DigitalNoob

Dr. Philip Zimbardo, 79, is a Stanford professor who has made the statement that males’ addiction to video games and porn may be “digitally re-wiring” humanity, creating arousal addictions that leave them unable to function normally in social settings and desire something new far more than before this online age.

As a gamer, I initially looked at this with some skepticism–but found out through one of his TED Talks that he raises some very good points. I also happen to know a few people who retreat into an online world and have issues dealing with real life, but will go back to the online world for comfort to the point where they will avoid real life situations that they are unfamiliar with in order to stay online with their small communities that accept them without requiring any physical interaction. In an interview with CNN, Dr. Zimbardo stated, “The excessive use of video games and online porn in pursuit of the next thing is creating a generation of risk-averse guys who are unable (and unwilling) to navigate the complexities and risks inherent to real-life relationships, school and employment.”

Furthermore, the people I know who are admittedly addicted to online pornography and video games have abandoned most of their desire to foster any kind of relationship beyond friendship. I’m not someone who feels that breeding is necessary – in fact, our world is swelling with population and it would behoove us as humans to slow down – however, as being online digs its claws into peoples’ upbringing and re-wires them as Dr. Zimbardo mentioned, more and more males I know are ignoring relationships (with any sex, not just male-female) and exchanging that in favor of being alone. There’s nothing wrong with being a hermit, but if the rest of the human race slowly adopts this philosophy, this could change how reproduction functions in relation to healthy relationships. This potential future shift is certainly an avenue worth exploring, but much like the source material, it is hyperbolic and should be treated as such.

Part of Dr. Zimbardo’s argument is that even though our social needs are being fulfilled online, we’re still doing games, talking, and interacting while alone–which is the foundation of his entire argument. Dr. Zimbardo has published The Demise of Guys: Why Boys Are Struggling and What We Can Do About It and is available at Amazon in Kindle format here. Among gamers, Dr. Zimbardo’s theories may not be popular, but they are certainly worth looking at and analyzing.

Dr. Zimbardo also has an afortmentioned TED Talks video with over a million views that expounds on his theory of the doom of the human race due to online porn and video games. Is what Dr. Zimbardo says hyperbolic and off course, or is the picture he paints a chilling future that we won’t be able to backpedal from once we’re in too deep? What do you think? Leave your comments below, and let us know what you think of Dr. Zimbardo’s “Demise of Guys” statements.