I like video games

[ServusSpiritusSancti]

What degree of realism is necessary for it to be unacceptable?

It's not about the level of realism per se. Games likes HALO and Fear are not that realistic as opposed to games such as Call of Duty, yet they can still desensitize people who play them enough. Video games can also be dangerously influental, there have been numerous lawsuits filed against the makers of Grand Theft Auto because of criminals who admitted they were inspired by the game.

And then there's the addiction. It seems like shooting games tend to be more addictive than something like Mario. Of course, someone with some common sense would know better than to play better video games for more than about an hour at a time.

Video games, in and of themselves, are not sinful to play, but they can be, for reasons I mentioned earlier. Playing Mario for 30 minutes or so certainy won't do much harm. But if one begins playing games that can basically rot the mind, or spends way too much time on them, that becomes another story altogether.

[totiusque]

I think the most dangerous aspect to video games is its addictive nature.  Some addictions are morally evil in and of themselves (pornography), while some addictive things are morally neutral (tobacco, alcohol, TV, video games).  The problem is that we have become an addictive society, and that most people cannot do things in moderation, so those morally neutral things all of a sudden become moral evils to those who abuse them.

Aside from a few games on my android phone, I don't play video games that much anymore, but I still consider myself a video game addict.  If I were to buy an XBox or PS3 or start playing a MMORPG on a PC, I guarantee that I would fall into the sin of sloth regularly.  If one is able to sit down and say "I'm only going to play for 30 minutes today" and stick to it, I don't see any issue with him playing video games.  The problem is the majority of gamers are unable to do that.

[The Harlequin King]

In videogames, players are immersed in the "heat of the moment," pressed into making choices which could be of any kind, frivolous or moral, possibly within a time constraint.  See the last few games by Bethesda Softworks for example here.  As such, I tend to think the videogame is far more problematic in this regard.

That is true. I find those games infinitely more enjoyable than most movies, though. Speaking of Bethesda games, I just got back into the Fallout 3 groove recently.

[TerrorDæmonum]

I would like to clarify, that I do not play video games anymore on my devices or in an regular fashion. I do not refrain on the odd chance that it is presented to me, which is very rare. Twice, in the past two years, I played for a short while of games I had never played before while at someone else's house.

tmw89 beat around the video game bush (crate, barrel, etc) a bit there, but what I wrote here is what I think, but I have given up video games because it was good to do so, not because video games were sinful.

[tmw89]

tmw89 beat around the video game bush (crate, barrel, etc) a bit there, but what I wrote here is what I think, but I have given up video games because it was good to do so, not because video games were sinful.

Very funny.  But it is probably for the best you have given up videogames, all the same.  And if videogames are not sinful, they are at least potential occasions for sin depending on the given title.

[TerrorDæmonum]

tmw89 beat around the video game bush (crate, barrel, etc) a bit there, but what I wrote here is what I think, but I have given up video games because it was good to do so, not because video games were sinful.

Very funny.  But it is probably for the best you have given up videogames, all the same.  And if videogames are not sinful, they are at least potential occasions for sin depending on the given title.

The reasons why I gave them up are outlined in a blog post which is no longer on my blog. It is a shame...you could have cited it to good effect. It was irrefutable!

[CoolCat]

First person shooter video games can subtly make a person insensitive to human tragedy.
When I play video games, it is very seldom, and I only play board games.

[TerrorDæmonum]

First person shooter video games can subtly make a person insensitive to human tragedy.

I hear this a lot, but I do not think it is true. It is not observable except within the context of video games. People going on a rampage in a video game are doing so because they know exactly what is happening. People who think it makes people insensitive are possibly unable to separate the visuals from reality I think.

While I do not play video games, I think any statement about them must be held to a standard beyond speculation.

When I play video games, it is very seldom, and I only play board games.

Do you mean board games digitally?

A few years ago, I and other played chess and checkers frequently on a tablet computer. That is in some ways an improvement over traditional game and pieces for travel.

[CoolCat]

First person shooter video games can subtly make a person insensitive to human tragedy.

I hear this a lot, but I do not think it is true. It is not observable except within the context of video games. People going on a rampage in a video game are doing so because they know exactly what is happening. People who think it makes people insensitive are possibly unable to separate the visuals from reality I think.

While I do not play video games, I think any statement about them must be held to a standard beyond speculation.

When I play video games, it is very seldom, and I only play board games.

Do you mean board games digitally?

A few years ago, I and other played chess and checkers frequently on a tablet computer. That is in some ways an improvement over traditional game and pieces for travel.

Yes. I referred to board games in the context of video games.


Per the insensitive part: I do think it is true. Especially at a young age.
I have young nephews ( 14-18 years of age) who are avid first person shooter players. They have been playing for several years. When they heard about the shootings in CT, instead of feeling sorry for the children and their loved ones, they were very quick to inquire what "kind" of weapon was used by the shooter in order to accomplish this travesty.

I understand where you are coming from. If I were to start playing FPS games at my age, I don't think I would be insensitive or gradually start. By no means. But a child or a teenager? That is a different story. Don't you think?
 

[TerrorDæmonum]

Per the insensitive part: I do think it is true. Especially at a young age.

Developmental concerns are another issue. I do not pretend to be able to answer that. My first indicates I think video games are for adults to exclude this actually.

I have young nephews ( 14-18 years of age) who are avid first person shooter players. They have been playing for several years. When they heard about the shootings in CT, instead of feeling sorry for the children and their loved ones, they were very quick to inquire what "kind" of weapon was used by the shooter in order to accomplish this travesty.

I do not think that is a video game link.

People concerned about politicians using this as an excuse for new policies also seemingly had such insensitivities.

By no means. But a child or a teenager? That is a different story. Don't you think?

I do not think "teenagers" are children. That is a legal construct, where a person is a child for one's entire development almost.

I think those whose brains have developed sufficiently, even if not complete, could play them without ill effect.

I do think that video games are something young people should not have time for though. Video games are unproductive and entertainment, and people who are not working and have almost no concerns should be more focused on compensating for that, rather than working on training themselves to be well entertained.

Development is crucial to what a person is in the future. Health, physical and mental, is highly dependent on the foundation of development.

[CoolCat]

Per the insensitive part: I do think it is true. Especially at a young age.

Developmental concerns are another issue. I do not pretend to be able to answer that. My first indicates I think video games are for adults to exclude this actually.
But in all reality, youngsters play FPS and/or are allowed to play by their parents

I have young nephews ( 14-18 years of age) who are avid first person shooter players. They have been playing for several years. When they heard about the shootings in CT, instead of feeling sorry for the children and their loved ones, they were very quick to inquire what "kind" of weapon was used by the shooter in order to accomplish this travesty.

I do not think that is a video game link.

People concerned about politicians using this as an excuse for new policies also seemingly had such insensitivities.
That is an unfortunate side effect (and never works), nevertheless, both are linked.

By no means. But a child or a teenager? That is a different story. Don't you think?

I do not think "teenagers" are children. That is a legal construct, where a person is a child for one's entire development almost.

I think those whose brains have developed sufficiently, even if not complete, could play them without ill effect.

I do think that video games are something young people should not have time for though. Video games are unproductive and entertainment, and people who are not working and have almost no concerns should be more focused on compensating for that, rather than working on training themselves to be well entertained.

Development is crucial to what a person is in the future. Health, physical and mental, is highly dependent on the foundation of development.

The teenagers I am talking about have been playing for several years. Four or five. Possibly even more. At that age, they were not teenagers. As per the remainder of your statement, I agree wholeheartedly.

[TerrorDæmonum]

The teenagers I am talking about have been playing for several years. Four or five. Possibly even more. At that age, they were not teenagers. As per the remainder of your statement, I agree wholeheartedly.

Keep in mind I made this thread when I first joined to get a feel for how people conducted discourse. I do not play video games, and I only refrain from making moral pronouncements imprudently.

I also want to maintain a high standard of rhetoric, but I cannot speak too much in favour of video games. They are not necessary and I think there is great risk, morally, in indulging in them, without intentional moderation.

[CoolCat]

The teenagers I am talking about have been playing for several years. Four or five. Possibly even more. At that age, they were not teenagers. As per the remainder of your statement, I agree wholeheartedly.

Keep in mind I made this thread when I first joined to get a feel for how people conducted discourse. I do not play video games, and I only refrain from making moral pronouncements imprudently.

I also want to maintain a high standard of rhetoric, but I cannot speak too much in favour of video games. They are not necessary and I think there is great risk, morally, in indulging in them, without intentional moderation.

I agree.

[Bonaventure]

Video games, in and of themselves, are not sinful to play, but they can be, for reasons I mentioned earlier. Playing Mario for 30 minutes or so certainy won't do much harm. But if one begins playing games that can basically rot the mind, or spends way too much time on them, that becomes another story altogether.

Video games are complex. Unlike books, movies, cartoons, tv shows, and so on, video games force one to interact with and force the action. When one watches a movie or reads a book, he is being passive and the book is charge. The same can be said for other media, but video games give people much more control. One can choose how to play, at what speed, how serious they are (try-harding), and so on. I can lazily read a book when I'm tired, or watch a TV show passively, but video games are unique in this regard.

This video, while not on the nature of video games, discusses some of these ideas tangentially:

With all of this said, anyone can waste time reading a book or watching a show. There are plenty of rotten movies and literature as well. However, because of the uniqueness and higher involvement required for a game, in my opinion they can be the most dangerous. We all know of the stereotypical gamer in mom's basement, never leaving and eating hot pockets. While I acknowledge that it is a stereotype, these things don't come out of thin air.

We can use activities and media for good or bad, but I think games present the biggest risk. Added to all of this is that no game truly edifies someone in a Catholic way. Sure, we can play a good game that might even have a good moral message, but this does not compare to watching the Passion of the Christ or reading the lives of the saints.

Just some food for thought.

[tmw89]

Added to all of this is that no game truly edifies someone in a Catholic way. Sure, we can play a good game that might even have a good moral message, but this does not compare to watching the Passion of the Christ or reading the lives of the saints.

This has been my recent line of thinking - if we are to dedicate our lives to Christ, how can playing even an innocent game like Chu Chu Rocket help toward our eternal salvation?

...meh, coming from the guy who posts finance stories in the General News section, I guess you should take that as you would a grain of salt 

The only videogames that really interest me anymore are retro-fare and recent simulations - SimCity 4 from almost ten years ago is as close to perfect as it can get for me.  You'd better believe I'm thinking about purchasing the new one due later this year... maybe I can justify it as a kind of prep for management of commodities?