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Training From America's Army Game Saved a Life
russoc4 writes "Most people who play the United States Army's freeware FPS sit through training simulations so that they may be able to get into the action and rack up some kills. The medic skills learned in the training allow you to heal teammates in the game, but it seems that they also apply in real life situations. According to Wired and the America's Army forums, 'a North Carolina man who saw an SUV flip and roll on a highway last November was able to provide medical aid to the victims with skills he learned from the America's Army.'" See? We learn things from videogames! Feign Death works sometimes, too.
See? Things like this are what make that MMO that NASA's considering developing less-than-ridiculous.
And if anything goes wrong, the guy AND the game makers will get sued for millions.
Everyone should know basic first aid techniques. They aren't difficult and can make a big difference in an emergency.
At least learn how to control bleeding and perform CPR.
We have issued propaganda, that validates the production of our propaganda!
Now, "this is your rifle..."
"Flyin' in just a sweet place,
Never been known to fail..."
No. Now they have a valid excuse to ban violent games. I can hear it now: "We've been trying to tell you for years that doing something in a game can teach you how to do it real life. Today it was someone who learned how to save a life. Tomorrow it will be someone who learned how to take it."
The worst part is they kind of have a point. Every time violence in games comes up, our first counter-argument has always been that games and reality are different and the skills don't translate across. So, what do we say now? It seems like we have a choice between claiming that this guy did not learn first aid from a video game, or that people only learn good skills from games. Both of those ring pretty hollow.
And yes I am being serious.Sadly, so am I.
Dewey, what part of this looks like authorities should be involved?
The worst part is they kind of have a point. Every time violence in games comes up, our first counter-argument has always been that games and reality are different and the skills don't translate across. So, what do we say now? It seems like we have a choice between claiming that this guy did not learn first aid from a video game, or that people only learn good skills from games. Both of those ring pretty hollow.
I would disagree with one little bit: skills do translate across. Behaviour needn't.
Any skill you learn in any kind of context will translate across. Behaviour depends on a greater number of factors.
Ignore this signature. By order.
Or, we could claim that you only learn stuff applicable in real-life from games that are as anal about realism as America's Army is. Dunno how it is nowadays, but back when I played it (when they still had a Linux version), to get to play as a medic you had to attend an in-game class (which was quite long), and then take a test about what they'd taught you in it. Pretty f'in far from the likes of GTA, which are the usual targets of anti-videogames propaganda.
It wouldn't surprise me either to hear about some guy being able to fly a small plane without formal training if he had played Flight Simulator for years with a specialized controller, whereas I *would* be surprised if he had managed to do so after just a couple of weeks playing Battlefield 1942 and UT2004.
No problem is insoluble in all conceivable circumstances.
Which part to drop? One week of football/t-ball/whatever. Seems to me First Aid fits in perfectly with Physical education and should be part of it. Assume 8 years in elementary school, take one week out of 'gym class' per half-year... and you've 16 weeks of first aid training (mind you would assume first 4 years be really basic).
If they can spend a week in gym discussing STDs (at least my high school did), can't see why they can't take one week to teach some first aid. After all, aren't physical education teachers supposedly taught some themselves to hold the position?