Instructify

October 9, 2008

Who doesn’t harbor that big, ugly stereotype that video gamers are out-of-shape losers? Sitting around in a dark room surrounded by empty Red Bull cans and Hot Pockets sleeves, as empty, glazed eyes stare at a TV screen while lifestyle-related illness entrenches itself deeper and deeper. Or, also, that other stereotype of that 7 year-old kid who develops serious ADD and has spazz-out tantrums, smashing his game controllers/Gameboy/whatever is smashable within reach.

The media doesn’t help paint a pretty picture on playing video games, either. By sensationalizing issues like the dangers of video game addiction and kids who emulate violent game content in real life, it casts video games in a pretty scary light. Also, this episode of CSI: Miami (ahh, so bad its good).

Well, now its time to cast aside ugly stereotypes about video gamers.

First, according to this report on the MacArthur Foundation website, a survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project has yielded some interesting results about the types of people who play video games. If you hold the belief that gaming is a violent and anti-social activity, this article is going to set you straight. I’m also guessing that you’ve never played WarioWare: Smooth Moves.

Next, a new study featured on LiveScience.com shows that video gamers are in much better shape than one might expect. Researchers at the University of Southern California conducted a survey with players of the online role playing game, EverQuest II. Their findings suggest that not all gamers are as unhealthy and overweight as many might typically believe. Since their study took the form of a survey and relied on the honest responses of participants, we don’t know exactly how participants would hold up against the weight scale. But the study does raise an excellent point: compared to the average American couch potato who watches hours of TV passively, the gamer is at least doing something that you can call active.

So the next time you catch a student in your classroom playing games on their cell phone or playing flash games, you’ll need to ask yourself, ”Is this kid actually engaging in a wholesome activity that nurtures their social well-being?” Nah, its still slacking. –NICK YINGLING

Major New Study Shatters Stereotypes About Teens and Video Games via The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

Video Gamers Surprisingly Fit and Older via LiveScience