I roll my eyes every time I see another news story about video game violence. How GTA V inspired another person to gun down a load of innocents somewhere at some place.
It saddens me because I'm very pro-technology and society. I try to fuse them both together. So you'll often see me helping an older person on the PC, trying to set them right, or just having a general conversation as to why they feel uncomfortable with such friendly machines.
I have a good 80-90% success rate when it comes to convincing people that using these things is the way to go. Not because it's optional but because it's becoming a necessity. You know, even public services are using them. Soon, everything will be done by computer. It's just the way things are.
And when I try to bring up the topic of video games they look at me as if I've just tried to sell the crack cocaine. The horror on their faces. See, they've grown up through an era where the powers that be have told them that video gamers are lazy, feckless and stupid, and that they'll always be doing what they are doing.
And for me to mention such a thing to them horrifies them. Because they can imagine themselves becoming lazy couch potato'd violence fuelled addict. When it's really not like that at all.
You never hear any positive benefits of gaming at all. Which is sad really. I wonder why?
I bought a couple of strategy/action online games a good five years ago for myself when I started to get back into gaming. And boy did I get a shock. In about three months my logical side of the brain, which had laid lazy and dormant for several years had suddenly buzzed up with activity.
My reflexes had sped up no end, my problem solving skills were enhanced, I was able to process maths in mere seconds rather than the sluggish 10 and above I used to achieve.
And you know? I even tried to take these thoughts to my local charity fund as an idea to bridge neglected and disenfranchised people together. But I was shot down. It's tough to get people to forward think when it comes to the gaming sector. There's no doubt that there are huge forward thinkers in the gaming sector, though.
So I'll be here, trying to bridge gaming with society, plodding along, doing my thing.
Perhaps one day it'll be widely accepted! And not have so much stigma attached to it.
Game on, brothers!