Pets Just Can't Compete With Video Games When It Comes To Kids' Attention

from the man't-best-friend dept

Video games may not turn people into mindless killers, but they're not totally off the hook. The head of the Australian Veterinary Association is blaming video games for decreased pet ownership (via Digg), and all of the problems that creates. That's right, according to the group, it's a big problem for society if kids aren't spending as much time outside with Lassie, since they're not getting the physical exercise or the important life skills that come about from playing with pets. This complaint is just a variation on the old "video games make kids fat" argument, which studies have cast into doubt. More importantly, there doesn't seem to be any evidence of a link between video games and pet ownership; it's just the conjecture of someone who sounds worried about his profession. There's no logical reason to think that video game playing and pet ownership are mutually exclusive, as there are certainly plenty of kids that do both. Of course, it would be unfortunate if kids didn't get the joy of playing fetch with a dog and a frisbee, which is why it would make for an excellent game on the Wii.
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  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 6 Mar 2007 @ 4:41pm

    Next Gen TV's

    Frisbe With the Dog. The Wii would be great for that. Now all I need is a TV that would jump up and catch the remote.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    110100100, 6 Mar 2007 @ 4:53pm

    been done

    They already have a TV that can jump up and catch the remote. Chek it out at http://www.wiidamage.com/

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Solo, 6 Mar 2007 @ 4:56pm

    It's not video games that makes kids fat, it's McDonalds and Coca-Cola. They are the real cause!

    And you sure can't blame the parents and lack of responsibility, oh no you can't!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Sramana Mitra, 6 Mar 2007 @ 5:14pm

    Try NeoPets

    A compromise between pets and video games.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Nobody, 6 Mar 2007 @ 5:39pm

    Pets TCO

    The problem with Pets Vs Video Games is in the Total cost of Ownership

    Game Consol + Games maby $1-2 K

    Pets + Vet + Shots + Food + Food + Replacing the Backyard > 10K

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    COD, 6 Mar 2007 @ 7:04pm

    Lets see, 2 kids, 2 dogs, one snake, one horse, 1 PS2, each kid with own computer, each kid with a Gameboy. Yeah, the pets and the kids around here are really suffering.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    110100100, 6 Mar 2007 @ 7:33pm

    I think the bigger issue here is the animals' lack of video game time...

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    OMAC1A, 6 Mar 2007 @ 7:45pm

    My PS3 will never leave a steaming pile of leavings on my shag carpet.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Tashi, 6 Mar 2007 @ 8:05pm

    I've got 2 consoles, 2 handhelds, and 2 gecko lizards. =D

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Buzz, 6 Mar 2007 @ 8:16pm

    LOL

    Golden Retriever IV for Nintendo Wii

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    icabod, 7 Mar 2007 @ 2:04am

    Pets

    I just wonder how many kids read the title of this article and thought you were on about Petz (and Dogz and Catz), the virtual pet simz.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    icabod, 7 Mar 2007 @ 2:04am

    Pets

    I just wonder how many kids read the title of this article and thought you were on about Petz (and Dogz and Catz), the virtual pet simz.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    icabod, 7 Mar 2007 @ 2:07am

    Double posts?

    Hmm, I keep getting double posts for my comments. Weird.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    icabod, 7 Mar 2007 @ 2:07am

    Double posts?

    Hmm, I keep getting double posts for my comments. Weird.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    |333173|3|_||3, 7 Mar 2007 @ 2:38am

    Re: Double Posts

    You are double-clicking the submit button. Relax. It takes a while to react.
    Don't take my post like an insult, I have done it in the past. At least on TD you don't get rankings based on your posts, so you don't get flamed about it.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      icabod, 7 Mar 2007 @ 3:16am

      Re: Re: Double Posts

      That's just it, I'm not double-clicking. I'll load up Tamper Data and see if I can see what's happening on my side.
      Sorry for an accidental thread hijack :)

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      icabod, 7 Mar 2007 @ 3:16am

      Re: Re: Double Posts

      That's just it, I'm not double-clicking. I'll load up Tamper Data and see if I can see what's happening on my side.
      Sorry for an accidental thread hijack :)

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    icabod, 7 Mar 2007 @ 3:41am

    Pets

    On a more on-topic note, the article states that the groups says kids aren't getting a much exercise as when they play with pets. I had a cat (sadly missed) but she never caused me to exercise any more. That argument kind of depends on the pet in question being, say, a dog.
    Perhaps less people are getting pets as they have less time to care for them? With all the advertising (especially around Christmas), maybe people are being more careful and sensible.

    Off-topic, it looks like (my) company proxy authentication is causing some double-post issues. Trying with IE now to see if it's just a Firefox thing.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    billy, 7 Mar 2007 @ 6:26am

    pets and video games

    im a video gaming fanatic
    i play games all the time
    i also play with my cat before anything when i get home (after I change though)
    haha, if I don't he won't stop meowing at me
    he drags the entire freaking stick around by the string that is attached to it and follows me
    making lots of noise
    and meows while the thing is in his mouth, which my previous cat could not seem to do
    although, my cat turns 1 human year old in 3 days
    so he does have crazy much energy

    spring is almost here, than he will probably be more loving since he can expend his energy outside (he is still paranoid of snow for the most part)
    then he can do all the time what he currently only does in late evening, being,
    follow me around the house and always sleep on the chair next to me


    i love my kitty
    but i still love video games
    and easily have time for both
    (i also exercise a lot, despite being a gamer, so eat that one researchers)

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Rational Beaver, 7 Mar 2007 @ 8:23am

    On the other hand, no kid has ever had his/her face bitten off by a controller (though the Wii may buck that trend).

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 7 Mar 2007 @ 9:44am

    from the man't-best-friend dept

    You just have to give kids something more challenging than pets these days.

    On that note, tie said game console to a wild moose. Send the kids into the wilderness to hunt it down.
    The kids WILL get the game back somehow.

    PS In the heading of this article, "man't" is short for mantis. (man'ts are the shiznat)

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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