We can evangelize or socialize. It all depends on whether you are saved or not.
Dangers of Video Games
My daughter Karla sent me this article. I have always forbidden video games in my home. There was a season that I allowed my son to play under certain conditions which he could not uphold. Since that time video games have been banned from my home. Read the following article and give me some feedback:
Wedding Woes: The Dark Side of Warcraft
Popular online PC game is causing marital discord.
By Mike Smith
Although best-selling online role-playing game World of Warcraft boasts over ten million subscribers, it's also leaving in its wake an increasing list of casualties.
Even though she's never played the game, 28 year-old Jocelyn is one of the fallen. A well-spoken California resident, she divorced her husband of six years after he developed a crippling addiction to the smash online RPG.
"He would get home from work at 6:00, start playing at 6:30, and he'd play until three a.m. Weekends were worse -- it was from morning straight through until the middle of the night," she told Yahoo! Games in an interview. "It took away all of our time that we spent together. I ceased to exist in his life."
Jocelyn had been friends with her ex-husband Peter since the age of 13, but it took only nine months for her marriage to collapse.
"I bought the game for him for Christmas 2004, when it first came out. By May we had our first serious discussion about where our marriage was going, and by September I had moved out," she said.
Jocelyn recalled one particular incident that was typical of Peter's habits. "I had set aside 30 minutes for us to watch a television show together, and he couldn't. He was stuck on a raid, and completely failed to understand why I was upset," she said.
Peter's domestic duties also suffered. He stopped paying bills, she says, and refused to do his share of the housework.
Jocelyn doesn't hesitate to cite Warcraft as the main reason for her divorce and remains emotional about its impact on her marriage. "I'm real, and you're giving me up for a fantasy land. You're destroying your life, your six-year marriage, and you're giving it up for something that isn't even real."
Despite their differences, the couple remains friends, and although Peter still plays World of Warcraft, Jocelyn says he made an effort to cut down after their split.
A gamer herself, Jocelyn briefly worked for World of Warcraft developer Blizzard Entertainment, although not on the title that proved so damaging to her relationship. "I recognized that this was a game that would never end, and that's why I chose not to play it," she said.
"They build it in such a way that you have to keep putting more and more time into it to maintain your status. I remember thinking when I was married that it was downright exploitative to people who couldn't control themselves in that way. It's set up like a drug."
Asked if she would consider marrying another Warcraft player, Jocelyn laughed. "That's actually one of my primary criteria now -- I don't want to marry someone who is a gamer."
Wedding Woes: The Dark Side of Warcraft
Popular online PC game is causing marital discord.
By Mike Smith
Although best-selling online role-playing game World of Warcraft boasts over ten million subscribers, it's also leaving in its wake an increasing list of casualties.
Even though she's never played the game, 28 year-old Jocelyn is one of the fallen. A well-spoken California resident, she divorced her husband of six years after he developed a crippling addiction to the smash online RPG.
"He would get home from work at 6:00, start playing at 6:30, and he'd play until three a.m. Weekends were worse -- it was from morning straight through until the middle of the night," she told Yahoo! Games in an interview. "It took away all of our time that we spent together. I ceased to exist in his life."
Jocelyn had been friends with her ex-husband Peter since the age of 13, but it took only nine months for her marriage to collapse.
"I bought the game for him for Christmas 2004, when it first came out. By May we had our first serious discussion about where our marriage was going, and by September I had moved out," she said.
Jocelyn recalled one particular incident that was typical of Peter's habits. "I had set aside 30 minutes for us to watch a television show together, and he couldn't. He was stuck on a raid, and completely failed to understand why I was upset," she said.
Peter's domestic duties also suffered. He stopped paying bills, she says, and refused to do his share of the housework.
Jocelyn doesn't hesitate to cite Warcraft as the main reason for her divorce and remains emotional about its impact on her marriage. "I'm real, and you're giving me up for a fantasy land. You're destroying your life, your six-year marriage, and you're giving it up for something that isn't even real."
Despite their differences, the couple remains friends, and although Peter still plays World of Warcraft, Jocelyn says he made an effort to cut down after their split.
A gamer herself, Jocelyn briefly worked for World of Warcraft developer Blizzard Entertainment, although not on the title that proved so damaging to her relationship. "I recognized that this was a game that would never end, and that's why I chose not to play it," she said.
"They build it in such a way that you have to keep putting more and more time into it to maintain your status. I remember thinking when I was married that it was downright exploitative to people who couldn't control themselves in that way. It's set up like a drug."
Asked if she would consider marrying another Warcraft player, Jocelyn laughed. "That's actually one of my primary criteria now -- I don't want to marry someone who is a gamer."
Tags: Addiction, Dangers of Video Games, Video Game Addiction
Views: 199
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Carol on -
Bobby, Both of my adult Step-sons are gamers. The older one is a lifer marine with a wife (#3) and 3 kids. The younger has a wife and 3 kids under age 5. Last summer Seth, the younger moved home for 6 weeks, he spent all of his spare time on the computer. He reconcilled with his wife, but neither will answer the phone or return calls. We never did see them much but this is even worse. I lift them in prayer daily. Seth came to our church last summer when EG was there, I thought he left, but when I went up to pray for our pastors there he was on the floor at the alter. I'm not sure how he is doing but I will continue to pray. I wish they never invented these role playing games, they rob families, and gamers think that it's not like drug addiction. I disagree.
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Permalink Reply by Jill Edmonds on -
Carol they are indeed very addicting...I had a nephew that was addicted to EverQuest and started missing school functions to go home early and play. It can get ugly if not supervised. They even have sites though setup to encourage a social network of gamers instead of the addicting nature of some of these role playing rpg games.
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Permalink Reply by Isiah Rouse on -
Carol people don't know what they're getting themselves into, they don't think it's that serious and as long as they have that logic, they're going to continue to push the envelope with making these kinda games. You are so right, they are addicting, that's why I don't go anywhere near them.
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Permalink Reply by aashan johnson on -
to be honest.. i dont think that computer games and video games should have all the blame..its up to the person playing the game to chose how they are going to live their life.on one of the replies i saw that someone put that video games are like a drug,that can be true,depending on the person. drungs have changed peoples lives all around the world.But many people stop using drugs every day.so if this game is like a drug,than whoever is playing can quit any time they want.it isnt like video games make people evil,people do that to themselves. for example:if i bought a hockey game and played it 24/7 for about 2 weeks,i wouldnt all the sudden be good at hockey in the real world!!therefore this video game situation shouldnt be all of the games fault.. everyone is responsible for their own actions.therefore they should take responsibility and stop using games as an excuse.
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Permalink Reply by Carol on
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You are absolutely right. I shouldn't blame the game. If it wasn't a game it would be something else - addictive behavior is addictive behavior.
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Permalink Reply by Vessel on -
I agree whole-heartedly. I'm a big-time gamer but I also understand that it takes discipline to know when the cut the game off. Not to toot my own horn but sometimes I'm in the middle of playin' a game and I may just of gotten to the next level and the Holy Spirit would touch me and tell me to pray. It's right then and there I will shut the game off and I will fall down on my knees to see what the Lord wants. For me to get that seriously hooked would have me guilty of idol worship. But in esssence that's not where the real problem in video games. The real problem is how most of these games that are out on the market today represent some type of demonic influence that's tryin' to poison the mind, body and spirit of our youth. If it ain't violent, like Mortal Kombat or God of War then it's perverted like Grand Theft Auto, or worse yet promoting satanism like Castlevania: Curse of Darkness, Dragonball Z, Devil May Cry, etc. I used to have MK, DBZ and GoW until GOD had to correct me in my spirit. The only games I want to play now is Super Mario or Madden. And then on top of that I have a responsibilty to set the example for my kids. I believe that's the true nature of the threat in video games.
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Permalink Reply by Feliz on -
That is really sad. It really opens my eyes. I use to never allow my kids to watch all the crazy cartoons or play all the games. I still don't believe in tv, I have one, but I won't get cable. I have it for video games and dvd's.
Honestly I have really started dropping the ball in that area. I still don't allow my kids to play the real ugly games but I do let them spend alot of time in front of that. Many times I unplug everything and go put in on my porch for a few months.
I just need to be careful and protect them.
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Permalink Reply by Sarah on -
I used to be a big time gamer. I used to be cyber schooled and i wasnt doing my school work because all i wanted to do was play computer games. When i finally got enough money to buy a playstation 2 and a game i always played the game and when ever i didnt i would go crazy. My mom finally got to the point of not wanting to deal with me not doing my school work and sent me to a public school. I finally stopped playing the game but it was really hard not to play it because anybody can get addicted to a computer or a video game and its really easy to.
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Permalink Reply by Devin Beisel on -
These games are disguised as an innocent recreational activity, but are in reality a life killer.
I believe these games instill a spirit of apathy and create a sense of purposelessness in people's lives.
I believe that they stunt social maturity, due to almost involuntary isolation.
Someone may believe that they are a very social person, but don't realize that the game is sucking the life out of their relationships. Apathy is a SIN, and it is killing people nowadays. We need to close the door to these disguised life killers.
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Permalink Reply by Chad on -
Well,
I can relate totally those RPG (role playing games) are set up like a drug. My brother used to say "you're worse than someone hooked on meth." I would play games similar to this one for hours sometimes days at a time. Ive heard of various sex predators on them as well. It's crazy to think but people actually get online boyfriends and girlfriends then next thing you know they're meeting face to face! I'm thankful that this article was put public because people need to be aware of the dangers and how easy it is to get caught up in this. My grades in school fell, my relationship with my parents fell, my self-esteem fell, all because of a video game. It became my life, then I found myself in rehab over it. Thank God He changed my life!!!
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Permalink Reply by Carol on
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Thank you for stepping up and showing on a personal level what these games can do to those who are vulnerable. It's like strong drink or drugs, it sneaks up on you and before you know it you are making excuses for your behavior. Praise God for families who recognize a problem and seek Godly help. Praise God for your deliverence!
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