What are the stupidest rumors you've read about gaming?

That the Space Invaders Arcade machine crippled Japans coin supply.

 

There's a rumor that if you play certain games too long, you will forget about reality and eventually your family will abandon you. Seemed like a stupid rumor but it actually checks out to be true as it happened to my brother.

 

The rumour regarding games causing violence or aggressive behaviour have pretty much been debunked, the latest research/rumour suggests poorly implemented game mechanics/controls are the real cause of aggressive behaviour amongst certain gamers...

 

^ I'd like to hear more about that, but generally what I heard last about the research on violent video games and aggression is that generally it may increase aggression in already aggressive children, so it's kinda like saying ____ drug decreases driving
ability amongst already bad drivers. Really it's more of an issue for people with aggressive tendencies independent of video game use.

The video game addiction thing mentioned earlier is all but considered an addictive disorder by the DSM. They left it out of the last edition due to feeling more research was needed on the subject (was proprosed to be considered "Video game/internet addiction"
to encompass more than just gaming). People do get addicted to video games, look at stuff like WoW. Like drug/alcohol addiction, there are instances where people get addicted to games and it affects their lives in ways like was BizarroMantis described above.

...aside from that, dumb rumors I heard about gaming were more or less fake cheat codes when I was a kid, usually by people just lying to get attention.

 

"People do get addicted to video games, look at stuff like WoW. Like drug/alcohol addiction, there are instances where people get addicted to games and it affects their lives in ways like was described above."

I actually know quite a few people whose lives have been turned upside down because of their video game addiction. It's a much more serious problem than what we hear about. I won't go into specifics about my brothers situation, but it is extremely bad.
It's been almost as destructive to him as drugs to a drug addict.

I think some people prefer to live in a fantasy world than a real life world. Real life can be stressful, high pressure, full of difficult situations and obstacles. Some people really just can't handle all of that. They feel much more comfortable in some
make believe land. When they have to stop playing, all their real life problems slap them in the face. It feels nice to slip back into the fantasy world again as a form of avoidance. Is it really different than an alcoholic that drinks to temporarily forget
about their problems? I don't think so.

 

The one I heard about is Dragon ball Z being Satanic, it's very silly to me because it is a harmless video game.

 

Same rumor about Doom, and there are some satanic symbols in it, but so? I didn't give it a second thought. I didn't feel like it was trying to convert me to satanism.

 

I was going to post exactly what Biz posted until I scrolled down a little more and saw her post. I don't understand why media labels stuff like that as it is. It's simply in there to heighten the fear although it has very little effect because I too, didn't
even pay attention to the symbols unless they were on a door I needed to open.

 

[quote user="Wilk0"]

The rumour regarding games causing violence or aggressive behaviour have pretty much been debunked, the latest research/rumour suggests poorly implemented game mechanics/controls are the real cause of aggressive behaviour amongst certain gamers...

[/quote]

Dr Phil says "Whatchootalkinbout Wilk0"?

Dr. Phil

Just who are the American Psychological Association anyways? What could they possibly know?

You may as well be a Tobacco Company Spokesman trying to convince us that ciggarettes don't cause cancer.

Where did you get your information from?

The Daily Mail?

Oh wait...

Violent video games DON'T make players aggressive - lack of practice and difficult levels do | Daily Mail Online

It's a shame that so many gamers still aren't mature enough to acknowledge the facts and instead have the mentality of a child who's done something naughty and at the back of their minds are worried that someone is going to tell them they can't play video
games anymore.

 

Actually Azrael I got it from the worlds most respected media outlet, the BBC, who got it from the Oxford Internet Institute.

 

"the world's most respected media outlet, the BBC"

I'm going to go ahead and assume that was sarcasm.

The idea that video games (or other violent media) CAUSE violent behavior has never been proven. And it never will.

Do you know why? Because there is no link between the two.

 

He's right about one thing. A game that has poorly implemented game mechanics and controls cause me more rage than losing to a bullet bill on Mario Kart, and that's a well defended title I might add lol.

 

For the record, I was not the auther of the report, it was a study by the world famous Oxford University in conjunction with an American University called Rochester, it was published by a very respectable media outlet, the BBC aswell as many others.

The study did not link games to violence, it linked poor game mechanics/controls with raised aggression levels in some people.

I posted it in a rumours thread.

I never said I believe games cause violence.

 

I wasn't claiming you did. I was just making a general statement.

The BBC used to be good, but in recent years it has devolved into MSNBC-tier reporting and "Journalism".

 

The University of Rochester.

Ranked 102 in the world!

www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/.../university-of-rochester

Here's the article Willy can't find the link for.

www.rochester.edu/.../show.php

A group of 600 college age students were split and given different tasks.

Some put their hands in ice water for 10 seconds. Then they were given a game of Tetris to play and then invited to decide how long the next person should have to have their hands in the ice water. Those who had the "hard" version of Tetris tended to prescribe
a longer Ice Water period than those who had succeeded at the easier version.

I think all they really managed to prove is something we already know.

People don't like to try.

Psychological study has proved the negative impact that violent video games have on children and those with the minds of children or other vunerabilities.

This article has proved how desperate some people are to avoid the truth.

Piltdown Man.

Look it up.