UK Government Change 4 Life Ad Claims That Video Games Cause Laziness and an Early Death

UK Ad Claims That Video Games Equal an Early Death

March 11, 2009

Do video games spur people to really "do nothing"? That's what this print ad from the UK's government agency Change 4 Life portrays — and not only do they make you do nothing, that apparently causes you to die early.

Sure, some notorious games can hold you hostage for hours, but on the whole, I'm pretty sure this ad is overly alarmist. A handful of people can take anything to the extreme, video games included (I can think of a few devastating stories where people were preoccupied with their game, and something awful happened), but for the majority, I think moderation is the rule.

This ad seems to want to deter parents from letting their kids play video games, but it's going a bit far in its message of health.

What do you think?

8 Comments

inadee 4 years

well thats a lovely use of my tax dollars!

Segat1 4 years

Wowee. Not only do video games make you kill, but they make you fat too. GAH. How about sitting in a classroom/lecture theatre for hours a day? How aerobically effective is that? I doubt I've worked off the calories in a stick of Carefree gum!

cherryblossom 4 years

This is bullcrap, and im tired of all this stuff blaming different things like video games for kids of this generations early death, when isnt it really the parents fault to monitor what your child does, i mean isnt that what parenting means? watching over your child to make sure they are ok? Guess not anymore *sigh* anyway I'm a gamer, but im also an artist, someone who exercises and enjoys a healthy lifestyle, and healthy diet. I think that the relationship between video games and an early death has to do with what kind of person you are, naturally lazy people will always be naturally lazy, thats just who they are. Plus, video games can relax you if youre playing one you enjoy and how can relaxing be bad for you health?

KadBunny 4 years

Sassee is right; before it was TV, overtly crazy action movies and rock and roll--now it's video games. So whatever. these don't bug me anymore.

Sasseefrass 4 years

Up until a few years ago TV was the 'Great Evil.' Now it's video games. They'll get over it when there's something new to villify.

macgirl 4 years

Aren't they missing something? It's not just video games that cause kids to not get out and play. I'm so over these scare tactics that freak everyone out. Why not spin it a more positive way like "get your kids out playing to live a long life".

lolmisstran 4 years

Just Limit Yourself With Video Games. If You Do So. I Don't Think You Would Die At An Early Age.

starangel82 4 years

Moderation is the key to everything.

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8 Comments