Kids and Teens in China Banned From Playing Online Video Games for More Than 3 Hours Per Week

[Populus]

If you ever graduated from things like Electrical Engineering from a tier-1 US or Canadian university, you will realize that that schedule wasn't so bad. We described the midterm week as the hell week, etc. It's all studying and no fun. Everyone was super breakneck competitive and smart. The workload was out of the roof and the stress level was off the chart. Most people don't know what it takes to become an Engineer, or a STEM graduate for that matter, from a competitive program in a reputable university. Your average run-of-the-mill high school would not prepare you well even if you were a top student. The Chinese do that to keep their kids competitive.

I’m a STEM student, and yes, it is a very competitive environment. I’m not like that, it stresses me out, and I don’t like to compete. I am not excellent, I’m average, that‘s why it’s taking me longer. And I’m fine with that, I’m not as smart as most of my classmates, and not everyone can be on the top 10. I also have a situation, I won’t disclose here, that make things even harder for me. Regardless, I have the determination to finish my degree, even if it’s hard for me to find a job on my field.

And don’t get me wrong, when I was on the school, both primary and high school, my schedule was from 8AM to 6PM, then at home, homework from 7PM to 9PM, then dinner and then a bit of TV. I know what it is to be almost all day on the school, but I still think it can be stressful. It kinda was for me. Because we’re not all the same.

But I know what you mean, China prepares their population to be the best of the world, to be highly competitive. To be the best working machines. To prioritize work over life itself. I’m not on that flock, I truly believe in working to enjoy life, rather than living to enjoy the work.

 

[0924487]

I’m a STEM student, and yes, it is a very competitive environment. I’m not like that, it stresses me out, and I don’t like to compete. I am not excellent, I’m average, that‘s why it’s taking me longer. And I’m fine with that, I’m not as smart as most of my classmates, and not everyone can be on the top 10. I also have a situation, I won’t disclose here, that make things even harder for me. Regardless, I have the determination to finish my degree, even if it’s hard for me to find a job on my field.

And don’t get me wrong, when I was on the school, both primary and high school, my schedule was from 8AM to 6PM, then at home, homework from 7PM to 9PM, then dinner and then a bit of TV. I know what it is to be almost all day on the school, but I still think it can be stressful. It kinda was for me. Because we’re not all the same.

But I know what you mean, China prepares their population to be the best of the world, to be highly competitive. To be the best working machines. To prioritize work over life itself. I’m not on that flock, I truly believe in working to enjoy life, rather than living to enjoy the work.

I did a full IB DP program in my "upper school" (high school), which was a breeze to me.

I only got that "okay, this (dog dropping) is real" moment in university. I think the difference was the quality of students in my grade school, which was not bad as it was a private school and the quality of students in my university program.

I was like where do you all come from, where have you all been when I was in grade school. I was so content and happy lol. Why do you all have to ruin my life?

So, yeah, when all the top students around the world and throughout the country assemble in your classroom, they are formidable, people just like you. Now, you are the average. This allows the university to push you alow harder than they could otherwise in grade schools or in less competitive programs, universities or colleges.

Asians actually don't always break the curve. People who get in are no joke, so, it's not just the Asians.

In my experience the Chinese international students coming in, if they don't have language issues or adjustment issues, are super competitive in STEM programs. Adjustment issues happen very commonly among Chinese girls. That's probably why they flock together.

 

[DMG35]

No, no, no. You claimed physical activity wasn’t even near the top of the list when it came to obesity, but I’m still waiting for the rest of your list.



Why are you talking about February, when people were freshly vaccinated? Let’s talk about what’s happening right now.

Oh, so you didn’t say that banning games would help with obesity. Hmmm, could have sworn you said that. And I gave you three things ahead of obesity. Genetics, Diet, and parents understanding of what healthy is. And if you simply adjusted diet and got ZERO physial exercise it would fix the problems with obesity. I don’t know how to make it any clearer to you.

Regardliess, my point stands and you can have your opinion all you want but it has zero fact behind it and isn’t worth my responding to it any more.

 

[Ethosik]

I agree with China. Even adults are addicted and put their iPads in auto-raise mode during dinner.
I use to play video games as a kid but also going out.

People are also addicted to alcohol. Gambling. Bars. Concerts. Pizza.

Anything and everything can lead to an addiction. Lets just ban everything and let the government decide how we can spend every minute of every day.

When I am at the kitchen table, no iPhones or iPads are in my hands. I agree people need to stop being so addicted, but I do not agree with the government being in charge of all of us to that degree.

 

[Ethosik]

Good. I used to think video games were neutral/good, but these days companies hire psychologists and various other experts with the intention of creating more and more addictive products. The video game industry needs way stronger regulation

I am not a fan of these kinds of games that advocate sucking up your entire life (WoW, Fortnite and more). However, there are great games still that tell amazing stories, like an long interactive movie. Most recent I am playing is Trails of Cold Steel. I prefer games with stories than just constant online matches and buying skins/weapons.

 

[macdos]

People are also addicted to alcohol. Gambling. Bars. Concerts. Pizza.

Anything and everything can lead to an addiction. Lets just ban everything and let the government decide how we can spend every minute of every day.

When I am at the kitchen table, no iPhones or iPads are in my hands. I agree people need to stop being so addicted, but I do not agree with the government being in charge of all of us to that degree.

Your addiction to x is not just your problem, but a problem for people around you and for society in general. It is especially so where health insurance is tax payer funded (most of Europe, partially in China), and your obesity, drinking, smoking and excessive behavior ends up on my bill. Therefore, it is the role of government to intervene in such cases.

Since America has an obesity problem (38% obese), a drug problem (6% with a drug related disease) and so forth, why shouldn't the government take charge? The people obviously can't on their own.

 

[Ethosik]

Your addiction to x is not just your problem, but a problem for people around you and for society in general. It is especially so where health insurance is tax payer funded (most of Europe, partially in China), and your obesity, drinking, smoking and excessive behavior ends up on my bill. Therefore, it is the role of government to intervene in such cases.

Since America has an obesity problem (38% obese), a drug problem (6% with a drug related disease) and so forth, why shouldn't the government take charge? The people obviously can't on their own.

Banning video games will not help obesity. You know what will? Getting rid of all McDonalds.

 

[jk73]

Oh, so you didn’t say that banning games would help with obesity. Hmmm, could have sworn you said that. And I gave you three things ahead of obesity. Genetics, Diet, and parents understanding of what healthy is. And if you simply adjusted diet and got ZERO physial exercise it would fix the problems with obesity. I don’t know how to make it any clearer to you.

Regardliess, my point stands and you can have your opinion all you want but it has zero fact behind it and isn’t worth my responding to it any more.

The idea that one can be healthy without exercise is more nonsense.

 

[jk73]

Banning video games will not help obesity. You know what will? Getting rid of all McDonalds.

China isn’t simply limiting video games. China is also starting to emphasize physical fitness and athletics. It’s disingenuous to keep ignoring the latter.

As for McDonald’s, there are plenty of menu items there that are nutritionally acceptable. A double cheeseburger is perfectly fine for active people.

 

[Ethosik]

China isn’t simply limiting video games. China is also starting to emphasize physical fitness and athletics. It’s disingenuous to keep ignoring the latter.

Why stop at video games though? I get the same level of activity if I am studying for my final for a few hours. So lets limit how much people can read or do homework. Lets also limit the amount of time a TV can operate because people like to binge TV shows and movies. Lets also limit how much people can be at bars because I know several people that are at bars for a couple of hours every single day....just sitting there.

 

[jk73]

Why stop at video games though? I get the same level of activity if I am studying for my final for a few hours. So lets limit how much people can read or do homework. Lets also limit the amount of time a TV can operate because people like to binge TV shows and movies. Lets also limit how much people can be at bars because I know several people that are at bars for a couple of hours every single day....just sitting there.

Are we supposed to pretend that the U.S. has a problem with kids spending too much time reading books?

 

[Ethosik]

Are we supposed to pretend that the U.S. has a problem with kids spending too much time reading books?

Well what is the actual problem? Kids playing games is not the problem, its lack of movement. If you are strictly discussing overweight, then its lack of moving that is the cause. So ANYTHING that can be done while sitting down should be limited by the government.

 

[friedmud]

Do you believe the trends in Israel and the U.K. are unique? Why wouldn’t the same trend occur here?

You talk like the hospitals are full of unvaccinated 20-year-olds, while vaccinated 85-year-olds are in the clear.

Silly nonsense.

Still no source. Therefore I suppose you agree with me (which - you should, because that is actually what’s happening).

I already explained the UK: if nearly everyone is vaccinated then the only Covid cases are going to be breakthrough: that does NOT mean that the vaccines are not effective.

As I showed, the US, with its abysmal vaccination rate, currently has 3.7x the hospitalization rate of the UK.

As for Israel, since you won’t provide a source, I will: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsa...a-dramatic-surge-in-new-covid-cases-heres-why

Even though that article talks about the difficulties Israel is having (and it is having some). It still says:

“the rate of serious cases among unvaccinated people over age 60 (178.7 per 100,000) was nine times more than the rate among fully vaccinated people of the same age category, and the rate of serious cases among unvaccinated people in the under-60 crowd (3.2 per 100,000) was a little more than double the rate among vaccinated people in that age bracket.”

and it says that even the “high” vaccination in Israel is simply not high enough:

“That means only 58% of Israel's total citizenry is fully vaccinated. Experts say that's not nearly high enough.”

It goes on to say that since not everyone is vaccinated (and especially people in the West Bank and Gaza Strip are not vaccinating because of “vaccine hesitancy”) - it means that vaccines alone aren’t enough there. I want to be clear: it’s not because “vaccines alone” wouldn’t be enough if everyone got one… they are not enough because everyone _won’t_.

This gets back to my main point: if _everyone_ would go get vaccinated it would:

1. Save hundreds of thousands of lives (which should be a good enough goal by itself).
2. Let us get out of this.

But - we shouldn’t throw the baby out with the bath water - even if you say that #2 won’t happen because not enough people will get the vaccines… #1 should be a good enough reason for all of us to _want_ to get one anyway.

And: we started this whole discussion about vaccine mandates, and I still maintain that if every human in the US were to get a vaccine, we would be done with this. We already did it for many other diseases: measles, mumps, polio, etc. These vaccines are EVEN MORE effective than many of those vaccines were.

But “muh freedoms,” I suppose.

 

[Ethosik]

No, the important part was the “parents work 12 hours a day 6 days a week” bit.

Perhaps don't have kids then if you cannot do your job. If I don't do my job at work I get fired. So if you have kids and can't do your job, maybe put them up for adoption?

 

[jk73]

Well what is the actual problem? Kids playing games is not the problem, its lack of movement. If you are strictly discussing overweight, then its lack of moving that is the cause. So ANYTHING that can be done while sitting down should be limited by the government.

See #559.

 

[jk73]

Still no source. Therefore I suppose you agree with me (which - you should, because that is actually what’s happening).

I already explained the UK: if nearly everyone is vaccinated then the only Covid cases are going to be breakthrough: that does NOT mean that the vaccines are not effective.

As I showed, the US, with its abysmal vaccination rate, currently has 3.7x the hospitalization rate of the UK.

As for Israel, since you won’t provide a source, I will: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsa...a-dramatic-surge-in-new-covid-cases-heres-why

Even though that article talks about the difficulties Israel is having (and it is having some). It still says:

“the rate of serious cases among unvaccinated people over age 60 (178.7 per 100,000) was nine times more than the rate among fully vaccinated people of the same age category, and the rate of serious cases among unvaccinated people in the under-60 crowd (3.2 per 100,000) was a little more than double the rate among vaccinated people in that age bracket.”

and it says that even the “high” vaccination in Israel is simply not high enough:

“That means only 58% of Israel's total citizenry is fully vaccinated. Experts say that's not nearly high enough.”

It goes on to say that since not everyone is vaccinated (and especially people in the West Bank and Gaza Strip are not vaccinating because of “vaccine hesitancy”) - it means that vaccines alone aren’t enough there. I want to be clear: it’s not because “vaccines alone” wouldn’t be enough if everyone got one… they are not enough because everyone _won’t_.

This gets back to my main point: if _everyone_ would go get vaccinated it would:

1. Save hundreds of thousands of lives (which should be a good enough goal by itself).
2. Let us get out of this.

But - we shouldn’t throw the baby out with the bath water - even if you say that #2 won’t happen because not enough people will get the vaccines… #1 should be a good enough reason for all of us to _want_ to get one anyway.

And: we started this whole discussion about vaccine mandates, and I still maintain that if every human in the US were to get a vaccine, we would be done with this. We already did it for many other diseases: measles, mumps, polio, etc. These vaccines are EVEN MORE effective than many of those vaccines were.

But “muh freedoms,” I suppose.

Yet another wall of text.

Why won’t you answer the simple question I asked several hours ago?

Do you believe vaccine efficacy is uniquely declining in the U.K. and Israel? Why is Fauci pushing a booster after only 5 months if the vaccines are so great?

 

[Ethosik]

See #559.

I don't see your point? Its not helpful to comment in one word and a number to get your point across. As I said, lets also limit how much you read, watch TV, and anything that can be done while sitting down.

 

[jk73]

I don't see your point? Its not helpful to comment in one word and a number to get your point across. As I said, lets also limit how much you read, watch TV, and anything that can be done while sitting down.

I addressed your comment in post #559 above.

 

[Ethosik]

After being in multiple lockdowns, and feeling the despair for my kids that sometimes the only way they can talk to friends is online gaming, I can see the other damage it has done to them. We're making some changes in our house this school year to limit electronics. I've even been working hard to restrict my own usage of it.

This year I bought one of those sunlight alarm clocks, and when I get home from work I put my phone down in my basement, and don't get it out until the next morning. I have the AW to get important messages or calls. I'm telling you it was like coming off of heroin.

Just trying to reconnect with the idea of day dreaming, and actually sitting down and not doing anything and looking out a window without anything to do. And I want that for my kids too.

Wonderful post! I agree and I feel like you have the full right as a parent to do so. I do not agree that the government should be doing this for you though.

As someone that has this same mindset - while I am at the dinner table no phone is in hand. I have an older brother than me that is always glued to his phone and using Tiktok. He is 43....that is crazy. I have a friend that is 39 and he still takes his phone with him in the bathroom. Like COME ON PEOPLE, can't you even go 5 minutes without your device! Bathroom, dinner, walking, looking out the window - these are all electronic free times for me. It is absolutely ridiculous how addicted some people are to their devices that they can't even go to the bathroom without taking it with them.

And no, my brother is not playing games, but looking at Tiktok. So why stop at just limiting gaming? Lets limit Facebook, Tiktok and more.

 

[Ethosik]

I addressed your comment in post #559 above.

That post just says they are addressing physical fitness too, but like I said, video games is not the only thing you can do sitting down. So they limit video games, okay then that kid will just be on Tiktok the rest of the time.....or facebook. Or any other non-game item. That does nothing for the actual problem. Getting rid of McDonalds and other bad food sources will address the problem.

 

[Ethosik]

I see you’re not acquainted with many blue collar folk. In many cases shifts can last 10 hours or more, and in the medical professions (a very common job in rural areas) mandatory overtime and being on-call is extremely common among staff. Not to mention graveyard shifts and swing shifts.

Unfortunately, reality isn’t black and white and not everyone gets the luxury of punching in at 9:00 and out at 5:00.

I work 2 jobs and am on call one week every month. I don't have the time to raise a kid so I am not planning to have any kids. I don't even have the time to take care of a pet, so I don't have a pet. People need to stop having kids when they are not able to fulfill their responsibilities.

 

[jk73]

That post just says they are addressing physical fitness too, but like I said, video games is not the only thing you can do sitting down. So they limit video games, okay then that kid will just be on Tiktok the rest of the time.....or facebook. Or any other non-game item. That does nothing for the actual problem. Getting rid of McDonalds and other bad food sources will address the problem.

You want to keep video games but ban people from baking cookies?

 

[Ethosik]

You want to keep video games but ban people from baking cookies?

How about we don't ban or limit anything. The flipside is also true. I worked with someone who was in their mid 50s. All throughout their life from high school until they were in their 40s, they rode their bike for 5 hours....every.....single.....day. They had a pretty bad medical issue - heart attack and fell down some stairs that caused a bad concussion. Forgot who their ex-wife was and things like that.

Cause was he basically over-worked his heart for decades.

So how about we just do things - anything - in moderation?

 

[jk73]

How about we don't ban or limit anything. The flipside is also true. I worked with someone who was in their mid 50s. All throughout their life from high school until they were in their 40s, they rode their bike for 5 hours....every.....single.....day. They had a pretty bad medical issue - heart attack and fell down some stairs that caused a bad concussion. Forgot who their ex-wife was and things like that.

Cause was he basically over-worked his heart for decades.

So how about we just do things - anything - in moderation?

Huh? That’s what China is doing. China is limiting video game time, not banning video games.

 

[Ethosik]

Huh? That’s what China is doing. China is limiting video game time, not banning video games.

I said lets NOT limit or ban ANYTHING. So no, I don't want China to do that. I literally said the opposite.

How about we don't ban or limit anything - First sentence. Do you even read the posts?