電玩:Is a game just a game?

The dangers of computer games
Computer games might be fun but are they good for you? Listen to Rob and Finn discussing whether adult computer games could affect our children’s health. They also explain some of the words connected to this topic.


This week's question
What percentage of people who play computer games are female? Is it...

a) 28%

b) 38%

c) 48%

Listen to the programme to find out the answer.

Vocabulary

addicted
unable to stop doing something

fantasy
imaginary

up your alley
suited to your tastes or abilities

shoot 'em up
a film, TV programme or computer game that has a lot of shooting and violence

wouldn't hurt a fly
describes someone who is gentle

harmless
not able or not likely to cause harm 

for hours on end
a long time

explicit content
showing things in an open and direct way

sexualisation
making someone or something sexual

inappropriate
not the right thing for a particular situation

wider community
other groups of people, such as friends, relatives and teachers

Transcript
Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript 

Rob
Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English. I'm Rob...

Finn
...and I'm Finn. Hello.

Rob                                                                  
Hello, Finn. Did you have a good weekend?

Finn
Yeah, it was OK thanks although, you know, I'm a bit tired now.

Rob
Why's that?

Finn
It's a bit embarrassing but I stayed up all night playing a computer game.

Rob
All night?! You must be addicted. Addicted, by the way, means unable to stop doing something.

Finn
Well, maybe today's programme might have some advice for me.

Rob
That's right. Today we're discussing whether computer games are bad for our health - and in particular - bad for children. 

Finn
OK, Rob, why don't you wake me up a little bit by asking me today's quiz question?

Rob
OK - here goes. In America, what percentage of people who play computer games are female? Is it...

a) 28%

b) 38%

or c) 48%

Finn
Well, I do know a few female gamers so how about b) 38%.

Rob
OK, right. Go for the middle option? We'll find out if that's the right answer later on. OK, so what kind of computer games do you like to play, Finn? 

Finn
Well, I quite like those role-playing games. You know, the fantasy role-playing games. 

Rob
OK, well, role playing is where you create your own characters and stories in a fantasy - or imaginary - world. But, to be honest, those kind of games aren't really up my alley - which means they're not really suited to my tastes or abilities. Any other kind of games you like, Finn?

Finn
Yeah, I also quite like shoot-'em-up games. These are games where you have to do a lot of shooting and there's a lot of violence. 

Rob
It's funny because you don't strike me as a violent person, Finn.

Finn
I'm not, at all. I wouldn't hurt a fly, Rob! But maybe shooting people on a computer screen seems a bit more harmless.

Rob
OK. And not to hurt a fly means to be gentle and unwilling to make people unhappy. And harmless means unlikely to hurt or upset anyone. Well, let's hear Internet safety advisor Alan MacKenzie discussing how adult computer games can have a negative effect on children.

Alan MacKenzie, internet safety advisor
Many people understandably will just think that a game is just a game and not realising the explicit content that's in there - and as you suggest, the violence and sexualisation of women in particular, which is wholly inappropriate for anybody, never mind children.

Finn
Well, you know, if you want my opinion, Rob, a game is just a game. It's generally a harmless form of entertainment. What do you think?

Rob
I'm torn, actually - meaning I'm unable to decide. Most people, like you Finn, probably aren't affected by what you see in computer games. But we can't ignore the small percentage of people who are affected.

Finn
Well, that's true really, isn't it, Rob? And whilst playing computer games all night doesn't make me violent, it certainly makes me very tired!

Rob
I can see that. But also Finn - when do you and your wife actually talk to each other - when you're in your own computer fantasy world for hours on end? 

Finn
Yeah, it's not great, is it? And for hours on end means a long time, by the way! So, I don't know. Maybe if she played as well, then we could have some virtual conversations...

Rob
Well, that sounds ridiculous! But let's move on. Alan talks about explicit content in games. What does that mean?

Finn
That means showing things in an open and direct way. So some adult games contain open violence and sexualisation.

Rob
And shall we explain what sexualisation means?

Finn
Yes. It means making someone or something sexual - and in this case, women. This might be through the shape of a woman's body, or the clothes she wears, or the way she behaves in these games.

Rob
Alan says this type of explicit content - violent or sexual - is inappropriate for computer games. And inappropriate means not the right thing for a particular situation.

Finn
And he is worried about children accessing this type of content. Let's hear more from him. What advice does he give?

Alan MacKenzie, internet safety advisor
So it's a matter of educating the parents and the wider community in these issues, and making them aware of the type of content that's in there, and why it's inappropriate, and the effects that it may be having on their children and their behaviour.

Finn
Alan thinks it's the responsibility of parents and the wider community - now that means other groups of people, such as friends, relatives and teachers for example - to check on what children are viewing and playing.

Rob
But this will only work if they understand which types of content are OK and which aren't. 

Finn
That's right. So the adults need educating too. They need to be shown.

Rob
Yes, that's right. So I'll be checking on your behaviour from now on, Finn!

Finn
OK, That's probably a good idea. So, let's hear the answer to today's quiz question next.

Rob
Yes and I asked you, in America, what percentage of people who play computer games are female? Is it... a) 28% b) 38% or c) 48%? 

Finn
And I went for the middle option, as usual, and I said b) 38%. 

Rob
And you are wrong, this time Finn! The answer is actually c) 48%. Are you surprised by that?

Finn
Yes and no. I think a lot more people are playing games in general, so lots of them must be women.

Rob
Absolutely. Why not? OK, shall we now listen to the words we learned today?

Finn
Good idea. We heard:

addicted
fantasy
up your alley
shoot 'em up
not to hurt a fly
harmless
for hours on end
explicit content
sexualisation
inappropriate
wider community 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-150716