So now, games are blamed for park attendance?

Shino · Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 2:29 pm Post subject:

I think some of you are missing the real point.

The NATIONAL PARKS are complaining.

Now, are video games stoping people from going outside and playing at the local parks and stuff?

Yes.. of course they do...

But trips to National Parks are usually planned. I don't think they can say... Oh well I was planning this trip to Yellowstone and so-and-so didn't want to go b/c they were playing WoW.

Legend · Queen of Terabithia Age: 41 Gender: Joined: 14 Oct 2005

Yeah, but because there are video games, people don't tend to think "Hey, let's go to Yellowstone" at all. Why would they bother, when they can spend their entire vacation at home playing games instead?

People don't like being outdoors at all much these days. Ask an adult whether they'd rather stay at home or go to a park, and they'll give you an excuse to stay at home because that's what they'd rather do anyhow. "It might rain. It's too hot. It's too cold. Gas prices are too high, and I'd have to drive."

*shrugs*

Shino · Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 3:14 pm Post subject:

Eh I guess I don't see that as being the case.

I mean... I think of it this way... when I went to San Fran a couple of years ago, we took a day to go to the Redwood Forest.

It's something that Jesse was doing for the first time in a while.

We went to the park b/c it was part of our vacation. He doesn't go often. Why? B/c he lives there and it's not as interesting since he's been so many times.

Is it b/c he's playing videogames? No. He doesn't play them at all.

National parks are places that people go when they are on vacation more than anything. So less people are taking vacations to places with national parks.

And why would that be. I would peg airfare and gas prices before I pegged video games. I mean if I wanted to drive to NY (just an example), it's about 900 miles. My car gets about 350 Miles to the tank on the highway. So the round trip would be about 5 tanks... and it costs me $50 to fill my tank. That's $250. It's pretty expensive. Plus whatever I spent in gas while there.

So when you go on a trip, you have to save... which is harder b/c gas is a necessecity in a lot of cases and it's so expensive.

See what I'm getting at.

I think that Video games are keeping kids from going outside more. I won't deny that, but to say it's slowing down the number of people that go to National Parks. Well I just think that's ludicrous in my opinion.

Legend · Queen of Terabithia Age: 41 Gender: Joined: 14 Oct 2005

Yes, but how many people plan a vacation to a National Park when they -do- plan a vacation? National Parks just aren't high-tech enough in this technology-driven society. Even Disney World is high-tech, and that's why people go there-- to ride the rides, etc. I'm not saying it's just video games. It's the society things like video games have created that's causing this.

Shino · Posted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 4:24 pm Post subject:

Then you are blaming technology in general. Not videogames.

We've become a people that does't find nature as interesting as we used to. That's not the fault of videogames.

Technology... maybe.

Hoth · Guitarist Gender: Joined: 10 Oct 2002

I still dont think its a fight of video games vs National Parks. I think its a battle or an attempt to get people reading or interested in the outside more. With a possible attempt at getting people more environmentally aware. I think it hits a broader scope than the Nintendo VS My Park Service or Technology.

Kinda like the VW comercial where you see this (jetta?) going down the road and smack it gets side swiped... some text afterwards when the people are shown being ok. More people than ever requested brochures of VW cars. Its a good solid advertising attempt especially when the National Parks Service isn't getting the proper funding anymore to take care of the Nature they love.