Are computer games ruining peoples lives?

everybody is an individual, and we should just do what ever makes us happy without hurting anybody else and without jeapordising any of our own importances in life.

its all in the mind, its good to be cautious what you do with your time, but an hour or two a day on gaming isn't bad at all, as long as all your main objectives of the day are completed, do whatever tickles your fancy !

always humble, sharing love !

blessings to all.

 

Computer games can have a negative impact on an individual, this is a certainty.

For example, neglecting your own needs to play games, but this isn't specifically the game causing this.

Video games can have a positive impact on gamers, especially online games. For example, the development of social skills, whilst virtual, can aid real life communication skills and interpersonal skills.

Proficiency in IT is something that games has certainly helped with, a good friend for example, started on RS, is now a senior IT consultant.

It all comes down to user moderation, a healthy balance between the odd outdoors and the virtual escapes.

 

Yes and No.

We've all heard the "too much of anything isn't good" cliche, but I think it applies well to this topic.

I used to use games for escapism when I was very introverted, which I believe had benefits but also big big negatives. It was only last year when I opened up a lot more, got a lot more confident and started to have no problems speaking infront of people and with people I don't know that much.

Strangely enough that was about 6 months after I quit playing online games completely, so I believe there's some correlation there.

 

My personal experience...
At one point, gaming had ruined my life. I started gaming at a super young age because my older brother was a fanatic. He's games his whole life and has actually made a career out of it. He just graduated college and is currently applying to be an environmental artist at Bethesda. That's beside the point though. Anyways, I've games my whole life, everything from Gameboy Color and Nintendo 64, all the way through X Box One currently. At a younger age, I wasn't allowed to go outside, literally. My parents were extremely strict and basically made it to where I didn't have a normal childhood. It was spent inside the house or outside in the yard landscaping. Video games were my only connection to the outside world. I learned so much about life from Runescape. And gaming was all I had. So to me, it made my life better, rather than ruining it.
Now, the past year or so, I've gotten back into Runescape. I don't know why, but it takes up HOURS upon HOURS of my day. It's fucked up my relationship with my fiance, whom I've been with for 2 years. It's cause so many fights because I play games so damn much when I'm not working. Hell, as I type this, I'm on my laptop, with Runescape open, AT work! It's gotten better, I only play about an hour and a half or so a day.

To shorten my answer;
In childhood, youth, too much video games can't be too bad
In adulthood, video gaming can ruin lives and relationships

(sorry for the long post)

 

I don't think so,

Anything can ruin anyone.

you can party too much and lose all your time, job etc

too much of anything is bad basically!

Govern yourself!!!

 

Back in the day I can say I played way to much like 12hours a day but now that im older im lucky if I play 12 hours a month lol. I guess some people grow out of it and some don't. Its not the game ruining peoples lives its the people not knowing when enough is enough. You have to have self control and no what really matters and what is just entertainment,

 

Anything too much can ruin one's life. Need to understand how to make use of your time.

 

It can ruin people's lives. I know people who spend thousands of dollars on a video game and they get nothing in return. Not to mention that these people are not the richest compared to others.

 

I feel to some extent, it's not the computer that ruins people's lives, it's their willpower. The computer provides us to easily become lazy and not have to do much. We, naturally, tend to take advantage of that and abuse it. It's through our own neglect to realize the severity of our issue that we fault. If we had any willpower to actually get up, go to the gym, be active, and limit our computer time, we'd be alright.

And on the social aspect (where it limits our social interaction) I disagree for 2 reasons. One, we're talking here. Albeit a different form of communication, this incorporates nearly everything, with limited facial interaction (I count emoticons and avatars to account for some to a very mild degree). Secondly, we have always tended to be antisocial to some degree. Example:

 

I believe the aspects of gaming does ruin peoples lives, but there is also aspect where its your own self-control that is lacking, when playing games, which in essence is yourself causing the "life ruined" aspect.

Firstly, the fact that we have games to play, sets that first step into gaming, and wanting to be on the computer. The constant advertisement, and benefits they try to throw at you, luring you in etc.

But the fact that you decide to play games, and play too much of it (which is always the main cause), relates to why gaming can ruin peoples lives. There's a primary and secondary source. Games are Primary, we are Secondary.

I think as long as your health is maintained, because a lot of gaming does/can ruin peoples lives from a health aspect, from the wealth aspect, (debts), the obsession to be better then others in a game, constantly staring at a pc, causing eye problems etc. Although sometimes people who have health or mental issues, feel like they can escape and play a game, to not have to always focus on the real life, so if you think about it, for some people it can sometimes help.

To be honest, thinking about it, I'm undecided, I believe it depends on specific and individual cases.

I also agree that socialisation is not decreased while playing games, firstly I learnt much more growing up, with my English, simply grammar etc, and general knowledge participating in forums like so. Also with that, you can learn different cultures, languages, personalities, and much more from socialising within online games, its not every day that you can speak to someone from, UK, France, Netherlands, USA, Canada, Australia, Germany, Sweden, Pakistan, Indian, Japan, China, in the space of 5 minutes.


Gaming has its upsides, and downsides, it may just be about self-control.

 

If you get to the point where the game actually affects your life (terrible grades, loss of employment etc) then you probably need to get help and stop playing the game. however for me personally, Runescape has taught me patience and the ability to grind out some things that aren't exactly enjoyable to achieve the greater reward, and Counter-Strike has taught me the ability to make critical thinking decisions, anticipation etc.

 

This, could not explain it any better.

 

Harsh realities lie with people who take it to far, If one learns self-control he can enjoy himself to his hearts content.

 

I'm going to say that computer games can not be grouped into one category. Look at Pokemon Go. It is improving so many people's lives and getting people who would normally sit around all day up and out of the house and moving. Games are a great way to get people interested in topics and engaged in doing activities they would not normally do.

 

Considering that's a newer game, and it's true it actively gets people out and about. It's definitely better for the younger generations, as recent levels of obesity are at an all time high (obesity can have some links to gaming and the whole aspect of staying at home un-actively). People who are socially restricted, can now socialise through Pokemon Go, that's a great thing. A lot of people are actively making new friends as a result. As well as people learning more about psychological aspects of peoples characters, society etc. How us as humans are interacting and evolving with our internet gaming.

On the other hand, you have gamers (or cheaters) who still sit on their backsides, and use a PC emulator, glitches or tricks and cheat their way into playing the game without even moving from their backsides. People can use transport methods, which then is lacking the activity aspect compared to going out and actually exercising. Such as cars, or buses. As well as that people also disagree on the basis that you're still staring at your phone. Therefore you could be mindlessly addicted to a pc/device screen. As a result there have been a lot of people getting injured. Therefore it seems a lot of people do not have self-control/ limits within that specific game.

 

I have to admit i play rs ALOT, i'd estimate it anywhere from 8-14 hours/day, depending on what i have to do, if i feel like playing etc.
I also spend quite alot of money on it, i'd estimate it around 2000$-3000$ over the 8years i play rs now.
My parents often complain about how offen im on my laptop,and how much money i spend, but i don't really see the problem because I have a job, do all of my chores in the house, have plenty of social contact with family/ friends and IF i spend money on rs, it's money i can afford spending. Now i'm wondering if people here on sythe think my gaming behaviour is normal? or do you agree with my parents?

 

Yes, games fucked up life. Nothing is the same as it was in the 90s..

I rarely find any of my friends outside, they are always playing Dota/Wow/RS/CS/COD and they're at local cafes for internet with their laptops for internet access.

 

It's all about balance. Just because someone studies a lot and is considered a 'nerd' doesn't mean they have no friends. In fact, being a nerd now a days (nerd as in intelligent, obtaining high grades) is considered 'cool' which is opposite to what was seen by society decades ago.

Gaming is fine as long as it's not affecting your life. If someone is to let loose and spend x amount of money on a game, it's more of a personal flaw, e.g. lack of self control, or rationalization. In the end, the individual makes the choices and determines how the video game will effect them.

 

True on a lot of counts. I would say that even though some people cheat and some people are stupid and get hurt it still is a net positive. Far more people are going to go out and be active and meet new people than are going to get hurt or cheat while at their computer. I have a feeling more games like this will be coming out after Pokemon Go's success which hopefully people will have learned to not walk in front of cars.

 

Social media is not computers.