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In Defence of Video Games

September 7, 2014



arcade_1980s_2.jpgMichael Shaw, 44, has a wife, three kids and a rewarding full time job.
But as a nerdy kid, video games were always
a friend, hobby and escape from family problems.
He has never had trouble separating illusion from reality.












by Michael Shaw
(henrymakow.com)

I was introduced to video games, a la "Pong," around 1978ish.  I was a natural.  Whereas the boys I grew up with were into baseball and football, etc., I was never athletically inclined.  Oh, I tried to fit in, but I was never successful at it. 

Fast forward to 1984 and the movie "The Last Starfighter," the first movie to integrate CGI effects into the movie. I was fascinated beyond all belief.  I wanted to know everything I could about computers, and video games, and how they worked. 

In order to gain this understanding, I spent my newspaper route money in the arcades, or saving up for the state-of-the-art computers and game systems of the time (I had 4 paper routes in my neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY).  I tore the systems apart and successfully put them back together.  I learned how to double the RAM (Random Access Memory) of my TRS-80 Color Computer II, learned how to solder, taught myself some BASIC, COBOL and Machine Language computer languages (long since forgotten)...

...and somewhere along the line, I became (in theory, at least) a world class video game player.  Had I known at the time that there were world records for playing video games, I would undoubtedly hold a few, flipping the score of the classic game "Missile Command" nine times on one quarter and playing "Asteroids" for more than 50 hours straight on one quarter.

When my father's mental health started coming apart around 1985 and he started using cocaine, the video arcade was a haven for me (when I wasn't hanging out in the public library or sneaking into the Brooklyn Aquarium). 

Drop a quarter in a game and I could put my reality on hold for an hour or so before going back to my dismal life.  In 1986, I dropped out of high school and worked full-time at McDonald's on West 12th St in Brooklyn, NY, picking up double shifts just so I would not be around the apartment that had become a crack-den (before that was burned out on the inside and we became homeless).  The little money I earned was used on food (I became responsible for grocery shopping, etc. at age 16) and video games.  

I played them ALL, and mastered as many as I could, because the sweet release and mild escape actually did me good.  I mean, I raced with the best and fastest, out-shot the ultimate snipers, wiped out hordes of hungry monsters, protected an endangered Earth.  I was a superhero, a cop, a crook, a martial arts master, fighter pilot, sword wielding warrior, race car driver.  I was unbeatable, and on the rare occasion that someone bested me in a game, I played and played and played until I was better, until all the arcade games in the area had my initials at the top of the Best Scores.

Even after I joined the US Navy and was stationed in Scotland, I saved my money to buy the best computer at the time (IBM-PC Jr), modified that, and introduced some of my shipmates to the wonders of video games.

Somehow, however, no matter how much I immersed myself in the games, I never lost sight of who I was, and even with my head in the clouds I never lost touch with reality.  I never forgot that the game was a game and not tied into reality.  I've never pointed a gun at anyone, nor had the urge to mow down a real-life crowd.  I don't speed when I'm traveling, always use my turn signals, and even try to practice common courtesy on the road when traffic flow permits.  I don't have the need to fly a drone and bomb people, and never mistake my coworkers for Orcs or aliens from the moons of Jupiter.

At 44 years of age, I still play video games.  I find them to be a wonderful outlet to release anger and frustration, or to put my everyday concerns to the side for a short time.  While my muscle memory and puzzle-solving skills are actively trying to, say, complete a lap on a circuit at 217 miles per hour, my subconscious mind is cycling through more serious issues and providing me with "A-ha!" and "Eureka" moments to no end. 

Perhaps I'm exceptional; perhaps being told from an early age that things on the screen (television, movie, computer) are make believe helped ensure that I wouldn't get "lost" in fantasy. I don't know, but whatever it is, I still know the difference between reality and make believe.

 As a parent, if I think a game (or movie, or book, or television show) is inappropriate for my children, I will just not allow my children to view this material.  Its up to parents, and not critics, or governments, or schools, to raise their children with awareness of reality, and when a child (or adult, for that matter) starts to lose touch with reality, the parent is supposed to step in and "ground" (not in the disciplinary sense, necessarily) the child back to the real world.

CONCLUSION

Although there is some truth to video games being addictive and possibly changing the chemistry of one's brain (especially as a youngster), video games can be a wonderful outlet for creativity and angst.

 As long as a person has a strong grip on the real world, using video games (or movies, or books, or...) as a form of temporary escapism is not a bad thing.  Like all things in life, generalizing is wrong; these things should be looked at on a case-by-case basis.

-----

First Comment from Wade:


One 44 year old man's experience with his carefully selected video games is hardly relevant in the video game debate.

There are three things that have the capacity to to destroy any young man today. 1. Drugs, 2. video games, 3. pornography. The problem with video games (as the 44-year-old author of the article should know) is that they have changed 1,000 % since their inception. Now they are filled with blood flying, sex, violence, and cultist satanic themes. Even the Disney, so called cartoons, many times fall into the category of dark Satanic influence.

I have done some research into many mass shootings like Columbine and many others. Numbers one, two, and three listed above were very present in the lives of ALL the men who did the killing. All of this phenomenon is driven by money and the Illuminati plan to destroy our society.

The first amendment to the Constitution gives the citizens of this nation the right of free speech, and yet free speech does not allow yelling FIRE in a crowded theater. Using the first amendment to justify video games that fall into the same category as yelling FIRE in a crowded theater is, of course, an egregious perversion of our Constitutional rights, that is doing serious damage to our society and costing innocent lives. It is not enough to simply blame the parents. Many of the mass killing shooters were adults. We do not allow parents to decide when a kid is old enough to vote, drive a car, smoke, or drink alcohol. Just as child pornography is illegal to view (for kids and adults alike) so should many of the current video games be illegal.


Michael Replies:

Wade:  First off, I'd like to let you know that I'm not defending the industry; since my "awakening" in 2007 (some of us take longer than others to snap out of the hypnotic state), I've come to understand some of the symbolism and messages that are planted in every-day media, such as movies, music, video games, etc.  It is rife with corruption.  However, until the last few years, where I've stayed away from games that prominently feature human-on-human violence, I was NOT picky, nor did I carefully select the games I played.  If it looked fun, I played it, no matter the genre.

I agree that the First Amendment to the Constitution has been used as a green light for pornography, graphic violence, and all sorts of debasing materials.  However, I was not raised in any type of wholesome environment, and indeed it is a miracle that I have not ended up as a criminal or dead, and not because of video games.  My father smoked as much as $1,800 in crack per day, and my mother (divorced from my father since I was two years old) was a "go go" dancer and a madam to a whorehouse for Italian mobsters.  I had very few directions to turn to for something wholesome, and yet, here I am today.

Video games aren't necessarily the problem, its the parents that allow their children to view and interact with filth.  Play around in poop, and you're going to gave stinky hands and get an infection.  Its up to the informed adults (parents, guardians) to ensure that their children aren't playing with filth, not the children, since they don't know any better.

Plus, the common denominator for the so-called mass shootings (I say so called, because many of them come off as staged events) was pharmaceuticals.

However, I'd like to thank you for your thought provoking comments, and its nice that people can disagree without losing their heads or trolling, and I appreciate that very much.



Scruples - the game of moral dillemas

Comments for "In Defence of Video Games "

Doug P said (September 8, 2014):

Lets not forget that the patterns that lie before us show us that these mass shootings of which Wade speaks are more than likely inside jobs. Unanswered questions and the utmost secrecy surrounds facts regarding these shootings that should have been made public. This is particularly true of Sandy Hook and Columbine.

It wasn't video game players that did these shootings, it was the same folks that perpetrated 9-11 and the Oklahoma City bombings.


Jeremy said (September 8, 2014):

Video games were funded by DARPA to improve marksmenship and to condition soldiers to kill humans with out the natural aversion most humans have in killing other humans. I also have no doubt that some games are used as part of MK Ultra mind control programing. That being said, like anything else, there are a lot of fun, harmless games that I allow my eight year old son to play, like MarioKart 8. I love the sports games especially the Madden series which I've played for the last twenty years. However, you shouldn't play them all day every day. The human body needs exercise and fresh air.


Andrew said (September 8, 2014):

Sounds like an isolated case to me Henry. 2 shots of single malt whiskey or cognac gave you escape & clarity ... For example I bought a used car that way & caved into the excitement of the auction only to later regret it. Beyond that amount(2-3 shots /day max) its detrimental in many ways. but who can hold their liquor or porn or violent video game addiction & ensuing adrenaline rush once its unleashed in even a subconscious Pavlovian manner is an exception rather than a rule & one would need to practice self discipline to an extreme to remain grounded. Your obvious addiction is in exposing the Illuminati methods & plans. Maybe an escape reinforced by a greater sense of purpose..


Adrian said (September 8, 2014):

Wade is perfectly correct. In addition, one has to consider that
bad health, physical and mental, is a phenomenon that accumulates over
time. Michael Shaw, was young during an epoch where human beings were
not bombarded with immorality from ever angle and where education and
parenting were effective. Thus he was shielded from a breakdown.

The following recent article by David Gardner presents 12
ways in which screens harm us, along with the evidence.
http://tinyurl.com/pqfwnhx

1. TV/Computer Games are one of the biggest time­sinks ever

2. We’re TV/Computer Games addicts

3. Concentration – a dying ability?

4. TV/Computer Games changes our perception of reality

5. TV/Computer Games can put you in a trance­like state

6. TV/Computer Games make you passive

7. TV/Computer Games activates your reptilian brain

8. TV/Computer Games stirs up emotions

9. TV/Computer Games might be the death of emotional intelligence

10 Almost all TV/Computer Games have an agenda

11 What goes into your subconscious affects your
dreams

12 Who are you really? TV/Computer Games change our behaviour


Screens OFF!


Anonymous said (September 7, 2014):

I too like playing games on my PS3. I like adventure games like Tombraider or martial arts games like Tekken and Mortal Combat as well as sports games, soccer, golf, and tennis. It's not that I do it every day or week, but it's fun to play when I feel like it and then I can play for several hours at a time.

I'm almost 64 but gaming is not only for the younger people. When my son was still living with me we'd play together and have a lot of fun.

Alone or with another person it's a nice way of spending time.


BR said (September 7, 2014):

Good article and comment on Video games today -- and good point from the first commenter too.
I've made similar experiences to the article's author in my childhood -- but I don't like the bloody propaganda games that are being hyped today.

I don't think they will necessarily turn someone into a bad person, just like the propaganda shows on TV and in cinemas don't turn everyone's brain to jelly -- but better not risk it.

So when my nephew became old enough, I ran a little experiment on him -- I exposed him to the games I was playing in my own childhood.

(Yes, they can still run on modern computers -- with the right applications, all available as free downloads, today's Linux systems can run games originally written for classic computers like the C64 and Atari ST, old DOS games, and even games originally written for Arcade machines.)

At first, I thought he'd label them as crap, given he had been exposed to modern, much better looking games by his schoolmates -- but it turned out well, he actually prefers good old black-and-white Macpan (a variant of Pacman), Winter Games and King's Quest over the present-day games his schoolmates are playing.

He even got some of them into good old games written before the bad guys figured out they can place propaganda there.

Turns out a good concept still beats advanced graphics only the banksters' poster boys can afford to create.


Tom A said (September 7, 2014):

I would like to point out the woes of society are not the blame of video games. Men in suit, bankers, politicians, and Hollywood are to blame for 99 percent of it. Weak minded people who Blame video games rather than the individuals are often the ones pushing the blame elsewhere. Why not blame music? Why not blame those terrible movies who make you think what they want you to think? It's like blaming guns for all the violence in the world. It's not the gun stupid it's the individual(s).


JJ said (September 7, 2014):

I am the same age as the writer of this article, and it rang a few bells. My case was not so extreme, but video games were a great escape, and they started with Pong, Space Invaders and sort of climaxed with Pac-Man and Centipede. In other words, same generation. Video games were social at the time. Arcades brought kids together, and the home versions, while inferior, brought us together at home.

Having said that, I'm totally perplexed and frightened by what is considered "gaming" today. I've never had an X-Box. Plenty of guys my age have transitioned into these 3-D worlds to escape life, permanently. It's understandable in some ways, but I am grateful that I was spared and just don't have the mentality to live in another reality.


Henry Makow received his Ph.D. in English Literature from the University of Toronto in 1982. He welcomes your comments at