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Our problems
Oxana S.
Computer Games
A computer is a useful household item. You can hammer nails with it.
No? Wouldn’t work? Well, then perhaps you can put a vase with flowers on it and cover it with stickers. That wouldn’t work either?
Then you can put a child at it. Let the baby learn about interactive space.
I will say it straight away – I don’t let my kids use the computer. There was time when I, being a kind mother, allowed them to install a couple games and my children spent their free time after homework in virtual fights, smashing to pieces game levels… It always ended up with them installing new games when I was away, and, erasing them when I came back, once they deleted half of my Explorer and another time left me with no Internet connection. Since then they have their fun only on a Sony Playstation.
A computer at home is a faithful helper to our children in mastering different sciences and, having taught a child how to use it as an instrument, that is, having taught him the RIGHT attitude towards it, we can give him a way to reach his goals in life as well as a piece of bread. Why don’t I allow children to use it then?
I am scared.
I am scared that they may become as addicted to it as my older son is...
He became involved with computer games, like many boys, at about ten. First it was shooting-wandering games, and the computer was in the Rock-climbers’ club where he was a member at the time. When a computer club called “Avalanche” was founded, he started playing there. Now he is one of the best players in the team. What does it look like?
My son goes to the club in the evening, stays there all night, sometimes he is not back home for two-three days. When he does come home, he goes to bed and sleeps for 24 hours. Then wakes up, spends some time at home and then it starts over again.
I have no doubts that the way of my son’s life is totally wrong. But he is almost an adult, he will soon be eighteen. However, aside from computer games he has no interests. When I ask him, what is he going to do after he is back from his military duty and will have to get married and provide for his family, he answers, - “Time will show”.
It is no secret to anyone that addiction to alcohol, tobacco and drugs or sensual pleasures does not spring up in five minutes, and very few people, if any, become alcoholics after their first glass of wine. Neither do they become addicted to tobacco after one cigarette. Even drugs, if used the right way (medically, for instance), – sometimes are necessary and save lives.
Who is more likely to get different addictions? I guess an answer to this question should be: people who haven’t been fulfilled socially. Even someone who has alcoholic parents will not necessarily become one, if he is fulfilled in life as a professional, a family person, someone who has interesting and useful work to do.
An adult.
But not a child.
In the age of total computerization, when computer classes become a usual thing at schools, you cannot find a teenager in a big city who has never tried to use a computer...
If there is no computer at home, there is always a friend who has one, who will once invite to come and play. Why not? Everyone does it… everyone plays.
It is actually true – EVERYONE plays. It has become a sort of childhood infectious disease – one of the modern society’s realities – computer games.
Of course, parents should monitor how long their child is using a computer, what games is he playing, how is he using the computer.
Usually the parents, who need their computer for work, don’t let their kids spend too much time with it. And, before the child is an out of “home” type, it is usually enough to firmly tell him to get away from the computer.
It’s a little different when a computer is bought SPECIALLY for the child, to provide him extra possibilities to get information. These parents usually don’t use the computer, thinking that a shelf full of trendy CD’s will be enough for the child to get everything he needs.
Here, the chance for the child to get “infected” with computer-mania is somewhat greater. Still, as long as the child is at home, he is under his parent’s supervision anyway.
I am not AGAINST computers. It is obvious to anyone that it is an instrument, that can help you earn money, communicate, and learn many interesting things. It is all about HOW it is going to be used.
In every good thing there are hidden dangers that catch not everyone, but, unfortunately, many.
What is the danger?
I think that computer addiction can be compared with drug addiction. And it should not be taken lightly, as in, it is too new and total computerization of the country is too far away, therefore the danger is not that big. Once we thought this way about drug addiction…
In the nineteen seventies, when we heard about drug addiction, we imagined some very-very distant foreign countries, where in the fumes of drug craze “their youth” was doing something strange.
Unfortunately, now we have a much better idea about drug addiction.
A solution to the problem of modern computer clubs, looking more like dens, could be the following. The clubs need to consider the clients. Where should a child be in the morning? At school... Why is he sitting in the computer club? Where should a child be at night? At home... Why is he sitting in the computer club?
That is, there should be restricted working hours of the club, as far as children and teenagers are concerned. It is easier with adults, but there should be age limitations. From 22, I think.
Underground? That’s right, the drug business is also underground. But drug traders are prosecuted legally – so why don’t we make a law, regulating the work of computer clubs, having such a bad influence on the growing generation?
My point could be rightfully argued: it is parent’s responsibility to watch their children and catch the dangerous moment before it’s too late.
But that’s the problem – many parents actually think it’s good that their child doesn’t drink in a gateway, doesn’t shoot drugs or steal… that he only spends time in a computer club. I can bet that these parents have NEVER been in a computer club themselves.
To make things clear: An Internet cafe where you use Internet, and a Computer club for playing computer games are two different things. Often they are combined which lets their owners hide their activity behind Internet access. I am not going to tell about the dangers of Internet and the damage that Internet addiction can cause a child – that is a topic for a separate article.
How is the work of such a club organized? Access to a computer with games is paid. An hour of playing on a computer costs 20 roubles or more, depending on the time of day. Night hours are cheaper. The club works 24 hours. The owners don’t care about the health and morals of their clients – they are only interested in their time spent at a computer, and naturally, the longer someone plays and pays, the better. Teenagers often stay overnight playing or watching others playing so that they don’t have to travel home in the middle of the night – not everyone lives close by. If they are too tired – there is a couch to crash on for a little while in a room full of cigarette smoke. What kind of study can we talk about after such a night? Therefore school or college are going to be neglected.
Team games are attracting many players now, and, what’s more interesting – sponsors. That is, if someone has a lot of money but can’t play well, he can hire a team of players and make a competition with another sponsor's team. The winning team gets their games paid for. There is a profit for a team member, all be it small. This money is immediately spent on more computer time, or a pack of chips and a beer to support his miserable existence. Please note, the teenagers spend ALL their free time in the club. How and when can they train themselves to become normal adults, to have a fulfilled life?
You think it’s not that bad?
It is actually even worse…
A person who did not get any other skills aside from clicking a mouse, screaming in joy or despair and knowing one game from another, upon entering real life, will have to either quickly learn something, or join the ranks of alcoholics and drug addicts (with his experience in getting addicted it won’t be hard), or start stealing because he doesn’t know how to earn his money. How is such a person going to provide for his family? And will he be able to create one – he doesn’t even have any experience with girls. And what about health? Will this young man have problems in reproductive area, eyesight, vascular problems, or hypodynamia?
Are we witnessing another “lost generation” coming up?
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