# Are video games good for you? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [January 27, 2012, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-video-games-good-for-you/610907 "2012-01-27T20:56:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-video-games-good-for-you/610907/41 "2012-02-02T06:24:18Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > Video games may be good or bad mentally, but it sure is annoying when we visit my wife’s sister, and her teenage son (my wife’s nephew) spends the entire time we visit glued to the video screen playing games, and barely acknowledges our presence. > > In terms of family sociability, it’s pretty depressing. Yeah, but that’s not video game’s fault. I always suck it up and stuck around when my family visited, despite really wanting to play a game. I’d put it down to poor personality type or poor instruction in manners rather than the form of entertainment. ---
**Author:** ![gamerunknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6bbea6/32.png) [@gamerunknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gamerunknown)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-video-games-good-for-you/610907/42 "2012-02-02T09:09:26Z")
> [@](#): > > I’d put it down to poor personality type or poor instruction in manners rather than the form of entertainment. I’ve had that experience from a father several years ago (90s?) when we visited their house - it’s not limited to teenagers. I’d bet it’s not even limited to video games, my father rarely goes on family visits, neither does the father of a friend. Besides, did you go there to visit them and were you trying to engage in conversation with them? I don’t think males are as keen on “incidental” socialising. ---
**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2012, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-video-games-good-for-you/610907/43 "2012-02-02T18:55:22Z")
Fifty-odd years ago, I was that child, only I was reading a book. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-video-games-good-for-you/610907/45 "2012-02-03T07:23:35Z")
Looks like the White House is interested in pursuing game-based education: [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/115631-White-House-Investigating-Benefits-Of-Games](http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/115631-White-House-Investigating-Benefits-Of-Games) Though, of course, this is mostly immaterial to whether or not AAA shooters are in any way good for you, but still. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-video-games-good-for-you/610907/46 "2012-02-03T19:45:35Z")
I have a propensity towards stomping turtles and amateur cryptozoology, that’s why I was drawn to Super Mario Bros. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MedicusLex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a9a28c/32.png) [@MedicusLex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MedicusLex)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2012, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-video-games-good-for-you/610907/47 "2012-02-05T18:15:08Z")
> [@Una\_Persson](#): > > References normally go up the weekend after the column runs, and will be up later tonight. Here are the references which I think you are looking for. > > Lieberman, D. A. “Management of chronic pediatric diseases with interactive health games: Theory and research findings” _Journal of Ambulatory Care Management_ 24 (20010): 26-38. > > Lieberman, D. A. “What can we learn from playing video games?” In P.Vorderer & J. Bryant (Eds.), _Playing video games: Motives, responses, and consequences_ (2006) 379-397. > > Barlett, Christopher P. et al. “Video Game Effects—Confirmed, Suspected, and Speculative A Review of the Evidence” _Simulation & Gaming_ 40.3 (2009): 377-403. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![MedicusLex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a9a28c/32.png) [@MedicusLex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MedicusLex)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2012, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-video-games-good-for-you/610907/48 "2012-02-05T18:16:13Z")
> [@tubadiva](#): > > not only cecil but google is your friend. > > [http://www.diabeteshealth.com/read/2010/07/22/6769/video-games-for-kids-with-diabetes/](http://www.diabeteshealth.com/read/2010/07/22/6769/video-games-for-kids-with-diabetes/) > > [http://www.bayerdidget.ca/](http://www.bayerdidget.ca/) thanks! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-video-games-good-for-you/610907.md?page=2)