Video Games!!!

[COCA COLA COWBOY]

I just want to put this out there in case it would benefit any other parents. My son wasn't big into video games and such, but he had a couple bad crashes on his motorcycle right after one another and it slowed him down a bit in that realm. He started playing more and more video games with Fortnite being the biggest group game that he would play and for Christmas he wanted nothing more than a gaming computer which he received. His anger and demeanor started going downward and in the last couple months he started talking back, staying up late, lying, cursing, you name it. We shut down his ability to play a couple times and then returned his ability after a few days. The horrible attitude returned pretty much instantaneously. I lost it last week, completely lost it when I overheard him talking back to his mom. I took every piece of electronics away in a tirade and blew up so the whole neighborhood could probably hear. It was evident depression set in the following day and by the third day my wife wanted me to take him to the track to ride because she was worried about him. A week later he is back to the good natured child he was before gaming, does things without being told, doesn't even want the computes back and told me to sell it, washed his bikes and serviced them on his own accord, is eating less and lost 5 pounds, complete 180! Those video games create animosity, aggression, depression, and chemically release a lot of dopamine when played. I'm only writing this in hopes it benefits some of you.

 

[4Waters]

Kinda dealing with that with my son

 

[Englewood]

I have this same battle with my son. When he gets on a video game kick he becomes irritable, impatient, rude, forgetful, etc.

 

[hallett21]

My brother and I would play Call of duty/Madden/NHL etc when I was 18ish and he was 13ish. We literally went to blows from playing. We finally both just said we’re done. Idk what it is but they can fuck with your head.

This is at a time we were both playing hockey, lacrosse, surfing boating etc.

 

[4Waters]

I just want to put this out there in case it would benefit any other parents. My son wasn't big into video games and such, but he had a couple bad crashes on his motorcycle right after one another and it slowed him down a bit in that realm. He started playing more and more video games with Fortnite being the biggest group game that he would play and for Christmas he wanted nothing more than a gaming computer which he received. His anger and demeanor started going downward and in the last couple months he started talking back, staying up late, lying, cursing, you name it. We shut down his ability to play a couple times and then returned his ability after a few days. The horrible attitude returned pretty much instantaneously. I lost it last week, completely lost it when I overheard him talking back to his mom. I took every piece of electronics away in a tirade and blew up so the whole neighborhood could probably hear. It was evident depression set in the following day and by the third day my wife wanted me to take him to the track to ride because she was worried about him. A week later he is back to the good natured child he was before gaming, does things without being told, doesn't even want the computes back and told me to sell it, washed his bikes and serviced them on his own accord, is eating less and lost 5 pounds, complete 180! Those video games create animosity, aggression, depression, and chemically release a lot of dopamine when played. I'm only writing this in hopes it benefits some of you.

I'm actually going to have my son read this.



The reason we got him a gaming system is because of covid and the lack if shit to do. He does track and plays football, those as well as all sports were shut down, Bowling alleys were closed, skating rinks were closed..... I wish I would have just let him sit on his ass for 2 years now.

 

[BHC Vic]

It’s a fine line. My son is playing baseball 6 days a week and he does game a little. There’s already been a few issues at school, mainly the boys talking shit to each other online and then feelings get hurt. I’ve already threatened to throw the ps5 in the trash a few times or the oculus. I can see this getting worse so I appreciate the thread and ideas for sure

 

[attitude]

It’s all about choices, I’m sure your son is competitive and it sounds like playing competitive games gets him worked up.

Just like going to the river is supposed to be a place to unwind; however, if you decide to go through the channel on a holiday weekend, unwinding will be the last thing you are doing.

 

[COCA COLA COWBOY]

It’s all about choices, I’m sure your son is competitive and it sounds like playing competitive games gets him worked up.

Just like going to the river is supposed to be a place to unwind; however, if you decide to go through the channel on a holiday weekend, unwinding will be the last thing you are doing.

I think personality has a lot to do with it too. My son is aggressive and competitive so that does come into play. However, this kids are nuts now. He tells us that other kids will look up the whole family on social media and threaten to get me fired (I'm self employed), kill us, make fun of us, put us in jail, you name it. This is a lot for little kids and can make their emotions go wild. I personally see no benefit from the games at all.

Today, I'm picking him up at school, taking him with me to drop off the suspension to be redone on one of his bikes and taking his BMX bike with us to ride at the pump track in Temecula. I'll be smoking a cigar and catching up on work phone calls while he burns some calories. A bit more productive in my book.

 

[Vib]

When I first saw this thread title I thought it was about adults playing games. I just got into video games 4 years ago st 52 yrs old. My daughters bf showed me Skyrim. Reminded me of playing AD&D when I was in high school.

So apparently I'm a total need now and really enjoy the rpg games.

 

[angiebaby]

I personally see no benefit from the games at all.

You said it all, right here.

I am not an expert on many things, but I AM somewhat of an expert on kids. I have yet to figure out any kind of benefit from the games.

 

[BHC Vic]

You said it all, right here.

I am not an expert on many things, but I AM somewhat of an expert on kids. I have yet to figure out any kind of benefit from the games.

My cousin is a big time gamer. She’s very high up for some game company now.

 

[angiebaby]

So are you arguing that a benefit of gaming is that you can potentially get a job working for a gaming company? Kind of like being a dope pusher? or a high-level dope dealer?

 

[rivermobster]

This escalated quickly...

 

[ChrisV]

My parents couldn't afford video games when I was younger. Man i was super bummed about it but now i'm kinda thankful for that.

But! I was out and about which got me into a shit load of trouble.

 

[riverroyal]

Why do you think casinos are now full of computer games. Addiction pays the ones that create it and provide it. There is nothing healthy about it, not one valid thing

 

[Motor Boater]

We have experienced similar with our boys. When they get off the games they seem wired like their on caffeine. We have definitely seen other bahavior issues as well etc. Now our rule is NO video games during the week. They play a lot of baseball so I let them play on weekends as a reward. It’s been much better. We have a problem with phones too. Our kids phones get shut off during the day and stop working at 9:30 at night. Problem is when they do have access they want to be on them 100% of that time. I find if I’m more active they will join in on projects etc. it’s not easy these days.

Gotta keep in mind their age too. Middle school is a tough time anyway for a kid so some of the behaviors are normal ish but I think the games exacerbate the problem.

 

[bonesfab]

This is how my worker lost all his guns to the po-po. His dipshitted kid was online gaming with school group and name calling and threats started. He opened his mouth with I'll K!ll all you mother fuckers. With in an hour the shit hit the fan and the cops were at his door and took the guns and the kid away. I told him they should keep the kid and give the guns back. Still hasn't gotten them back and it's been a few years. And this was the smarter of the two sons.

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

You said it all, right here.

I am not an expert on many things, but I AM somewhat of an expert on kids. I have yet to figure out any kind of benefit from the games.

Then I’m sure you have heard about esports for schools?

The physically talented kids get scholarships to college (mainly from athletics).

Now the less talented kids can play esports and get the same scholarship rides to college.

Does that open some doors for kids to go to college? Probably.

But it pisses the parents off to no end that their kids are playing video games in school now (which they were probably also doing at home). I get that, but I also get if you don’t come up with a way to engage students, or apply more carrot and less stick in hopes of turning some of them around, you’re just going to wind up with the haves and have nots.

It’s a real slippery slope topic now in schools. Public schools spending tax payer money on game rooms, gaming systems, and game chairs are probably going too far.

If the kids just play in a plain computer lab environment on lab computers like we did in school, I don’t think there would be as much uproar.

What’s your take?

 

[RiverDave]

This is how my worker lost all his guns to the po-po. His dipshitted kid was online gaming with school group and name calling and threats started. He opened his mouth with I'll K!ll all you mother fuckers. With in an hour the shit hit the fan and the cops were at his door and took the guns and the kid away. I told him they should keep the kid and give the guns back. Still hasn't gotten them back and it's been a few years. And this was the smarter of the two sons.

If the guns were locked up, I'm not sure how the cops can do that.. If they came to my house for something like that, I'd just tell them I'm not opening anything without a warrant.. and I'd sue the ever living shit out of them even if they did have a warrant.. There's so many things to dissect there.

RD

 

[bonesfab]

If the guns were locked up, I'm not sure how the cops can do that.. If they came to my house for something like that, I'd just tell them I'm not opening anything without a warrant.. and I'd sue the ever living shit out of them even if they did have a warrant.. There's so many things to dissect there.

RD

They were in a safe with a thumb print lock. The kid didn't have access. But the cops are cops and nowdays shit is all screwed up. In hind sight that would have been the right answer. Get a warrant.

 

[Bpracing1127]

Question for you guys with “kids” gaming, how old are your kids that are playing games like Call of duty, Overwatch, Fortnite, and more?
I play 2-4 hours a day every day. These games are not for kids not by a long shot. 18+ ratings

 

[Bigbore500r]

I just want to put this out there in case it would benefit any other parents. My son wasn't big into video games and such, but he had a couple bad crashes on his motorcycle right after one another and it slowed him down a bit in that realm. He started playing more and more video games with Fortnite being the biggest group game that he would play and for Christmas he wanted nothing more than a gaming computer which he received. His anger and demeanor started going downward and in the last couple months he started talking back, staying up late, lying, cursing, you name it. We shut down his ability to play a couple times and then returned his ability after a few days. The horrible attitude returned pretty much instantaneously. I lost it last week, completely lost it when I overheard him talking back to his mom. I took every piece of electronics away in a tirade and blew up so the whole neighborhood could probably hear. It was evident depression set in the following day and by the third day my wife wanted me to take him to the track to ride because she was worried about him. A week later he is back to the good natured child he was before gaming, does things without being told, doesn't even want the computes back and told me to sell it, washed his bikes and serviced them on his own accord, is eating less and lost 5 pounds, complete 180! Those video games create animosity, aggression, depression, and chemically release a lot of dopamine when played. I'm only writing this in hopes it benefits some of you.

I 100% notice the same behaviour and changes with my son. Not just with video games - even just too much time with YouTube or on his tablet. It’s a real problem. We keep the kids real busy with sports and hobbies so they don’t have a lot of time to veg, but that little time he has can turn him into a complete asshole!

 

[Bigbore500r]

It’s a fine line. My son is playing baseball 6 days a week and he does game a little. There’s already been a few issues at school, mainly the boys talking shit to each other online and then feelings get hurt. I’ve already threatened to throw the ps5 in the trash a few times or the oculus. I can see this getting worse so I appreciate the thread and ideas for sure

Same here. The problem is, they know we won’t throw the PS5 in the trash…lol.
One of us has to actually smash it and see what happens…..please post up if you do it first

 

[evantwheeler]

I play 2-4 hours a day every day.

WTF

 

[Bpracing1127]

WTF

yep, do you have a point?

 

[attitude]

WTF

I work with a 68 year old Marine Veteran who games every day and has a $5k+ PC.

I myself play 2-4 hours every day as well. Once the kids get put to bed between 8:30-9:00pm I game until my fiancee gets home from work around 11:30-12:00.

It’s mainly just bullshitting with the boys, gone are they days of having time to hangout with friends multiple times a week so bullshitting online for a few hours a night is the next best thing.

 

[Bpracing1127]

I work with a 68 year old Marine Veteran who games every day and has a $5k+ PC.

I myself play 2-4 hours every day as well. Once the kids get put to bed between 8:30-9:00pm I game until my fiancee gets home from work around 11:30-12:00.

It’s mainly just bullshitting with the boys, gone are they days of having time to hangout with friends multiple times a week so bullshitting online for a few hours a night is the next best thing.

yep exactly this for me too.

my pc and monitors are easily 5k

 

[evantwheeler]

yep, do you have a point?

No point, just dumbfounded. That's a lot of time spent doing any one thing on a daily basis outside of work commitments. Gym, bike, even coaching a kids sport, 2-4 hrs is a huge chunk of time to commit to doing something every single day.

 

[Bpracing1127]

No point, just dumbfounded. That's a lot of time spent doing any one thing on a daily basis outside of work commitments. Gym, bike, even coaching a kids sport, 2-4 hrs is a huge chunk of time to commit to doing something every single day.

yep, i still play outside daily with my son. offroad 5k miles a season. Boat every 2-3 weeks. and more. whats even more crazy is i sleep 8-10 hours a night.

the time i got back was switch to work remote.

 

[4Waters]

Same here. The problem is, they know we won’t throw the PS5 in the trash…lol.
One of us has to actually smash it and see what happens…..please post up if you do it first

I've been close

 

[4Waters]

yep, i still play outside daily with my son. offroad 5k miles a season. Boat every 2-3 weeks. and more. whats even more crazy is i sleep 8-10 hours a night.

the time i got back was switch to work remote.

I play 2-4 hours a year, even if I was retired I wouldn’t/couldn't even play weekly. I would rather be working on something like my 69 mustang tinkering in the garage or.... I spent 45min this afternoon (most afternoons actually) working with my son on his form for throwing Shotput I coach Shotput 2 times a week, we have 1 night a week where I coach at a preseason football camp, Saturday is track meet days right now and from memorial day till the end of August Saturdays are lake day then Saturdays are football days till veterans day. I also work a full-time job and get to the gym 3-4 days a week for 60-70min.

 

[EmpirE231]

These modern games can be a life suck. We have a Nintendo switch at home that my girls like to play… one thing I love as a parent is the app. I can control how much game time they’re allowed, which games they play etc. currently zero time allowed on school nights. They get 45 min to 1hr per day on the weekends. Having bad attitudes or a bad week at school = zero time. Having great behavior and helping around the house etc might earn you an extra 1/2 hour.

Both girls train or play soccer 3-4 days per week so there’s rarely time to even rack up their minutes on the switch. But if I let them go free range on the switch, they’d get lost in time.

We’re pretty old school though compared to most. No TV on school nights, my daughter got her first phone middle of 9th grade. Most of their friends have had phones since the 3rd grade etc. and yes, the phone is heavily monitored and tracked. Zero social media etc.

 

[bonesfab]

Same here. The problem is, they know we won’t throw the PS5 in the trash…lol.
One of us has to actually smash it and see what happens…..please post up if you do it first

Could be a rental market here. Busted up PlayStations and IPads and computers for rent to scare the kids straight.

 

[hallett21]

Anyone wanna be my FarmVille friend?

 

[4Waters]

Anyone wanna be my FarmVille friend?

I was thinking SIMS

 

[monkeyswrench]

I have a good friend that plays Call Of Duty almost every night. I asked him about it, seeing as though he's a 3 tour, Purple Heart guy. He said something about that game calms him more than "Battle Mind" group therapy, and the pills they tried on him. He quit drinking completely, and is actually a lot more friendly...something in his brain chemistry works differently from others I think.

As for kids playing games, and being over involved, it's a real thing. As pointed out, they were a crutch to most families though covid. Parents didn't see the harm, too many other things going on. Our kids and ourselves aren't as different as we think. I for one, street raced, worked out and chased girls...I think a lot of us did. Same effects, dopamine, endorphins and adrenaline. The kids now are in need of the same "fix" we were after, but they can only get it from a screen. It's one of the many ways technology has effected us.

 

[4Waters]

I have a good friend that plays Call Of Duty almost every night. I asked him about it, seeing as though he's a 3 tour, Purple Heart guy. He said something about that game calms him more than "Battle Mind" group therapy, and the pills they tried on him. He quit drinking completely, and is actually a lot more friendly...something in his brain chemistry works differently from others I think.

As for kids playing games, and being over involved, it's a real thing. As pointed out, they were a crutch to most families though covid. Parents didn't see the harm, too many other things going on. Our kids and ourselves aren't as different as we think. I for one, street raced, worked out and chased girls...I think a lot of us did. Same effects, dopamine, endorphins and adrenaline. The kids now are in need of the same "fix" we were after, but they can only get it from a screen. It's one of the many ways technology has effected us.

For you friend call of duty is actually a game as he did the real thing

 

[Sharp Shooter]

My boys are 17 and 15 and have been gamers all of their lives. They aren’t the kids that never go outside like most modern day kids, but they do play a lot.

So far, I haven’t had any attitude or depression or really any issues that I can recognize.

I told them when they were young that as long as the grades are good I’m ok with the gaming.

I probably just jinxed it.

 

[Romans9]

Video games are not the problem. Video games can however help illustrate or magnify other problems. Video games used in place of family life or the natural need for affection, affirmation, and attention are very bad and detrimental to a child’s development.


My wife and I raised our children by giving them the best situations we could to encourage their natural tendencies and strengths while closely monitoring the influence of outside and nefarious forces that would lead them to an uncivilized or unproductive way of life.

We never attempted to brainwash or program our children to be something predetermined for them. We nurtured them to become their own individual persons free to express themselves. We kept the pop culture out of our home.

We taught our children how to think, not what to think.

It worked.

We have three biological children, two of which served as in the Marine Corps, who are all thriving in the top tier of their chosen professions.

We have an adopted son that was born to a severe drug using prostitute teenager. He suffered from FAS, extreme RAD and mental retardation.
Through many unbelievable circumstances and much long suffering he is currently at basic training, an unbelievable feat.

We had a foster son that came out of a drug riddled family that we took in from the age of twelve that is now 33 with 14 years in the Army.

One time we went to a family function at my sisters house. My nephew had some kind of a play station and after we left my sons asked me if they could have one for themselves. I asked them if they would rather pretend shooting, pretend riding motorcycles, pretend hunting or would they rather do the real thing. They wanted to do the real thing……and they did.

Decide how you will raise your children and then commit all you have to that cause.
If you don’t there are plenty of people and evil that will gladly take your place.

 

[Kachina26]

yep, i still play outside daily with my son. offroad 5k miles a season. Boat every 2-3 weeks. and more. whats even more crazy is i sleep 8-10 hours a night.

the time i got back was switch to work remote.

When do you find time to jerk off?

 

[angiebaby]

Imagine how much more knowledge one would possess if one read 2-4 hours every day.

edit: If one worked out for an hour and read for 1-3 hours every day, he or she would be more physically and mentally fit than someone who used those hours for gaming. If you have time in your day to do that and still game, that's great.

I'm guilty of being on the computer and phone too much, but I'm working to lessen my time with a screen.

 

[white tortilla]

I've been close

My dad smashed my PS2 with a 5lb hammer after a bad report card in 6th grade. In hindsight it was probably a blessing for my developing brain to just be an outside kid.

 

[Javajoe]

Then I’m sure you have heard about esports for schools?

The physically talented kids get scholarships to college (mainly from athletics).

Now the less talented kids can play esports and get the same scholarship rides to college.

Does that open some doors for kids to go to college? Probably.

But it pisses the parents off to no end that their kids are playing video games in school now (which they were probably also doing at home). I get that, but I also get if you don’t come up with a way to engage students, or apply more carrot and less stick in hopes of turning some of them around, you’re just going to wind up with the haves and have nots.

It’s a real slippery slope topic now in schools. Public schools spending tax payer money on game rooms, gaming systems, and game chairs are probably going too far.

If the kids just play in a plain computer lab environment on lab computers like we did in school, I don’t think there would be as much uproar.

What’s your take?

I built a bunch of buildings for a high school in Moreno Valley a couple years ago. One small project I did there was an Esports Gaming Lab where the old auto shop and wood working was. So these kids now compete against other schools in video games. What a waste

 

[attitude]

Imagine how much more knowledge one would possess if one read 2-4 hours every day.

I’ve read & listened to over 250 books in the last 14 years, and that’s not including all the boating magazines…

However, I still suck at spelling. My brain refuses to retain that information lol.

 

[coolchange]

Same here. The problem is, they know we won’t throw the PS5 in the trash…lol.
One of us has to actually smash it and see what happens…..please post up if you do it first

Well…. Back when games were cds I destroyed a few.
Wasn’t getting cooperation and walked in , hit eject and snapped it in half. Kids lost their shit, wife freaked out” you can’t do that that was 50 dollars!”
Can’t? Grabbed another one, snap.
Anything else you think I can’t do?
Next time came at the box with a hammer, they freaked out, I said who do you think is going to win the “biggest asshole”game.
Things changed after those sessions.

 

[Badchoices03]

I was just about to post.... in before someone says something about reading a book rather then gaming....but I was too late...lol

 

[WYRD]

Imagine how much more knowledge one would possess if one read 2-4 hours every day.

But then you wouldn't know how to punch a hooker in the face and steal her money and get away in a brand new Dodge Charger.

 

[monkeyswrench]

My kids spent their younger years "urban
Amish"...until all of them were in high school, no TV or video games on weekends. I honestly can't say if it helped or hurt, but we thought it was a good idea.

 

[4Waters]

I built a bunch of buildings for a high school in Moreno Valley a couple years ago. One small project I did there was an Esports Gaming Lab where the old auto shop and wood working was. So these kids now compete against other schools in video games. What a waste

Glad my local HS's didn't have Esports. Daughter has 1 year and son has 5, almost done

 

[Bigbore500r]

But then you wouldn't know how to punch a hooker in the face and steal her money and get away in a brand new Dodge Charger.

Was this on the news in Oakland or you talking about GTA?