Prompt: Post an article or a video that discusses video game, virtual reality, or simulation ethics. What is your opinion of this article/video? What about this article intrigued you? Give your reaction to the article/video and address the ethical dilemmas presented in the article/video. Do you agree or disagree with the author/speaker? Why? What do you think the next steps are in making sure that the ethical issue(s) discussed are made safe for kids?
Video Game Ethics
This YouTube video discusses the effects that video games can have on people. I chose to include this video because I found it very intriguing, because the opinions in this video are very different from my own opinions. This led me to really analyze the ethics and dilemmas that are present in the world today.
The beginning of the video really intriged me because of the perspective that the mother had of her child playing video games. She made the comment that video games changed her son, that he would throw fits if he was asked to turn the game off to go to the movies, and the son commented that his parents just don't get it. Next the videos focused on a college student who had a gaming addiction, that quickly ruined his life. He was unable to cure his addiction, and each relapse worsened. My opinion of this video is that is portrays gaming to be a negative part of life. |
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Towards the end of the video, an interview was conducted with Stanley Pierre-Louis (chief lobbyist for video gaming industry) where he made comments about the problem not lying within the video game itself. Stanley comments that video games have been proven to have positive effects on our health, our education, as well as entertainment. Later on in the interview, he commented on providing tools for parents that include self-regulation, limit time spent on gaming, etc. This is the perspective that I agree with.
My Opinion...
It is my belief that there are things in the world that can be utilized to enhance life AND potentially have the opposite effect if not treated appropriately. It is often said that too much of anything can be bad. Gaming is no different. If we are all being honest, the human population doesn't do too well with limits. If a bag of m&m's is in the house, I'm going to eat the whole bag. If you put a box of cookies infront of a child, they're going to eat the whole box. If you are having fun on a game and feeling accomplished as you crush the next level, you're going to keep playing.
Gaming can improve the educational experience, push students to learn coding, teach the human population to preserver through difficult tasks. However, if it is used inappropriately...of course it can have negative effects. This is where ethics and guidelines come in to play. Teachers have to plan to use games in a proactive way. Parent's have to set guidelines and time limits for children. People have to be taught how much is too much. And I do believe this is possible. These are the next steps to make sure that gaming is safe for kids.
Gaming can improve the educational experience, push students to learn coding, teach the human population to preserver through difficult tasks. However, if it is used inappropriately...of course it can have negative effects. This is where ethics and guidelines come in to play. Teachers have to plan to use games in a proactive way. Parent's have to set guidelines and time limits for children. People have to be taught how much is too much. And I do believe this is possible. These are the next steps to make sure that gaming is safe for kids.
For some, gaming may be the only way to get out of their hometown, share new experiences, and grow as a person.