Return of the Booth Babes: The 2007 SHOT Show
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Hunting Vs. Video Games
One of the duties of older generations is to deplore younger generations, so in line with that, permit me to point out that any kid brought up with his or her nose stuck in a video game for hours on end is going to make a terrible hunter. Here's why.
- Video games take place on a small screen. Hunters are often required to keep an eye on huge chunks of real estate, often at a great distance.
- Video games give you feedback instantaneously. Ma Nature gives you feedback over many hours, or days, or sometimes never.
- Video games can be manipulated by the gamesman. Nature can't.
- Video games are played indoors, where you are not hot or cold, and require no physical effort. Hunters are almost always hot or cold, and often exert a great deal of physical effort.
- Video games require no actual courage. Hunting sometimes does.
- Video games are not real. Hunting is as real as life and death.
I'm glad I was born when I was.
Dave, I'll do ya one better.
I wish we could return to a time when the credo was: If you don't hunt, you don't eat.
Posted by: Blue Ox | July 25, 2007 at 10:10 AM
True enough, but I still get a kick out of my video games.
Seriously, I generally do agree. Video games, along with much of the TV culture have gone an awful long way toward shortening the attention span of the modern human, not to mention propagating the myth of instant gratification. Of course, this includes the hunting programs that make it look like anyone can be successful on a trophy animal in 30 minutes or less.
Posted by: Phillip | July 25, 2007 at 11:19 AM
Dave,
I would tend to agree, but for the generation that has been raised on video games, most of our modern weapon systems (read M1, Bradley, Apache)are very conducive to the Video Game player, they are able to pick out targets and destroy them quicker because of their superior hand/eye coordination.
Just one good thing about video games.
It is really up to the parents to drag their kids away from that enviroment and introduce them to Mother Nature, hell last year, I let my 9 yr old bring his game boy, on mute mind you, into the hunting blind. It kept him busy and it stopped him from complaining about the cold and being hungry or thirsty. It's just a technique!
Keep up the good work Dave,
Again, I ask, when are we going to see, "more of the guns I own" pieces?
V/R
C_S
Posted by: Concerned_Soldier | July 25, 2007 at 11:38 AM
My 9 year old son plays video games sometimes. When he first got his Playstation we limited his playing time to 45 minutes a day. After a while, he got bored with it and has moved on to other things.
He expressed interest in learning to shoot this year so I've been teaching him to shoot a .22 rifle. He's getting to be a pretty good shot. He can fish, he's still learning to swim and play basesball, but he can play a pretty mean game of basketball.
The point is, don't allow the games to become a babysitter. Kids want to play outside, we (as parents) just need to let them.
Jim
Posted by: jstreet | July 25, 2007 at 11:58 AM
hunting video games are all right because if its not hunting season what else is there to do
SO PLAY ON
Posted by: jim | July 25, 2007 at 12:10 PM
and shoot all day
Posted by: jim | July 25, 2007 at 12:11 PM
If it aint hunting season, get off the couch and go fishing.
Posted by: Blue Ox | July 25, 2007 at 12:22 PM
Blue Ox is dead on. I'm 14 and yes I do have a playstation, but I only have two games. One's a baseball game and the other is football. I enjoy them but become bored out of my mind if I play for over half an hour. Another thing to do after season is shoot trap or skeet. I'm still waiting for more "guns I own".
Posted by: alabamahunter | July 25, 2007 at 01:41 PM
Or hunt predators which is really fun and productive.
Posted by: alabamahunter | July 25, 2007 at 01:42 PM
Video games are like a Playboy magazine. When confronted with the real thing, they don’t have a clue what to do!
It’s not a substitute for the real thing!
REALITY CHECK!
Posted by: Gunny | July 25, 2007 at 03:12 PM
The best place for a youngster to learn is by Grandfathers and Fathers side. Learning the old ways, the best of ways. And for those of you with Grandfathers, Fathers no longer around, that past away, my most humble condolences.
Posted by: Clay Cooper | July 25, 2007 at 03:21 PM
We have a "no video games" rule in our house for our six-year-old son. I consider myself a fairly enlightened parent, but on video games and television I'm pretty medieval.
Being a child of the seventies, I figure if my sons absolutely must have a video game system, they can be happy with what I had, an Atari 2600. Let's see how long they want to stay inside and be captivated by those awesome eight-bit graphics and mono sound...
Posted by: Chad Love | July 25, 2007 at 03:41 PM
Im 12 and I own a playstation and play it sometimes but not much. I own a hunting game but its hardly realistic at all, Ive gone into a hunting area and I found myself face to face with a trophy buffalo no more than 5 feet away, strangly it didnt notice me . All I had to do was bring out my 12 gauge over and under and shoot and i had a clean immediete kill.
Posted by: jonny | July 25, 2007 at 04:34 PM
THOSE GREEK GODS WERE ALL SPLENDID HUNKS, EVEN OLD ZEUS, AND IMMORTAL, TOO. NOT A BAD GIG, IF YOU CAN GET IT.
WOULD YOU PUT UP WITH A PAIR OF GOAT LEGS TO BE AN IMMORTAL HUNK? YOU COULD SHAVE THE GOAT LEGS AND WEAR BOOTS, I SUPPOSE, AND WEAR A HIGH CROWNED HAT TO HIDE YOUR HORNS, LIKE PRESDENT LINCOLN DID. ABRAHAM LINCOLN WAS A SATYR, OF COURSE, AND A PERFECT DEVIL IN BED...!
Posted by: ICE ROAD JIMMY | July 25, 2007 at 04:47 PM
It's sad that governments are chiefed by the double tongues. There is iron in your words of death for all Comanche to see, and so there is iron in your words of life. No signed paper can hold the iron. It must come from men. The words of Ten Bears carries the same iron of life and death. It is good that warriors such as we meet in the struggle of life... or death. It shall be life. Red Legs? You'll find them up in Kansas. They're with the Union. And we're goin' up there and set things aright.
You damn fools! Ten Bears gonna want him a fresh woman. Fresh, that little gal will bring ten, maybe twelve horses. Now, if one of you has to, you can take that old woman over there. She might be worth one donkey. They say you're a hard put and desperate man, Josey Wales. They're goin' to heel and hide you to a barn door. You know what I say? I say that big talk's worth doodly-squat. Now, them poultices be laced with feathermoss and mustard root. Mind you drop water on 'em occasional and keep 'em damp.
Posted by: Lt. Col. William C. Quantrill | July 25, 2007 at 04:49 PM
i own a playstation2 and i admit that i have every cabela's hunting game since 2000 but i play it only at night and when im completly unable to do anything else but hear this"when the weather outside is frightful and the game is so delightful" truly aplies
Posted by: freddyG | July 25, 2007 at 08:24 PM
when the weather outside is frightful?
Thats the best time SHOOTER!
Posted by: Gunny | July 25, 2007 at 09:41 PM
Yeah, I'd have to agree and sort of disagree with you on this one Petzal. I consider myself a decent hunter, and a great fisherman. But I do spend a good amount of time playin' games on my off time...if I'm not fishing, hunting, or working. I know I play games alot more then the average outdoorsman, but I'd say I have a better sense of what's going on out on the field then anyone else I'm with. I notice geese in the distance and can identify what kind of geese they are before my cousins (which live in the bush where they go goose hunting every spring and fall, although I go out there every few years for about couple months). Games are good in some ways, online games in particular I think...but of course are very bad if all the kids want to do is stay inside and play games. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to eat some fish I caught yesterday, and visit my good friends Lamiglas, and River.
Posted by: Bobert | July 25, 2007 at 10:16 PM
Oh, I really enjoy your cartridge articles...keep up the good work.
Posted by: Bobert | July 25, 2007 at 10:36 PM
Dave makes a good point about video games taking too much time up with today's kids...I am one of those born in the "baby-boomer-border-liner" generation, so I do like playing some of the games, and they can be quite addictive. With working on a PC all day, I would rather be fishing on a lake, or blasting clays with my time off.
I do wish I would have been born at an earlier time, for our traditions are being threatened more everyday and seemed to be a simpler society back then.
Posted by: Ralph the Rifleman | July 25, 2007 at 11:09 PM
I have a PS2 (Play Station 2) and two computers (One gamming machine). That being said I hardly play the video games on the PS2 maybe medal of honor (Just fill like blasting some Nazi scum) I mainly play Unreal Tournmant 2004 (Waiting for the new one to come out) This is a super fasted paced game where you get shot at from all over up, down left, right, front, and back. So you have to be moving and watching or your going to get wacked.
Now my kids have there Game Boys and they have plenty of games. But after about 30 minutes of play they are bored to death and there off to do something else. Same goes for the PS2 they have games for it and their favorite game is Dance Dance revolution which i bought the dance mats for so they are not sitting on the floor but running and jumping. I will let them play that after homework for as long as they want.
Has anyone ever seen how the train combat piolts and tank crews. In gaint life size video games.
I think it falls to the parents to limit time sitting on the couch staring into the boob tube. In my house all home work has to be done and check and all corrections made, then chores are to be done and checked before even thinking about watching tv or playing a video game. Then I limit what shows my children can watch. I forbit them to watch nickelodeon because one day my 9 year old daughter (1 year ago) came to me and ask me "Daddy what is Natrual Male enhacement?" After I pick up my jaw I asked her where she had heard that. She said on the TV. What do you say? I normaly give them a choice os what to watch and they will choose TLC, TDC or the history channel over cartoon any time. They love mythbusters, How It's Made, Cities of the Underworld, and Tales of the Gun and many other good ediucational and entertaining shows.
Posted by: Gammer in VA | July 26, 2007 at 12:04 AM
Does shooting not give you instan feedback? Man my Win Model 12 sure does!!!
Posted by: Gammer in VA | July 26, 2007 at 12:06 AM
Our kids are getting fatter and weaker because they are sitting down and exercising nothing but their thumbs and fingers. Researchers are now saying that the upcoming generation will be the first to not live longer than their parents. Their hearing is being destroyed by loud music. They will make lousy hunters and lousy soldiers. We are also making kids think that they must be entertained constantly, so we are spoiling them physically and mentally. Our culture of materialism is also robbing people of their spirituality. How many of our kids think that they owe society something, rather than vice versa? And, most importantly, how many of our young people would make a sacrifice to defend this country? Not many--not enough. Already the richer and more affluent kids think that military service is a burden to be borne by the lower socio-economic classes--I know, because I've seen this as a former Professor of Military Science (ROTC). The simple fact is that today's kids aren't as tough or strong as those of two generations ago. We need to do something about that--fast.
Posted by: ChevJim | July 26, 2007 at 08:55 AM
Dave I'm as ancient as you and I generally agree but I really enjoy some of the hunting games put out by Cabelas'. Getting better all the time,great fun and getting somewhat realistic. For example playing on the difficult level I can hunt for days and not see any game just like in real life! Cliff
Posted by: Cliff B | July 26, 2007 at 08:56 AM
I agree with Dave, but won’t let it happen here. As an outdoorsmen and a father of 5 & 7 year old boys, I hate it when I see them not wanting to go out with me and scout deer or check the deer cams because they are playing their Xbox or watching TV. This doesn’t happen all the time, but when it does it drives me nuts. As a kid of the 70’s & 80’s, I grew up with video games and I still enjoy a few games on the Xbox, so I cut the kids some slack. On the flip side, my eldest son is always out with me shooting his bow when I’m shooting mine, and a lot of times he pulls me out there to shoot. He’s also taken to shooting my .22. He doesn’t know it yet, but he just got his first gun, an 870 of course, in 20ga, it’s his Christmas present. As for my youngest, he’s out there with us too with his bow that shoots those little yellow balls. He wants to shoot the .22, but Mama isn’t ready for that yet. So, here in Mid Mich all is not lost to video games & TV. It’s a matter of balance, and as a parent and outdoorsmen, I owe it to my kids, myself and hunting in general to maintain that balance.
Teach your kid to shoot so when the Dems come to take your guns, you’ll have someone to cover your back…
Posted by: JIm | July 26, 2007 at 09:25 AM