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Worried Your Kid Is Addicted to Video Games? Unplug the Xbox, and Get Him a Job

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Oh my goodness, I have been saying this since 2008 when my son received an XBOX against my wishes. I was horrified as I knew it was a terribly violent, addictive, toy. I have been an educator for twenty seven years and I have never seen a toy that is causing anger management so rapidly in boys especially in the teen years. Now, I am going to family counseling because he developed an anger management problem from playing the violent games for four years often ten hours a day. I talk to parents at school who have seen the same behaviors in their sons. Even the Columbine killers played XBOX. When will scientists, educators, and doctors realize how dangerous XBOX is to the future of our American boys? I am truly frightened as it is changing personalities rapidly and causing boys to have a lack of sensitivity and affection towards other people. It is molding them into angry, swearing, violent, adults. I told my husband to take it away several times and he always ended up giving it back to my son. His grades are going down and he is not joining clubs because of the time he spends on XBOX. I am going to write to everyone and spread the word.

Jean of FL 5:48PM January 17, 2012

A good amount of video games actually require you to think through situations to accomplish a goal. It's really not mindless (it's only mindless to people who don't understand them). Many games have intense plots and bold characterization. People should stop and observe a good video game before they dismiss it as evil. A lot of work goes into making them.
When people's grades drop because of video games it's not because the games are making them dumb. It's because they have poor time managment. Parent's should begin teaching their children time management when they are young. If your child can't manage their time then you failed as a parent.

Jeremy of ME 3:32AM June 18, 2010

im 13 and in middle school. my GPA is 3.72 (it would be higher if i was in high school cause i do some honors classes) I do Algebra 1 and Language arts 9. Video games dont hurt the mind. They just relax it. parents get so mad but this is what teens do. TV is worse so i dont get why i get yelled at for my xbox but my sister gets praised for TV!!!

John of CO 6:42PM May 09, 2010

im 13 and in middle school. my GPA is 3.72 (it would be higher if i was in high school cause i do some honors classes) I do Algebra 1 and Language arts 9. Video games dont hurt the mind. They just relax it. parents get so mad but this is what teens do. TV is worse so i dont get why i get yelled at for my xbox but my sister gets praised for TV!!!

John of CO 6:42PM May 09, 2010

i play like 1-2 hours evryday now. i used to play 2+ hours evryday and it really did affect my grades, im 16-i love my ps3 but i woke up and noticed tht i had to give my video games a rest.....

Chazz of FL 6:01PM April 06, 2010

Im 16 I had quit my job cuz of school but, I love picking up the ps3 controller and playing cod4 for about 2 to 3 hours every other day. Some parents are just jealous we have better lives than they did when they were our age.

will of AZ 12:19PM April 06, 2010

my stepdad plays games non stop it is kind of new he has played gta 4 on live and wont ever let me play so if your an adult buy two games one for you and your kids

paul of AL 12:42PM February 26, 2010

I am 14 and play video games a lot. its what i enjoy. all im saying is video games are much better than TV because You acctually have to use your brain! and your motor skills! one of you concerned parents play some COD and see how well you do

Collin of FL 3:43PM February 23, 2010