Are video games bad for children?

Question Entertainment

Are video games bad for children?

by Des Posted November 13, 2007 02:59:22

66 answers
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+2 raves

I had a comment argument with a girl who hates video games, saying they make kids lazy, ADD, and fat. I'm just wondering how many people would actually agree with her.

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	Video games are evil, and kids are wasting their brain cells.
	Kids who play video games are shown to have a higher IQ. Therefore video games, when not abused, are beneficial.
	I think it depends on the game. Some games are too violent, but others are ok.
	I think video games cause most of the problems among kids today, and I wish they were banned.
	None of the above (Please leave a comment)

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+3 raves muziclver91393 July 06, 2009 19:25:45

Answered: None of the above
I think a little bit of video games won't hurt, but obsessive playing is unneccessary. They become anti-social and all they ever want to do is play their games. I think the younger children playing the violent videogames rated M and what not is ridiculous. There is no excuse to let your children play stuff like that.
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crystal kelso November 08, 2009 15:56:32

Answered: Video games are evil, and kids are wasting their brain cells.
I think video games are bad for kids and make kids lazy,but video games does not make kids ADD or ADHD. If you have ADD or ADHD it is because you are born with it because someone in the family has it. My son has ADHD and does not have any video games now or when he was little. The girl who said video games makes kids ADD needs to get her facts straight about ADD. It is irritating when someone who does not know anything about ADD or ADHD makes comments about it. ADD and ADHD does not have anything to do with video games. Like I said you are born with this and there is no cure for it just medicine to control it.
Frank was here! September 13, 2009 09:58:13

Answered: None of the above
I don't agree with her she's as close minded as Jackass Thompson, Video Games are good, most of the stuff like being brave, kind towards others, a good friend, expanding the imagination and that zombies are fun to shoot I learned them from video games.
+3 raves
muziclver91393 July 06, 2009 19:25:45

Answered: None of the above
I think a little bit of video games won't hurt, but obsessive playing is unneccessary. They become anti-social and all they ever want to do is play their games. I think the younger children playing the violent videogames rated M and what not is ridiculous. There is no excuse to let your children play stuff like that.
Yume Supernova *~Never Forg... July 06, 2009 17:23:05

Answered: Kids who play video games are shown to have a higher IQ. Therefore video games, when not abused, are beneficial.
Back when I was really young, I started playing video games (old-school Nintendo like Mario Bros. and such), and my teachers noticed I was getting better with hand-eye coordination and stuff like that. So I'd say they're good.

I'd say I first started playing really violent games when I was maybe 9 or 10 years old, and my parents were pretty straight with me when they told me that life is not a game and that the things in those games are not OK in the real world. So the violence in a lot of today's video games doesn't really affect me or inspire me to become violent in any way. Even after playing as many violent video games as I have in my time, I still couldn't and wouldn't even hurt a fly (ok, that may be stretching it a bit but you get my point).

What I'm saying is, video games are not the cause of violence. The creators of the games are not responsible for the violence that may have been inspired by their creations. The players and/or their parents are. So as long as parents tell kids that the things shown in games are NOT all right to be acted out in the real world, I don't see a problem with even the more violent games.
+1 raves
Shahnaz aka Naz July 06, 2009 16:48:24 (edited)

Answered: I think it depends on the game. Some games are too violent, but others are ok.
and I totally agree with my answer because some games are too intensely violent that when they get older, they wanna be just like them...but I play [too intense violent] video games but I'm not gonna be like those characters soo yeppur.
+1 raves
K July 02, 2009 15:35:27

Answered: I think it depends on the game. Some games are too violent, but others are ok.
Sometimes games build strategy. Others build violence and gore.
mrp92a June 10, 2009 01:04:17

Answered: I think it depends on the game. Some games are too violent, but others are ok.
it depends on the age of the child and the content of the game
+1 raves
Buh bye May 24, 2009 03:51:13

Answered: None of the above
Good parenting and teaching your kids when to stop is probably the best plan. I have good grades and am not violent whatsoever and I play video games all the time, including very violent and gory ones.
Azrael-In GOD we trust February 14, 2009 06:46:49

Answered: None of the above
I believe some parental approved games are a great source to develop some skills and brain cells, too. Parents need to make sure that this isn't the only recreation-take them to the park, skating, horseback riding or any other great exercise, too.
Greyhunter1122 October 28, 2008 13:59:44

Answered: None of the above
This is a very biased poll, as the only 'positive' option shows only a very minor benefit to game playing. As is, I would have to state that video games are useful for the increase in manual and mental dexterity and quickness, as a stress-relief tool, and as a socialization prospect with the increase in online and 'community' play.
teh-pwnerer August 07, 2008 09:41:08

Answered: None of the above
omg ur such a noob i wud toally pwn u ne day at cnc3 css cs1.6 utk2004 h3 doa4 sciv ssbb cncra3beta or tf2 lawl rofl lol i bet u used a 3 dozer build in zero hour noob lol just keep on building those tiberium deposits lawl i bet u buy teh para in css lol
coolguy July 29, 2008 08:08:15

Answered: I think it depends on the game. Some games are too violent, but others are ok.
Kids don't do much exercise, just waste their eyesight and the violence they learn from the games, they are more likely to use in real life.
Idontcare April 18, 2008 18:58:38

Answered: None of the above
Just plain ol' no. i don't think video games are bad for children. i mean when 5 year olds are playing grand theft auto, thats the parents fault for not actually reading the ratings. overall its the parents fault if anyone thinks video games are evil, so blame the parents. they have the right to choose what their children do and don't play and how long they play said video game
Leanna March 29, 2008 16:02:10

Answered: None of the above
i think it depends on wat type of kid u have u see my daugter always plays her video games and she gets striat As at school
+1 raves
Joe March 24, 2008 14:44:21

Answered: None of the above
i think kids should play video games because you have good hand eye coordinates
+1 raves
**Vampire Redefined** March 11, 2008 21:48:07

Answered: I think it depends on the game. Some games are too violent, but others are ok.
it does make kids lazy but not ADD nd fat like consider me i play a lot of video games today nd when i was younger do i have ADD?, no am i fat?, no but am i lazy?, sometimes
+3 raves
G118 March 10, 2008 08:31:07

Answered: Kids who play video games are shown to have a higher IQ. Therefore video games, when not abused, are beneficial.
Video Games expand the Imagination
+1 raves
Roxie March 09, 2008 09:13:49

Answered: I think it depends on the game. Some games are too violent, but others are ok.
What ever happened to playing outside.
+1 raves
RaL February 22, 2008 21:09:52

Answered: None of the above
games have nothing to do with it. the parents are what make the killer. :P and even if the game is too gory or w/e, all the parent has to do is say NO. no ones putting a gun to you or your childs head saying to play it. dont like it? dont BUY it.
rr lyrae February 19, 2008 17:01:07

Answered: None of the above
reasons against are huge and reasons for are somewhat constructive- I say so far not enough data to make summary determination.May in end be personally constructive while remaining culturally destructive.
+1 raves
dandy candy February 15, 2008 03:47:46

Answered: Kids who play video games are shown to have a higher IQ. Therefore video games, when not abused, are beneficial.
my boyfriend still plays video games and he's highly intelligent.
shoot, he's smarter than me and has a large memory span.
+2 raves
Nason January 30, 2008 16:42:21

Answered: Kids who play video games are shown to have a higher IQ. Therefore video games, when not abused, are beneficial.
It's been said that videogames have been raising the IQ of people in the US, but also the more stimulating games can burn as many calories as an average man walking two miles.
+1 raves
Yume Su... to Nason July 06, 2009 17:26:28

Yeah, there are games actually made for working out! DDR, Wii Fit, etc. ^__^ I love DDR!
+1 raves
MoonLily January 27, 2008 04:01:13

Answered: None of the above
Nope they are not bad. Unless you are a parent who cannot stand them, then of course they maybe labelled as "Evil" but I love them more than my 8 year old and we get to have a game together every now and then.. But when he is at school... It is MY XBOX!! HAHAHAHAHAHA ;)
+1 raves
palownd December 07, 2007 17:10:22

Answered: Kids who play video games are shown to have a higher IQ. Therefore video games, when not abused, are beneficial.
Video games are proven fact that if you play them you will have a higher I.Q. in subjects that in volve problem solving, thinking outside the box
+1 raves
xSEPx Rob December 05, 2007 05:23:46

Answered: I think it depends on the game. Some games are too violent, but others are ok.
You want to make sure the child who is playing it is mature enough to handle it, but that's what the esrb ratings are for.
+2 raves
overneathe November 29, 2007 01:51:16

Answered: Kids who play video games are shown to have a higher IQ. Therefore video games, when not abused, are beneficial.
Yes I am addicted, and I'm proud saying that.
+1 raves
Chula21 November 26, 2007 20:57:14

Answered: None of the above
They have learning video game's now : )
+2 raves
ang November 16, 2007 16:50:47 (edited)

Answered: I think it depends on the game. Some games are too violent, but others are ok.
It helps build hand eye coordination. Of course I wouldn't let my 6 year old play a violent game, that's for sure. But some video games out there are geared towards the lower ages, and I believe that some are very educational as well. And it really is up to the parents to make sure they are not playing any games that they should not be. The system is not a baby sitter, which sadly so many parents let it become just that.

and on a side note, I played video games all the time as a child, and even up till my early 20's. I still play some games now a days on a playstation 2. The video games back in my day were violent as well, not as bad as todays games, but they didn't hurt me. I turned out to be a good person. And my parents didn't limit my time spent on it either. I can't even tell you how many hours I played Super Mario Brothers 2 or 3! :)
Maria November 16, 2007 12:46:22

Answered: None of the above
make my eyes sore to see kids to stay home a lot and there plently to do outside for them to play and alot of fun instead of isolate at home.
+1 raves
IrishMarcia November 16, 2007 05:34:40

Answered: Kids who play video games are shown to have a higher IQ. Therefore video games, when not abused, are beneficial.
i agree with this. My 8 year old has absorbed alot from his video games. He however can differentiate between games and real life. We let him play his Xbox as a reward for doing his homework. He only plays for a couple of hours as his reward. When he sneaks around us sometimes and plays for an extended period of time, he acts very agressive.
+2 raves
BoyOfTheEnders November 15, 2007 07:03:01

Answered: Kids who play video games are shown to have a higher IQ. Therefore video games, when not abused, are beneficial.
enough said?
I'll say this:
Some games are made just right, to hone hand eye, educational, and asthetic skills, I think they are really usefull.
+2 raves
Emily MCRmy [FTDM!!!!] November 15, 2007 05:23:21

Answered: Kids who play video games are shown to have a higher IQ. Therefore video games, when not abused, are beneficial.
Video games are just plain awesome.
And I hate when people think that video games are the problem for whatever kids are doing that is dumb.
+2 raves
Mikey3664 November 15, 2007 03:58:27

Answered: Video games are evil, and kids are wasting their brain cells.
Video games are extremely dangerous. Especially when ingested or inhaled.
+1 raves
Yume Su... to Mikey3664 July 06, 2009 17:31:57

... what?
+1 raves
Celeste-o-bot 9000 November 13, 2007 18:00:53

Answered: None of the above
It's both good and bad. It's good because it does help with hand-eye coordination and problem solving skills. But, they should probably also try and get out some, too. It's not good to spend a whole lot of time just playing video games.
+1 raves
Tiff November 13, 2007 11:41:01

Answered: None of the above
Video games aren't "bad" for kids. THey have been proven to increse aggression because they reward children with points every time they shoot the bad guy but they also increase coordination and mental capacities. I think a balanced mix between exercise, school work and video games would make an healthy happy kid
+2 raves
<--That guy November 13, 2007 03:45:40

Answered: None of the above
Video games won't destroy a child unless they're actually addicted to playing them. As for violence in video games, that kind of violence is way better than doing it in real life.
It's also impossible for video games to give kids ADHD. Mental disorders aren't like viruses you can catch.
So no, I wouldn't agree with the person who said that video games make kids lazy, ADD, and fat.
Des to <--That... November 13, 2007 04:28:42

Excellent reply. I tried to tell her that, but she was too ignorant to get through to. Some people are hopeless. Let's hope they don't breed. lol
<--That... to Des November 13, 2007 04:32:04

Yes, we can at least hope.
Frankly, I'm getting a little tired of getting in debates with some of the people on here. There's little to no discussion, exchange of ideas, or respectful disagreements. It's mostly just short-minded people who want to turn everything, no matter how minute, into a competition which they always have to win.
It's very disenfranchising.