Civil Discourse: Game Screen Time Debate

February 3, 2011

Unfortunately, we can't embed the video here, but Fox News' "Fox & Friends" host Gretchen Carlson moderated an interesting segment about the proper amount of video game screen time for kids. The discussion featured "Reality is Broken" author and game developer Jane McGonigal, and Susan Maushart, author of the book "The Winter of our Disconnect."

What is most interesting about the segment is the level of civility of all involved. Discussions about video games and the effects on children can often get out of control as two diametrical views collide and the moderator drops the ball or interjects their own opinions on the subject.

This segment offered three different perspectives; McGonigal believes the proper amount of screen time is right around three hours; Carlson allows her children 30 minutes a day; and Susan Maushart believes that technology gets in the way of life. While Maushart's method sounds extreme, it works for her, and as a parent that's her right.

Watch the segment here and form your own opinion.

Source: Kotaku

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Comments

Re: Civil Discourse: Game Screen Time Debate

Submitted by SpencerRuler on Sat, 02/05/2011 - 02:52.

Jane McGonigal was also interviewed by Stephen Colbert on the Colbert Report last Thursday.

That could possibly be an interesting piece of news.

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Living in Canada can be a very good thing, you know. We enjoy the universal healthcare and gun-free environment of an European country while getting all of our games released at the same time as in the US.

Re: Civil Discourse: Game Screen Time Debate

Submitted by edmoss87 on Fri, 02/04/2011 - 14:01.

I have to say that the respect shown towards each other in the discussion is surprising, especially for Fox News. There were some good points made, but I think the point they missed is that what works for one child doesn't work for another; some are fine, some need help moderating their time.

Also, as Dark_Mellow pointed out, kids just want to have fun. While some probably love engaging in 'constructive' activities such as music playing, they shouldn't have to spend all their time on adult-directed activities.

Re: Civil Discourse: Game Screen Time Debate

Submitted by steelbox on Fri, 02/04/2011 - 08:06.

Gonne all the good days where you reunite all your buddies to play goldneye 007 or perfect dark drinking coca-cola and eating chips all afternoon.

Re: Civil Discourse: Game Screen Time Debate

Submitted by Algus on Fri, 02/04/2011 - 07:10.

The idea of not allowing your kids access to technology is really just horrifying. We live in a technological age and to not allow kds access to technology is to essentially handicap them. I'm certainly not against monitoring video game use (though my parents never did and I turned out alright...but not all kids are the same) but "technology gets in the way of life?" I'm sorry, but that is an idiotic viewpoint.

Re: Civil Discourse: Game Screen Time Debate

Submitted by Dark_Mellow on Thu, 02/03/2011 - 23:11.

Why cant you just play video games for fun?

Does everything have to benefit kids just let them have fun.

Re: Civil Discourse: Game Screen Time Debate

Submitted by ZippyDSMlee on Thu, 02/03/2011 - 20:05.

And they all fail, shcool work>studying>playing with physical objects outside< physical objects inside then media of anykind!!

I have a dream, break the chains of copy right oppression! http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/2010/05/21/cigital-disobedience/

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http://zippydsm.deviantart.com/

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Shout box

E. Zachary Knight: If the videos are of sufficient quality that people subscribe and watch regularly, then those let's players are providing a service that people want. That is the heart of capitalism. That is not something that should be shamed.05/17/2013 - 8:06am

E. Zachary Knight: I have no idea who either of those people are. However, I still don't see why making a business out of creating let's play videos is somehow evil or wrong.05/17/2013 - 8:04am

MaskedPixelante: It sure is if you're just doing it for the money. See Tobuscus and/or Pewdiepie for what happens when people get into it just for the money.05/17/2013 - 7:30am

E. Zachary Knight: Why is it wrong to make money doing LPs? Why should that be something that should be shamed?05/17/2013 - 6:20am

MaskedPixelante: https://twitter.com/PsychedelicSA/status/335183893214924801 Now here's an interesting, glass half full thought about the Nintendo LP thing. It outs the people who are just doing LPs to make money.05/17/2013 - 5:56am

E. Zachary Knight: I responded in writing to all this "let's play" stuff Nintendo Started. No need for my permission, I won't give it. It's not mine to give. http://divineknightgaming.com/?p=29205/16/2013 - 2:21pm

E. Zachary Knight: Lars Doucet of Levelup Labs has a Reddit going on game companies that allow monetization of Let's Play videos. http://www.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/1egayn/lets_build_a_list_of_game_studios_that_allow/05/16/2013 - 1:04pm

Sleaker: @Imautobot - yah I wouldn't use an emulator as a good first run test of how stable the console is, haha.05/16/2013 - 11:47am

E. Zachary Knight: The 50th person to jump off a bridge is just as dumb if not dumber than the 1st.05/16/2013 - 10:03am

MaskedPixelante: Yeah, let's all jump on Nintendo for doing this, even though they're hardly the first company to do this...05/16/2013 - 9:47am

E. Zachary Knight: Wow Nintendo, this is wrong. http://kotaku.com/nintendo-forcing-ads-on-some-youtube-lets-play-video-50709238305/16/2013 - 8:44am

Imautobot: @Sleaker, further gameplay has revealed that the controller button do stick under the faceplate. Also, The NES emulator (Emuya)keeps crashing on me, though I think a bad ROM is causing it.05/16/2013 - 7:10am

Papa Midnight: AE: I wonder if any other publishers will follow suit.05/15/2013 - 8:12pm

Andrew Eisen: EA is ditching Online Pass. http://venturebeat.com/2013/05/15/ea-kills-its-controversial-online-pass-program/05/15/2013 - 7:20pm

Avalongod: @Zach and quicnkold...I've read the bill and the intent of it is to fear-monger. It's not a balanced message. I don't recall the ESRB being mentioned at all. It's more "keeps your kids away from these movies/games or they'll become violent"05/15/2013 - 4:35pm

E. Zachary Knight: quiknkold, The big problem with that legislation is the amount of misinformation out there. Who is going to ensure that the information in the pamphlet is accurate?05/15/2013 - 3:25pm

quiknkold: REBeardogg : I'm on the fence about this. on one side, I want parents to be aware of the ESRB, and even Movie Ratings. On the other hand, I feel this will be used for nothing but Propaganda. The ESRB does a good job.05/15/2013 - 3:07pm

IanC: Frostbite is coming out on iOS devices. Yet the Wii U cant handle it? *coughbullshitcough*05/15/2013 - 2:31pm

BearDogg-X: http://www.politickernj.com/65515/lesniak-ruiz-bill-limit-children-s-exposure-media-violence-clears-senate - Bill requiring schools to publish pamphlets with anti-fake media "violence" propaganda clears NJ Senate05/15/2013 - 2:03pm

quiknkold: I am thinking of writing a musical about videogames, violence, and the first amendment. Would need a collaborator though and would kickstart it after the script is written. was thinking off broadway.05/15/2013 - 2:00pm

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