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Study: Gamers Are Civic-minded And Generally Good
Techtree News Staff, Sep 19, 2008 1304 hrs ISTSo stop looking at them so suspiciously
According to a new report [PDF] by the Pew Internet and American Life Project, gamers aren't the anti-social animals society perceives them to be. In fact, thanks to the emerging social nature of gaming, teen gamers have a 65% chance of becoming "politically involved." Incidentally, teens who don't play games have a 60% chance.
While the study tries to put gamers in a positive light, it doesn't really say much. The statistics are interesting (50% of teens claim to have played a game "yesterday", 97% have played at least one video game, and so on), but what they really point to is that gaming has become just another activity. It's like going to a mall with friends--it doesn't indicate what kind of person you're going to be, just that you're not deviant.
Parents of teens who don't game, however, still maintain that gaming is evil, with over 55% stating that they see it as a negative influence on their teen, and only three percent calling it positive. Parents of teens who do play games, however, aren't really bothered--62% said that gaming has little or no influence on their teen.
The most important thing to take away from this study is that gamers are as likely to turn murderers as anyone else, and that (we suppose) is a good thing.
While the study tries to put gamers in a positive light, it doesn't really say much. The statistics are interesting (50% of teens claim to have played a game "yesterday", 97% have played at least one video game, and so on), but what they really point to is that gaming has become just another activity. It's like going to a mall with friends--it doesn't indicate what kind of person you're going to be, just that you're not deviant.
Parents of teens who don't game, however, still maintain that gaming is evil, with over 55% stating that they see it as a negative influence on their teen, and only three percent calling it positive. Parents of teens who do play games, however, aren't really bothered--62% said that gaming has little or no influence on their teen.
The most important thing to take away from this study is that gamers are as likely to turn murderers as anyone else, and that (we suppose) is a good thing.
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