There has been much talk
in the news of late of Boston Red Sox pitcher, David Price, and his not being
able to play due to carpal tunnel syndrome. At the root of this condition,
according to some, has been Price’s obsession with Fortnite- the online
multiplayer game, which apparently had become quite popular among baseball
players. While Price and some other medical practitioners maintain that
Fortnite is not the cause, he has stopped playing to quiet all the talk.
As someone who works
with middle schoolers, the news struck a chord as many of our students are
“addicted” to Fortnite as well. Since this game was released last
September the game has been downloaded more than 40 million times. What is Fortnite? “It’s a mass online brawl where 100 players
leap out of a plane on to a small island and then fight each other until only
one is left. Hidden around the island are weapons and items, including
crossbows, rifles and grenade launchers, and players must arm themselves while
exploring the landscape and buildings. It’s also possible to collect resources
that allow you to build structures where you can hide or defend yourself. As
the match progresses, the playable area of land is continually reduced, so
participants are forced closer and closer together. The last survivor is the
winner.”
Although, as we see
with Price, many players are adults, due to its cartoonish quality, one might
imagine that many players are children- even as young as six.
I do feel bad pointing this out as I know
how much our children are enjoying this game, but we know that most
research studies point to the fact that playing violent video games does
correlate with “real-life aggressive behaviors and less pro-social behavior.”
And, there is also the potential of the addictive nature of this game, (ask
your children how many hours a day they spend playing). Aside from the
unhealthy nature of any addictive behavior, the amount of time taken away from
sleep and homework is not healthy as well. There is also a social component as
it is played in teams which also reinforces its use. And, of course, it is free, which adds to its
use among children. Psychologist, Dr.
Catherine Hallisey stresses, “There is the issue of opportunity cost where time spent playing
an online game is taken from other activities which have been shown to increase
happiness such as in-person play, social interaction, physical activity, time
spent in nature... A 2012 study used brain scans to show that playing violent
video games has the potential to desensitise gamers to real-life violence and
suffering. When that is combined with the still-developing frontal lobe
of adolescents, the negative potential is increased. The US Army uses these
types of games to recruit soldiers [and] to train them."
A British school went
as far to issue a warning in their school newsletter about Fortnite. “We
have been notified about a number of concerns relating to a free online game
called Fortnite, mainly played on game consoles. Concerns relate to its
lack of security, enabling others to hack into home computers and its format
leading to children becoming addicted leading to unhealthy increases in screen
time. We encourage you to investigate these concerns if it is being played by
your child.”
Additionally, the game
has an online chat feature, which could expose children to inappropriate
language from strangers. There are parents who claim that their children’s
personalities have changed since playing the game and are more agitated than
usual.
Experts would state
that as it comes to any issue ‘This is about parents taking power back from the
video games and setting boundaries. It’s about teaching self-control.”
As I spoke about the
substance addiction evening that I attended a few weeks ago in a previous
column, there is also such a condition known as “internet gaming disorder”-
being addicted to video games. (This condition is often tied to ADHD and depression).
In brain scans, those with IGD have brains that look like brains of those
who are addicted to drugs or gambling, according the Child Mind Institute. The signs of true addiction include: craving
something, needing more of something to get the same "high," and
withdrawal when a user can't have it. People who are addicted to something
ignore signs that the substance or activity is damaging their lives. They may
lose friends. They may stop doing schoolwork. They even stop taking pleasure in
the substance or activity itself. “ What is the difference between a true addiction and simple
“problematic use?” If kids are having
problems keeping up with schoolwork, chores, and activities, help them get back
on track with some limits. If kids truly cannot control themselves -- they
sneak their phones, feel bad about their behavior, lose friends, or stop other
activities including schoolwork -- they may be showing signs similar to
addiction. In either case, establishing and reinforcing a balanced approach to
media may help.
As we know, it often comes down to
setting limits. As we approach Shavuot we realize that this the beauty of the
Torah- it sets limits. In
Shemot 32:16 it describes the לוחות upon which were
written the Ten Commandments.
טז) וְהַלֻּחֹת מַעֲשֵׂה אֱלֹקים הֵמָּה
וְהַמִּכְתָּב מִכְתַּב אֱלֹקים הוּא חָרוּת עַל הַלֻּחֹת
"And the tablets are the work of Elokim,
and the writing is the writing of Elokim, carved onto the tablets."
Midrash Rabba 41:17 on these words states:
"Rabbi Yehudah said: Al tikri charut - Do
not read charut/carved, ela chairut- rather read chairut/freedom."
At
times, we may feel that Torah is a burden, but we are not truly free without
the Torah. Without mitzvot we are enslaved to our Yetzer hara, desires and
animal instincts. In essence, the “burden” liberates us. Hashem wants the path
to pleasure to be difficult or else we’d be out of control. If we could
eat anything we wanted we would become gluttons. If we could have relations with anyone we
wanted it would destroy the moral fabric of our homes. So, too, our children need limits to free
them from the addictive nature of gaming, and other addictive behaviors.
Advisory Update;
Sixth Grade; Students focused on the cellphone dangers that include bullying,
sexting, and particularly instagram use.
Seventh Grade; Students began learning about the bystander
effect and why people tend to do nothing when they see injustice or danger
happening to another.
Eighth Grade: Students viewed the movie the Wave which talks about
the impact of peer pressure in the context of Nazi Germany and their own lives.
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