Playing mmorpg's ..

[tartmold]

There's a topic about first person shooters but what about online games like World of warcraft and Guild Wars where killing is a major part even if its just for fun ... Is it bad? I've played them for a few years but now that I've gotten older im realizing my sins and trying to correct them. Should I quit playing games like this? Thanks for the replies.

 

[Mandevar]

There's a topic about first person shooters but what about online games like World of warcraft and Guild Wars where killing is a major part even if its just for fun ... Is it bad? I've played them for a few years but now that I've gotten older im realizing my sins and trying to correct them. Should I quit playing games like this? Thanks for the replies.

Others may have different views but this is mine (nonchristian):

In video games, even MMORPGs, as long as you FULLY understand that it is just a game, just for entertainment, then theres little to worry about. The problem some people have with them is they believe they cause people to be violent and commit acts depicted in the video game, I like to think I have more of an influence over my own actions than a video game.

You are killing beings meant to be killed, for experience, quests, rewards, but ultimately for fun. You know these monsters/beings are not real, they cannot feel pain. I assume you would never actually want to throw a fire bolt or shadow bolt at another living entity and cause it pain for personal enjoyment. So if you can seperate the World of Warcraft from the real world, I don't see how it can harm you.

Also, try to appreciate the effort put into these games (I've only played WoW). Notice the artwork, the entire villages, little props, the storyline, the details--it is truly amazing. The game is centered around killing, but thats not ALL its about.

 

[tartmold]

That is what I've been thinking too. But what worries me is all the killing even if it is all fiction, my parents tell me all the satanic images of these dragons and beasts are satans attempt to lure us into his world. My opinion is it's just the game industries attempt to appeal to the more violent audience. Or is that what satan wants us to think ..

Thank you for the reply mandevar.

 

[Silent Bob]

I have been playing these games too and worse. I like lineage 2 and I enjoyed Diablo 2 for some time etc etc.

But what worries me is all the killing even if it is all fiction,

Can you tell between reality and game? Then you are fine.

I wrote something in the past and I said that killing a bunch of pixels can be a great stress relief and fun. What I hate is the Holywood good guy beats the living cr.p out of the bad guy movies. They justify violence against others as long as they are "bad".

my parents tell me all the satanic images of these dragons and beasts are satans attempt to lure us into his world.

Do you feel the urge to join a cult? If not you are fine.

These images come not from satan or demons but rather myths and fiction. They were fun when they were invented they are fun now, besides in most games it is the good vs evil strugle and usually (with some notable exceptions... all hail Dungeon Keeper!!!) you play the role of the good. They are acceptable because what you kill is a demon and not a human. (unlike Holywood flicks where the bad guy is usually another person) On the use of magic I have to say that people are just simply stretching it. Like in Harry Potter and DnD magic is there for the mystery and to add the fictional ability to be superhuman. Who jumped when Superman and Spiderman first appeared? Is Superman's powers not magical? Just because the creators did not refer to them as magic does it change anything?

My opinion is it's just the game industries attempt to appeal to the more violent audience.

Yes this is true but only because people want to break taboos when they are playing a game. No game I have played made me less sensitive to violence but it rather allowed me to take it out on pixels, again unlike almost every action picture I have watched which showed to me scene after scene of blood, guts, violence and hatred all justified cause the bad guy is a terrorist or criminal. (even games like SOF or CounterStrike do not have the same effect as seeing the bad guy being brutalized in a film)

Or is that what satan wants us to think ..

If satan is using games to pass his message then I have to say that he is doing an awful job. I still love to play non-violent games just as much or more than violent ones. No game made me want to be violent. (with the exception of GTA but that was only because I played it for 2 days straight and when I saw a car in the street the first time I had the momentary though of how sweet it would be if I could 'jack' it and go to the supermarket faster, ROLF I know I am a sad person)

Btw if you quit Guild Wars any chance of passing your S/N to me? It seems like a nice game but I can't afford it atm... LOL j/k... No seriously if you are quiting pass you account too LOL.

 

[tartmold]

Wow bob thanks. Now I can actually have a conversation with my parents about the games without being shotdown and grounded. I hope god can let them see that they're not all that bad. About the accounts If you do ever buy it yourself (its only 30$ now) I'd love to help you out maybe toss a few gold your way but I'll just hold onto the account for now. Thank you very much Bob.

Yes this is true but only because people want to break taboos when they are playing a game. No game I have played made me less sensitive to violence but it rather allowed me to take it out on pixels, again unlike almost every action picture I have watched which showed to me scene after scene of blood, guts, violence and hatred all justified cause the bad guy is a terrorist or criminal. (even games like SOF or CounterStrike do not have the same effect as seeing the bad guy being brutalized in a film)

I've actually become more sensitive to crimes ect. Shows like Law and Order just make me sick on how twisted some humans are, then again it is just satan who's doing the stuff ..

I'd still like input from parents maybe? I want to be sure I'm not sinning if I play an hour or two here and there. I used to play a game called runescape for hours a day but realized it was hurting me in many ways such as splitting me apart from my family even though I was making new family ingame. Saaad ..
But now i've quit that game as my full time job haha .. now my faith is my full time job!

God bless you all

 

[flicka]

Well I am a parent, but not a christian so take this anyway you want

My own teenagers play these kinds of games and I see no problem. I have no problem with fantasy in general (dragons, beasts, etc. do not = satanic in my world). The only time it's ever an issue is when game playing of any sort interfers with school work or other social obligations. Learning to do things in moderation is part of growing up. Having things banned or forbidden is just a recipe for overindulgence at some future time. I personally do not enjoy violence on television, in books or movies. Not for religious reasons but humanistic ones. I just don't see the enjoyment factor is those kind of images.

 

[xAtheistx]

've played them for a few years but now that I've gotten older im realizing my sins and trying to correct them. Should I quit playing games like this? Thanks for the replies.

You should never quit having fun because certain people interpret a human-made document to mean that a deity dictates what you're doing is wrong...

 

[wblastyn]

I'm playing EvE Online atm. Currently I'm training up skills so I can eventually get a better ship and blow other players out of the sky

 

[Freodin]

Reality and game - that is indeed the key.

It is not about evil. It is not about being "good" or "bad". It is not about Satan, Dragons, Myths - it is about challenges.

Every game ever invented by humans presents a challenge, an obstacle to overcome. Usually, this obstacle is another player. Usually, the way to overcome him is fixed and the mechanistics rather simple.
Like it or not - killing is a rather fixed and simple way of overcoming your opponent. "Killing" is part of most games - from sports to board games.

The important part now is to distinguish between "the game", where such simply mechanisms are necessary, and "real life", where they mostly lead to chaos. Learn that, and games of any kind - even first-person-shooters - can be what they are meant to be: a safe way of facing a challenge.

That said: I like WoW a lot, and regret that we Europeans are kept away from the American servers. So sadly we won´t meet ingame.

 

[Mariette]

Tons of killing going on in the bible, don't see why a fantasy world would be viewed as wrong.

I think the general consensus here is so long as you know and understand that it's simply that, a fantasy, then there isn't any major dilemma about playing them. But it's that 1 - 2% of the population that can't discern reality from fantasy that makes games such a big issue. Remember Columbine when reporters said it was violent video games that influenced Eric and Dylan? Remember what the Prez wanted to do? Abolish violent music and games and movies? Too bad the gaming business on it's own is a multi-BILLION dollar industry. Can't abolish something that's inevitably paying you. lol

 

[Koz]

Jeez, people worry too much.

 

[tartmold]

I know but my grandfather is a pastor and my mother was raised VERY strictly with no television or anything. When she see's me playing games shes always telling me how bad they are and how sinful it is. I just wanted some feedback from people besides my parents.

 

[LouTheWicked]

It's just games and music, things to have fun and enjoy. I doubt any music or games company is trying to make you turn into a Satanist.

Besides, I don't think a kind and loving God wants you to sit around or work your backsides off for all your life, can't his people have some enjoyment with their lives as well?

 

[The Seeker]

But it's that 1 - 2% of the population that can't discern reality from fantasy that makes games such a big issue.

Where are you getting this statistic from? Your backside, by any chance?

Remember Columbine when reporters said it was violent video games that influenced Eric and Dylan?

So you don't feel that years of brutal bullying and alienation had anything to do with what they did? People don't just decide to go off and shoot somebody because they saw it in GTA or because Marilyn Manson made them do it, they do it becuase there is something seriously wrong with the world we live in. These kids were victims for so many years, and they snapped and decided to make their tormentors the victims. Are we really so surprised, in a society that puts success above humanity?

 

[The Seeker]

I know but my grandfather is a pastor and my mother was raised VERY strictly with no television or anything. When she see's me playing games shes always telling me how bad they are and how sinful it is. I just wanted some feedback from people besides my parents.

If you can't see why anything wrong with it, then just do what you think is right, your parents are not omniscient, and they are quite capable of being in the wrong.

 

[Silent Bob]

But it's that 1 - 2% of the population that can't discern reality from fantasy that makes games such a big issue.

Ok if the 1-2% of the population cant discern reality from fantasy they need some meds and/or a nice clinic with some cosy jackets. After all the inability to tell between fantasy and reality is a textbook case of insanity.

Remember Columbine when reporters said it was violent video games that influenced Eric and Dylan?

To quote Cris Rock: Whatever happened to CRAZY???

Who cares what some idiot reporter said to get better numbers? Where is the scientific study?

Eric and Dylan were insane! Anyway you slice it their behaviour was caused by so many issues, music and games had jack to do with it. There are countless teens that play violent stuff and none of them go out to kill their classmates. To blame the game industry is just plain idiotic.

 

[xAtheistx]

Eric and Dylan were insane! Anyway you slice it their behaviour was caused by so many issues, music and games had jack to do with it. There are countless teens that play violent stuff and none of them go out to kill their classmates. To blame the game industry is just plain idiotic.

They were actually quite sane. I don't mean to justify what they did in any sort... I researched the subject in depth and... they're human. And sane, if a bit psychologically disturbed (which means they've been emotionally abused, not that they're crazy).

Where are you getting this statistic from? Your backside, by any chance?

[size=-1]71.3841674321 percent of statistics are made up on the spot[/size]

 

[The Seeker]

They were actually quite sane. I don't mean to justify what they did in any sort... I researched the subject in depth and... they're human. And sane, if a bit psychologically disturbed (which means they've been emotionally abused, not that they're crazy).

Can you reccomend any good books on the subject? I'd love to learn more about it

[size=-1]71.3841674321 percent of statistics are made up on the spot[/size]

 

[xAtheistx]

Can you reccomend any good books on the subject? I'd love to learn more about it

Sure. A lot of stuff was put out there to make a buck and it was obvious... but, I can give you a couple...

Specifically on Columbine, there are a lot of internet articles, and news research that can be done... there are also three books that I'd recommend... one on each side of the story:

The Martyrs of Columbine: Faith and the Politics of Tragedy
Justin Watson
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312239572/103-0850687-2467832?v=glance&n=283155
(The shooters)

No Easy Answers: The Truth Behind Death at Columbine
Brooks Brown, Rob Merritt
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1590560310/103-0850687-2467832?v=glance&n=283155
(The surviving victims)

And a particularly Christian one,
Rachel's Tears: The Spiritual Journey of Columbine Martyr Rachel Scott
Beth Nimmo, Darrell Scott
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0785268480/qid=1136147642/sr=8-8/ref=pd_bbs_8/103-0850687-2467832?n=507846&s=books&v=glance
(The dead victims)

Because sources indicate (and I believe) it was more likely that Rachel Scott was the one who responded in the affirmative (to the question "Do you believe in God") than Cassie Bernall.
Not that you'd actually be worried about what they were saying to who, if you had people running and gunning through your school...

But anyway, there's also some books on school shootings in general, too if you're interested.
(because Columbine was just one of many school shootings... see this shirt)

They have audio clips of shooters on a shooting range, and talking about the upcoming event... no correlation is stated about it being on the 20th of the fourth month (4:20, yes stoners, we get it), and they make no mention of nazism or Hitler's birthday...

It's interesting.

 

[The Seeker]

Sure. A lot of stuff was put out there to make a buck and it was obvious... but, I can give you a couple...

Thanks for that, will look those up