Japanese kids think death's temporary

gophercentral:As a testament to the power of video games and movies, some Japanese children do not believe death is permanent, the Kyodo news agency said Tuesday. The Nagasaki prefectural Board of Education ordered a survey of children's attitudes on death and dying in November and December after an 11-year-old girl was convicted of murdering a fellow student. Of 3,600 fourth, six and eighth graders in public schools, 15.4 percent said they believe dead people can be resurrected based on what they had seen on television, movies and video games. In the case of the 11-year-old convicted of murder, a family court statement said the girl had only a "vague notion" of death. On releasing the survey results, a school board official called for parents to ensure their children learn the real, and not virtual, meaning of life.I too have to agree with them on this issues as I said in the next acrticle below this one. Read on to next post and you'll see my feelings on Video game-players and our children"

Video games Change us?

: " Students at the University of Sioux Falls, S.D., enrolled in the class Sociology of Video Games are required to play video games two hours a day. The university had offered courses that examine the impact of violence and sex in movies, so William Lugo, an assistant professor of sociology and criminal justice, thought video games were a logical extension. "What a great opportunity to teach from a sociology perspective," Lugo told the Sioux Falls Argus. "Games are more interactive than movies, too -- you're the main character." Lugo said he has two goals for students: to understand the effect games have on them and to become aware that games tell us a lot about ourselves. For example, in the video game "Halo 2," its main character, Master Chief, portrays masculinity, with his voice and the way he acts. "He's portrayed like a godlike, masculine figure every boy wants to grow up as," said, a male-student who took the course." What are your thoughts on this video game class? I know for a fact that when my son had his PS-2 up and running, he would spend hours glued to it... And at times would become very angry and throw fits it he didn't win or was killed in a game or if it became to much stress for him. As he would yell and blame others because (if we even took a breath of air it made him lose, he said! ) So ...Yes I do feel that Video games change the levels in the brain after long periods of playing them. He would even go thru with-draw like signs if he couldn't play it for a time when I took it away. But I also feel that computer games are just as bad they are just TV-gameboys...( By the way I broke his machine- was not on purpose but now glad I did, as I find he has calm down abit more but it took about a-month to see the change)"