Video Games: Friend or Foe?

Since the creation of video games, there have been disputes about their use for good, and their use for evil. While there is no concrete statistics about whether or not "educational games" work on children under 8, video games were always said to have the power to be utilized in an educational way. This, however, does not mean that gaming systems are used for this purpose. I know a lot of people who own video gaming systems such as PS3, Xbox, and more. None of them have educational video games. Though some supporters of video games say that video gaming controls stress, I know several people who are addicted to it. Though, addiction is possibly not the word for it. After all, many Americans watch T.V. many hours a day, and we do not call them "addicted" to television. I am on the internet many hours a day, and the verdict is out on whether or not I am "addicted" to it. We seem to spend a lot of time doing things we enjoy, "addiction", so long as it doesn't lead to decreased social interaction, cause pain to oneself, and others, is harmless. Or is it? The problem with video games, is that it encourages youth to engage during a critical time for developing people-skills. Computers do as well, though internet is much more educational, both in potential, and practice, then video games are. It is essential that we consider how few children play outside, explore the world, and play board games, or discover hobbies, or interact with each other because of video games. In fact, the "hobbies" that used to be common--model car building, painting, collecting stamps and cards, hiking, etc., are more than likely less common among youth now that T.V., and video games take up the bulk of free time for youth. This, in itself is not bad, it's just interesting to consider how this might effect young people's creativity, ability to meet goals, and to think with clarity, and to concentrate. I have found no persuasive evidence that gaming solves these problems.