No worries. Nothing like this:

http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2012/08/ … ?hpt=hp_c2

As long as people support it, this will exist. It's certainly not "evil" in my opinion, but I can't help read that article and just think that it's a "sad waste of a life". You could argue this is no different than other professional sports, and I would agree. I also think those other sports are a waste too. Just my opinion!

I read that article at work today and I knew about the gaming addiction, but I didn't know about the type of money involved. It reminds me of the Far Side comic where hopeful parents are observing their child playing Nintendo and then dreaming of lucrative opportunities for Mario players.

I wouldn't go so far to say that professional gaming and sports in general are a waste, but I do think that too much money is involved. If professional athletes truly enjoyed their sports, they would strive just as hard to be pros for less than $50,000 per year. Ticket and food prices are too high at pro sporting events, so not as many go as would like to go.

Another of my opinions is that scientists, teachers, firefighters, and law enforcement should, at the least, be paid more than people that do not help us (athletes). Some athletes surely donate money, but they shouldn't have that much to begin with. There's no reason why people that play games should be sitting on hoards of cash and deciding who to help and who not to help. Why should they be arbiters? Why are people that play games and act like someone else in front of a camera given so much financial power?

Edit: Even truck drivers should get more than pro athletes, since they do much more for society than athletes.

I couldn't agree more. However, as long as people continue to pump billions of dollars into sports and movies, there won't be an end to this nonesense.

Oh, and here's a nice example from the good ol' USA... can you guess how much this high school football stadium costs? Go on, guess...

http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2012/08/03/new- … hpt=us_bn8

Our tax dollars at work, ladies and gentlemen...things like this are among my biggest arguments for not giving the government anymore money than what they absolutely need to maintain basic utilities and public order. And things like this are especially reason enough to be apathetic about the funding of schools; so much of that money isn't even spent towards academics.

And yet, even with so much emphasis on sports and athletics, U.S. children (and people in general) are among the most obese in the world.

Besides the big asshole and dickhead jocks who bullied me in primary school, all the fanfare that surrounds sports is just another reason I never played sports in school. I've never been the type to crave attention.

is that before or after the hush money payoffs for the molestation allegations against the coaches?

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/xbo … 28818.html

yeah hmmm, I don't know the whole story so I'm not "blaming" the parents. However, when I was living with my parents (before moving to college), sure I played video games, sometimes longer than I should. However my door was always open and my parents would know where I was and what I was doing. When it was time for dinner, the game HAD to be turned off and it was dinner time. If we went on trips anywhere, I had to quit playing since we were all going (no questions asked). When it was time to sleep, my parents told me to turn the damn thing off I also played a lot of basketball with friends,  tennis too. Also, I always did well in high school (had I not, I guarantee you I would not have had a video game machine).

edit: OK, I'm "trying" not to blame the parents, since I don't know the whole story, but something sure sounds seriously SNAFU in this household.

These were interesting articles. I have recently had a run-in with something that called these stories to mind: I have been playing 'Realm of the Mad God' the "co-op mmo perma-death bullet hell shooter." The game is pretty cool featuring retro graphic style and fun gameplay, but it also features something referred to in the first article you posted: no clear goal or finish line, so you end up playing indefinitely trying to unlock everything, get the best gear etc. Anyway this game pretty much chewed me up and spat me out over the past few months, I have done little else. Only recently I started to cut back even though I still play a few hours a day. The game is pretty brutal because it takes literally 12+ hours to make a baseline character to play with and they can die anytime in an instant and you lose everything. So its easy to dedicate huge chunks of time to play, because its essentially necessary for the game. Of course you could stretch it out over time, which is what I am trying to do now.

One thing I thought was funny in the first article you posted is how the American gamer-judge guy distinguished between video game addicts and 'e-athletes,' they both play 12+ hour days, the difference is if you are good you are an athlete, if you suck you are an addict. Ouch!

I just recently saw a poll that asked whether people think US medal winners should pay taxes on their royalty (they get paid $25,ooo by the US Olympic committe for each gold, $15,000 for a silver, and $10,000 for a bronze). The poll had choices like:

a)No, they're American heroes.
b)Yes.

What kind of BS is that?! "American heroes"?! What have any of these athletes done that's heroic? Now, I wouldn't be surprised if there are a few "heroes" in the bunch somewhere, but I've yet to hear of any! Winning a gold medal does NOT in any way, shape, or form, make you a hero. Lottery winners have to pay taxes, so why don't Olympians? Again, I think it's this crappy culture in the USA where sports/entertainment is king, and other things (such as science, education) are on the backburner.