Video Games and the American Teen

            America is not living up to what it should be. The youth of our nation are not living up to what we should be. The students of our school are not living up to what we should be.

We are not living up to our potential. This is unacceptable. America once was the nation of hard workers that believed if you worked hard you could succeed. Now, we have the reputation of being lazy, stupid and incompetent.

            There are many reasons why this shift in values occurred. While it cannot be reduced to one specific issue, I believe video games have contributed to a generation of laziness. In moderation, video games are a good source of entertainment. Though I am not a regular gamer, even I enjoy playing from time to time. However, many have crossed the threshold in which video games start to become an obsession.

Case in point, my friend is struggling in school. He isn’t doing his homework and is failing some of his classes (hope this doesn’t sound familiar to any of you). I was talking to him one night and he admitted to playing two to three hours of “Minecraft” a night. I was stunned. It makes no sense that someone could be so committed to games that they sacrifice their education. Through my life, I have come to three conclusions about video games.

Video Games: 

·         Waste Time

·         Become Addictive

·         Restrict us from our Full Potential

             

            Video games waste time. This time could be used for things that are more productive. Unfortunately, we have people who are playing video games instead of getting jobs or volunteering. According to a study, the average male teen plays approximately one hour of video games a day. It shows how video games eat up lots of your time. Instead, we should consider using our time in more productive ways such as: doing our homework, reading the news or petting homeless kittens. I know a lot of people who play in excess; they really should consider how to use their time more wisely.

It is obvious that video games are addictive. Look at how much people play. Can we really come to the conclusion that video games are not addictive when people play so much? It is clear that some people are much more passionate about playing games than bettering themselves. Video games can become destructive to the point of having you wrapped around its finger. This obsession can lead to losing touch with reality, spending incredible amounts of money and becoming desensitized to violence. Dr. R. Albert Mohler Jr., the President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, summed it up in this article. We should be genuinely concerned about the addictiveness of video games.

            Video games keep us from reaching our full potential. As our commitment level to games increases, our commitment to things like education decreases. In the study I mentioned earlier, they found that video gamers spend 30 percent less time reading and 34 percent less time doing homework than their non-gaming buddies. We wonder why Americans are being dominated by foreign nations on standardized tests. The answer stands before us front and center! We are being weighed down by an addictive menace!

We are selling ourselves to mediocrity for the frail, fictional and fraudulent enjoyments of an alternate universe. America faces real problems and needs real solutions. If we want to tackle the problems of tomorrow, we must choose to be a generation that strives for excellence, not one that is content to place a ceiling over their potential of success.

Next time before picking up the controller, think twice about the decision. While not bad in moderation, video games can waste time, become addictive and put a limit your potential. This is important to remember. Ask yourself, “Can I be more productive with my time?” I challenge you to utilize your time in a wiser way. Instead of wasting your time, read a book, do your homework or help out in the community!