From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!eagle!mhuxt!mhb5c!mhuxa!mhuxh!lute
Newsgroups: net.misc
Title: Computer addiction, etc
Article-I.D.: mhuxh.422
Posted: Sun May 16 12:38:10 1982
Received: Mon May 17 00:34:23 1982

As a behavioral scientist, I must admit that the trend in obsessive-
compulsive interests in computer games, by children has me worried a bit.

A few years ago, I was the Games manager in a Brentano's bookstore (ca. 1977-
1978).  At that time the hot new games were:  Merlin, Simon, Boris(computer
chess), electronic baseball and football and some others I can't remember.
Although some of them provided cooperative/competetive type games which
allowed you to play with one or more other people, the BIG selling point
that was that they were portable and could be played ALONE!  Kids were
CONSTANTLY coming in to play on our demos and as time went on, so did
a lot of adults.

One day, a man in his early 40's commented on how great all these new
games were and how he wished he had had them around when he was a kid.
Though against my sales judgement, but well within my moral and
behavioral science judgement, I told him something that I have since
told everyone who I talk to he gets that starry-eyed look about computer
games.

"These games are fun, there is one problem, they are doing away with the
human playmate."

There is a great loss society suffers in this simple truth.  In games of
the imagination like Cowboys and Indians, Mother may I, Simon says,
or active games like kickball, dodgeball etc., children learn how to
make up their OWN rules, challenge unfair rules, compromise, play
games cooperatively as well as competitively, choose teammates and
make friends, plus get exercise that helps their physical growth and
health.  It is from the social interaction of childrens' early game
playing that they learn by adolescence and adulthood how to:  make
friends, date, cultivate business sense and diplomacy, and in general,
be social!  NO MACHINE CAN TEACH A SPECIES HOW TO EFFECTIVELY INTERACT
WITH THEIR OWN KIND!

Since most of these simple computer games promote a certain level of
social isolation, I think that everyone should show some level of concern
that the use of such games does not get out of hand.  I enjoy playing
games on the computer, or blowing a few dollars on pac-man, battle zone
or defender, but in a proportionately smaller amount than the time I
enjoy spending with people, involving myself in other activities.  A child
often, has not yet learned how to put such things in perspective, and here
lies the danger.  Machines do not require a person being assertive.  They
do not require understanding feelings, nor do they require you learn to
deal with face-to-face confrontation with another "unpredictable"
individual.  Dealing with a machine, then, creates a false sense of
control and predictability in one's personal space.  But this is strictly
an illusion.  If a person tries to live this illusion when dealing
with other people, they will find that none of their problem-solving
patterns work (as they are accustomed to when dealing with a computer),
and hence, in their embarrassment and confusion they retreat to the
comfortable predictability of their computers.  Thus, they become more
inept in their ability to deal effectively with other humans!

It is bad enough when I see this type of behavior occur in adults, born
at a time when computers played only a small part in their lives growing up.
I often cringe when I consider the long-term behavioral/societal effects
that such things that computer games might have.  Then again, I might only
be over-reacting like some social commentators did when I was growing up
on the "Dangers of Television on Today's youth!"

In the final analysis though, I think that it will be the responsibility of
parents and schools to make sure children (from day one) get a balanced
perspective of when you are to deal with computers and when you are to deal
with people.  I know this idea will make a lot of parents and educators cringe
since it is now "in" to be a "buudy" to your child (which I think is just
adults chickening out of responsibility, or afraid to hear their child say,
"I hate you" after they punish them).  But if we adults, who have been on
both sides of the computer age, don't show children a balanced perspective;
tell me...who will?


						Jim Collymore
						mhuxh!lute