Re: Purpose of this Newsgroup

From: madcentral@aol.com (MadCentral)

Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2000 00:00:00 +0000

>>>He makes an interesting point though, albeit rather ridiculously worded.
He does? Please explain, because I can't see it!<<

I said an interesting point, not necessarily an accurate one.

>>Let's have a look, ignoring the obscene irrelevancies.
>To learn firsthand from formerly sane people who have quickly lost their
>minds thanks to  video games.<<

I would say that video games do certainly have some responsibility for the
decline in certain areas of education with certain types of youth.  Its also
true that they teach things too, but the balance is awry in my opinion.  I
would discourage a child of mine from video games (not forbid, just discourage)
and attempt to guide them towards reading, writing, sports... something else.
Computer use is important, but video games in all their forms do seem to be
*too* dominant in many people's lives.  This, of course, is just my opinion and
nothing more.

>> If anyone on this newsgroup tells you
>any different remember they are all plain fucked in the head but it's not all
>their fault. Those fucking video games. <<

The whole point is made too strongly, which doesn't do his argument any good,
but I believe its reasonably valid.  Its true that people who do ''too much' of
anything can often not tell the woods for the trees.

>>So he's saying that people who play video games "lose their minds" and
that anyone who disagrees has *already* lost their mind, in other
words a circular and self-referential argument which doesn't even
deserve to be dignified with a response.<<

His argument is necessarily wrong, just because its worded badly or stated a
little too strongly.  The point, more simply, would seem to be ''Video games
and their ilk when used too frequently aren't good for you.  Too many people
use them too frequently, and when they do they ignore the possible damage to
their education.''  I dont know that its right, but I wouldn't say that it
didn't deserve consideration at all.  If you fail to consider such arguments
then you are doing *exactly* what he said, and failing to even wonder if maybe,
just maybe, you aren't doing yourself any good.  Again, I dont necessarily mean
*you*, or indeed anybody on this list, but I do believe that kids of today's
world would be better encouraged to play games with other kids (in person, not
over the net) or to pursue other activities.  A little TV and Video games is
fine, Too much TV and video games isn't.  In my opinion.

>>Well *there's* a sweeping generalisation! Not only was the *whole
world* sane pre-1974, but whatever insanity followed subsequently was
*entirely* the fault of computer games!<<

If he meant it as fact, then obviously its nonsense.  Sometimes, a ''sweeping
generalisation'' is intended as a metaphor rather than as fact and it would
seem to me his intention here was dramatic rather than factual.

>>As far as I am concerned a video game is a way of having fun for a
variable period of time, if it supplies that fun then it's done its
job.<<

With a well-balanced life, I would agree with you.  Some people, particularly
younger people, who use such things too much no longer have a balanced life.
Like so many things, in moderation its harmless, but when it goes beyond
moderate use a darker side can appear.

>All you motherfuckers shove your video games right up your asses
>and switch to pinball.
I play both video games and pinball.<<

Yes, his attitude and general badmouthing was pointless and silly.  He did his
argument no favours by this.

In conclusion, my point was simply that I thought he had something interesting
to say, but didn't have a clue how to say it and ruined it by being a total
pratt.

Steve T.

References

Re: Purpose of this Newsgroup
graham@DELETETHISaffordable-leather.co.uk
Wed, 19 Jan 2000 00:00:00 +0000

Referenced By

Re: Purpose of this Newsgroup
graham@DELETETHISaffordable-leather.co.uk
Wed, 19 Jan 2000 00:00:00 +0000