节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2012-01-16
难易度:Medium
关键字:worthwhile, setting, redeem, for the sake of something
Video games have been continually becoming a more and more common pastime.
You can find them on TVs, computers and cell phones around the world.
However, many of them are violent, and so some people might want to be wary of
playing them.
However, there are still many redeeming values you can learn from them.
So join us again on line 14 as we continue our discussion on whether or not
video games are worthwhile.
(Music).
Are Violent Video Games Worthwhile?
Really?
What's so redeeming about the Grand Theft Auto games?
Those games let players do all kinds of crazy things, like blow up cars and
killed pedestrians.
Sure, they let players do some stuff like that, but if you do, you don't have
much chance of winning.
I doubt if many players worry about that.
Besides, the main theme of games like that is killing, isn't it?
Not really.
Players have to perform tasks, achieve goals and complete missions.
Yeah, but what I don't get is why video-game makers need to add violence for the
sake of violence.
OK. Now right before the break, Ted was telling Greg that some violent video
games have redeeming lessons.
And Greg replies: Really? What's so redeeming about the Grand Theft Auto games?
OK.
Now the Grand Theft Auto games are well-known as being some of the most violent
games and having some of the worst morals in any video games.
Can you explain what "grand theft auto" means?
Your... sure! "Grand theft auto" was referring to when people steal automobiles
or steal cars.
However, in this game, it's a lot worse than just stealing.
That's right. These games have terrible morals.
And Greg is asking: Are there redeeming values at all?
Right. These games let players do all kinds of crazy things.
They don't have very many moral values.
And a moral value is referring to a certain belief of what is good.
They say the things in this game you can play that are a little bit crazy are
blowing up cars and sometimes even killing pedestrians.
Yeah, so it's a lot more than just stealing, Kaylah, you're killing pedestrians.
"Pedestrians" are people that are on the street, people maybe you can see them
walking on a sidewalk.
And people in these games can steal a car and then go kill other people.
Now there's a difference in an accident when you accidentally hit somebody,
and intentionally working to kill a person in a game someone is innocent as a
pedestrian.
So Greg brings up a good point here: Is there any redeeming quality?
Yeah. And that's a great question, especially for games like this.
But Ted says: Sure, they let players do some stuff like that, but if you do, you
don't have much chance of winning.
Now I know in a game, you always want to win the game.
That's why we play games in the first place.
But is winning really worth taking in these values?
Right. Now this is actually a pretty good point, though, by Ted, saying that if
you try to do these horrible things in the game, you still won't win.
But I see what you're saying, Kaylah.
Maybe players they will still see it anyway, and that will still not be very
good.
Greg says: I doubt if many players really worry about that.
That's true. Often if we're playing a game, we'd like to get into the game, the
idea of the game,
and not focus on what we're actually participating in, what we actually are
seeing.
So many players don't worry about what they see.
"Besides, the main theme of games like that is killing, isn't it?" he asks.
Well, a lot of times that is the case.
We're talking specifically about violent video games.
Now there are thousands of video games that do not have violence in them.
But when we do talk about violent video games, it is most often talking about
killing other people.
Right. But Ted says: Not really.
That's not really the main point.
Players have to perform tasks, achieve goals and complete missions.
And that's true, Kaylah, these games have a lot of different goals they have to
achieve.
That's right. And a goal is what we are working to reach.
And there are different tasks. That means jobs or activities.
And different missions, it means you are assigned something to do and you have
to complete it well.
So maybe there are some interesting things other than just killing people.
And Greg, though, he still disagrees. He says:
Yeah, but what I don't get is why video-game makers need to add violence just
for the sake of violence.
This is a good question.
Often we ask: Why is there violence in movies just for the sake of violence?
Why do we see things or participate in things just for the sake of it?
Exactly. Now if you say you do something "for the sake of something else," then
that means you are doing it to help that thing or to bring an advantage to it.
So if you say you have violence for the sake of violence, that means they're
just doing it because they can.
Now when we say it like this, it sounds very negative, but we can use in a
positive way as well.
For example, if you took time off work to go help somebody in another country
who is less fortunate,
that would be taking time off work for the sake of helping other people.
And in that case, it's a wonderful thing.
Yeah. That's definitely a good thing, Kaylah.
But if you're playing violent video games just for the sake of seeing violence,
that's definitely not a good thing.
That's right. Now for the sake of learning, let's watch these interviews.
I think most of video games selling in public are full of violence.
And they will especially affect young people.
Those violent thoughts and bloody pictures will stay in their mind, and then
might change their personality and become violent.
As we know, there are a lot of news about students bullying their classmates or
friends.
Maybe that's the reason for them to be cool.
And I think video games are fun and can benefit our mind.
But they will also affect our behavior in a negative way.
There are a variety of video games on the Internet.
Violent computer games take a big part of current electronic game's marketing
shares.
Although violent computer games had the advantage of relieving people's daily
stress, most of them are not good for our mental health and social interaction.
In reality, killing people may be something that makes people bristle with
anger.
However, in the virtual world, you can kill your enemies in many different ways.
You can use either knives or guns or whatever you... you wish.
What's in the blood spilled out from animated human body might excite some sort
of "blood-thirsty" characteristic.
Once people are addicted to these violent games, they might confuse the real
world and the virtual world.
And this is something that are... unattractive.
I think playing violent computer games is really not good for our mental health
and social interaction.
(Music).
Hi, everyone. I'm Michelle.
(Chinese).
And for your own sake, keep listening to us every day.
I'll see you next time. Bye-bye.
Thanks, Michelle.
Here's an interesting statistic.
During a period of time when video game sales quadrupled, the arrest rate for
juvenile crime in the U.S. fell 49 percent.
So perhaps playing video games... violent video games creates a safe outlet for
aggressive angry feelings.
I mean, better to play a violent video game than to hit your little brother,
right?
Well, friends, what do you think?
Do violent games... violent video games influence our behavior?
Please take some time and express yourself using the Talk About It questions on
the bottom of page 33.
We'll talk about violent video games more tomorrow.
Until then, have a peaceful day.
Bye-bye.