simba9003

Lol, just got Bully today. Haven't played it yet though.

It all depends on the kid though. If he's unstable and there's something wrong with him (which there must be to go out and shoot someone because they saw it in a game or whatever) then you shouldn't let him play violent games, in fact maybe you should take him to a psychiatrist. Otherwise, if he's a normal healthy kid and is quite mature for his age, then I don't think there is a problem with letting him play something like Halo or whatever.

You can buy Sonic compilations on the PS2 and Gamecube, you can also get them on the Xbox as well I think.

Sonic is where it's at.

Yeah, I agree, it's weird how kids tastes have changed, no one cared about violence in games back in the day, just as long as a game was fun was all that mattered.

I know there's a big difference in the consoles of today vs 20 years ago, but I wasn't talking about them playing games that are aimed at older people, I was talking about them just playing games in their spare time. As for films, yeah, I guess they have better special effects now, but to be honest, there isn't really anything that looks fake in the Nightmare On Elm Street films and a lot of other horror movies that were out in the 80's.

What I don't get is why do people say that, I mean, they also come out with crap like playing videogames is antisocial, you're cut off from the world, it's not productive, blah blah freaking blah. But you can apply all these things to sitting there reading a book, something that these people would obviously think is a good thing, or sitting there watching a film, or sitting there listening to music on your headphones.

I was watching TV last night and saw an 8 year old kid on George and Mildred, and well, I never actually realised how young they are. Imagining him playing bully did seem as though the game would be a bit inappropriate for him. I know if he was my kid I would feel a bit uncomfortable with him playing it. I still think that thinking half an hour is too long is pretty extreme though, I think kids should at least be allowed to have a couple of hours, they'll still be left with plenty of time to do other things.

But why would being allowed to have a games console mean that he'd never go outside and have no friends? When I was 8 years old I had an Atari, and I still went out and had lots of friends. Southerngirl, I really wouldn't say that half an hour is too long on a game, I mean, films last longer than that. I'm sure you wouldn't think he's been watching a film for too long when he's about a quarter of the way through it.

The point in them is that they're fun. And anyway, they do help a lot with hand to eye coordination.

It's totally natural for someone to feel unhappy in life if they've had to spend the whole of it without ever having sucsess with the opposite sex, and knowing this is probably how you'll be living the rest of your life. I mean, it's an unatural way to live, it makes sense for nature to make you feel unhappy under these circumstances so you're more likely to try and do something about it and end up getting someone. Don't you think the world would be pretty underpopulated if humans could be content without ever having sucsess? I mean, think about how many people who wouldn't bother with the opposite sex period because of the hurt and hassle that can come along with it.

1. Intelligent 2. Good body 3. Nice person 4. I reckon I'd be great in bed 5. Pfft, I dunno, I'm good at video games I guess

I've heard a few people say this and I 100% disagree.

Hmmm, when I was a kid back in the 80's playing video games was normal where I was from, nearly all kids liked them. Anyway, I'm not saying you should let him play it or whatever, I mean, each kid is different, but when I was about 10 I used to watch over 18 horror films, and they never did me any harm.

Yup, that's a really good idea. I think it's better to not try and protect kids from everything and anything that might be harmful, it'll only do them damage in the long run. I mean, it's not exactly preparing them for the real world is it?

Yeah, I was right it is about a guy getting bullied, he does stand up to them though. I know in the media there's a lot of people that want the game banned, but they haven't even played it, in fact, they don't really know anything about it, they're just going off the name and jumping to conclusions. I really don't think it's that bad, anyway, here is a video review for the game, link removed It's rated 16. I think, if you know your son is responsible enough and he's not going to copy things he's seen in the game (which I think would be very unlikely) then I really don't see what the harm is in him playing it.

I'm almost 100% sure that the game is about playing a character who is getting bullied.

I can send you the mp3's if you'd like. There's raising self esteem, motivation etc.

It might make you feel better. But I can't see it lessening your anxiety and depression a lot on a long term basis like meds can. Btw, I don't do yoga but I do have some hypnosis CD's that I listen too, very relaxing, and you feel so relaxed and refreshed after you come out of it too. I guess they probably have a similar effect to yoga.

Okay, sorry, it just came accross as though people were just dismissing meds as being no good, and it should just be sorted by natural methods and therapy. Well, I didn't mean any offense, I just really cannot see that eating more vegies and doing yoga would cure or lessen anything substantially enough for me. I didn't see the point with backing up my opinion though because I said personally I think it's BS, I wasn't stating it as a fact. I believe you, but like I said, it's very hard to believe that all I have to do is start eating more lettauce, lay off the burgers and sit there with my legs crossed going "Ohhhhm" and it would lessen my social anxiety and depression substantialy enough. It's very hard to believe that it would be more effective than meds.

Don't let the links scare you, there's bad sides to everything, for example driving a car could wind you up in a crash. What everyone seems to not realise, is not all meds have side effects for each individual person, and some that do the side effects can go away eventually (it's usually a few days). The most common side effects are sleepiness, not being able to get to sleep (these can be remidied by taking your meds at a different time, for example, if it makes you sleepy, take it before bed time, if it makes you awake, take it in the morning), anorgasmia, nausia, worsened depression, worsened anxiety. I wouldn't say these are things to be scared of, unless the depression or anxiety can get that bad. Meds can be very benificial. Yes, you may want to tackle the real problem (that's if it's not a chemical imbalance) with therapy, but meds can still help you along the way, and make the desensitising, exposure, ect, a lot more doable, or even possible. And make life a lot more bearable until you have fixed your problem. Really, I don't like the attiude that all meds are bad, you shouldn't take them, they wont help, it's just a quick fix etc, etc. Because it isn't true. I worry for people who's lives are suffering visiting doctors with this attitude. Btw, glasses, laser surgery, or contacts are a quick fix. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't have them if you have sight problems. And as for leading a more natural lifestyle, I think that's a load of BS to be honest.

I hear you. I think when people refer to themselves as zombies is when they stop having feelings. For the record though, not everyone stops having feelings on meds. I haven't, infact I do experience having more positive feelings, not having things get to me as much and just feeling better inside. A great song or a sunny day will still make me feel happy and lighten my mood.

I don't see what's wrong with a quick fix, I mean, it's not as good as a permenent fix but surely it's still a good thing isn't it? I don't think that all meds are only temporary fixes anyway. And if your meds do end up losing effectiveness, which they may not, you could try something else. Well, because I'm not working my medication is free, I already workout, and if it does make a difference to my social anxiety and depression, it's so small that it it isn't really noticeable. As for changing my diet, I honestly wouldn't know what foods I should eat and which I should avoid, and there's no way I'd be down for eating boring unappetising foods for the rest of my life, and having to go without the food that I love, I'd only do that as a last resort. Maybe, maybe not. But I don't think it's like that for all of us, I think some of us genuinley do enjoy watching TV, spending time on the net, etc instead of doing outdoor pursuits. And for some people it's hard having a life, it's hard enjoying outdoor pursuits and making friends to spend time with if you suffer from depression and social anxiety. Some of us aren't even able to get girlfriends/boyfriends. Apart from the from the fact that depression and anxiety doesn't feel nice, this is exactly why we want to fix our depression and anxiety, so we can have a life, and enjoy the things it has to offer. Yes, and it includes depression and anxiety. Seriously, I really don't think it's as simple as becoming a more interesting person yourself. I mean, there's plenty of uninteresting people who don't suffer from depression and/or anxiety. All in all, it IS okay to treat people with medication, it's not causing any harm. there may be side effects, but it's not like they're perment and the positives certainly outweigh the negatives. I don't see what's wrong with just giving a patient meds and thats it, if that's what he wants. If they help, that's a good thing, if they don't, they don't.

Yeah but, it seems very likely that a chemical imbalance is with you for life, if you've already had it for the whole of your life. It does really seem like it's something that you're born with because I can't really imagine anything else making it that way, apart for serious long term drug abuse. I seriously doubt it, and even if there was, what's wrong with taking medication instead? It seems like a lot less hassle than having to change your diet around or having to exersise everyday.

Why can't medication be a lifelong answer? Btw, some people have social anxiety because of a chemical imbalance in the brain, no amount of therapy is really going to get rid of it, and the only thing they're going to be able to rely on for the rest of their lives is medication.