Video Games are Crack Cocaine

They're not intrinsically evil, but they're close...

Posted by Staff
Video Games are Crack Cocaine
Sometimes SPOnG comes across the manic rantings of an anti-games fanatic and we just don't know where to start. With the opinion piece that went up on Canada's National Post website yesterday from a Roman Catholic priest, we're just going to have to start at the top. "The crack cocaine of the electronic world" reads the strap of yesterday's 'Lessons Learned'. Father Raymond J. De Souza - the author of the piece - is, of course, talking about games.

The good father goes beyond simple criticism, however, openly agitating against free choice at this time of spending by stating:

"This Christmas, do the poor kids of all economic levels a favour: Don't buy them video games."


Not happy with leading his flock against the free market, he then goes on to regale us with a parable of conscience: apparently a well-meaning anonymous Christmas gift giver gifted an Xbox to De Souza's parish. The papist priest gave the gift to a family. Of this fine act he writes that he, "...assuaged my conscience with the fact that video games are not intrinsically evil. But they are close."

"If that sounds like the zealotry of a convert", he goes on, "it is." Yes, Father De Souza used to have a bit of a games problem. With Tetris.

Apparently, the classic puzzler contributed to De Souza's struggles with further education. "My capacity to waste time with Tetris was prodigious; how many hours were lost is unknown", he says. There was only one way out. He went cold turkey and deleted the game.

"So Tetris was gone. Life improved immediately. Since that hard-disk-deleting day back in 1991", he waxes fondly, "I have never played another video game. It's too dangerous. Video games take what is most precious -- time and thought. And they are making kids fat." Come on, that last one was a bit cheap...

"Video games are like a black hole into which time disappears", he goes on. "Students today often confess to wasting a couple of hours a day on them. Corporate Canada likely loses whole weeks of productive work to those who are playing games at work. Video games have some kind of addictive allure that means any number of hours is not enough. It is always possible to play again -- to rise to that 'next level' which somehow acquires near-mystical importance. They are the crack cocaine of the electronic world."

Oh, one more thing: "Did I mention that far too many video games celebrate graphic violence, multifarious delinquency and borderline pornography? I don't have to. Tetris had none of that, and it was deadly enough."

We were going to take the piss out of the whole thing, take a little bit of a pop at Father De Souza. Really, though, what can we add? Let us know what you reckon in the Forum.

Source: National Post
Games:

Comments

Dreadknux 14 Dec 2007 13:01
1/13
This is why I am, at my very most extravagant, an Agnostic - and why I don't ever go to church. Surely the time of old past-it souls who are easily manipulated by bad time management (from Tetris of all things, one of the most organised games I've ever played) telling people what they should do because 'it was told to them by Christ' or some b******s has passed. This guy should go back into his cave.

Also, if I may - kids are getting fat because political correctness in schools and at the home are spiralling out of control, with many physical activities banned or disallowed because it might injure someone. I'm amazed nobody in the so-called 'sane' world has figured that one out yet. But let's all blame the entertainment medium shall we? Yeah, I'm blaming this book I have over here for my lack of hygiene because it was so damn good I forgot to wash and just carried on reading.

Imbeciles.
king skins 14 Dec 2007 13:09
2/13
His problem wasn't really Tetris or Video Games but a lack of self control, I wounder how he is doing with the whole celibacy thing
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SuperSaiyan4 14 Dec 2007 13:23
3/13
Given todays society how many choices are there?

Either play games and stay indoors or dont play games go outdoors and most likely end up doing something wrong like drugs, or mixing up in gangs etc.

For parents its safer knowing their children are safe at home playing indoors rather than letting them out and not knowing what they are up to.

Video games are an act of social play, take away social play and what are you left with?

I am religious and believe in God, games has not taken over my life that I have stopped believing, nor have I taken on any evil acts that go against my belief.

Everyone is entitled an opinion I guess.
TimSpong 14 Dec 2007 13:26
4/13
king skins wrote:
His problem wasn't really Tetris or Video Games but a lack of self control, I wounder how he is doing with the whole celibacy thing


Frankly, I am with Pliny the Younger, who said that X-tianity was a "superstition taken to extravagant lengths."

Also, I was under the illusion that they liked turning cheeks.

Mea culpa

Tim

DoctorDee 14 Dec 2007 14:16
5/13
Svend Joscelyne wrote:
This is why I am, at my very most extravagant, an Agnostic

Agnostics. Wet liberal wishy washy nonbelievers. "I don;t know whether there's a god and neither can you". Pathetic!

You're either an atheist, or an insane person.

TimSpong 14 Dec 2007 14:22
6/13
SuperSaiyan4 wrote:
Given todays society how many choices are there?

Either play games and stay indoors or dont play games go outdoors and most likely end up doing something wrong like drugs, or mixing up in gangs etc.


"...most likely end up doing something wrong?"

Eh? If it was most likely than then the majority of children would be drug-taking gang members. The fact is that they're not though. Okay, most of them are piss-taking little s**ts with no respect for older, wiser, slightly more portly and grey-bearded gentleman - but this kind of scaremongering and doom-saying merely adds fear to an already falsley fearful western world.

Bah!

Tim

Dreadknux 14 Dec 2007 14:32
7/13
DoctorDee wrote:
Svend Joscelyne wrote:
This is why I am, at my very most extravagant, an Agnostic

Agnostics. Wet liberal wishy washy nonbelievers. "I don;t know whether there's a god and neither can you". Pathetic.

You're either an atheist, or an insane person.

By all accounts, I did say at my most extravagant. I like to see it as 'laid back' rather than 'non-committal'. It's hardly an important issue to be committal about to me (but of course there are those that live and die by 'the book' - whichever one that may be).

Besides, insanity is looking more like my bag every day. :)

EDIT: In any rate, agnosticism can involve the belief of a God that doesn't necessarily tie down to any specific religion. I for instance do believe there is a higher force out there some...where and that each religion is correct to a certain degree (but you know, religion doesn't and should control what you do in life I dare say). I guess the closest I can call it is South Park's Super Best Friends, but that would dragging the tone of debate down somewhat...

... Sod it, Jesus x [insert your own religious figurehead here for fear of being carpet bombed] 4 lyfe, dawg.
TimSpong 14 Dec 2007 14:39
8/13
DoctorDee wrote:
You're either an atheist, or an insane person.


One has got to love the Al-meister...

Albert Einstein wrote:
I see only with deep regret that God punishes so many of His children for their numerous stupidities, for which only He Himself can be held responsible; in my opinion, only His nonexistence could excuse Him.


or our old friend Epicurus

Epicurus wrote:
Either God wants to abolish evil, and cannot; or he can, but does not want to. If he wants to, but cannot, he is impotent. If he can, but does not want to, he is wicked. If God can abolish evil, and God really wants to do it, why is there evil in the world?


And finally, my personal favourite:

Armand Salacrou wrote:
The existence of the world without God seems to me less absurd than the presence of a God, existing in all his perfection,creating an imperfect man in order to make him run the risk of Hell.


Then again, I believe that one day Bristol Rovers will win the F.A. and European Cup (so called Champions' League) - so I wouldn't listen to me.

Yours, scared of nuns since he was four,

Timothy

which apparently means "honouring God" - how ironic is that, eh?

Saint Timothy: "Layman son of a priest named Pikolpossos. Lector and copyist, he was responsible for the security of the texts used in services. Married to Saint Maura. About twenty days into the marriage, and in the middle of the persecution of Diocletian, Timothy was arrested. Dragged before Arrianos, governor of Thebias, he was ordered to surrender any Scripture writings he had hidden; he refused. Horribly tortured, including being burned, hung upside down, and having his eyelids cut off; he still refused. Martyred with Maura. Nailed to a wall in mock crucifixion, it took him nine days to die of shock, blood loss, and dehydration" - and they say that modern life is dangerous!

Or the other Saint Timothy:

"Saint Timothy became the patron saint of stomach trouble sufferers because he would take a little wine with his food for the health of his stomach. Timothy was stoned...

...to death on this day in 97 AD by a mob of pagans when he tried to break up their celebration of Katagogian that they were having in his temple."

DoctorDee 14 Dec 2007 14:43
9/13
Svend Joscelyne wrote:
You're either an atheist, or an insane person.


When I looked at that, in cold black electrons and white pixels, it looked a trifle harsh.

But typically, if you tried to convince the world that an invisible, immortal man, with magic powers was watching everything you do, they'd lock you up. If you insisted, from your padded cell, that the same man could walk on water, and cure death, they'd have you in a straight jacket.

But people who proudly believe exactly that are running western society. Insane people.


Dreadknux 14 Dec 2007 14:50
10/13
DoctorDee wrote:
But typically, if you tried to convince the world that an invisible, immortal man, with magic powers was watching everything you do, they'd lock you up. If you insisted, from your padded cell, that the same man could walk on water, and cure death, they'd have you in a straight jacket.

But people who proudly believe exactly that are running western society. Insane people.

That's my point though, surely the Pope for instance has been reduced to a mere figurehead? I might be completely wrong on this point, considering how many people turn up whenever he has something to say, but aside from God-fearing countries like the southern half of the US etc, do the public at large really feel that gumpf waffled by our good friend De Souza is something to take on board and take really seriously anymore?

Maybe it's the increasingly aethiest community I come from. Daaahn Sahhhf, your God is a stolen VCR.
TimSpong 14 Dec 2007 15:04
11/13
Svend Joscelyne wrote:
That's my point though, surely the Pope for instance has been reduced to a mere figurehead?


I think not... at least not if he's visiting.

The Roman Catholic church has done a storming job in appearing fluffy and less staggeringly rotten in recent years. At least that's what my priest tells me.

"Confíteor Deo omnipoténti, beátæ Maríæ semper Vírgini, beáto Michaéli Archángelo, beáto Joanni Baptístæ, sanctis Apóstolis Petro et Paulo, ómnibus Sanctis, et vobis, fratres (tibi, Pater), quia peccávi nimis cogitatióne, verbo et ópere: mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa. Ideo precor beátam Maríam semper Vírginem, beátum Michaélem Archángelum, beátum Joánnem Baptístam, sanctos Apóstolos Petrum et Paulum, omnes Sanctos, et vos, fratres (te, Pater), oráre pro me ad Dóminum Deum nostrum."

Obv

Tim
ajmetz 14 Dec 2007 15:37
12/13
The guy obviously had a bad experience with Tetris. He should open his eyes and realise that not all today's computer games are so brilliantly mass appealing and addictive. A lot of them are bland, crap.
And I waste far more time on the internet than I do playing games.

But it depends if you live to play, or play to live, or, er, something....=P

PreciousRoi 15 Dec 2007 14:59
13/13
...strippers and beer volcanoes...

I can't for the life of me understand how the guy in the pointy hat can compete with Pastafarianism...I mean...strippers and beer volcanoes...not to mention no history of paedophilia...

Pastafarianism...Wow!
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