Playing games for hours on end may not be the healthiest activity in the world, but gaming doesn't turn you into an antisocial nerd, an Australian study has concluded.
The study, by Australian psychology graduate Daniel Loton, found that 15 percent of 621 adult respondents surveyed spent more than 50 hours a week playing games, but only 1 percent of those had rubbish social skills, specifically shyness.
"Our findings strongly suggest that gaming doesn't cause social problems, and social problems are not driving people to gaming," Loton, from Victoria University, told Reuters.
"What is important to note is that even problem gamers did not exhibit significant signs of poor social skills or low self-esteem."
Loton spent the last two years conducting the study, which was based on mainly Australian and mainly male respondents.
Unfortunately Loton's findings are null and void once you read down the page and discover that his study was an online survey. Of course they're not shy on the internet! Have you ever read an internet forum, Mr. Loton?
Conduct the next survey in a pub and then we'll believe you.
Besides, if you were massively shy and anti-social, you'd probably seek out pastimes that didn't require you to leave the house, not the other way around.
Well its only true to casual gamers - i play games i dont know usually 4 hours a day have cut back a lot and when my friends say oh lets go out im always the one to say lets play 360 why well yes ive lost my social skills
50 hours!!!! daaaaaymmmmm...! I'm not sure iv've ever spent 50 hours playing time in a week! Although if i include the amoutn of time talking and reading or posting about games then i'd clear that quite a few times. To be honest i consider myself a real hardcore gamer too. I think with gaming become every more popular, it's becoming less of a 'bad thing' as many think of it.
Some gamers are nerds, some nerds are gamers - what came first, the chicken or the egg?
Well, there is the joke about a chicken and egg laying in bed sharing a cigarette. One hands the cigarette to the other and says 'well, that answers that one....'
Some gamers are nerds, some nerds are gamers - what came first, the chicken or the egg?
Well, there is the joke about a chicken and egg laying in bed sharing a cigarette. One hands the cigarette to the other and says 'well, that answers that one....'
Some gamers are nerds, some nerds are gamers - what came first, the chicken or the egg?
Well, there is the joke about a chicken and egg laying in bed sharing a cigarette. One hands the cigarette to the other and says 'well, that answers that one....'
That's from Family Guy, isn't it?
Don't know about that, but I've seen it on a birthday card in Smiths...
Actually, I can't talk because I have exceedingly poor self-esteem. But other than that, this article is stating what is known as 'the bleeding obvious'.
Ah, the old chicken and egg conundrum eh, well, dinosuars were around before chickens and they laid eggs, case solved.
I been gaming for 67,000,000 years, I am painfully shy, have low self esteem and wear specticles, now I'm going back to my egg to play with my chickens or watch internet porn.
Besides, if you were massively shy and anti-social, you'd probably seek out pastimes that didn't require you to leave the house, not the other way around.
Dur...
How does gaming require one to leave the house? I mean you can get all this stuff shipped.
This word addict is getting thrown around way too much. An addict is someone who just can't function without a particular desire. They will go out of their way to get it regardless of who it affects. So an addiction to anything is going to have detrimental affects to your social life, be it gaming, drugs, alcohol, sex, etc.
Just because you spend what many would consider to be an excessive amount of time gaming that doesn't mean you are an addict and that you couldn't stop at an point.
If anything I would think that a survey done ONLINE would have more people saying that they lack social skills or that they are shy than one done in person.
I know that I would be more open about my ineptitudes in an anonymous online survey than if someone came up to me and asked me whether I lacked 'social skills' or was shy.
Besides, if you were massively shy and anti-social, you'd probably seek out pastimes that didn't require you to leave the house, not the other way around.
Dur...
How does gaming require one to leave the house? I mean you can get all this stuff shipped.
DUR...
That was basically my point, you really should read posts properly before replying...
*Being shy makes you want to stay home and play games
*Playing games doesn't make you shy and stay at home
I remember seeing true nerds. They were chuckling (read:snorting) every time they did something right in Warhammer. I was in the room at the time, working at a machine in a Technology class and had an overwhelming urge to punch them square in their stupid faces and attach their testicles to the band-facer. I also had that 24 hour vomiting bug starting up (only felt the 'effects' a couple hours later) and it was extremely contagious...
This is Dan Loton - I conducted the study. Just a quick note to say the full thesis is available (and I welcome all well informed scrutiny, well informed meaning read it first), at www.computergameresearch.com.
It's often the task of research to confirm or disconfirm what may seem obvious. The idea that games lead to social deficiencies has been around for a long time, not just colloquially. The survey was conducted online in order to target those who are the most socially shy/fearful/withdrawn. If there is indeed a sub-group of gamers turning to games to substitute 'real life' (for lack of a better term) socialisation due to social deficiencies, then you won't find them at the pub. It took two years as it was a part time honours project, and it was not funded research.
Any questions or comments please email me - daniel.loton@yahoo.com.au
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