The Against Computer/Video Games Homepage

So What's the Deal?

If I had a quarter for everytime I walked into a computing lab and didn't see someone playing a game, believe me, I wouldn't have a lot of spare change on me. (So much for doing my laundry). It doesn't matter if you call them video games or computer games (the latter supposedly giving them a more "elite" status, perhaps in hopes of leaving the Atari days behind), the impact is still the same. Masses of our youth are letting themselves be sucked into this action-packed realm of high color graphics and glitz, with little thought of what harm they're actually bringing upon themselves.

Action vs. Strategy

Ok, maybe, just MAYBE I can buy this "strategy" thing. Somehow, these computer game advocates seem to think that planning out wars instead of just bodily going in there and causing mass carnage is more civilized. Sure, whatever dude. But what about the aforementioned shoot-and-slaughter games? I suppose they can be justified with the argument that they do require a certain amount of skill and coordination. Gee, what important skills to be honing. They're sure to come in handy the next time you find yourself in a post-Apocalyptic, cyberpunk warzone.

Not All Games are Bad

So maybe I'm being too harsh. I confess, I have played video games before. I even enjoyed some of them. But why such obssession? Why the maniacal glint in the eye? What compels these youths to spend hours with eyes glazed to a screen, oblivious as the world passes them by? How can they constantly talk about them even when they're not playing them? It'd be one thing if these games were just a mere entertainment, yet sometimes they seem to be becoming a substantial part of...our culture?

The Risks Involved: Rotting and Sterility

Now, if these were merely a harmless obssession, perhaps everything would be alright. But as we all should know, no obssession is without its effects. And what are these nasty little extras we get with computer games? Well...

Contrary to popular belief, video games really do rot your brain. Yes, and all that time you thought your Mom was joking. Nope; it's true. Though it's only an estimate, the predicted rate of rottage is about 1 brain cell every 5 seconds of playing time. That may not seem like a lot compare with all the brain cells you have, but hey, every bit counts...

And of course, there's the surprise mystery factor: the more time spent playing computer games, the more sterile you become. The rate of sterility also increases as the amount of violence in a game increases. True this isn't life threatening; just so long as you don't ever want to have children...

In Conclusion...

Well, we can only hope that this gaming thing is only a passing whim and that perhaps someday, we can live in a non-video/computer game world. For now, though, it appears as though we must suffer. However, those of us who are on to the ways of video games can keep on fighting the power in whatever ways we can. Just keep ignoring those annoying sound effects from networked games in computer labs while you're trying to write a paper. Resist the temptation to come see the "cool" new toys of destruction that some game or another has to offer. Only by being strong, can we prevail.

Disclaimer: Scientific/Health assumptions made in this document may not necessarily be true. But then, that never stopped the bran craze, now did it?

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