Video games are detrimental to the modern day society.

I would like to thank the Pro for the opportunity to voice my opinion about how video games are not detrimental to the modern day society. Now before i start, I would like to inform the voters that and Pro, since we are in the same school, have agreed to certain rules which I would like to re-implicate since he is terrible at following directions. I. cursing or foul language prohibited at the risk of automatic forfeit II. arguments must be plausible, concise and properly cited Now I would like to begin my argument of why i think video games are detrimental to the modern day society. Since Pro did not write anything re-iterating or useful for the 1st round, I will begin. I like to begin with several definitions taken from the Word-Web dictionary: Video game- A game played on a computer (or other device) using computer graphics for display Detrimental- Causing harm or injury While I do not agree with how the video game marketers market slogan for some video games aimed at children, such as: "*Kill your friends, guilt free. *More fun than shooting your neighbor's cat. *As easy as killing babies with axes (Carmageddon). "[1] I do believe, and hope that a proper parent will not allow a 7 or 8 year old to play video games that are too violent. While the leading games sold are violent games, most of today's games force kids to learn complex rule systems, master challenging new interfaces, follow dozens of shifting variables in real time and prioritize between multiple objectives. In short, precisely the sorts of skills that they're going to need in the digital workplace of tomorrow. Consider this one fascinating trend among teenagers: They're spending less time watching professional sports and more time simulating those sports on Xbox or PlayStation. Now, which activity challenges the mind more — sitting around rooting for the Packers, or managing an entire football franchise through a season of "Madden 2005": calling plays, setting lineups, trading players and negotiating contracts? Which challenges the mind more — zoning out to the lives of fictional characters on a televised soap opera, or actively managing the lives of dozens of virtual characters in a game such as "The Sims"? [L. A. Times] "There are many people who argue that video games offer nothing but the downfall of society through a slippery slope of sex, drugs and violence. Take, for example, the Columbine High School shooting that occurred in 1999. Several people had blamed this act of violence not on an underlying issue caused by cruel peers, but evil music and violent video games. But is this really the case? As an interactive form of entertainment, are they really as bad as many people think? Those who oppose video games cite several negative effects to an excessive amount of playing time achieved, which includes addiction, permissive behavior, an increase in social isolation, aggression, gender bias and wasted time that could have been spent learning. None of which, I may add, was used in my opponent's posts. However, not all games foster these attitudes, just like not all movies allow an outlet or a sense out rightness in aggression, promiscuity and gender bias. Not only this, but video games are just one of many outlets that often portray underlying issues society is faced with- murder, war, ineffective governments, inequality, poverty and crime. There are various modes of education. While we should not promote video games, television and other technological ways over others, we still should not completely be opposed to these as well. Education can be found in anything, whether through social interaction, books, board games, music, video games and so forth. What you want to learn and how you want to learn, that is up to you. It is the individual's responsibility, and his or her responsibility only, to take whatever it is that one wants to take from anything. While it is true that children are easier to influence, it is up to the parents to determine what content they want their children to be exposed to. Just because a person reads a counter view to an issue, this does not mean that person will be persuaded to believe in that viewpoint. Just because a person reads a book in which a character imbibes in alcohol and illegal drugs does not mean the individual will then fall into that pattern. Just because a person watches a violent crime take place on a television screen does not necessarily mean that person will in turn commit a violent crime. Nor would any of these outlets justify a person's turn from the ethical rules that bind a society, or the laws themselves. At the end of the day, video games are not to blame for any action that occurs; it is the individual. " [2] "I think that video games help prepare children for today's life and technology. Many of the games require strategy and decision making skills and these are always helpful. Actually, aren't these games like computers with menu's and options? This would aid children in learning basic computer language and ops. Though they may seem like a waste of time, like most playful behavior, it is grounded in abilities that children need to practice and learn to become successful in today's world. " [3] [1] . http://www.softforyou.com... [2] . http://www.nwmissourinews.com... [3] . http://www.blurtit.com... Now that I have stated my opinion and facts about how video games are not detrimental to the modern day society, I would like Pro to counterattack my argument. Cheers. Note- because I am a newbie to this site, and the type box was messed up on my computer, I hope the voters would forgive me if I had misspelled or omitted any necessary words or punctuations. Also, apparently the tab key does not work so I sorry I am not able to indent my paragraphs for easy reading.