“A Mom, A Boy, And The Video Games That He Loves”

A video, put together by a few third year students studying at the Bezalel Academy of Arts was featured recently in an article on CBC’s website showcasing how much time kids spend playing video games. Alongside this video, the CBC posted a few statistics proving that kids spend far too much time playing video games, and not enough time engaging in physical activity outside.

This issue comes up quite a bit to many individuals of any age who play video games. The video was beautifully executed, though the issues raised by this video are entirely misleading. Let me explain:

One thing I initially noticed about this video was a lack of dialogue, which brings me to my first point: PARENT your children, don’t police them. Many sensitive issues, such as “how much time is too much time playing video games” should be open dialogue between parents and their children. Throughout this video it shows the mother imposing her viewpoint on her child without so much as an explanation as to why she may want the boy to play outside. There is no guarantee that comes along with baby-making that promises your child will turn out a certain way. Also, wasn’t the music industry being bullied by parents throughout the 90’s the same way video gaming is being bullied now?

Maybe it is just my not-so-normal way of over-thinking, but what if this boy has a passion for gaming. No, not a “ZOMG I play COD for 15 hours straight” kind of passion, but a fiery passion for gaming that burns deep within this kid’s core. What if this boy was going to be the next genius game developer, but because of all that shame and self-hatred this boy’s mother made him feel as a child he never amounts to his true potential? What if he is never truly happy?

At the end of the video, the mother gets her way. Well, she had to have what appears to be a minor neurotic break… but still. The boy is outside trying to make a simple red ball move with his joystick. I just want to point out one thing here, this is not from video gaming. In fact there are many studies out that show links between gaming and improved hand-eye co-ordination, cognitive skills and problem solving skills. In fact there is a good amount of scientific literature out there showing the benefits to gaming. I have never once seen a real child try and control a physical object, like a ball, with a joystick that was not even plugged in.

Wanna know something? I HAVE seen children try and swipe monitors, televisions and certain mobile phones that are not touch devices.

People need to stop making external forces the enemy for every extreme. Yes, there are many socially inept children out there that play video games to the point of harming themselves, but I also have seen many people with the same level of addiction directed elsewhere; to their mobile devices, Facebook or other social networking sites, etc. Many gamers can go a day or more without playing a video game, and many gamers know how to balance gaming in with other responsibilities.

Maybe I’m just bitter, or maybe I’m just biased, but I don’t think this video was as accurate as it was aesthetically beautiful.