Did you catch the article “Just a Game?” from this month’s issue of the Ensign? It explains why online games (especially role-playing, quest-oriented games) can become addictive, leading to lost spirituality, lost opportunities, and lost relationships. The article explains the problems that can occur and gives guidance for those affected and their loved ones.
It’s definitely worth a read for everyone, regardless of your level of familiarity on the subject.
The article mentions a talk from Elder David A. Bednar at the May CES fireside, which is also available online.
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ve seen this sort of scare hit-piece what seems to be a dozen times from Church leaders and publications. It happens every time something new-ish and marginal becomes something more mainstream. All of a sudden, someone at CHQ takes notice and doesn’t understand it.
Somebody freaks out about the “lasting spiritual damage,” and talks are given saying “I’m not saying it’s evil, but it *is* of the devil” (c.f. Elder Bednar’s talk). As soon as the furor has died down, everyone forgets about it and moves on.
I’d love to see a hit-piece by the Ensign on how watching BYU Football can become addictive, leading to lost spirituality, lost opportunities, and lost relationships. I won’t hold my breath.
What makes it a scare hit-piece?
It can seem that way to someone who hasn’t experienced the pitfalls that the leaders are talking about firsthand . . . but talk to one woman who’s lost a husband to WoW or been left for an old girlfriend found on facebook, and it doesn’t seem quite so over the top. And their stories are, unfortunately, not that unique anymore.
I find it dissapointing that articles like these always attempt to use *SHOCK* material and information in order to prove their point. I find it rather juvenile and condescending. The problem is not the game, nor the specific activity when in no direct way is it conflicting with spirituality, opportunities, relationships, etc. Sadly I could make the SAME kind of argument, for church related activities, responsibilities etc.
The issue here is not the activity, but temperance, and wise use of time. Delving into the “why” the “how could this happen” and the experiences of people like “jason” just creates a false position. Many parents are now going to come away after reading this article thinking the games their children play are now the reason for EVERY failure or misbehavior. They will naturally tell the child that is “not of God” (like running track is ? ) and bad and form rules to restrict such behavior.
The fact that they freely admit “Although many online gamers do not become addicted or even compulsive players…” creates a moot point for the entire idea of writing about a specific subject such as these online games. These types of articles are where my mom got the idea that playing video games ruins our distortion of reality. In other words, if I play games I can no longer tell what is reality and what is not ( an absurd position to take )
I’m with that first post by N. its nothing but a scare hit-piece, and the issues addressed have nothing to do with the game or activity itself, but the person, their lifestyle, choices, priorities etc. It would be nice to read an article addressing the REAL issues, rather than blame them on something else then attempt to discuss those issues. Its beating around the bush, its lame, and its flatly inaccurate. Its a good article for specific people like “Michael,” ( who curiously waits until after midnight to attempt to read scriptures and pray .. lol ) but its not a good thing for anyone to read if they are NOT involved in that behavior. It is misleading and creates false conclusions. THANKS , but no thanks.
Hilary, those experiences are indeed increasing, although they still remain unique. Perhaps the reason for that is because the REAL issue is not addressed, but rather masked by a cause attributed to “Facebook” or “wow.” Society will always have some form of a similar device that people will find in their own time and culture to obsess over and give undue attention to. Maybe the reason that such incidents are INCREASING is because the blame is shifted to the activity and not the individual. People like “Jason” could have quit track and taken up another activity like film club, or basketball just as easily to contribute the same undue attention he gives to his game. The problem is in Jason’s behavior, and the behavior of others, not the game. I think that is the reason people consider this a typical scare hit-piece and I also agree with that assessment.
Huh. I really didn’t get that from the article (though I did find the tentacles pulling the boyfriend/husband into the screen to be hilarious). Overall I felt the article was a warning (hey! be careful, video games are potentially very addicting!) not an absolute. Sure there will be those who will interpret it as they wish but I really don’t think the article will make a difference to them — they’d do it anyways.
While I don’t think the article is perfect (like anything I could write would be?), I believe that this article is highly pertient and I’m glad someone is talking about it.
Technology is encroaching more and more in everyday life (videogames have just gone mainstream in the past few years — thank you Nintendo/Guitar Hero) and it is important that people everywhere learn the dangers so they can check themselves constantly. I’ve watched others fail out of school because of gaming — people who were otherwise good students. Unfortunately, I don’t find any of those examples sensational (I wish I did).
Lastly, I’d really suggest checking out Elder Bednar’s talk “Things as they really are” (http://www.lds.org/library/display/0,4945,538-1-4830-1,00.html). It’s a lot less focused on examples and much more focused on the reasons behind the warning. I really loved the questions he asks:
“1. Does the use of various technologies and media invite or impede the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost in your life?
2. Does the time you spend using various technologies and media enlarge or restrict your capacity to live, to love, and to serve in meaningful ways?”
My wife and I really appreciated this talk by Edler Bednar in the Ensign magazine, it’s timing couldn’t have been better.
Don’t get me wrong, only a few years ago I found myself somewhat ‘addicted’ to computer games, often playing till the early hours to finish the game. I’m all too aware of the addictive nature of such gaming.
Married with six children, our only son, seems to have followed in his father’s unfortunate footsteps, not to any alarming degree, but none the less, the warning signs are there for a 13 year old boy who if allowed would spend all day gaming on the Xbox 360 – we wish we’d never got the thing now!
We just returned from a camping trip to Paris and northern France. What was so lovely was we had no technilogy, no TV, no computer, unplugged from e-mail and no cell, I left it swicthed to voice mail. What was great was to see our kids really interact and play together, really bond and yes fight from time to time, hey but that’s life!
We reflected upon it having returned today from France and thought we need to encourage more of the real world interaction and less time online. So here am I signing off, having caught up with several hundred e-mails – not what I wanted to be doing at 11pm at night! Put me in a time machine and send us all back 30 years. Technology is great in some ways, but it can bind us down too. The things Edler Bednar speaks and warns about are real worries we should be concerned about. Amen to his concerns and comments!
Regards, John (UK)
I agree that these things need to be considered prayerfully. There are opportunities for addiction that did not exist not too long ago, and — like with television — it’s easy to spend all day doing these things.
Having said that, I have to also agree with the people who point out the “scare tactics” used. There doesn’t seem to be an attempt to help people understand the potential that these new games have, in helping people to understand themselves and the world and people around them. Almost all that there is is fear, and it feels like that is more because it is new and different.