Newspaper.

Subject: Newspaper. Fri Apr 11, 2008 6:16 pm

today in was in my schools newspaper.
just imagine there is only one "T" in "Mathews".
Newspaper. MilesNewspaperArticle

Subject: Re: Newspaper. Fri Apr 11, 2008 8:20 pm

awesome, lad! (i just thought how weird it might be if we all said stuff like 'hey, that's awesome, lad...' like, where we would otherwise use 'man/dude')

...20 mulk points!

Subject: Re: Newspaper. Sat Apr 12, 2008 1:06 am

El Beninator!! wrote:: awesome, lad! (i just thought how weird it might be if we all said stuff like 'hey, that's awesome, lad...' like, where we would otherwise use 'man/dude')

...20 mulk points!

thanx!!
and actually someone said that on the other forum:

MONKIE LAD! wrote:: Awesome man, congrats!

Subject: Re: Newspaper. Sat Apr 12, 2008 10:26 am

awesome dude! congrats!

Subject: Re: Newspaper. Sat Apr 19, 2008 12:33 pm

Stanton, once Taxibun gets on this forum you should ask him about his article about "Effects of Video Games on Kids". You might read about a familiar "scientist" in it. Anyways, I'll have to scan in my articles so far this year for everyone to see.

Subject: Re: Newspaper. Sat Apr 19, 2008 12:59 pm

Ok awesome. When Taxibun DOES get on here, I just hope he's cool. I think he's a cool guy, but if he does here what he does on the Bats forum, I might have to karate chop him to the face. Wink

Subject: Re: Newspaper. Sat Apr 19, 2008 10:40 pm

The Ska Boss wrote:: Ok awesome. When Taxibun DOES get on here, I just hope he's cool. I think he's a cool guy, but if he does here what he does on the Bats forum, I might have to karate chop him to the face.

Oh no, he just hated Benson. We're cousins actually, and you could almost say we "share" the name. He''l be on later.. today? Maybe tomorrow.

EDIT (to avoid double post): Here's mine and Taxibun's articles, and yes they were published, and yes they were back to back:

Newspaper. Pq2fNQAA

Subject: Re: Newspaper. Mon Apr 21, 2008 1:09 pm

Woah check it out its my article!

Subject: Re: Newspaper. Mon Apr 21, 2008 4:01 pm

LOLZ. +10 MP for using me as a scientist.

I actually wrote a paper for my English 111 class on video games. Since I'm a Mormon at a mostly mormon school, I used a few quotes from some of the leaders of my church, but they are still good points that I think apply to all. Do you guys want me to post it?

Subject: Re: Newspaper. Mon Apr 21, 2008 4:05 pm

yes plz. =P

Subject: Re: Newspaper. Mon Apr 21, 2008 4:17 pm

Stanton's english paper wrote:: Video games are a destructive vice that prey upon people of all ages. They are like a contagious disease, and at the current rate of growing popularity, will soon become an epidemic, if this has not already happened. They are addicting, a waste of time, and have adverse effects on study habits, social interactions, and life in general.

A video game addiction can be just as real as a drug or alcohol or pornography addiction, and almost just as damaging. Playing one video game won’t send someone to hell, but more often than not, it’s not just one video game. They hook people. They are like the maka-fekes that President Monson talked about in the April 2006 General Conference. Once someone is entangled in the hellish chains of this vice, it is difficult for that person to break free. His time, talents, gifts, and energies will be wasted. Important things will be replaced by unimportant entertainment. Video games become a way of life, and that life goes down a path that is a dead end.

There are 52,560 hours in 6 years. That’s a long time. From the ages of 13 to 19 I was addicted to video games. I would play an average of 2 ½ hours per day. That is approximately 5,475 hours of straight game play, which translates to 228 days and 3 hours, or 7 ½ months of doing nothing but playing video games. Not eating, or sleeping, or doing anything else—just playing video games. Think of all the things I could have done had I spent my time doing something productive! Now, I know that the average teenager doesn’t spend 2 ½ hours a day reading the scriptures (although had I done so, I’d have the standard works memorized by now), but someone could at least get in twenty minutes a day. And then there are things such as learning an instrument, or working out, or mountain biking, or going places with friends, etc. I could have gotten a lot done, and I sure could have learned a lot more valuable things than how long it takes a Pokémon to evolve. In general, playing video games is not a sin, but we need to manage our time well. Elder Dallin H. Oaks taught us to, “Consider how we use our time in the choices we make in… playing video games... Of course it is good to view wholesome entertainment or to obtain interesting information. But not everything of that sort is worth the portion of our life we give to obtain it”. Elder M. Russell Ballard also spoke of wasting time:

In the Doctrine and Covenants the Lord gave a similar warning in these words: “Thou shalt not idle away thy time, neither shalt thou bury thy talent that it may not be known” (D&C 60:13). Why would I speak of that with you? Because one of the ways Satan lessens your effectiveness and weakens your spiritual strength is by encouraging you to spend large blocks of your time doing things that matter very little. I speak of such things as sitting for hours on end watching television or videos, playing video games night in and night out… I speak of letting things get out of balance. It is not [playing video games], but [playing] hour after hour, night after night. Does not that qualify as idling away your time? What will you say to the Lord when He asks what you have done with the precious gift of life and time? Surely you will not feel comfortable telling Him that you were able to pass the 100,000-point level in a challenging video game... One of the greatest challenges of this life is the ordering of priorities. If we do not do this wisely, then things that matter most in life are at the mercy of things that matter least.”

And as my mission president told me, “Time is not measured in the eternities. If you cannot manage your time well now while it is measured, you cannot, and will not be worthy to, in the eternities” (Bradford). In my personal study I came across a scripture that reiterates this. “It is required of the Lord, at the hand of every steward, to render an account of his stewardship, both in time and in eternity. For he who is faithful and wise in time is accounted worthy to inherit the mansions prepared for him of my Father” (D&C 72:3-4).

This addiction can also have profound effects on study. I performed terribly my first semester here at BYU-I before my mission. I would stay up late playing video games, and therefore could not always wake up on time for my classes. I also would play during the time that I should have been doing homework or studying. I would say to myself, “I can play just a little. I’ll play for twenty minutes, and then I’ll go do my homework.” More often than not those twenty minutes turned into several hours, and I would never get my homework done. I ended up with a horrible GPA and was put on academic probation. Now I’m paying the price for my childish carelessness. My cumulative GPA is low, and it will take several semesters of me getting a 4.0 to even be able to qualify for scholarships. In a past issue of the Ensign, one young man spoke of the effect that video games can have on both study and social life. Said he: “These games distracted me from studying. I spent all of my free time playing these games so I could be better than everyone else.” He then counseled, “Use video games as well-earned recreation, not as an escape from things you are supposed to be doing.” (Powell)

Playing video games excessively can also have diverse effects on life in general. Social interactions are hindered by a video game addiction. I recently spoke with someone who pointed out to me how difficult it can be to carry on a conversation with a young man who has a video game addiction. She commented that it is as if he has no personality. Video games hinder him from being who he really is. Also, when a young person has a video game addiction, he will most likely not spend enough time interacting with others. The needed social skills for life will not be learned, and this will be a setback for him later on. This can be very damaging for prospective missionaries, especially at this university. In a study that I conducted here on campus, I learned that the majority of young men who play a lot of video games are prospective missionaries. It’s like the 80:20 ratio in business. According to this “rule,” about 80% of the video games would be played by 20% of the young men enrolled here. But the results are even more staggering. Out of the total of approximately 26 hours of video games played each week among 10 different young men (5 pre-missionaries and 5 returned missionaries), pre-missionaries played 88.39% of these, while returned missionaries played only 11.61%. If they spend too much time playing video games, it will be detrimental to their preparation to serve as a missionary. Elder L. Tom Perry spoke of this quite clearly. “Prospective missionaries also must be prepared with the social skills needed to serve a mission. More and more, young people are isolating themselves from others by playing video games… Much of missionary work involves relating face-to-face with people, and unless you set the bar higher in the development of your social skills, you will find yourself underprepared.”

Video games can also destroy a marriage. When the husband has a video game addiction, his wife and children suffer because of it, as does he. I spoke with one sister of the Church whose husband has a video game addiction. She said, “It’s been a detriment to my marriage. It’s like video games have become the passion of life and other passions get put aside… It’s a very real addiction. He will sit upstairs for hours and hours and doesn’t spend time with me or the kids, and it has caused him depression. I wish that he would get in touch with his real passions and not be addicted anymore” (Anonymous).

Now, I’m not saying that it is an evil sin to play video games. But it can lead to addiction and destructive behavior, which are sins. Most all things must be done in moderation; others must be avoided completely. When all is said and done, normally one can rely on good common sense when making decisions about what to do, when to do it, and for how long. If people are true to themselves and don’t try to rationalize or justify wrongful behavior, they will normally make correct decisions.

Works Cited

Monson, Thomas S. "True to the Faith." Ensign May 2006. .

Oaks, Dallin H. Good, Better, Best. General Conference, Oct. 2007, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2007.

Ballard, M. Russell Be Strong in the Lord, and in the Power of His Might. Diss. Brigham Young Univ., 2002. 22 Mar. 2008. .

Bradford, Dale. Personal interview. March. 2007.

Powell, Stephen F. "Game Over." Ensign Aug. 2005.

Perry, L. Tom "Raising the Bar." Liahona Nov. 2007. 22 Mar. 2008 .

Anonymous. Personal interview. 23 Mar. 2008.

Subject: Re: Newspaper. Mon Apr 21, 2008 7:25 pm

I don't know if any of you guys read that, but I sure did. And it's good to see my posts earning other people mp's (No sarcasm).

Subject: Re: Newspaper. Mon Apr 21, 2008 8:23 pm

All I do is play Video games.
I'm fine.
Just super saiyan.
but Really really good paper nontheless.
well written.
and nice works cited.

Subject: Re: Newspaper. Tue Apr 22, 2008 10:28 pm

I like videogames. But I never get time to play them. Except on weekends!

Subject: Re: Newspaper. Tue Apr 29, 2008 12:40 pm

Pat, you're on the newspaper staff. How about getting us some articles on Viking Lore or something?

You can always just get the picture from the online Danegeld.

Subject: Re: Newspaper. Tue Apr 29, 2008 10:01 pm

Here's my article I wrote for the last issue of the Danegeld.
I covered up/changed a few names for privacy and what-not.
Newspaper. PqlcsVr

Subject: Re: Newspaper. Thu May 01, 2008 5:15 pm

BAM.
School magazine:
Newspaper. L_b2cb0ae9fe78cc8854fff083dd1c0fdf

Subject: Re: Newspaper. Fri May 02, 2008 10:22 am

ohh snap! +5 MP

Subject: Re: Newspaper. Fri Jun 13, 2008 1:32 am

I had my photo and a little story about me in the local Newspaper once when I was about 14, coz at the time I was raising money for the NSW Epilepsy Association - I raised over $3000 that year Very Happy

There used to be an aussie magazine called 'Chick' for girls and it had stuff about surfing, snowboarding and skateboarding in it. 5 of my drawings appeared in that mag over 2 issues.
My name has also appeared a few times in various aussie magazines because of competitions I had entered and won

Subject: Re: Newspaper. Fri Jun 13, 2008 10:36 am

1337.

I was in the paper when I got my eagle scout and when I went on/came home from my mission.

Subject: Re: Newspaper. Fri Jun 13, 2008 11:49 am

I've been in the paper for being in the Gifted and Talented program in elementary school.

Also, I was on the Today show...and not just outside in the streets, but ON it...and I was on PBS too...

Subject: Re: Newspaper. Fri Jun 13, 2008 3:53 pm

Sweet!

Guest

Me and Haley in the Keynoter when we were little kids at the Grace Jones day care center.

Newspaper. Haleyandalanaatgracejonnp7

I don't know which one's me and which one's my sister. Embarassed

(We're in the Snow White dresses.)

Subject: Re: Newspaper. Fri Jun 13, 2008 5:42 pm

Is/was your mum one of those parents who dressed their twins exactly the same?

Guest

Not really. We would normally wear similar outfits but different colors. I guess we both just wanted to wear our snow white dresses, hehe.