Are Videogames Harmful?

When my time was ended prematurely by my mother, a tantrum was the typical result. I was still a little kid, and I was not very shy. Having a friend over wouldn’t sway me to behave in the slightest.

A few years later I was completely addicted to Neo Pets, which can be found for free at neopets.com – My addiction to this game was possibly more severe, as I stayed with it much longer than I did MKIII, however, when I was pulled away the result was the same. I was no less violent, and no more. Kicking and screaming was the peak of my rage.

While this isn’t opinion shattering information, it should be at least some what relevant to the topic at large. It is in my opinion that television and movies, and even books are a greater source of aggression. After watching the movie 300, for example, all my friends and I could talk about was how we -really- needed to buy a shield. While it was all in fun and games, I doubt I would have felt bad if I had just punched one of them in the gut. I was more into the movie than I have ever been in a video game.

So what is my opinion really? I feel that, when you are accustomed to something, such as video games, they have less of an effect on you. I, on the other hand, rarely watch television or go to movies, and was riveted by 300. I feel a surge of excitement every time I watch Fight Club. When I rend something to pieces in a video game, I’m having fun, but it isn’t making me want to jump up and do it like a movie does.

So, to me, video games being harmful could have been a valid statement years back when not everyone had access to them, I don’t feel that it is nearly as strong now. We are so used to them that they’re not something new any more. When I first received my PlayStation X (I was sadly not one of the few who owned the Nintendo supporting Playstations) I was excited every time I played. Now, I receive more excitement from being invited to a tennis match, even though my addictions are just as strong now as they ever were.