In Carr's The Shallows, there is a section that talks about video gaming (P139). There, it lists many things that video games can help "improve" on. I believe that playing video games can help with these skills. There are many people who won't face and believe that fact for various reasons. Being a gamer most my life, I myself feel that these improvements are from the hours I spend playing. Many others might not believe, but it can really help. I find that a lot of these team based games can be helpful in communication and that a lot of other ones can teach you how to multitask really well. Two examples would be of team game League of Legends and the rather famous Starcraft II.
Both of these games are very popular in the eSports world and many people pay to watch (another post for another time). But both these games have something for the player. The former is a team based game which can really help with team communication while the latter can refine focus and improve multitasking (APM, or Actions Per Minute is something in the game that can tell someone how many actions they take in game in a minute).
Most people believe games to just be a waste of time. I beg to differ, and I'm here to ask whether or not other people my age feel the same.
I am not much of a gamer myself, therefore I believe video games suck too much life and time out of you, although, I do agree that it helps improve a tiny bit of your communication and multitasking skills. Other than those slightly helpful skills, why would you spend time playing a game that only strengthens your thumb muscles? Video games distract you from your school work and the time you are sitting on your couch with the controller in your hands, you are wasting away healthy body. You are basically teaching yourself how to shoot a gun through a controller or speeding down a rainbow road in first place. How is learning those unrealistic abilities going to help you later in life? Obviously it does not. For those of you who have played or know the Mario games, are any of those games realistic or physically possible? No, they do not have any real, helpful life skills at all. Sure, they can cure your boredom, but it only keeps you lazy and addicted. In my opinion, video games are definitely enjoyable, but they are too time consuming and absolutely useless.
ReplyDeleteI'm just going to counter with things in the order they come in. Video games do come in different shapes and forms and many, MANY things in today's world distract you from school work. Why watch a movie that entertains you when you can do school work, am I right? TV itself really doesn't help you with any skills, but even that to some people are better than video games (as said, can improve skills). There are many other things they help you with. Thinking critically, making quick decisions, and planning moves ahead are required for many of them. I'm sure they help a lot more than you're giving them credit for.
ReplyDelete(Learning how to shoot a gun is quite realistic, the game Call of Duty you're thinking of isn't, but even a game like that requires memorization and reflexes.)