Are video games really a waste of time?

[Cephus]

Of course they're a waste of time, most things in life are. That doesn't mean you can't get enjoyment out of them but certainly, I can't imagine what other purpose they might have except to waste free time.

[Nemiroff]

ummm, thats been covered in previous posts they are very educational and great at mental training. try reading all the posts before posting, they have all the details already

[Michael1695]

I happen to love video games, I enjoy playing them. So for me it is not a waste of time. My wife however has a different opinion. I do let it take away from more important things sometimes, so in that sense it can be a waste of time. Its all about moderation.

[ZNFYRH]

Dopamine is released during any activity that is enjoyable.

Someone who doesn't like TV doesn't have dopamine during TV.

There was a study back about how people in exotic entertainment... prostitutes, strippers, dancers, etc.... have reduced dopamine associated with sex. They can disconnect somehow, so that they don't have the dopamine associated.

What matters is the chemicals released in addition to the dopamine. It is normally a "passive pleasure" chemical that gives an underlying pleasure to other more "active pleasure" chemicals.

[adam10312]

What exactly is a "waste of time" anyway? That's entirely a matter of opinion. If I am really stressed out after getting home from work and playing video games for a little while makes me feel better and helps me to relax, then that is not really a waste.

I read a study somewhere that surgeons who were better at a video game also made less mistakes during surgery. I'll try to find that article now.

[Michael1695]

Quote by: adam10312 What exactly is a "waste of time" anyway? That's entirely a matter of opinion. If I am really stressed out after getting home from work and playing video games for a little while makes me feel better and helps me to relax, then that is not really a waste. I read a study somewhere that surgeons who were better at a video game also made less mistakes during surgery. I'll try to find that article now.

Well it depends on what game you play. Playing games such as Odd World: Munch's Odyssey can be a complete waste of time. If you are going to play a game it better be a good one.

[adam10312]

New York Times:

Pre-Op Warm-Up: A Few Video Games - New York Times

WHEN 33 surgeons turned up at Beth Israel Medical Center in Manhattan last summer for a training program in suturing techniques for laparoscopic surgery, they started their day not by hearing about an intriguing case study, but by playing Super Monkey Ball, Star Wars Revenge Racer and Silent Scope, three off-the-shelf video games.

[adam10312]

Quote by: Michael1695 Well it depends on what game you play. Playing games such as Odd World: Munch's Odyssey can be a complete waste of time. If you are going to play a game it better be a good one.

That's complete nonsense.

[Michael1695]

Quote by: adam10312 That's complete nonsense.

What exactly is nonsense? That playing Odd World is waste of time? Well if that's how you feel than thats fine. But just know, the next time I have my annual video game party, you are not invited. Not that you would want to come, there will be no Odd World.

[Michael1695]

Quote by: Cephus Of course they're a waste of time, most things in life are. That doesn't mean you can't get enjoyment out of them but certainly, I can't imagine what other purpose they might have except to waste free time.

So what isn't a waste of time?

[another day]

Quote by: Michael1695 So what isn't a waste of time?

Things that actually build up your real life skills. None of this bullshit "it quickens your reflexes"... what? In your thumbs? When your walking in the jungle and a snake attacks you?

Non wastes of times are things that educate you, things that foster your talents, and things that produce a body of work, such as art, writing, music, business, etc.

[Michael1695]

Quote by: another day Things that actually build up your real life skills. None of this bullshit "it quickens your reflexes"... what? In your thumbs? When your walking in the jungle and a snake attacks you? Non wastes of times are things that educate you, things that foster your talents, and things that produce a body of work, such as art, writing, music, business, etc.

So lets say I work, go to school, and raise a family, and I take an hour out of a week to play video games because I enjoy it, I am wasting that hour because I could be using that hour to build up my real life skills? What about if I go fishing, if I catch the fish and throw them back am I wasting my time because I am not building any of my skills? My point is if we do things because we enjoy them and nothing more, it is a waste of time?

[Nemiroff]

Video games teach a lot more the reflex (and you forgot coordination). Puzzle games work on intellect, rpgs can tell a compelling story, with ethic, politcial' philosophical, or whatever morals and lessons. I have learned battle strategy from real Tim strategy games (the ones where you control armies of little people and build up cities and go to war, and Sim city is another strategy game with war far from any mention in the game.

Also you do need specific reactions for specific situations, but the basic ability to react to A situation is a very important skill as well, in each games you have to react to many things at once, and many games are different. And the new nintendo wii works out a lot more then just thumbs, it may be the exception now, but it may be the standard (with better graphics) in the not too distant future.

[Osborn F Enready]

Video Games have the potential for both teaching and entertainment.

Anyone that doesn't see the value in using video games for education, hasn't looked past their own nose.

[Kevin Dean]

Anything that has entertainment value and done within reason is not a waste of time, in my opinion.

Quote by: another day Non wastes of times are things that educate you, things that foster your talents, and things that produce a body of work, such as art, writing, music, business, etc.

Video games themselves are art. They have soundtracks that are gripping and, if I dare say so, can rival those "Classics" like Bach, Pachelbel and Mozart.

They have graphics which are rendered or drawn which require as much skill as the painting on the Sisten Chapel (even more, since I'm willing to bet the people there don't have pores) even thought it's in a different medium.

If the creation of art is not a time waster, surely the appreciation of art is ALSO not a time waster.

[Muckraker]

The industrial revolution essentially invented free time. Just about everything we do with that free time can be classified a "waste of time," but the concept of wasted time is, in itself faulty.

The concept of waste is rife with judgement. A person watching a television show about walking in the woods is judged by a person playing a video game where they walk in the woods. They are then judged by the person walking in a forest preserve on a gravel path who is then judged by the hardcore hiker out in the pathless wilderness who is then judged by the field scientist out in the pathless wilderness searching for a cure to cancer.

It may appear the "hardcore hiker in the pathless wilderness" is less likely to be wasting time than a person watching a show about walking in the woods but that is not true. Both individuals are equally wasting time. Even the field scientist is wasting time if he/she is chasing a phantom and never publishes his/her findings so that another field scientist can avoid making the same mistake.

People will naturally gravitate to what they enjoy doing. If they didn't enjoy it they probably wouldn't be doing it. To criticize the validity of ways people waste time by comparing them to other, equal wastes of time is faulty logic.

[Nemiroff]

either way, the guy watching tv is learning a few facts if hes not zoning out,

the video game guy is learning the same, plus working on reflex, hand eye cordination, multitasking, and depending on the type of game, other skills.

the rest of the guys are learning more and more, (except the reflex hand eye cordination, multitasking, etc that come directly from a premade program) and first hand, (plus the last guy is curing cancer)

they may all be wasting time, or not, but some are benefiting, mentally and physcially more then others,

and in addition to enjoying themselves, they are also wasting time more efficiently so to speak

[Jedi31293]

Are video games really a waste of time?

I've heard this a lot too, but let me ask you this: what isn't a waste of time? Everyone has different opinions on what is productive, and what is a waste of time. Some parents might actually encourage video gaming, while others might consider it a waste of time.

It all comes down to whether you think it's a waste of time.

[Nemiroff]

I don't believe that most of the parents who think video games are a waste of time usually don't know anything about video games and don't give them a fair chance. Its not that they have a different idea of a waste of time, its that they and all of their friends don't understand them and immediately throw em all into one big category of useless crap.

[Jokerjdude]

After playing Barbie's princess adventure I feel like killing someone.