I can’t believe that there’s still a lot of handwringing going on about how kids are playing too many video games. Think about it, people have been talking about that since Pong.
video games
Yet, since then we’ve somehow managed to not only survive as a society, but actually flourish. Sure, games these days are often filled with sex, violence, and foul language. And yes, kids aren’t getting enough exercise because they sit around the couch all day. And many gamers are definitely lacking in social skills.
My kids love them to the point where they are pretty much certified nerds. And I’m ok with it.
Why? Because I’ve seen other kids at their school starting to smoke pot and going crazy over the opposite sex. So I’ll gladly take my kids hanging out at home playing games on a computer, safely tucked away from all those raging hormones.
Their favorite game is Minecraft, where players travel through their own little universe either alone or linked together with other players.
In this virtual world, they create buildings, landscapes, and all kinds of other things with building blocks made of a number of different materials like dirt, stone, wood, grass, etc. It’s kinda like Legos. Actually, it’s better than Legos because it doesn’t hurt to step on a virtual world with bare feet in the middle of the night.
toys
What’s even nerdier are the different YouTube channels around Minecraft. My kids have spent hours watching videos of people playing the game. Yes, you read that right – they sit around watching videos of guys not really doing any physical activity. I’ve tried watching the videos, but fall asleep in less than a minute.
But, again, my kids being nerds > my kids being sluts. Any day.
Some of these YouTube guys even record songs and create music videos that are parodies of other well-known songs. My kids know all of them by heart and it’s been a great way to introduce them to music from the past. The problem is that not all of the songs are good. Some are bad. VERY bad.
About a week or two ago, one of my girls was singing one of the absolute worst songs of all time – Melissa Manchester’s “Don’t Cry Out Loud.” I know it’s a little dated and I should give the song a little more credit because it was a product of the times.
Nope. Empirically speaking, this song sucks.
Yet, somehow, they managed to make a video that takes me to further depths of misery.
humor
CLOWNS!
I hate clowns.
music
humor
omg – i want to tear my hair out when i watch this video. agree about the video playing, at least you know where they are and a nerd is easier to deal with than a pole dancer in the scheme of things. thanks for sharing.
And better than playing “golf” in Connecticut, right? 😉
so very true )
I too hate that song…which is why I’ve obviously never seen the video for it.
I’m going to need to watch Stephen Colbert’s “Get Lucky” video in an attempt to bleach my brain now.
Yeah, I never saw it until I actually SEARCHED for the song. #majorregret
Will have to check out that Get Lucky vid…
I love this on so many levels! My kids are addicted to Minecraft. And if they’re playing minecraft I know where they are! Also, I loathe clowns!!
Thank goodness there’s someone else. I thought I was alone on the clown thing. It’s the closet thing I have to a phobia.
You have company . . . clowns suck! Check out this article . . . interesting stuff.

My kids are Minecraft-addicted, too (though they don’t watch the videos). I had been a little annoyed by it (neither of the addicted ones are old enough for me to be worrying about sex and drugs yet, thankfully), but then I read this article yesterday, and have a new perspective on the game!
https://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20130807171044-5853751-tomorrow-s-entrepreneurs-are-playing-minecraft-today?trk=tod-home-art-medium_0&_mSplash=1
Wow, I cant totally see all of that! That said, my kids are not getting the computer upgrade they’ve been begging for…Thanks for sharing it.
When I become a parent this is the equation I am going to live by: my kids being nerds > my kids being sluts.
Wiser words have never been spoken.
Great, I have that stupid effing song stuck in my head now.
Pingback: Guilty Pleasures – Kansas | The Food and Wine Hedonist
Pingback: Guilty Pleasures Recycled – Kansas | The Food and Wine Hedonist