Doctors advised to document "media history" during annual check-ups

You can pry my media history from my cold dead fingers

Looks like we should add "paranoia" to that list of public health concerns. Is there some sort of physical manifestation of "too much exposure to violence in media" that pediatricians can pick up on?

I believe the physical manifestation the good doctor is looking for is:

"The "hype hormones" that are aroused by violent video games cause children to suffer serious consequences, such as nightmares, stomachaches, headaches, anorexia, and fatigue. Some studies have even related seizure activity to violent screen time. Violent video games have been found to stress the cardiovascular system, such as increasing blood pressure and rapid breathing characteristic of a physiologic stress response."

Lifted Straight from the article.

Those reactions are hardly exclusive to either video games or media in general. Taking a jog around the block has also been shown to "stress the cardiovascular system, such as increasing blood pressure", etc.

Correlation does not equal causation. This is just a progression of the unfounded concerns about video games' impact on health that have existed as long as the industry.

"Some studies have even related seizure activity to violent screen time." I'm sorry, but that is probably the stupidest quote in that article. (not that you're stupid, just that this whole article is stupid) Riding a roller coaster can cause seizures. (i can provide examples) Watching TV can cause seizures. (Japanese Seizure Robots!) I can think of several shows on ABC (The Bachelor) that can cause seizures. :)

This article is such bullplop...

I have actually looked at some statistics and since videogame sales have gone up crime has gone down, I don't think there is a coralation between the two. this is just like in the 50's and 60's when violent tv shows were considered dangerous (most would consider these shows tame by todays standards) or elvis which people thought would turn our children into lust filled zombies. also there are video game ratings for a reason.

I totally agree with you guys. I mean the last paragraph of the article discusses how violent video games in the home are a form of child abuse.

This doctor is totally bogus. I only quoted that portion of the article to illustrate what a crock of shit it was :)

But then again, I'm pretty sure I've suffered minor heart attacks while playing some pretty intense halo 2 matchmaking games.

Yeah, we've all had those emotional experiences when playing games, and if anything, that speaks to the positive aspects of games. :)

While I agree with you guys I also kinda see the point of the article. A lot of parents today don't think or don't care to think when it comes to getting their kids video games. Plus if junior suddenly starts wetting the bed, not sleeping, or anything like that they might think it's medical, not psychological.
My sister took her son to the doctor for symptoms similar to the above thinking that there was a medical explanation. Only to find out later that when he would be babysat by her sister-and-law that she would let him and her son go and watch anything on cable TV (it didn’t matter as long as she wasn’t bothered). She came to pick him up one evening and she found them watching Poltergeist and he had his hands over his eyes crying. When I was really little very tame stuff would scare me, I can't imagine how I'd react to some of the more hardcore horror movies/games at that age.

yeah, i can't imagine anyone on this site actually agreeing with the article

this isn't a shocking revalation. i played violent games as a child and it made me a little prick back then. my parents didn't take an active role in deciding what games were suitable, and that was the result. it's not a big deal, you grow up and mellow out. kids shouldn't be exposed to violent media? you don't fucking say.

wow everyone keeps forgetting that video games neither encourage nor discourage violence in kids, it all depends on the kids's psychological state, as well as other factors. not every kid who plays massive video games is going to turn into a huge prick or shoot up a school, unless of course, the kid has mental issues that were masked by other types of situations I.E. neglect by parents [unintentional and/or intentional], depression, bi-polar, shzinophrenia, sexual confusion, whatever, you get the point.

that being said, docotrs should really look at whether the kids/teens [more so teens] develop addictions to gaming that may cause insomina and irregular sleeping patterns and possibly lead to unhealthy lifestyles [staying up all night and sleeping during the day fucks your body up and increases chancs for diabetes, similar to people who work the grave yard shift in everyday life].
Also docotrs should look at gamera's back muscles and ensure that they are fucntioning correctly, sitting in front of the t.v. [and possible slouching] causes some muscles to become numb and not work, laying foundations for future back and maybe even spinal problems.

dur.

I'm a physician and if I ever take a "media history," it will be to talk about games.