The story of a nine-year-old boy from California who was not allowed by a doctor
to "play PlayStation anymore" (or "at least the next month" or so) has been getting a certain amount
of play in the blogosphere lately.Sure, having your head jerk back and forth from playing games too long is a serious matter, but claiming on the local evening news that "excessive video-game playing can produce the same in any child" seems a bit irresponsible, despite the sensible safety precautions given (e.g., "set time limits for games, keep lights on in the room so it's bright, and make sure children stay at least two feet [a]way from the screen").
The fact of the matter is that photosensitive epilepsy (which produced the so-called "Pokémon seizures" of '97), while often first exhibiting symptoms in childhood, does not affect all or even most children, though sensitivity may be increased by "alcohol consumption, sleep deprivation, and other forms of stress." Warnings concerning seizures are fine, but excessive scaremongering is symptomatic of a shallow headline-seeking tendency in mainstream media outlets.
[Thanks, Back_Lit, Ian, & Carl]
