I agree with your immediate point: however, height is something which is easily measurable and easily compared between both sexes. I don’t know if there’s a quality of books and video games which is equally easy to measure and compare. Reading books teaches kids to be better at reading (and probably writing too, or at least it did so for me), and exposes them to a range of ideas, concepts, and role model characters. Some books are well written, some badly written...some characters are useful role models for children, others aren’t. As for video games, I’ve been told that they improve information processing and reaction times. In fact, my taekwondo instructor says that likely one of the reasons I’m slow is because I never played video games as a kid. Different people have told me that video games encourage creative and out-of-the-box thinking. These are all good things, and books don’t have an effect on them, I would assume.
I guess, in theory, you could ask “are children raised solely on books better adapted and more successful than children raised solely on video games”? Still, ‘success’ is such a broad category and depends on so many factors that I don’t know if the answer could be measured even in theory.
As for video games, I’ve been told that they improve information processing and reaction times. In fact, my taekwondo instructor says that likely one of the reasons I’m slow is because I never played video games as a kid. Different people have told me that video games encourage creative and out-of-the-box thinking.
I maintain to this day that the Final Fantasy series taught me how to read. No one ever believed me. Recently, I heard a story on NPR’s claiming that there are in fact a non-trivial number of people in my generation that make similar claims.
I agree with your immediate point: however, height is something which is easily measurable and easily compared between both sexes. I don’t know if there’s a quality of books and video games which is equally easy to measure and compare. Reading books teaches kids to be better at reading (and probably writing too, or at least it did so for me), and exposes them to a range of ideas, concepts, and role model characters. Some books are well written, some badly written...some characters are useful role models for children, others aren’t. As for video games, I’ve been told that they improve information processing and reaction times. In fact, my taekwondo instructor says that likely one of the reasons I’m slow is because I never played video games as a kid. Different people have told me that video games encourage creative and out-of-the-box thinking. These are all good things, and books don’t have an effect on them, I would assume.
I guess, in theory, you could ask “are children raised solely on books better adapted and more successful than children raised solely on video games”? Still, ‘success’ is such a broad category and depends on so many factors that I don’t know if the answer could be measured even in theory.
I maintain to this day that the Final Fantasy series taught me how to read. No one ever believed me. Recently, I heard a story on NPR’s claiming that there are in fact a non-trivial number of people in my generation that make similar claims.