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Are Porn and Video Games Ruining a Generation?

silentbrad writes "An editorial published at CNN is titled 'The Demise of Guys: How Videogames and Porn are Ruining a Generation.' It makes the sensationalized case that not only do game addiction and porn addiction share similar characteristics, but they're also both damaging to young men, destroying their ability to connect with women, and therefore threatening the future of our entire species. A response by IGN dissects the idea that pornography and videogames are pretty much the same thing. 'The article, by psychologist Philip G. Zimbardo and Nikita Duncan argues that young men are "hooked on arousal, sacrificing their schoolwork and relationships in the pursuit of getting a tech-based buzz."' Zimbardo, has danced this jig before. At the Long Beach TED conference last year he told a delighted audience that "guys are wiping out socially with girls and sexually with women." He added that young men have been so zombiefied by games and porn that they are unable to function in basic human interactions. "It's a social awkwardness like a stranger in a foreign land", he said. "They don't know what to say. They don't know what to do."'"

18 of 1,034 comments (clear)

  1. Well, if they're going to generalize, I am too by crazyjj · · Score: 5, Funny

    Why is it that every psychologist I've ever met was much crazier than their patients?

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    1. Re:Well, if they're going to generalize, I am too by Jeng · · Score: 4, Funny

      Why is it that every psychologist I've ever met was much crazier than their patients?

      Well, whats wrong with a crazy psych? At least they are experienced.

      It's those real sane ones that suck, they don't know how to relate to their patients.

      --
      Don't know something? Look it up. Still don't know? Then ask.
    2. Re:Well, if they're going to generalize, I am too by jason.sweet · · Score: 5, Funny

      In my experience, there is a high correlation between "girlfriend" and "psycho".
      I'm not sure if that's the porn or the video games talking.

    3. Re:Well, if they're going to generalize, I am too by The+Mister+Purple · · Score: 5, Funny

      Worst. Generalization. Ever.

      Sorry, had to do it.

      --
      "For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for nature cannot be fooled." Feynman
    4. Re:Well, if they're going to generalize, I am too by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      I should cut your head off and rape your neckhole!

      You're lucky I'm too busy convincing 200 of my FB friends to play this dancing lawn gnome game so I can get the ruby-studded gnome hat.

    5. Re:Well, if they're going to generalize, I am too by griffjon · · Score: 5, Funny

      ... I dunno, there could be an intelligent discussion on this topic, but obviously not here at slashdot. Most of the posts are completely reactionary.

      No they're not!

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      Returned Peace Corps IT Volunteer
  2. totally untrue by MyLongNickName · · Score: 5, Funny

    This is totally untrue. I can easily falsify by point out that it it WERE true that Slashdot would be filled with socially awkward men who don't know how to talk to women and live in their parents' basement.

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    1. Re:totally untrue by medv4380 · · Score: 5, Funny

      So where does that leave me. I'm a happily married father, and my father lives in my basement.

    2. Re:totally untrue by LoverOfJoy · · Score: 4, Funny

      So where does that leave me. I'm a happily married father, and my father lives in my basement.

      It leaves you liable when your father's kiddie-porn is discovered by the feds.

    3. Re:totally untrue by Translation+Error · · Score: 5, Funny

      In Soviet Russia.

      --
      When someone says, "Any fool can see ..." they're usually exactly right.
  3. What I am waiting for..... by Lumpy · · Score: 4, Funny

    The Porn Video Games. we have not had any good ones for over a decade! And Duke Nukem Forever was not porn unless you are a right wing extremist.

    Us zombies demand good porn video games! And PLEASE have it voiced by Ron Jeremey!

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    1. Re:What I am waiting for..... by s_p_oneil · · Score: 4, Funny

      I hear you may be able to find what you're looking for if you're willing to learn Japanese.

  4. If the title's a question, the answer is always by tocsy · · Score: 5, Funny

    No.

  5. Re:No chance of ruining the species... by idontgno · · Score: 4, Funny

    Does it matter to me if the weak male class doesn't have kids? Hell no -- and they make good employees, too. Maybe better ones.

    I dunno. They both have their encumbrances. Daddy says "Sorry, can't work late, gotta watch Junior." Non-daddy says "Sorry, can't work late, gotta raid."

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    Welcome to the Panopticon. Used to be a prison, now it's your home.
  6. Just jealous by sl4shd0rk · · Score: 4, Funny

    I ditched my G/F, bought a second flat panel, and can play Diablo III while watching pr0n at the same. What's the problem again?

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  7. In related news ... by PPH · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... researchers say women are hooked on shopping and soap operas. This destroys their ability to connect with men, becoming addicted to instant gratification, the pursuit of unrealistic emotional drama and fantasy relationships.

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    Have gnu, will travel.
  8. Re:If they really are wiping out generations... by berashith · · Score: 4, Funny

    I wipe generations off of my stomach every day!

  9. Re:Philip Zimbardo by sexconker · · Score: 5, Funny

    This is the same Philip Zimbardo who is infamous for the Stamford Experiment in which he placed university students into a jailhouse environment and allowed it to descend into chaos. Whilst it could be argued he's at the top of his field it could equally be argued that he's an idiot (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Zimbardo)

    The only way you could argue he's at the top of his field is to define the entire field as a clusterfuck of pseudo-science performed by mentally unstable morons who believe their own bullshit.

    Oh wait.