widely disputed topics in the modern age, video games, have been attacked and praised, put down and lifted up. I have definitely played my fair share of games, but I try to limit the exposure. Despite what personal beliefs may be, we need to look towards the experts, and find the cold hard facts as to whether or not video games are harmful. In doing so, I have found that video games are indeed harmful, and are a legitimate concern in our present society. It is for that reason that I negate the resolution which states, “Video games are actually good for you. ” C1: Video games of violent nature are inherently detrimental. Although not all games are violent, we see an increasing majority of popular games being very violent and containing graphic images. An article published by Scholastic explains, “These [video] games can contain frightening images. Players are often facing an enemy in a fight, so the player is directly involved in a violent act. Mark Smith of Florida describes what he does in one game: “I’ll cut off a guy’s head,” says the 10-year-old. “Or sometimes I’ll take my sword and chop him into pieces. ” [1] These actions can be not only imprinted on children’s minds, but also practiced by the children themselves. Steve Woodhouse, Steve Woodhouse, who is executive headteacher of The Wolds Federation of Schools described this effect, “Children who repeatedly play brutal video games are learning thought patterns that will stick with them and influence their behaviour as they grow older. Kids are playing on them not because parents don’t care, they don’t understand the content of these games and the impact they have on children over time. ” [2] The most popular games are in the category of brutal and violent games, which will be a detriment to students in the present, but even more so later. Further, parents don’t realize the harms that come from the games, so they don’t do anything about it. Medical Expert James D. Sargent documents how such games can have a multitude of harms. In the study published by the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, he finds, “Participants were selected with random-digit-dial procedures and followed for 4 years. Data were analyzed with linear mixed modeling to assess change over time and structural equation modeling with latent variables to test hypothesized mediational processes. Among those who play video games, playing MRRG [mature rated, risk glorifying] games was associated with increases in all measures of behavioral deviance. Mediational models support the hypothesis that these effects are in part a consequence of the effects of such gameplay on sensation seeking and rebelliousness, attitudes toward deviant behavior in oneself and others, and affiliation with deviant peers. ” [3] (Other contributors to this report include: Hull, Jay G. ; Brunelle, Timothy J. ; Prescott, Anna T. ) The evidence is overwhelmingly in favor of the notion that MRRG games can and have caused great harms to individuals and families as well. C2: Video games consume time, which results in negative consequences. Besides explicit content having a fatalistic effect on gamers, we see that time spent playing the games also has a diverse effect. University Herald published a news article on March 31, 2014 that showed, “Researchers at the University of Oxford found that the time spent playing video games affected children's behavior. Their findings suggest that children who play video games for more than three hours a day are more likely to be hyperactive, get involved in fights and not be interested in school. ” [4] This heightened chance of harms results from the time spent playing. In fact, most gamers play for extended periods of time. Besides this, it’s one of the few things they do. Jack White, famous American musician says, “This generation is so dead. You ask a kid, 'What are you doing this Saturday? ' and they'll be playing video games or watching cable, instead of building model cars or airplanes or doing something creative. Kids today never say, 'Man, I'm really into remote-controlled steamboats. '” [5] Simply too much time spent in front of a screen is bound to be detrimental. C3: Video game play is directly linked to criminalistic behavior. The games themselves can have mind-altering effects that can cause gamers to commit crimes they would have from which they would have otherwise abstained. Associate professor of psychiatry Vladan Starcevic exemplifies this in the report “Are Violent Video Games Harmful” which states, “The 1993 game ‘Doom’ belonged to the ‘first person shooter’ genre and was played by Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold before they went on a shooting rampage at Columbine High School in 1999, killing 12 fellow students and one teacher, before committing suicide. The two killers had mentioned the game in a video they made before the massacre, stating it would be ‘just like Doom. ’” [6] The criminals themselves evidenced that their actions were in direct correlation to the violent game they had been playing. A study titled “Children, Adolescents, and the Media” done by Victor C. Strasburger, professor of pediatrics at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine gives input on how games can provide that mind altering effect on gamers. “Studies suggest that violent video games increase aggression by increasing aggressive thoughts and emotions, even when their physiologic arousal properties have been controlled. Playing violent video games can prime aggressive thoughts, increase positive attitudes toward violence, and help create a hostile attribution bias: a tendency to perceive other people’s behaviors as malevolent. ” [7] Because of these mind altering factors, games are definitely dangerous and can lead to criminalistic behavior. -=Rebuttals=- My opponent brings up a variety of points concerning how video games are beneficial. However, most of what she brings up concerns games that are not MRRG games. Games such as those are somewhat beneficial due to the required thinking and problem solving. However, just like any other video game, the screen time is harmful psychologically and to the eyes as well. Popular Science published an article by Daniel Engber that explained, “staring at screens can cause discomfort, says Mark Rosenfield of the State University of New York’s College of Optometry. In a study conducted by his lab, about 40 percent of office workers from a sample in Manhattan reported having symptoms of eyestrain for at least half the time they’re on duty—a condition he calls “Computer Vision Syndrome. ” [8] According to my opponent, games have led to scientific discoveries. However, these are once again harmful just do to screen time. Furthermore, findings such as those are very few and far between. Overall, we see negative consequences of video games around the world. Sources: [1] . http://www.scholastic.com... [2] . http://www.pocklingtonpost.co.uk... [3] . http://psycnet.apa.org... [4] . http://www.universityherald.com... [5] . http://www.brainyquote.com... [6] . http://www.easternct.edu... [7] . http://public.psych.iastate.edu... [8] . http://www.popsci.com...