<![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities - Kotaku Comments]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities - Kotaku Comments]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> On the contrary, I think out doors activity has been responsible for stifling video game activity for hundreds of years, to the extent that it was only invented about forty years ago. You can blame Nature for not having Pac-Man back in the 200s!

Darien_Shields

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> @Grave: I was waiting for you to chime in with that, haha!

ThisCharmingMan

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> Am I the only one that goes to national parks? Apparently not, because like another poster said, when I was there over the summer it felt like I was at the mall at Christmas. I mean I literally tried to go miles out as far away from civilization and there were still massive crowds of people.

CaptainBuzzKill

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> Suuuure, TV has NOTHING to do with it.

Sabre_Justice: Okay, no more long name.

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> @ThisCharmingMan: It's death for no reason. And death for no reason is murder.

Grave

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> When I was a kid, we used to go up to the wildlife park and hunt for lizards. My friend had a old pool full of lizards - blue tongues, sleepy, skinks, all sorts that we trapped and brought back to his house.

We'd capture big spiders and dump them in ants nests. We'd get beetles and put them next to trap-door spider holes to lure the spider out.

Hell, I even had a Kangaroo in my backyard at one stage, (although that was highly suss and I only realise that now I'm older, but at the time it was very cool though... freaked the crap out of the cat and dog.)

But now when you go camping, you can't even remove a rock from the park. They have rangers patrolling everywhere and car checks and stuff.

If you want something to blame, look at the whole notion of "take only photos, leave only footprints"

Seriously, where's the fun in that?

FunkyJ

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> Well, there's not much to add, except for the fact that its stupid to blame games for this.

Technology by itself can do so much - usually people prefer to point blame at someone else but themselves.

ISitnikov

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> @eug_is_huge: [www.sciencedaily.com]

Theres the link for those who want to read the article EUG_IS_HUGE was talking about.

Witzbold

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> I remember a university blaming this exact same thing and called it "Nature vs Nintendo" or something stupid like that. And that was like a year or two ago.

eug_is_huge

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> @jmb8504: Did somebody say EXTREME FISHING?!

[www.youtube.com]

Witzbold

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> @sycodude:

Wow!

EnigmaNemesis

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> Maybe our generation just doesn't want to do stuff outside unless its EXTREME!!!

So ye auld fishing trip isn't going to cut it for us like it did for grandpappy.

jmb8504

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> what a load of crap. States doesn't have much nature to begin with... lolz

sycodude

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> @rennyf77: That pistol is a beaut!

Im a big fan of FN firearms. Love the FAL the most, plan on getting one when I get back to the states. Friend is still trying to locate one for me via contacts he knows.

Im guessing since the PS90 is on sale they finally made a civie version of the Fiveseven also, since I remember back in the days it was a law enforcement / military only purchase.

I might have to get one of those too, since Ive read a lot of good things about that pistol, even more so with its low recoil. Although they say the max effective range is in terms of damage is lower than other pistols due to the light weight of the 5.7 x 28 mm rounds it uses. But thats not a problem since you shouldnt be trying to take overly long shots with it anyways, and the other plus side is that there is less chances of collateral damage due to this loss in power as the round travels downrange past its maximum "effective" range. Shit I hope that made sense.

Well thanks for chatting mate and safe shootin to you! :)

Witzbold

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> i blame teh internets!

toneroni

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> Going outside? Wtf!

Soyerz

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> My sister in law's fiance is into hunting. I just want to laugh everytime I think about him and a gun.

DigitalHero

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> FUCK hunting, and
FUCK those who participate in it.

Cadaverine

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> I'd rather people stay inside, shooting virtual animals than real ones. Anything to keep men feeling macho!

ThisCharmingMan

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> @Witzbold: purdy. here's what i bought the last time i went up north:

[www.shootingtimes.com]

the fn five seven is another neat pistol to try out, but it chews through 5.7x28mm ammo like nobody's business.

rennyf77

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> I'm sure the decline in outdoor activities has nothing to do with inflation (people have to work more to make the same equivalent amount of money) or land closures. From 1980 to current, billions of acres of land from the deserts of So-cal to the forests of Washington have been totally closed to all access except for hikers, millions more acres are closed off to all except bikes and horses. Add to that the rising cost of gasoline and lower public acceptance of outdoor activities (OMG HOW DARE YOU WASTE GAS TO DRIVE TO THE SIERRAS!).

Of course people want to play video games where they can actually still go to Glamis (like MX vs. ATV etc) since they can't go there IRL.

thefremen

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> Excuse me for not wanting to go out and shoot a defenseless dear, drag it home, and rape it... thats what they do right?

Athest

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> @JohnnyLA: Hee, yeah, they totally failed to notice that the 80's is also when the Transformers first came out. I'll spend my time having autobots and decepticons kicking each others asses. :D

Skunky

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> @rennyf77:

But I live in Canada .....

;____;

DELICIOUS BUNNY

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> Indoors is the new outdoors. Times have changed, keep up people!

UltimatePancakeSensation

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> Wow, that was a fast post up. You're welcome, kotaku! :)

Yeah, when I saw this article I really thought that their term "videophilia" really was trying to conjure up something horrible like with pre-fixes such as "ped" in front of it.

Also, I think the thin causality between video games and people not going out to nature was I think a little irresponsible of them too.

JohnnyLA

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> While they blame video games, I personally blame the lousy prices at REI. Any motivation to do something like camping or snowboarding get's nixed immediately the moment I walk into one of those shops and check out the dollar signs. Why pay $300-400 in snowboarding gear when I can pick up SSX On Tour for like $20 at Fry's and be free of worrying about going all Sonny Bono into a tree or something?

Skunky

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> @Witzbold: Shit sorry mate forgot to add the link to which model was the one Im talking about.

[www.wilsoncombat.com]

Witzbold

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> @rennyf77: Quite personally Im a bigger fan of the Wilson Combat firearms in terms of the 1911s. After a guy I met down at the range back home showed me his I was totally hooked on it.

Witzbold

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> two of my favorite things. camping and videogames! I think I'll go camping this weekend. maybe I'll bring my DS along!

dubbfoolio

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> gaming piqued my interest in firearms, now twice in the winter and twice in the summer, i amble off into the central oregon wilderness to test all manner of exotic weapons on furry woodland creatures. my favorite as of late is the brugger & thomet tp9. oh, probably the best bang for the buck-pardon the pun-is the taurus 1911. a six hundred dollar gun that has all the features of the more expensive kimber at half the price. gamers, get out there and blast something.

rennyf77

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> I would agree that video games satisfy some of the same needs as going out into nature, like exploration, self-reliance, testing limits, etc. but blaming video games for the decline in nature activities is a stretch.

I think it's more likely that both the rise in video games and the decline in outdoor activities are the result of the population shift to large cities.

rawg

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> @geekgrrl: LOL - problem solved!

rawg

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> Maybe cause national parks are boring. And learning about how old a tree is is BORING. Sure its nice and the air is somewhat clean, until you start sneezing because of the pollen or you get bitten by insects every other minute.

San

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> I blame the fact that doing out door activities costs way more money then me staying in doors.

Also, zombie vampire bears can get into your tent, but can't get into your house or apartment unless you invite it in, it's scientific fact.

UncleBenny

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> I blame the fact that i would have to gut whatever I kill on site, then carry it back to my car and drive it home only to skin it and the like just to eat something that prolly tastes like chicken. Meanwhile the car and house smell like absolute ass until a month before the next huntin' season where the process begins anew.

wisconsinista

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> Yeah, not TV or anything ... just video games.

EnigmaNemesis

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> @Mr. SiThNiNjA:

LOL

EnigmaNemesis

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> I blame bears, mountain lions, snakes, in-bred hillbillies trying to eat people, liquored up NRA enthusiasts obliterating anything that moves with assault weapons and tactical nukes, and a lack of power outlets for the death of nature activities. But that is just me…..

Mr.SithNinja

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> @Witzbold: I'm guessing you ended up as a Prinny primarily because of what you did out in nature. Particularly in Southern California during those parched summer months...

Frank

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> I'm waiting for it to come out in HD.

Sinnix

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> Video games probably contribute to the problem, but I'm guessing that other TV based entertainment is probably more to blame. You know what else came out in the 1980's VCRs! What sold more units? Atari 2600's or VCRs? (Laserdisc FTW!)

HD Cable, Direct TV, Big Screens, DVD, Internet Porn, these are the things that have the greatest impact on our desire to go outside.

Slothboy

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> I only ever want step foot outside in the winter. At all other times, there are INSECTS everywhere. Dragonflies, wasps, bees.... huge disgusting flies... it makes me want to scream and run. I cannot handle it. This is my curse. Thank goodness for Internet and video games and that I'm not a tribal nomad, because if I were forced to live outside in the summer, I'd jump into a volcano.

ElektroDragon

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> Its natural to get annoyed when people don't enjoy what you think is fun. It is arrogance to try to stop them having their own kind of fun.

vincevl

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> Well, I'd say this could be a good thing: less people tramping on virgin ground and more room for the birkenstock-wearing crowd when they commune with nature.

What I *really* find objectionable are these commercials and ads depicting young, urban professionals surfing the web at the lake, emailing pictures from a mountain top and checking in with the office in the middle of nowhere (usually near to their SUV). Does any sane person actually conduct that kind of activity?

mariospants

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> That really isn't what they said. I saw the same story and they blamed the electronic world as a whole as being responsible for the lack of outdoor based activities, not just video games.

Machines

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> Correlation doesn't always equal causation.

ShirtGuyDom

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> I wonder if they count Geo-caching in their outdoor activities. In my area this seems to be really taking off and getting people outside.

Granthunter

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> @tei: Beat you to it ;) But I'm glad to see someone else thought the exact same thing.

ninjafetus

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> @DELICIOUS BUNNY: LOL

@Witzbold: With a shotgun, ahem, ahem.

And as for me... nature is overhyped.

Barts

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> When nature decides to give me a power outlet so I can keep Nintendo DS/PSP/ or video game laptop going then MAYBE I'll consider it, hey we gotta meet each other 50/50 on this.

Nerdelphia

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> I blame republicans, Ryan Seacrest, and Mcdonald's.

kemicon

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> Well maybe if nature had more replay value......

ridleysaria

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> Gaming is the new Rock and Roll.

Bokusatsu_Tenshi

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> But I already do enough camping in my FPSes.

DELICIOUS BUNNY

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> @geekgrrl: *golf clap*

Gouki4u

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> When the forests in real life have slimes for me to stab with a sword, you know where to find me Nature.

Destrudo

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> Pff I blame women ;)

I'm always keen to go camping but my gf never wants to she prefers to go shopping or hotel holidays instead of visiting nature...

There you go its all women fault!

charsuipau

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> Oh how I do miss nature though.

As a kid growing up I used to enjoy wandering around the mountains by myself quite a bit.

Witzbold

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> I'm sure nature could do without all us humans tromping through their habitat littering and destroying it in the process. Maybe it's better humankind stay home and play better games.

As far as why people go out less, there are so many variables that one could choose, video games are just one of many. Less vacation and free time, increased work week hours, less money, less availability to parks and forests, tv, videos, movies, sex, internet, World of Warcraft...I blame all these things!

Godstar

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> Or maybe it has something to do with the pussification of society. Guns are harder to get in some states (not necessarily a bad thing), more people shake their finger if you kill an animal, other people tell you it's stupid and boring.

Technology has also advanced so for some people sitting in the middle of nowhere, freezing your ass off waiting for a single defenseless animal you're coaxing with food so you can shoot it is just not as much fun. The only real fun about it is sitting out in the middle of nowhere, getting drunk, and knowing that with a bullet that cost a few pennies you're going to eat like a king.

Absent Blue

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> If I could work from home I'd never leave. I hate people, and places and things.

PJK

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> Yay! Less crowds on the trails for me! Although I will admit to carrying a GBA to 14,000 feet at least once.

raygundan

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> Good. Maybe finally we'll leave nature alone. This should reduce forest-fires caused by idiot campers, and help animals rejuvenate from dwindling populations.

elint6

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> My wife and I play the hell out of video games and have consistently since we met 13 years ago. On the weekends we hike the national parks and trails of California and come home sore but refreshed. We know others who do the same.

She is a doctor so on top of video games not making us lazy, they don't make us stupid either (in fact they used to call her when they needed someone to navigate and operate tiny microscopic tubes because they knew she was good at video games.)

Its called BALANCE. You know when to stop playing video games after an hour or so and you read a book or go for a walk. You don't live on soda and candy alone but you enjoy it now and then.

People should spend less time trying to find ways of deriding video games and more time teaching healthy balances to young people.

The video game industry is lucky to have my wife as a Pediatrician who defends video games and is willing to lobby against politicians and rabid and ignorant people like Jack Thompson who flatly condemn them.

terry2070

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> I actually like to plan my vacations with National parks in mind. So I actually visit one once or twice a year...

NPC

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> I blame the parents. Kids don't have much opprotunity to get introduced to events like this. Instead the going trend is to protect them: keep them indoors, steralize the environment.

@Limafoxtrot: Parks might be crowded, but it's one thing to go to Yellowstone and go "Ooh, Old Faithful. Ok, kids, back in the car, time for McDonalds!" It's another to spend the night under the stars in Joshua Tree.

Volante3192

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> @geekgrrl: *applauds*

Witzbold

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> @geekgrrl: WIN!

Wei

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> I would wager that it has a great deal to do with the amount of time that moder organizations demand from their employees. People who occupy positions that facilitate them having a family are sometimes forced to neglect their families to keep them. "Sorry Billy I would love to go for a hike with you, but I will be out of town on business for three days" Or if I leave my wireless coverage area I could miss an important call.

Furthermore the fact that more people live in urban environments than previous generations would more than likely be a huge contributing factor.

Granthunter

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> @cheeses: Don't forget to include that hunting deer is a sport for pussies.
Real men don't care to go outside now that all the giant enemy crabs are gone.

Malmer

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> Quote from eXistenZ:
"Come on, nobody physically skis anymore."

Zwortnik

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> Sometimes I forget that Ash is from Texas.

Mark Wilson

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> The main problem is that houses have become too comfortable. A hundred years ago when houses were merely used to eat and sleep people would always be outside and would actually hate being inside. Nowadays people don't like being outside because of the comfort inside the house.

derean

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> @theduke282: I'm pretty sure there are more pirates on the seas today. There are some pretty dangerous maritime passages that are teaming with pirates. For instance the eastern coast of Africa, and the seas around Indonesia and Thailand come to mind.

derean

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> I don't know. I think it's a combination of factors. The scare mongering media doesn't help either, as some people are to afraid to leave their homes.

peacefuloutrage

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> the solution is obvious: put more spawns in the woods.

geekgrrl

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> Ever since I was a child I have had a deep phobia of the Woods. I was playing Zelda on my Nintendo Entertainment Systems and I would wander around in the Woods for hours at a time and always end up back at the start. I was so tedious and I was just trying to go somewhere new that I eventually gave up and never went back. Ever since then I have had an innate fear of wandering around in the Woods.

Hiero Glyph

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> @cheeses: Nice stereotyping.

cocks

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> i still go turkey hunting.

i mean they made a diving sim, why can't they make a camping sim?

Dakobah

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> @Caduceus: Poor analogy. I don't think many people engage in illegal logging because it's "fun"; they engage in it because it's profitable, and the rewards heavily outweigh any risk.

A better one would probably be something like "well at least people aren't littering illegally while they're trapped inside with their video games," or something to that effect.

JustThisGuy

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> Yes, yes, correlation is not causation and all that, blah blah blah--regardless, they do have a point. There's pretty good evidence that video games do play a some sort of role in the decline of outdoor activities. I'm not saying it's the entire cause, but neither are the researchers; in the first paragraph, they acknowledge that TV, computers and--by implication--the 'net also play a role.

They probably highlighted the "videophilia" thing because it's a factor that any individual can control; parents can shut off the sets and adults can make a conscious effort to enjoy the outdoors.

I obviously don't have access to their report, but I'm going to guess they took a whole bunch of other externalities into account. We can dictate what we do with our own free time; unfortunately, we have little to no control over factors like sprawl, rampant over-development, and poor urban planning.

JustThisGuy

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> The decline, found in both the United States and Japan, appears to have begun in the 1980s and 1990s, the period of rapid growth of video games, they said.

Yea, true, and "Pirates vs Global Temperature"

Tei

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> I think the bigger issue is that with all the media devices today, it is impossible for some people to do nothing except be alone with their thoughts. Fishing, hiking, camping, and hunting are all fairly meditative in the sense that it is you interacting with nature on a one-to-one level. If you superimpose ipods, tvs, cell phones, and videogames on to this experience, then you've destroyed what makes it great, and people wonder why they traveled when they could've stayed at home and done the same thing. The entertainment on demand that these devices provide is antithetical to the simple majesty of hiking into the woods, setting up camp by a mountain stream, catching your dinner and cooking it over a wood fire, and sleeping beneath the stars. Unless, of course, they release a game like that for the Wii.

Super_Nintendo_Chalmers

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> Early hunter/gatherers used to hunt out of necessity, to stay alive and not because it was sport or a "fun family outdoors activity". Since we live in a time where they have giant slabs of animal for sale at your local friendly grocer this kind of behavior should best be left to crazy and freakishly inbred mountain folk as well as to "manly men" with self-esteem issues.

cheeses

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> Well, at least people aren't logging illegally while trapped inside with their videogames.

Caduceus

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> Hmmm. Decline found in the 80s and 90s.... That would make the parents children of the 60s and 70s... By God! Hippies! Somehow I can't see a bunch of people who think it's ok for a man to cry wanting to teach their kids to go out and do any sort of wilderness activity.

smitty1123

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> bah. screw those guys. I played Endless Ocean for like 2 hours last night. I'm all about nature activities!

Nitemare1

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> You know... I'd imagine that any conversationalist with their head screwed on straight should be thankful that we're all surfing the interwebs and playing with our Wii's... pun intended.

Really though, let the forests grow. I am going to CONTINUE to play with my Wii and PDF the living hell out of my documents rather than tromp through the woods with my family and print every document that is sent my way just so I can appease my obsessive compulsive filing disorder.

Shouldn't we be taking care of the forests without pitching tents, anyway? Let's take a step back. The headlines should read "Gaming Industry on the rise, so is the Grizzy Bear population at Yellowstone."

Facts or not, obviously the Associated Press is a little backwards.

Neer'mo

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> Strange how you lot equate 'nature activities' with 'shooting defenceless animals'.

Anyway - yes it is bad. BAD. The wests increasingly sedentary lifestyle is a health crisis just waiting to explode (actually it is already upon us). It is probable that within our lifetimes the average life expectancy will decline. That is a serious problem, and not just economically.

Not that it has anything to do with game playing. There's also the whole fear of leaving the safety of the increasingly fortress like houses everyone lives in. The media has its fair share of blame there. As do right-wing politicians using fear to win votes. Note how the time-frame also particularly matches the Reagan years for example.

$Bill$G$

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> The 1980s and 1990s were a period of rapid growth for the entire entertainment industry (and, I suspect, for the average American waist size), not only videogames.
How about home video? VHS and then DVD sure didn't encourage people to dive into the great outdoors.

Antiterra

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> Parents should just throw kids into the woods.
Not only does it make them appreciate nature, the weak ones die off!

It worked for those crazy Spartans, it can work for you!

Kenofthedead

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> At least the only woods I'll be getting lost in are made of polygons. Lost Woods ftw.

Roto13

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> As someone who loves the outdoors and gets to National Parks a lot - I have have to disagree with that whole fewer people thing - they are so damn crowded you feel like you are at the mall - not getting back to nature

Limafoxtrot

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> Why not blame themselves & their ever increasing expensive offerings? You get a 8h day for 40$ while some games gets you limitless amount of play time for 15$/h.

Arthois

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> I would blame the decrease in people going outside to the decrease of the number of pirates in today's world. See the number of pirates has also been dropping at an alarming rate, but at what cost???

theduke282

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> Of course, everyone knows that Humans have no free will of their own and obey subliminal messags which are secretly hidden in every single videogame made to this day, compelling them to not go outside and breathe nothing but saturated air all day.

JP_Neptune

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> I like how they totally ignore factors like TV and the ever growing fastfood industry of the fat junkeating heart of America who couldn't go outside even if they wanted to.

Way to piss on a great entertainment industry because of a country that can't control their abusive lifestyle.

Also, I'm perfect. :p

Malmer

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> @ninjafetus: good to see a fellow pastafarian in the comments

pocketcowboy

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> Can we post pictures? Let's see...

If not: [www.venganza.org]

(Obviously, since the average global temperature rose while the average number of pirates fell, then the lack of pirates must be the cause for global warming.)

What's my point? Don't fall for the "A then B implies A caused B" fallacy.

Do I disagree with them? I dunno. But I doubt they really have the research to back up any claim of video games being the cause for a lack of desire for outdoor activities.

ninjafetus

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> @Ixero:

lol

Tuxy79

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> Maybe "this" will save nature.

Garo

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> yeah i tend to avoid camping and fishing just due to the fact that I think we should leave nature alone. I don't need to catch fish to live so why kill more fish :-\

Even though, I do go play paintball on occasion as well as camp out in an actual tent. I gotta say that I'd much rather sleep in a bed instead of the ground.

jp182

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> @justhesh: I agree, but I made the distinction because I never saw real campers in later years.

Gouki4u

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> Funny but playing GoW makes me WANT to go out and work out so I can get naked chicks....

Falconfire

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> Considering the decline of nature in the name of "Progress", the encroaching sprawl eating up forests and species alike all over the world, I'd have thought people would've welcomed the chance to stay home, power up a virtual Duck Hunt and spare the poor flora et fauna the trampling and discarded shells that hunting brings.
Not to mention the risk of your "good buddy Steve from the bar" accidentally popping you in the chest when you step out from behind a tree and thus the last words you hear being, not the comforting tones of a loved one, but Steve going "Oh Christ damn man I thought you were a deer , Christ!"
In Scotland we hunt once a year, for delicious deer at New Year and have on rare occassions gone to a fish hatchery that features a nice mile long loch from which you can sit on the bank and catch a decent sized fish as opposed to a poor starved naturally grown fish while the kids get taught by the nice man who works for the estate to catch fish from the smaller loch custom designed for letting children learn how to fish and sucessfully land a catch. This way, nature is not encroached upon any more than necessary and everyone gets a relatively high chance of a nice fish for the BBQ.

Mattz

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> @Gouki4u: Tent campers. That's redundant. Cause anything more advanced than that, and you're a fucking cheater.

justhesh

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> What bullsh*t!! They have no clue.
The only reason is, that nature doesn't run on DirectX 10 yet!!!

tylerstyle

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> That movie was so good. It introduced me to a great game called russian roulette. When you feel down just play some and you feel alive again.

Irenicus-the one and only

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> I used to work at a state park in the summer, and most of the people who showed up brought their games, and satellite television with them via ginormous RVs. I'm sure if the park had wifi they would have brought their laptops as well. So some people just bring it all with them, but tent campers are almost extinct.

Gouki4u

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> Id love to wander the mountains with a rifle, but everytime I do that the cops arrive.

IM JUST TRYING TO ENJOY THE GREAT OUTDOORS!

Witzbold

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> I blame Deer Hunter 2.

Ixero

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> "A gajillion cable TV channels and the seemingly endless internet haven't really helped!"


Sheesh! Forty-thousand channels and only 150 have anything good on!

justhesh

]]> <![CDATA[Video Games Blamed for Death of Nature Activities]]> As a Gamer and Hunter, I commend myself for naturally following statistical trends in the larger population.

Tsaketh

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