[Sblargh]

Daily Mail

Stanford University's Professor Philip Zimbardo argues that the over-use of video games and online porn is creating a 'generation of male misfits', with young men developing 'arousal addictions' that leave them unable to function normally in the real world or develop healthy relationships.

'The excessive use of video games and online porn in pursuit of the next thing is creating a generation of risk-averse guys who are unable (and unwilling) to navigate the complexities and risks inherent to real-life relationships, school and employment,' he told CNN.

Also has a TED talk.

To be honest, I went into the article into "I'm going to laught at this" mode, but he doesn't seem completely wrong, even if terms like "extinction" and "desmise" are too hyperbolic for my taste.
Also, it would be good not to put these kinds of findings in terms of good, evil, healthy or unhealthy; I wish these social psychologists could start at the very basic level of researching social changes instead of jumping the gun to moral judgements about these situations.
In that note, does GAF think this kind of social change is happening? If yes, are online gaming and online porn are among the causes?
Do you feel like a "risk-averse guy who is unable (and unwilling) to navigate the complexities and risks inherent to real-life relationships, school and employment"?

[Derrick01]

He may be on to something here. I would much rather just come home and play video games than deal with a relationship and all of the work that takes. I want to relax and do what I want to do with my free time, not spend it trying to make someone else happy.

Though the reason for that line of thinking is up in the air. I don't immediately blame games. Or porn. There are people out there who would call that line of thinking immature like you're supposed to get settled down and pump out kids. But I just don't want to.

[John Dunbar]

blaze of glory

[theytookourjobz]

But since when is escapism limited to porn and games? Drugs, music, movies?

[RoboPlato]

Welp, I'm fucked.

[InvincibleAgent]

I don't know about you guys, but I like to have interaction with real people as well as play games and look at porn.

[Yami]

Daily Mail.

[Busty]

"We finally really did it. Hideo you Maniac! You blew it up! Ah, damn you! God damn you all to hell!"

[Aeana]

I thought we had a thread on this very thing a couple of months ago:

http://neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=475256

Same Zimbardo thing.

[roman2003h]

I don't know about you guys, but I like to have interaction with real people as well as play games and look at porn.

I like to do all of those things at once!

[deviljho]

strawberry on the shortcake!!

[Vic]

Videogames and online porn? I am ready.

[spyshagg]

I can relate to this.

True in my experience.

[LunaticLMD]

But since when is escapism limited to porn and games? Drugs, music, movies?

They can't include music/movies, because those people (People who blame video games, because they don't care for them) like that kind of stuff and will refuse to admit that they could possibly be part of the problem.

[Haunted]

I remember reading this thread before.


But basically, Diablo and Brazzers will destroy civilisation as we know it. Oh well, we had a good run!

[theytookourjobz]

I like to do all of those things at once!

Constanza?

[bjork]

Good.

[Wuthering_Heights]

Eh.

Men have (mostly) ruled the world for long enough. I'm okay with letting the women take a crack at it, while I hang out and play some games and watch porn.

[Nibel]

:lol

What is this

[dskillzhtown]

I with the "extinction of men" line was left out, but I agree with most of what he is saying. "Fight Club" talked about alot of these themes and I can't really single out videogames and porn. The fear of child molesters makes parents restrict their kids' freedoms and activities to the point that children in general don't get to explore and get life lessons that form who they will be well into adulthood.

It is something that could be discussed, but the title and trying to point at videogames and porn as the reasons when they are more of a symptom doesn't help.

[Kurtofan]

Real life is so passé.

[Tenki]

My body is ready. Doubly ready.

[Holy Order Sol]

Humanity DOOMED

[2MF]

I sometimes watch porn together with my girlfriend after (or before) a session of playing Quake Live or SC2.

[picklecannon]

Well it's nice to know that I'm in the majority with my gaming and fapping.

[sakipon]

I can relate to this. True in my experience.

Well, according to your tag you shouldn't be making kids anyway.

/bad joke

[Busty]

I like to do all of those things at once!

*takes draw on cigarette*

Yeah you do...,

[Grewas]

I don't know about you guys, but I like to have interaction with real people as well as play games and look at porn.

That doesn't really go against Zimbardo is saying. He doesn't see anything wrong with both things, his research is based on over exposure to them

[toadster101]

What about women who play video games and watch porn? Such a silly generalization.

[StalkerUKCG]

I game 6+ hours a day.
Porn has been arguably large part of my life since puberty.

I have a healthy relationship of 3 years after getting out of a relationship of 2 years and multiple friends.

Based on people I know and interact with i am not in the minority (at least locally)

The only issue is people who are naturally introvert can become excessively introvert because of these things but billions of people will still interact like they always have. The human reproductive instinct is incredibly strong.

What an overreaction.

[Dennis]

What about women who play video games and watch porn? Such a silly generalization.

Those three women are doomed too.

[jon bones]

I could see this happening to a lot of people - especially around here.

I'm a firm believer in being outgoing (even when it's tough), varying your hobbies practicing balance in all aspects of your life. It's why my life is so awesome, but I do see a lot of losers on forums who watch porn too much (they even know porn stars by name!) and make threads like TOO MANY GAMES HOW DO I PLAY THEM ALL!?

Balance, my friends. Balance your relationships with women and your friends, balance your hobbies, your diet, your time spent sitting down and your time spent exercising.

Do you feel like a "risk-averse guy who is unable (and unwilling) to navigate the complexities and risks inherent to real-life relationships, school and employment"?

Never, but I see a lot of those types around the internet and it makes me laugh.

I game 6+ hours a day. Porn has been arguably large part of my life since puberty.

this is not healthy.

[2MF]

Those three women are doomed too.

Jokes aside, those three women are probably far more prevalent than most think.

[Firemind]

I for one welcome our enslaving porn overlords.

[AkimbO_Arcana]

Well, I don't think he is wrong here. But I don't see a problem either. Porn and video games are so much cooler than work life and human reproduction. Not even a contest...

[Dave Long]

You can do both and still have healthy relationships. Just take control of yourself and your life instead of letting it run away from you.

[TEJ]

he's right

the last time we went extinct it was because of comic books, short skirts, and that elvis shaking hips to his damned devil music.

this time it will be because of porn and mario

[Wuthering_Heights]

I could see this happening to a lot of people - especially around here. I'm a firm believer in being outgoing (even when it's tough), varying your hobbies practicing balance in all aspects of your life. It's why my life is so awesome, but I do see a lot of losers on forums who watch porn too much (they even know porn stars by name!) and make threads like TOO MANY GAMES HOW DO I PLAY THEM ALL!? Balance, my friends. Balance your relationships with women, balance your hobbies, your diet, your time spent sitting down and your time spent exercising.

You are so awesome.

We all wish we could be like you!

[Seraphinianus]

What about women who play video games and watch porn? Such a silly generalization.

They are already dead.

[Derrick01]

I could see this happening to a lot of people - especially around here. I'm a firm believer in being outgoing (even when it's tough), varying your hobbies practicing balance in all aspects of your life. It's why my life is so awesome, but I do see a lot of losers on forums who watch porn too much (they even know porn stars by name!) and make threads like TOO MANY GAMES HOW DO I PLAY THEM ALL!?

So what? If it makes them happy that's all that matters.

[Defuser]

*looks at CoD sales*
We're fucked.

[Dennis]

Well, I don't think he is wrong here. But I don't see a problem either. Porn and video games are so much cooler than work life and human reproduction. Not even a contest...

w.....a........t

[Man Puncher]

I regret nothing.

[Mupod]

This isn't exactly a new thing...Japan even has a term for it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbivore_men

I wish I could share my opinion on the matter but I'm afraid that video games and pornography have rendered me incapable of feeling anything but apathy. Oh well!

[badgenome]

What about women who play video games and watch porn? Such a silly generalization.

They will never become men, all thanks to video games and pr0n.

[Sho_Nuff82]

I thought we had a thread on this very thing a couple of months ago: http://neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=475256 Same Zimbardo thing.

Yeah, the quote was identical to that previous story. Already had my say on his opinion.

[jon bones]

So what? If it makes them happy that's all that matters.

because sometimes you have to make tough decisions and do things that are beneficial to your future - even if it doesn't make you happy at the moment. if we all did whatever made us happy at the moment with no regard to our futures, we'd be fucked. that's what the professor is saying: too many children of the internet rely on the immediacy of online porn and are unwilling and unprepared to put time and effort into a real relationship.

maybe it's best those types don't procreate, though.

Well, I don't think he is wrong here. But I don't see a problem either. Porn and video games are so much cooler than work life and human reproduction. Not even a contest...

i do not envy your miserable existence

You are so awesome. We all wish we could be like you!

damn dude get off my dick

[LunaticLMD]

Well, I don't think he is wrong here. But I don't see a problem either. Porn and video games are so much cooler than work life and human reproduction. Not even a contest...

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?

[Ushojax]

He's probably right. Some people are happy living in their bedrooms with a PS3 and a box of tissues.

[faridmon]

I agree with the article, but I don't mind. They are too good to pass.