The American Dream Journal 4

The American Dream

Recently in class we had a guest speaker Mauricio Garcia that I thoroughly appreciated.  Typically when listening to a guest speakers it feels like it is never ending and my attention has been lost, but Mauricio kept mine. Mauricio was an amazing speaker something he really has a gift for it. He talked about his life experience and how he was forced to move to the United States from El Salvador when he was 16. He also told us about his life and the obstacles that he had to go through and overcome to get to his “American Dream”. I applaud him on all the things he went through to make it to where he is today. Mauricio talked about his family and how he had to leave them behind when he left. He had no mother or father while he was here in an unfamiliar place, uncomfortable and not knowing what to do, not wanting to be here. I left class that night slightly confused on what I was supposed to write about. I kept reviewing what was talked about and tried to somewhat compare anything to Mauricio’s life. Though he was only without his parents for a short period of time, I began to think about students who have divorced parents and what kind of role that plays in one’s life. Granted his parents were never divorced, but he was without his parents for quite some time and may be a factor that does affect students through their journeys to that American Dream.

Digital Nation: The Results of a Gamer

The Results of a Gamer

            Do you ever wonder what a video game could be doing to your child or even yourself? Many believe that these games have detrimental effects on the minds of the gamers. While this may be a controversial issue to some, others have faith in the studies conducted arguing that these seemingly harmless games are not what they seem at all. Some of these studies yield a convincing argument that these games are devastating to the minds, behaviors, and even health for all, but especially children. Various researches have been conducted in order to prove this very point.

            Although most seem to be more concerned with the mental effects violent video games have on gamers, the issues go even deeper than that. Gaming addictions have become such a problem that they are not only making the players more aggressive and less sensitive to real life violence, but also affecting them physically as well. Children especially are affected by this issue. The younger generation is now less active and spends more time indoors in front of a television screen than outside playing. Since video games are becoming increasingly more popular, obesity is on the rise. This has become more apparent after the video game industry surpassed the film and music industry both. It is disturbing how wide spread this obsession has become.

            Researchers have now found several disturbing health risks that are likely to impact these extreme players from engaging in these addictive video games. Video games are now producing serious and severe symptoms of abdominal pains, chest pains, headaches, weight loss, weight gain and exhaustion. Scientists have shown demonstrations attesting to older Myopia children   suffering from these painful side effects due to playing video games. Other reports have shown signs of musculoskeletal problems as well including, but not limited to, numbness, arm pain, and risks for forearm and wrist fractures. Clinical advice was recommended to discontinue usage of video games for at least seven days. After the children’s injuries were examined a week later all signs were absent in every patient.

            It is shocking to discover that more than 85% of games have violence in them and approximately half of video games include serious violent actions. After much research, scientists have found that due to such violent video games many of these gaming obsessed players have now undergone psychological desensitization. Participates were given the task to watch a 10 minute film containing real life violence while heart rate and skin perspiration  were being monitored. After viewing the ten minute film participants showed decreased signs of heart rate, reaction in skin perspiration, and psychological arousal to real life violence. The test administered also indicated the participates were less likely to help in a real life violent scenario or show any sympathy towards the victim. This point holds a convincing argument attesting to violent video games affecting players negatively. This study resulted in gamers feeling less guilty for their own violent acts, less sympathy towards the victims of other crimes of violence, and an increased level of aggression in behavior.

            Before video gaming became such a craze our generation spent more time with physical activities such as sports, now that these games have become such a hit, people are glued to their television screens and controllers. It seems as though society is less concerned with being physically fit, and more so with conquering an imaginary world. Sadly this has not only led to antisocialism, anger and aggression, but also obesity. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention obesity in the children has more than tripled in the past 30 years in the United States. Video Games have gotten so out of control that the obesity rate has raised from 7% to 20%. Although there are plenty of negative emotions concerning this matter there is still a silver lining. The video game industry has taken these games and made them more interactive so that one can get exercise while still gaming. However, test reports still show that more than a third of the nation’s children are obese or overweight.

            While many may agree with the philosophy that video games are violent and doing more harm than good, it is also about the type of person playing. People have a choice. They can play extremely violent video games, and let it affect them, or they can choose the lighter side and play something more interactive, such as a Wii. In conclusion not all video games are a bad. While the majority of research shows that it is changing some of society for the worst, it is also about monitoring oneself, including parents observing the type of games their children play. If we all take the time to carefully decide what to expose ourselves to the world would be a more peaceful, happy place to live.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Works Cited

Funk, J. B. (2005). Video games. Adolescent Medicine Clinics, 16(2), 395-411, ix. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/215205389?accountid=45782

 

TV, Video Games Linked to Obesity, November 12, 2012, 12:08 am, By Jack Kelly/ Pittsburg Post- Gazette

 

Anderson, C.A., Gentile, D.A. , & Dill, K.E. (2012) Prosocial, Antisocial, And other effects of recreational video games Chapter in D.G. Singer, & J.L Singer (eds),

 

 

 

 

 

Journal 3 Social Media

Social Media

            I would have to say after watching the Social Media Documentary; I was given an even poorer outlook on gaming. I understand that technology is important to society, even to us as students in college, but I had no idea the extreme in which it has been taken. The gaming lifestyle that a large portion of society falls into is very unrealistic to me. At one time in my life I watched my younger brother live that lifestyle, which has left me with a distasteful perspective. My brother would go days upon days in front of a TV on XBOX, and dare you walk in front of him while he was playing. It even got to the extreme of him not sleeping properly. I would go to sleep and he would be on it, I would wake up and he would be on it. It didn’t matter what time of day, he lived and breathed those games. It even it got to the point of him not eating and having bad hygiene. Days would go by and he hadn’t showered or even thought about brushing his teeth. It became what I would like to call a terrible addiction. I am not saying everyone is like this, but it is something that happens, not in just kids, teenagers, but us as adults. It can become very unhealthy and I feel that it is something that should be monitored in our younger generation, so that as they grow older they know their limits therefore not allowing it to become an unhealthy addiction.

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Reality Television Journal 2

Ignorance is bliss

            Reality television is clearly overrated and a waste of time and the effort that it takes to film such, what I like to call garbage. Now I would be a hypocrite if I said I have never watched any of these shows. But I watch just enough to see what fresh rubbish they air just to trick people in to watching. They call it reality TV, but is it really reality? I feel that it is nothing more than a made up soap opera. All of the fake lying and fighting that is exploited on these TV shows are just absurd. They make these shows with the “oh my god factor”, just to draw viewers’ attention. It is absolutely ridiculous that they are even allowed to air it as reality television. When the majority of the time, behind the scenes they are telling the actors and actresses what to do, so that they can gain more viewers’, to make more money. The networks can monitor how many viewers have tuned in for each show. I believe that when there ratings are down they throw in john to beat up jack, and bam you have five thousand more viewers. The reality of it is, we the people allow them to air these TV shows because the more that you watch, the more they will continue to air. So maybe if we stop watching the outrageous reality TV shows the less they will be able to air.