Comments on: Videogames will destroy the environment http://www.bruceongames.com/2008/02/12/videogames-will-destroy-the-environment/ A veteran's view on marketing games Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:57:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Eric http://www.bruceongames.com/2008/02/12/videogames-will-destroy-the-environment/comment-page-1/#comment-1034 Eric Mon, 18 Feb 2008 22:15:21 +0000 http://www.bruceongames.com/2008/02/12/videogames-will-destroy-the-environment/#comment-1034 And yet the first paragraph of the article (again, NOT written by Fox News) states the following: "Less time spent outdoors means less contact with nature and, eventually, less interest in conservation and parks." The authors of the study go on to say, "Declining nature participation has crucial implications for current conservation efforts....We think it probable than any major decline in the value placed on natural areas and experiences will greatly reduce the value people place on biodiversity conservation." In conducting their research, they found "declines of between 18 per cent and 25 per cent in various types of outdoor recreation". And subsequently found that the decline "appears to have begun in the 1980s and 1990s, the period of rapid growth of video games, they said....Japan suffered similar declines, the researchers found, as visits to national parks there dropped by 18 per cent between 1991 and 2005." The researchers for the study found that increasing levels of sedentary activity, specifically involving children, may lead to reduced awareness of conservation issues. They even refer to it as "videophilia". So then...how exactly did the Fox headline distort the meaning of the article and the comments by the study authors? Was it a little overdramatic? Yes. Did they distort any of the direct quotes by the authors of the study? No. Did they change ANYTHING in the article besides the accompanying headline? No. Was it a "highly distorted piece of journalism"? No, far from it. Look, I don't disagree that video games are unfairly taking the brunt of criticism when it comes to this so-called "videophilia". I don't think GTA is a "mass murder simulator" or that a couple of pixellated sex acts will be the downfall of western civilization. However, I do think that more than a few parents need to get their kids to put down the Twinkies, get off the couch and go outside for some fresh air. My only point is that YOU are distorting the fact that the Fox headline is not that far from what was presented in the article. A headline is meant to jump out at you and get you to read the article underneath, and in this case, albeit a tad overdramatic, it suceeds. The gaming community is altogether too quick to jump on any slight (real OR perceived) that they can't see the forest for the trees and the real meaning of an article like this is LOST. Why didn't you post a blog about the fact that studies repeatedly show that kids are getting fatter because of an increasingly sedentary lifestyle brought on IN PART by the rise of video games, and now there is a study that shows a possible correlation between said lifestyle and DEcreases in environmental awareness and conservation? I guess it's "sexier" to write about big bad Fox News' bias against gaming? And yet the first paragraph of the article (again, NOT written by Fox News) states the following: “Less time spent outdoors means less contact with nature and, eventually, less interest in conservation and parks.”

The authors of the study go on to say, “Declining nature participation has crucial implications for current conservation efforts….We think it probable than any major decline in the value placed on natural areas and experiences will greatly reduce the value people place on biodiversity conservation.”

In conducting their research, they found “declines of between 18 per cent and 25 per cent in various types of outdoor recreation”. And subsequently found that the decline “appears to have begun in the 1980s and 1990s, the period of rapid growth of video games, they said….Japan suffered similar declines, the researchers found, as visits to national parks there dropped by 18 per cent between 1991 and 2005.”

The researchers for the study found that increasing levels of sedentary activity, specifically involving children, may lead to reduced awareness of conservation issues. They even refer to it as “videophilia”. So then…how exactly did the Fox headline distort the meaning of the article and the comments by the study authors? Was it a little overdramatic? Yes. Did they distort any of the direct quotes by the authors of the study? No. Did they change ANYTHING in the article besides the accompanying headline? No. Was it a “highly distorted piece of journalism”? No, far from it.

Look, I don’t disagree that video games are unfairly taking the brunt of criticism when it comes to this so-called “videophilia”. I don’t think GTA is a “mass murder simulator” or that a couple of pixellated sex acts will be the downfall of western civilization. However, I do think that more than a few parents need to get their kids to put down the Twinkies, get off the couch and go outside for some fresh air. My only point is that YOU are distorting the fact that the Fox headline is not that far from what was presented in the article. A headline is meant to jump out at you and get you to read the article underneath, and in this case, albeit a tad overdramatic, it suceeds.

The gaming community is altogether too quick to jump on any slight (real OR perceived) that they can’t see the forest for the trees and the real meaning of an article like this is LOST. Why didn’t you post a blog about the fact that studies repeatedly show that kids are getting fatter because of an increasingly sedentary lifestyle brought on IN PART by the rise of video games, and now there is a study that shows a possible correlation between said lifestyle and DEcreases in environmental awareness and conservation? I guess it’s “sexier” to write about big bad Fox News’ bias against gaming?

]]> By: Bruce http://www.bruceongames.com/2008/02/12/videogames-will-destroy-the-environment/comment-page-1/#comment-1026 Bruce Mon, 18 Feb 2008 21:11:28 +0000 http://www.bruceongames.com/2008/02/12/videogames-will-destroy-the-environment/#comment-1026 Eric, thanks for the insults. I suggest that you check your facts. The story was the same. It was Fox News that distorted it for their agenda. The headines in the articles you have linked to are: Nature giving way to virtual reality. As video games repace outdoor activities interest in nature could decline. Communing without nature. Kids need more nature, less time with TV, video. Compare that with the total distortion of the facts by Fox News: Researchers: Video Games May Hurt Nature. Perhaps you might research things properly before insulting people in future. Eric, thanks for the insults. I suggest that you check your facts. The story was the same. It was Fox News that distorted it for their agenda.
The headines in the articles you have linked to are:
Nature giving way to virtual reality.
As video games repace outdoor activities interest in nature could decline.
Communing without nature.
Kids need more nature, less time with TV, video.

Compare that with the total distortion of the facts by Fox News:
Researchers: Video Games May Hurt Nature.

Perhaps you might research things properly before insulting people in future.

]]> By: Eric http://www.bruceongames.com/2008/02/12/videogames-will-destroy-the-environment/comment-page-1/#comment-1002 Eric Mon, 18 Feb 2008 18:08:09 +0000 http://www.bruceongames.com/2008/02/12/videogames-will-destroy-the-environment/#comment-1002 "And now we have the ultimate in ignorant anti games paranoia. They are going to destroy the environment. It will come as no surprise that this gem of wisdom comes from Fox News in this highly distorted piece of journalism." I don't know why this is so hard to understand...it was an ASSOCIATED PRESS story....NOT a Fox News story. I guess CNN is distorted too? http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/02/05/nature.interest.ap/index.html?iref=newssearch How about Yahoo? http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/080204/technology/technology_communing_without_nature The Boston Herald? http://www.bostonherald.com/entertainment/lifestyle/view.bg?articleid=1071270 The CBC? http://www.cbc.ca/cp/science/080204/g020411A.html The Detroit News? http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080212/OPINION03/802120340/1007/OPINION CBS News? http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/04/ap/tech/main3789373.shtml You either didn't care and/or was too lazy to get your facts right, so you accused Fox News of precisely the type of yellow journalism you practice yourself. “And now we have the ultimate in ignorant anti games paranoia. They are going to destroy the environment. It will come as no surprise that this gem of wisdom comes from Fox News in this highly distorted piece of journalism.”

I don’t know why this is so hard to understand…it was an ASSOCIATED PRESS story….NOT a Fox News story.

I guess CNN is distorted too?
http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/02/05/nature.interest.ap/index.html?iref=newssearch

How about Yahoo?
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/080204/technology/technology_communing_without_nature

The Boston Herald?
http://www.bostonherald.com/entertainment/lifestyle/view.bg?articleid=1071270

The CBC?
http://www.cbc.ca/cp/science/080204/g020411A.html

The Detroit News?
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080212/OPINION03/802120340/1007/OPINION

CBS News?
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/04/ap/tech/main3789373.shtml

You either didn’t care and/or was too lazy to get your facts right, so you accused Fox News of precisely the type of yellow journalism you practice yourself.

]]> By: Bruce http://www.bruceongames.com/2008/02/12/videogames-will-destroy-the-environment/comment-page-1/#comment-870 Bruce Wed, 13 Feb 2008 12:44:23 +0000 http://www.bruceongames.com/2008/02/12/videogames-will-destroy-the-environment/#comment-870 Yep, Fox seem to set out to lead the simple into believing their agenda. Anyone with a brain can see straight through such simplistic propaganda. Yep, Fox seem to set out to lead the simple into believing their agenda.
Anyone with a brain can see straight through such simplistic propaganda.

]]> By: Ooshka http://www.bruceongames.com/2008/02/12/videogames-will-destroy-the-environment/comment-page-1/#comment-867 Ooshka Wed, 13 Feb 2008 12:02:38 +0000 http://www.bruceongames.com/2008/02/12/videogames-will-destroy-the-environment/#comment-867 Fox News - We Report, You Decide. Well, I've decided they're a bunch of idiots. That's frankly one of the loosest correlations I've ever seen. I am, however, extremely concerned about the use of the word 'videophilia'. It's the first time I've come across it but I'm fully expecting the word to be bandied across reactionary tabloids - the connotation with other 'philia's and it's insinuation worries me greatly. The English language is a powerful thing and this word needs to be restrained. Fox News – We Report, You Decide.

Well, I’ve decided they’re a bunch of idiots. That’s frankly one of the loosest correlations I’ve ever seen.

I am, however, extremely concerned about the use of the word ‘videophilia’. It’s the first time I’ve come across it but I’m fully expecting the word to be bandied across reactionary tabloids – the connotation with other ‘philia’s and it’s insinuation worries me greatly. The English language is a powerful thing and this word needs to be restrained.

]]> By: Bruce http://www.bruceongames.com/2008/02/12/videogames-will-destroy-the-environment/comment-page-1/#comment-854 Bruce Tue, 12 Feb 2008 21:03:50 +0000 http://www.bruceongames.com/2008/02/12/videogames-will-destroy-the-environment/#comment-854 Thanks for the input. Whichever way you look at it this article is pretty stupid. Does the average Fox News viewer believe this kind of stuff? Thanks for the input.
Whichever way you look at it this article is pretty stupid.
Does the average Fox News viewer believe this kind of stuff?

]]> By: Wolf26pack http://www.bruceongames.com/2008/02/12/videogames-will-destroy-the-environment/comment-page-1/#comment-853 Wolf26pack Tue, 12 Feb 2008 19:19:54 +0000 http://www.bruceongames.com/2008/02/12/videogames-will-destroy-the-environment/#comment-853 I agree with Bryan. I do think that we as human beings should be educated on how to preserve the Enviroments (e.g. National Parks, Forests, Marsh's, Swamps etc...) we have out there. We have to learn to Appricate what we have and that takes some form of education. I do believe though that we as humans do more harm than good. So in my mind the decline isn't such a bad thing. Let the Enviroment grow on it's own without human interference and lets see what happens. I agree with Bryan. I do think that we as human beings should be educated on how to preserve the Enviroments (e.g. National Parks, Forests, Marsh’s, Swamps etc…) we have out there. We have to learn to Appricate what we have and that takes some form of education.

I do believe though that we as humans do more harm than good. So in my mind the decline isn’t such a bad thing. Let the Enviroment grow on it’s own without human interference and lets see what happens.

]]> By: Bryan http://www.bruceongames.com/2008/02/12/videogames-will-destroy-the-environment/comment-page-1/#comment-850 Bryan Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:54:03 +0000 http://www.bruceongames.com/2008/02/12/videogames-will-destroy-the-environment/#comment-850 I was thinking a lack of hunting and fishing may help the environment rather than hurt it? I was thinking a lack of hunting and fishing may help the environment rather than hurt it?

]]> By: Bruce http://www.bruceongames.com/2008/02/12/videogames-will-destroy-the-environment/comment-page-1/#comment-849 Bruce Tue, 12 Feb 2008 11:14:19 +0000 http://www.bruceongames.com/2008/02/12/videogames-will-destroy-the-environment/#comment-849 Fox news published it. Fox news published it.

]]> By: 350ZRunner http://www.bruceongames.com/2008/02/12/videogames-will-destroy-the-environment/comment-page-1/#comment-848 350ZRunner Tue, 12 Feb 2008 10:24:59 +0000 http://www.bruceongames.com/2008/02/12/videogames-will-destroy-the-environment/#comment-848 Perhaps you didn't notice that this story comes from the associated press? Don't let a little fact like that get in the way of your Fox News bashing though. Perhaps you didn’t notice that this story comes from the associated press? Don’t let a little fact like that get in the way of your Fox News bashing though.

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