Columnist calls video games 'crack cocaine'

Let it be known that not ALL (not even close) clergy are opposed to video games.

I'm in seminary and play them regularly...
I know of 3 other pastors who play them as well...
And I know plenty of 'future' pastors and rostered leaders at seminary who play them.

I tried to just skim through his mess of an article, but I just couldn't come to make my own time management to look away from it. I'm a glutton for stupidity, and that article was crack to me. Sweet crack.

Thought process of the above Priest:
Tetris or Babies, Tetris or Babies. I CAN'T DECIDE! OH LORD WHAT HAVE VIDEO GAMES DONE! They must be the spawn of Hitler and Stalin! Torquemada save us!

Wrong. Crack is cheaper.

This guys a judgemental, stereotyping ass. He clearly hasn't played enough video games to get a good impression, and he pidgeon holes all video game players as lazy good for nothings who need to get some excercise.

Hey, we're just like any other country in the world: We all have are religious fanatics and idiots with uninformed and bias opinions.

I can't see where this guy is coming from. Video games are much worse than religion. Remember the Sega Genesis crusade fought against the Super Nintendo regime? Millions were killed, and millions more still suffer to this day. Shun videogames, embrace religion! For the children!

I will wake up tomorrow and thank God I don't have a face like that. It's like Reggie's pedophile older brother.

I'm a crack addict and he's a run-of-the-mill untalented, bottom-feeding, muck raking journalist.

That is all.

I'm sorry. From what I remember the bible was full of graphic scenarios too. Atleast we aren't crucifying anyone in video games. Ok guys see you later. Gotta go get my crack fix.

Is anyone else tired of all the religion talk around here? If this guy wasn't ordained priest, these comments would just be that the writer is an dumbass. But because he happens to be a Catholic priest, these comments are about him being a pedophile dumbass.

There are thousands of sites out there where you can talk about religion. This is a video game site.

So I hear that religion is the opiate of the masses, and now this guy says video games are crack cocaine. The pot-head calls the kettle black, or something.

Whatever. When a moron makes a moronic statement, it doesn't really matter whether he has a priest's collar on or not.

I could be wrong, never having used cocaine, but doesn't cocaine make you hyper and thusly lose weight?

I'd say video games are probably more like weed. Playing them keeps you relaxed (in most cases) and gives you the munchies. Besides, you can't OD on video games or weed. ;p

Although I did hear once that you'd have to smoke your bodyweight in weed in a ridiculously short amount of time (probably like an hour or so) to OD on it.

That would imply that videogames are a cheaper, less potent substitute for something else. Which is essentially what crack cocaine is.

So games are derived from what exactly? Movies? A DVD is what $10? Compared to $60 PS3/360 game? Anyone losing teeth and children over games on a MASSIVE SCALE?

C'mon block head put your money where your clumsy mouth is. Can't even make a proper analogy....

In France, almost all kids smoke. Some of them do drugs. You wanna know why I don't?

I didn't hang out with them so that I could play videogames at home.

Joystiq, you suck for giving this guy space on your website.

That gay-face priest wrote that garbage to try and get people to read his article and then tie him up to some railroad tracks as repercussion. And to show the internetz his best picture. Gay-face priest, if you're reading this I urge you to go seek counsel from self-proclaimed Doctor, Phil, so that maybe you're encouraged to stop taking cheap shots at the Games in general. Your tactics need practice.

How dare you tell us we're wasting time...you, you...pedophile!!!! Yeah, that's right, you heard us, you're...gay! We're at the top of our classes! We're smart, well-read, mature, reponsible, contributing members of society! We have self-control! We play video games in moderation as a supplement to a well-rounded suite of leisurely activities!

HAAAHAHAHAHAHHAAAAHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAAAHAAAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHA

If only.

Video games worst side effects: acne, isolation, social disorder, fetish for elfs & furries.

Catholicism worst side effects: The Crusades, The Inquisition, various "holy" wars, railing against science at various times...etc., etc., etc...

Yea, video games are definitely more scary.

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh maaaaan
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

"Bluntly proposing, 'Don't play videogames'"
Hahaha. That's it. This guy is getting a loooong email from me.

The National Post is an embarrassment for Toronto.

is that benny hinn?

Why does this guy have the look of a pedophile?

This is just an alibi for him when the news breaks that he used video games to bait young boys.

Maybe they should create a game where kids run away from Catholic priests.

Don't let video games harm your children!

After all, that's the Catholic church's job.

Does any one know his address?, I just want to send him one of those shirts that says "Douche" on it.

Good thing this guy is Catholic.

I always feel terrible when a Protestant preacher is saying ridiculously stupid things about video games. Makes us all look stupid, etc.

"Father de Souza,

Your article on video games was perhaps the most enlightening article I have read in quite some time. It has allowed me to realize that such hardcore right handed religious conservatives as yourself no longer have a credible voice in today's society. Putting "Tetris" and "deadly" in the same sentence is not only ludicrous, its manipulative for those that do not understand the world of video games, such as yourself. It allows people who may have a distaste for video games in general already to reconfirm that distaste without ever actually getting first hand experience.

What I deduced from your article is that you seem to think that children tend to gravitate towards being lazy and doing things they enjoy. This is not the greatest realization in the last 20 years, Father, this is common sense and has been true since the beginning of time. You and I both know that the problem is not video games, the problem is lazy parents who don't have the fortitude to force their kids into doing something active and productive. They let their kids play video games for 8 hours a day for the same reason they pump them full of Aderall or Ritalin. This is a mistake by the parents, not by video games. Millions of people around the world enjoy video games in moderation and live full and vibrant lives, such as myself a 24 year old successful entrepreneur. So while you may spend your leisure time studying old testament passages or whatever it is you enjoy doing, I spend mine enjoying video games... FOR LEISURE. They are entertainment and they are a gigantic part of our culture and society and tight right handed skeptics such as yourself need to grow up and embrace a changing planet rather than stick yourselves in the dark ages.

Chase "

http://www.nationalpost.com/contact/letters.html?name=Raymond+de+Souza

let him know how you feel

Tetris blocks falling like so many size 8 spiderman underwear....

Well its not like he said that "The Jews need to be delivered from their darkness" Like a certain former member of the Hitler Youth said earlier this year.