Published on August 21st, 2012 | by VETERANFOXX

“A Mom, A Boy, And The Video Games That He Loves”

A video, put together by a few third year students studying at the Bezalel Academy of Arts was featured recently in an article on CBC’s website showcasing how much time kids spend playing video games. Alongside this video, the CBC posted a few statistics proving that kids spend far too much time playing video games, and not enough time engaging in physical activity outside.

This issue comes up quite a bit to many individuals of any age who play video games. The video was beautifully executed, though the issues raised by this video are entirely misleading. Let me explain:

One thing I initially noticed about this video was a lack of dialogue, which brings me to my first point: PARENT your children, don’t police them. Many sensitive issues, such as “how much time is too much time playing video games” should be open dialogue between parents and their children. Throughout this video it shows the mother imposing her viewpoint on her child without so much as an explanation as to why she may want the boy to play outside. There is no guarantee that comes along with baby-making that promises your child will turn out a certain way. Also, wasn’t the music industry being bullied by parents throughout the 90′s the same way video gaming is being bullied now?

Maybe it is just my not-so-normal way of over-thinking, but what if this boy has a passion for gaming. No, not a “ZOMG I play COD for 15 hours straight” kind of passion, but a fiery passion for gaming that burns deep within this kid’s core. What if this boy was going to be the next genius game developer, but because of all that shame and self-hatred this boy’s mother made him feel as a child he never amounts to his true potential? What if he is never truly happy?

At the end of the video, the mother gets her way. Well, she had to have what appears to be a minor neurotic break… but still. The boy is outside trying to make a simple red ball move with his joystick. I just want to point out one thing here, this is not from video gaming. In fact there are many studies out that show links between gaming and improved hand-eye co-ordination, cognitive skills and problem solving skills. In fact there is a good amount of scientific literature out there showing the benefits to gaming. I have never once seen a real child try and control a physical object, like a ball, with a joystick that was not even plugged in.

Wanna know something? I HAVE seen children try and swipe monitors, televisions and certain mobile phones that are not touch devices.

People need to stop making external forces the enemy for every extreme. Yes, there are many socially inept children out there that play video games to the point of harming themselves, but I also have seen many people with the same level of addiction directed elsewhere; to their mobile devices, Facebook or other social networking sites, etc. Many gamers can go a day or more without playing a video game, and many gamers know how to balance gaming in with other responsibilities.

Maybe I’m just bitter, or maybe I’m just biased, but I don’t think this video was as accurate as it was aesthetically beautiful.

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About the Author

I am (reluctantly) a stereotype; living in my parent’s basement, windows covered in posters to diminish light, and have been on record for playing World of Warcraft for 18 hours straight a day, for several months. Sometimes I drink coffee in the morning, sometime’s its red wine. My best friend is a beta fish named Bael. I play video games, and work at a video game retailer in the middle of suburbia. I usually have nothing interesting to say and I almost always feel like I should be doing something more productive.


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  • http://www.justadashofgeek.com/ Natasha Dythia

    I dont know the full background of this video – but since it was made by college kids on computers I think they may have been pointing out the humor of how parents just push their view points on children and in the end the parent has no control over their child – they will find a way to game if that is what they are are into. I actually cracked up at this video – I found it funny and light hearted. I agree that parents need to talk to their children and that the parents should take an active role in what their child is into. I have a 3-year old and Yes he plays videogames and yes I limited him – why? He is 3. That is my job for the time being…..what actually bothered me most about this video is the mother turned off the Tv without letting the poor little guy save his game – that is a gaming FOUL :) I did love all the hidden video game refereces in it though…

  • Jeremy French

    I think the video was more a social commentary on generation differences than anything else.

  • http://www.facebook.com/wil.mclean Wil McLean

    I think one of the things that these articles (re:CBC’s brief write up) is that parents are the ones in control of the finances and rules of the house. Don’t want your kid to play so many games or watch so many movies? Don’t buy a bloody great huge TV and an X-Box. Sure that may hinder the parents viewing of their favorite shows, but therein lies the hypocrisy. If you want your kids to be active, then you have to lead by example. A great compromise are parents who play with their children with motion controlled games for a limited number of hours a week but also are active themselves. It’s hardly fair to boot the kid from the gaming just to watch PVR for the evening.
    Shown in the short above, that kid has EVERYTHING! Pretty sure he didn’t buy it himself. Just don’t fill the house with all the video toys and games and set a ratio of activity required to earn game time. Parents that blame their kids need only look to their own behavior to see where it comes from.



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