4.) At first I thought it was Michael Jackson, but on second look, I realized the nose was too big. But yes, it's rather disturbing.


Excellent post, BTW.

Marshall
Marshall Sherman | Homepage | 09.08.05 - 7:30 am | #

I find that picture disturbing!

I was shocked to read that the average EIGHTH GRADER spends 17.5 hours a week on video games! What a waste of time!
SecDef | Homepage | 09.08.05 - 8:05 am | #

how much is too much?

i might need u to discuss this with my boyfriend. though he doesnt spend money buying games, he downloads them off his campus file sharing network and plays for hours on end. once a new game comes out, he takes a day off school and or work to play ALL DAY AND ALL NIGHT---- UP TO 17 HOURS STARIGHT. NO FOOD. NO BATHROOM BREAK.

it annoys me a great deal that when we are talking on the phone, all i hear is on ocasional grunt from him and videogame musice in the background. it worries me that he said, "once i'm 65, i'll still be playing my games. i can be all disabled, but i know my fingers will still work for the controller." what kind of father would he be to our kids if he were to play video games all day? what ever happened to fathers teaching their kids to swim or ride a bike?
elien | 09.08.05 - 8:14 am | #

Hmmm, I guess I shouldn't be bothered by my husband's 1 hour a week playing football;)

1. There's no way they can maintain their current level of spending time & money and not be heavily burdened with debt and on the verge of divorce. It's really tough to get married and expect to be able to maintain the lifestyle you're used to with your parents when you make less money than them and starting with pretty much nothing. We were young - 20 - when we got married and were pretty mature for our age, but it took awhile to realize how much things really cost and how much time things really take.

2. Media, media, media. Nothing subtle about it. It seems that the American economy is centered around entertainment and narcissism (sp?). Companies come up with an idea and sell, sell, sell. They only make money if people buy, so they create a market by convincing us of our need for their product or service.

3. I think an hour or 2 a week or maybe 30 min a day to unwind and relax is acceptable without interfering with other responsibilities.

4. I find BOTH of the pics disturbing.
Mary | 09.08.05 - 9:28 am | #

Elien: You might be pleased to know that you can now base your objections to your boyfriend's extended gaming sessions on medical evidence. A 28 year-old man just died minutes after he finished a 50 hour video game binge.Read About It Here.
Brett Harris | Homepage | 09.08.05 - 11:59 am | #

BTW, as one who plans on working for DoD full time playing around with military simulations (after 4 years in the Army)....I should add that it can be OK to spend time on wargames and such. Just not too much time. :)
SecDef | Homepage | 09.08.05 - 6:59 pm | #

1) I've seen marriages end over this. My best friend was married just over a year and it was heck from the first month. He loved his wife with everything he had but she could never understand why he insisted on paying bills with his paychecks instead of taking her out on the town every night. It got to the point to where her father came and apologized to him saying that he felt responsible because he spoiled her when she was growing up.

2) I can't say I've picked up on the subtle ones, but watch commercials, read billboards, etc. and you'll see the emphasis on fun. Even the Ensure and Depends commercials try to convince you that you can have fun by using their products.

3) I must say I'm a bit biased. I grew up playing video games. Everything from Atari 2600 through all the Nintendos and now on to XBox. I've even spent time working on arcade games and jukeboxes for a living. Over the years I've dramatically decreased the time spent, but still have my splurges. For example, I managed to get a 4 day weekend recently. Took the family swimming, out to eat, etc. Still managed to log in around 20 hours of XBox time. Is that good, not for most, but a couple years ago that number would have been twice that or more. I limit my kids to 1 hour a day of tv/games during the week and 2 hours a day on weekends.

4) Actually, no. But then I'm a cop so I see weirder quite often. ;)

BTW, tis my first visit to the site... quite nice. Gotta add ya to my blogroll.
Jeremy Weiss | Homepage | 09.09.05 - 12:11 am | #

That was a great post =)
Its funny how people like to spend their time. For instance...Tonight I was babysitting for five kids. I'm not including my little brother, because he is mature enough to manage himslef. After they ate dinner they said "lets watch a movie, lets play playstation..." I said to them, "wouldn't you want to go down stairs and play?" them answering "of course not we want to play the playstation." I had said that there is proabably better ways to spend your time, and they got very affended. "What else is there to do...?" They said.

I think a major part of the increase of gaming is that people are being less creative and not using their God given brains (except turning them to mush by watching a screen all day) I get frustrated with my friends who go to movies all the time and never spend any time actually getting to know each other. Have you ever felt like that before? I know when I lived in a small town in Oregon we didn't have the electronics so we would actually GO OUTSIDE and play woods or swing or do something else. Why do you think that people are loosing the desire to go outside or do something other than electronics?

God Bless!
Lauren
Lauren Hammerstrom | 09.09.05 - 6:44 pm | #

1) Do you think the level of fun most teenagers are accustomed to is maintainable once they have shouldered adult responsibilities (i.e. full-time job, marriage, family, etc.)? Why or why not?

I think that depends, mainly, on what kind of job that they have and what kind of money they make. If they get a professorship and are not absorbed with research, they could probably maintain SOME of that time but that is certainly not the majority. For the majority, it's absolutely not.

2) Have you noticed any of the subtle and/or obvious ways that our culture pushes us to stay young and have fun? Explain.

Yes. I mean, it's the same message they've been feeding to our parents -the whole anti-aging, "regain your youth" garbage. The only difference is that they figured out they could make a preemptive strike in the business. For instance, just look at how everything today is rated "M for Mature Content" or "R." Teens naturally think that participating in these "mature" -rated things makes them cool and the trend continues into the 20's, etc.

3) How much is too much when it comes to video games and other similar activities? What are your standards?

Too much is when your first inclination is to play a game, etc. instead of picking up your Bible, going to church, doing something you're supposed to do, etc. If it is that much of a priority, it's idolatry - nothing less.

4) Do you find that picture disturbing? (If you don't know which picture I'm referring to the answer is most likely "no")

Disturbing is such an understatement. Suffice it to say I thought Johnny Depp looked better as Willy Wonka than this guy as Peter Pan (both look gross, either way).
David Ketter | Homepage | 09.09.05 - 6:50 pm | #

1) To get a family to function requires sacrifice (I see this in my parents pretty often). One member of the family can't do his/her "own thing" all the time. Once a person has a family or spouse to take care of, they can't go around acting like they did when they had less responsbility.

So, to answer the first question, no. A responsible adult will probably not have enough time to spend on that "level of fun" they had when they were younger because they've got, to put it bluntly, more important things to do.
Hannah | Homepage | 09.19.05 - 12:17 pm | #

BTW: Yes, that picture is AWFUL. I am curious though, where you got it.
Hannah | Homepage | 09.19.05 - 12:19 pm | #

Hey Hannah, it is awful isn't it? Google search "Peter Pan." It's the first link.
Brett Harris | Homepage | 09.20.05 - 12:39 pm | #

Hmm....makes one wonder what kind of person would dress up like that.
Very, very creepy.
Hannah | Homepage | 09.20.05 - 1:41 pm | #

1.)

No. The level of fun is NOT maintanable after marriage. Thus, the result is often divorce.

2.)

Yes. Absolutely. It's evident especially in the way useful electronic devices (iPods - my Dad takes sermons, lectures, and the entire audio Bible with him on long car trips, for when he is alone for hours), with words like 'Hey hey, let's get stupid, yeah yeah, hey now!'

3.)

Too much is when it actually becomes a part of meditative thought. For example, my older brother likes video games. However, he doesn't meditate on them. The goal is to meditate on God's word, and the beautiful things of the world that he has created. When we start meditating on this game or that game, we've let games take the place of God and his word, and that is indeed idolatry.

4.)

Wow. That is a very scary picture. I think I saw that... thing... walking down the side of the highway once.
John Robert Moore | Homepage | 11.04.05 - 9:57 am | #

I find your take interesting, as I've written on this topic, myself...and surprise, have one twixter back at home.

If I don't get distracted I think I would like to revisit the subject and comment on some of your ideas- sort of a comparison in how the different generations view each other.

Good work-good blog, guys.
ilona | Homepage | 11.22.05 - 9:09 am | #

I have noticed some very obvious ways that our culture pushes us to stay young and have fun.

Ex.1:Toys R Us commercials."I don't wanna grow up,I 'm a Toys R Us kid.There's a million toys at Toys R Us that I can play with!" :?:
What kind of message does that send to little kids?That it's okay to juststay little and expect your parents to take you to Toys R Us whenever you see some toy you want?!

Ex.2:Video Games.I'm not saying it should be against the law to play video games.I like to play them myself,but M and X rated video games//Which have become more prominent in this day and age.//just see to tell adult and older teen guys and girls that it's just okay to act like a little kid.

(Oh,and,yes.That picture IS disturbing.//Where in the world did you find it?//)
Zoe_Pooch20 | 03.19.06 - 6:59 pm | #

(1) I think that in fact, many developed countries with a substantially high cost of living have a "have fun and for as long as possible" mentality. As a college student, I see it quite frequently on campus and having been raised in a Christian househould and church enviroment where responsibility comes with age, I find it hard to relate to those who choose to lack objectives and the sense of obligation to themselves and others. That being said, I don't believe that the level of fun that teenagers are accustomed to is maintainable once they have entered into adult responsibilities. That is attributed to the fact that time is limited and in order to effectively fulfill duties to God, family, and community--one has to devote self completely. "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth." (Rev. 3:15-16) If fun still maintains such a high priority in life, then responsibilities are neglected to the magnitude to which they deserve. It's not to say that fun shouldn't exist--it's just that it moves to a lower tier of importance or perhaps changes completely. When I was child, I naturally thought like a child and found things such as creating mud in flower beds to be fascinating. But growing up and being raised in Christ, I never took interest to the life of partying, clubbing, and involving self with worldly "fun". Instead, it takes on a new meaning. Fun could be a walk on the nature trails, time spent with the youth group, talking and learning about other peoples life stories and personal testimonies etc.,

(2) There are some very obvious ways that our culture pushes us to stay young and have fun. For one, many big time brands such as McDonald's and Coca-cola are looking to revamp their marketing schemes. These brands sell something more than just retail items--they sell glamour, their name, and the illusion of fun. What's interesting about this is that they are considered "classic brands", ones that have a degree of popularity and "cherishedness" that qualifies them for this. Looking at these brands, one would notice that they have been around for possibly more than 50 years. However, instead of maintain a "classic" older look that would appeal to the earlier generations--they're going for a "hip" new look. Additionally, the marketing of high-tech gadgets to the 17-25 age group maintains that fun can be expensive and "sophisticated".
M3lissa | 05.18.06 - 8:24 am | #

Definitely a disturbing picture. I think that picture could also fit in a post about people who are not embracing their gender role properly...
John Hudlow | 06.12.06 - 7:41 pm | #

One of the ways I've seen recently that our culture encourages (or accepts) this peter pan syndrome is church "youth" groups
My daughter was mailed a pamphlet from our church recently about our "youth group" the ages for members are 12-22 Twenty-two?!?!? EXCUSE ME! When I was 22 I had been married for 4 years and had three children. I was an adult in every way and "youth group" had no appeal to me! What possible commonalities could a 22yr old have with a 12yr old? Frankly I find this even more disturbing than that freaky picture! If this same 22 yr old wanted to work as a teacher of 12 yr olds in our sunday school he/she would have to fill out a background check. but here they have not only access to young people but the permission to act like and interact with them

well I may have gotten a bit off track here

I hope my(homeschooled non-youth group attending) daughter may find some nice young man like you to court her some day (not soon!)

Mrs. Nehemiah
Mrs. Nehemiah | 07.02.06 - 8:30 pm | #

#1: For most people, it won't be feasible to maintain the level of fun they have as an adolescent into their adult years. Most jobs aren't fun. Changing diapers isn't fun. Life often isn't fun. Unfortunately, that's a reality that many people don't want to face.

#2: Our culture doesn't do subtle. Today's culture blatantly encourages looking and acting young. Paris Hilton and Lindsey Lohan are perfect examples of this. I've heard no mention of them going to any college or making an attempt at growing up at all. Of course, they are the worst case scenario for this epidemic, but they are a good example nonetheless. What's worse is that, because of their celebrity status, they are few to no repercussions for their behavior. It's disheartening to see what our society holds dear.

#3: Any more than 10-15 hours per week between the computer, T.V., and videogames that DOES NOT apply to education is too much. period. If someone spends more than that surfing the web for a research project or something of the like then that's a completely different story.

#4: I agree w/ someone above (i swear i saw it earlier, but i can't find the person now...it's late though) who finds BOTH pictures disturbing.
Crystal Simone (17) | 07.10.06 - 9:42 pm | #

1) I think the level of fun can be compared from teenagers into adulthood, but the style and interests vary, and change so one is not always comparable to the other. As a teenager, going to a movie or maybe spending a weekend at a friend's house was the extent of my fun. Now its more like going out bar hopping on the weekend and maybe once or twice seeing friends during the week. However, one set of responcibilities are exhanged for another.

2) No, but that might not be saying much.

3) I play about 10 hours of Xbox a week- but it is sporatic. Sometimes weeks go by without even turning my Xbox on, then I play for several hours a few days in a row, and then nothing for weeks. As long as one activity doesn;t control or overlap another on a regular basis, I don't think it is a problem. Moderation is key in everything.

4) Yes! Very. hee hee
Debra | Homepage | 07.26.06 - 4:16 am | #

1) No. For most families, it is all they can do to make ends meet. That does not include extra "fun" activities such as gaming.

3) The very first game consul I bought/received was a gameboy advance. I was thrilled about it and spent hours each day playing with it. But looking back now, I wish I had spent my time and money on more valuable things. Things that would have been profitable to me in the future.
It makes me wonder how many young people will find themselves wishing the same thing.

4) Yes, very much so!
Mandy | Homepage | 12.11.08 - 6:45 pm | #