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Definition of online games: Electronic games that are played over the internet
Online games are nothing foreign to the younger generation for many years now. They are even popular among working adults who enjoy playing and interacting with people across the globe. However, did you ever think about the negative aspects of these games that you used to play for hours on end? (Don't lie, we've all been there.)
Before we touch on the disadvantages of online games, we need to understand that such games aren't all bad.
Lets take a look at some of the advantages.
1. Exercise for the brain
On our own we have realized that our reaction time is quicker and our hand-eye coordination has improved a lot after playing online games. They help to hone our problem-solving skills and logical thinking ability as well.2. Increases visual acuity and attention span
Our peripheral vision gets better. These games can teach us to avoid getting distracted so easily.3. Helps in socializing
An easy way to have fun with your friends and family is to engage in online games together. Personally I love playing games at parties or gatherings with my peers. It helps to strengthen our bonds and it feels great to defeat monsters in the virtual world with them! Here's an article on how the popular online game "World of Warcraft" can actually impart valuable skills to gamers: The hidden benefits of online gamingThen again, anything in excess is a bad thing. I'm sure all of us have heard how harmful online games can be to us. Here are a few disadvantages you should take note of.
1. Potential health risks
Chronic gamers are at risk of developing bad posture and repetitive strain injury (RPI). RPI requires long term treatment which is usually a difficult process. Other health risks include photosensitive epilepsy, headaches, nerve/muscle damages and maybe even obesity in the long run.
2. Social problems
Locking yourself in your room and playing these games all day long might make you more introverted and weaken your interpersonal skills. Exposing yourself to violent games continuously might cause you to become more aggressive too. Children may fail to separate fantasy from reality due to excessive gaming. Read about one such case here: China boy jumps to his death after playing too much World of Warcraft3. Unhealthy Addiction
It's not uncommon to hear how people can get so engrossed in their games that they forget about having proper meals and eventually neglect important things like school or work. 4. Lurking predators
Online games are an easy platform for stalkers or pedophiles to trick impressionable children and adolescents into meeting with them in real life after befriending them. I went out with people I met on an online game, Highstreet 5, once. They were all older than me but very nice guys and girls. Still, you can never be too sure if a predator is waiting to take advantage of you.In my opinion, online games can be harmless if we exercise proper caution and discipline. By limiting our gaming time and avoiding suspicious people I believe we can enjoy playing these games without worry. Nevertheless it seems online games have proven to be more hazardous than beneficial to us nowadays, especially children. Apparently many people get hooked onto gaming too easily. There have been so many stories of how people kill themselves because of online games. Read about one of them here: South Korean man dies after 50 hours of gaming.
Leave a comment and share your thoughts about online games with me!
Are they important to you? Should gaming companies start taking action? What do you think?
References:
http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/2-27-2004-51038.asp
http://ezinearticles.com/?Pros-and-Cons-of-Online-Gaming&id=5659475
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/the-healthy-benefits-of-online-games.html
http://www.readersdigest.com.au/the-pros-and-cons-of-playing-computer-games
http://www.mychildhealth.net/online-kids-games-pros-and-cons.html
21 comments:
I think that internet gaming is still important in our lives. If used moderately, it can be a form of relaxation. However, we must be aware of the negative effects of gaming if we are addicted to it. As you can see, kids if not educated about gaming can think that they are living in the cyber world, thus jumping down buildings. This is very dangerous. Gaming companies should maybe come out with a game that helps kids/teenagers/adults to understand gaming safety and what damages can it do to our health.
Lucky for me, I'm not an avid online gamer.So i would not need to worry if i would get affected by it. But some of my friends and even my siblings are quite addicted.Gaming companies should take some responsibility for it, as its them who planted these gaming seeds into our brains.But we ourselves should be mature enough to decide on the amount of games we play online.So we must be able to differentiate on whats right and wrong.
i'm totally addicted but i can't see how that leads to extreme reactons =S
I'm once addicted too. Even woke up middle of the night to play it. Furthermore, its during my O level period. But lucky I'm able to make it through. Online gaming are dangerous if you dont know when to stop.
Most people would have played online games at least once in their lives. I was an avid gamer once, before I got bored of it. Unlike me, are people who might not be able to control their addiction and sooner or later would regard the online game as their reality.
I too think that online gaming is important to our lives. Well, i do admit that i play online games... However, as long as we dont get addicted to it, i dont see why we shouldn't play it! =)
I believe many of us experience the gaming company first hand. Being a gamer myself, I do accept the fact that not everyone of the gamers out there are angels. Hence i think that adults should really supervise children when they are gaming, especially online gaming.
I think its alright to game if its of adequate usage , not too much and not too little. Best if u dont get fooled and use real money to sustain your game account.
Looking at the bright side of it, internet gaming is still important. It can help to release stress. However, if it has become an addiction, it is not a good thing. I have heard about a mother who is addicted to online gaming to an extent that she neglected her duty as a mother and wife. As to this case, I think gaming companies should take some action to it. Nevertheless, it is our responsibility to discipline ourselves so that we only play moderately and not to an extent that we get addicted.
I'm a gamer but I still know when to stop gaming and concentrate on work. People should start learning that its not the game's fault that people are that addicted to the game but its the discipline which people should have when playing.
I do find that online or even offline games are still quite important in our lives as it helps as a form of distress - a runaway from our hectic lifestyle. However, I think that one should have self-control when playing online games.
Gaming is something most people have done in their lives at least once if not more, and some have taken this further into an addiction.
Online games like MapleStory have taken steps into curbing extended gaming sessions by utilizing pop-ups notifying the gamer when he/she has been playing for a long time. I think it is a huge stepping step in changing the stand of the gaming companies, now showing that they care for the health of their gamers.
Gamers themselves also have to take responsibility for their health and wellbeing (:
I have always knew that there were many threats from online gaming.. ranging from health risks to cyber bullying risk. I guess that is why I have never really got myself into gaming. But up to this age, the curiousity to game is already lost. However, I know of friends who love to game. They game almost everyday and it seems as if they neglect their studies to an extent..
I have always knew that there were many threats from online gaming.. ranging from health risks to cyber bullying risk. I guess that is why I have never really got myself into gaming. But up to this age, the curiousity to game is already lost. However, I know of friends who love to game. They game almost everyday and it seems as if they neglect their studies to an extent..
@Valerie: Yes I was the one who told you about the kid who jumped off the building right? Apparently he could not separate fantasy from reality. I wonder if gaming companies are doing anything about protecting young children.
@Shuqi: I completely agree with you! I guess when it comes to gaming we ourselves need to learn to control and limit our game play time.
@Liquid: Hahaha maybe some people are better at self-discipline! You never know how serious some people can take gaming.
@Alex: Wow, good to hear you passed your O's. Haha I myself used to stay up late to game during crucial exam periods. They just got boring after a while.
@Arini: Very true. It's scary to think how hooked some people can get to gaming, to the extent of sabotaging their health and social lives.
@Andre: Yup I think so too! Games aren't all bad; they're a great way to de-stress once in a while!
@Gerwyn: You have a point. I feel that it would be ideal for parents to monitor the games that their kids play online. Then again, working parents may not have the time and energy for that. Parents have a hard sometimes.
@Shun An: I know right! I used to play maple, audition and World of Warcraft, all of which required me to buy cash cards every month. I wasn't very willing to spend those 50 bucks, as fun as those games were. Then again I guess it's good to pay the game creators and 'reward' them for their hard work!
@Dyana: It's shocking to think what an online game can do to some people. It's the addiction that kills, though. Some people just don't know when to stop, it seems. I agree with you on the part about taking responsibility to discipline ourselves. It is our health and wellness after all.
@Ambrose: Mmm quite true. I guess gaming companies are just trying to earn a living and do what they love most. Then again how do we ensure the children of our generation do not hurt themselves because they can't separate reality from the virtual world? There's only so much parents can do. Maybe it lies in education?
@Fizah: Yup I agree with you! I love gaming during my spare time or when I don't have any work to do.
@Serene: Oh, that's a very good job done by the people behind Maplestory. It's encouraging to hear that measures are being taken and gaming companies are communicating their concern for us, to us.
@Felicia: I was like you! Curious about gaming but my interest eventually died down and I got bored. It's not good for your friends to game so much. I hope their lives don't revolve only around those games.
I think that gaming should be something that helps us cope with the reality better, not take us away from it almost permanently. It should be an escape, but not a permanent escape. Hence, it shouldn't be addiction. People should go back to review their objectives when engaging in online games - to relieve stress / escape from the pressure of the reality etc. Everything should be temporary, people should be able to judge what's good and what's not for themselves better. -FATIN
i think online gaming is fine as it helps people relieve stress and relax. However if they do not keep their gaming habits under control they may end up ruining their lives. I also play online games at times but i never let myself get addicted to the point that i neglect other important things such as my schoolwork and health.
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