TO YOUR HEALTH (Charles Romans): Video games double-edged sword
Technology can be a lot of things depending upon how you use it. Some technology is quite good for us, and some not so much. Often the same technology is both; good when used to serve its purpose and bad when it is misused.
Phones are an excellent example because calling in to work or keeping in touch with people regardless of the amount of distance can be a very good thing. Conversely, having our eyes glued to flashing displays and becoming oblivious to the world around us can get us into trouble.
However, walking into a pole while texting your boss that you can’t make it in today might yield bruises to justify that sick day ... but there are easier, and less painful, ways to get a day off.
But phones are far too easy to blame for, well, everything. So let’s try some other piece of shiny technology we might not know has a hidden benefit. Let’s talk about something everyone (who doesn’t play them) loves to blame for everything from obesity and social anxiety issues to garden variety laziness. Let’s take everyone’s favorite technological punching bag and turn it into something positive. Let’s take a breath from blaming this thing which has corrupted everyone since the “Pong Generation” and shine a light on its good points.
Video games aren’t always bad for you. What? How? Really?
As it turns out, video games don’t really turn your body to mush and your brains to jello. Or at least they don’t have to. Many video games teach young children skills such as reading and typing, and Michael Waas (in an article for Mind Foundry) lists numerous instances where even strictly entertaining video games have an educational benefit which, far from melting young and older minds, actually improves them. Apparently, anything to start and keep the old neurons firing is a good thing.
Who knew “Resident Evil “was a pathway to improved math and science — not to mention English — scores? OK, I think he was referring to educational programs like “Oregon Trail” and “Math Blaster.” But he does mention “Minecraft” in a favorable light.
And it isn’t just young people who can benefit from playing video games. Anything which keeps the mind engaged and forces us to use the old gray matter to solve problems can actually improve mental flexibility. And on the more action-based games it has even been shown to improve reflexes. So maybe it isn’t such a bad thing for your kids to play “World of Warcraft.” Maybe we should even play with them — they will probably make us all look like “noobs,” but that’s OK. We’re paying for it and can make them go to bed early.
Like anything else, whether it is for ourselves or our kids, we should do a little advance research. There are maturity ratings on a lot of the more popular video games, so use them to full advantage. But there are so many games out there, it is a given that at least some will interest you and your kids. And possibly your parents, too, for that matter. Grandpa might actually enjoy “Call of Duty” or “Halo.”
Regardless, the most important thing is that there is benefit in fun, too. It reduces blood pressure and stress, and some of the sports games might actually count as exercise. Just remember, it’s all fun and games, even when your mother and your daughter both beat you at Mario Kart.
Reach CHARLES ROMANS at cromans@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2655.
Alvin Gentry: Prioritizing Zion's Long-Term Health Is 'Right Thing' for Pelicans
Gerald Herbert/Associated Press
The New Orleans Pelicans have a long-term plan for Zion Williamson and won't deviate from it, regardless of how impressive the rookie has looked in his first two games.
Per ESPN's Andrew Lopez, Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry explained the team's approach with Williamson after Friday's 113-106 loss to the Denver Nuggets:
"It's the way we've decided, it's best for him right now, and that's what we're going to stick to. I know everybody gets real excited, and I hear every night that I'm the dumbest coach in the world about why would I take the guy out in the game of the last five minutes or six minutes? So I'll live with that knowing that we're doing the right thing."
Williamson has given Pelicans fans and the rest of the NBA a taste of what he's capable of in his brief game action. The 19-year-old has posted a combined 37 points, 13 rebounds and three assists, and he's gone 15-of-20 from the field in just 39 minutes in two games.
Gentry did increase Williamson's playing time from 18 minutes Wednesday against the San Antonio Spurs to 21 minutes against the Nuggets. Still, the former Duke star is being limited to short bursts each quarter; his longest consecutive stretch Friday was at the start of the third quarter, when he played six minutes, 20 seconds before JJ Redick subbed in.
There has been a significant difference in New Orleans' performance with and without Williamson. Per the Elias Sports Bureau (h/t ESPN Stats & Info), the Pelicans are plus-19 in 39 minutes with him on the floor and minus-30 in his 57 minutes on the bench.
The Pelicans have not yet used Williamson as part of their closing lineup, and he's still rounding into form coming off surgery to repair a torn meniscus in October that caused him to miss the first 44 games.
The 17-29 Pelicans are just 4.5 games behind the eighth-seeded Memphis Grizzlies in the Western Conference, though it doesn't look like the No. 1 overall pick will see near 30 minutes anytime soon.
Video games ‘setting kids up for addiction’ with loot boxes – mental health boss
No result found, try new keyword!Gaming companies risk “setting kids up for addiction” by including gambling tasks in their video games, the director of mental health for the NHS said. The firms should either ban virtual “loot boxes” .
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