We have limited screen time in our home, because, especially in boys, it takes a long time to get that stimulation out of their system so that they may engage once again in productive learning. For instance, when we had what we loving call "screen time" (at least the kids refer to it lovingly) once a day, the preoccupation of the entire day was, "what are we going to watch after school, Mom?" I have noticed in my home that when they become addicted to that stimulation, there is no quiet place allowed for efficient, Spirit-led learning that happens in the calmness of the soul.
Violent games are very exciting and addictive to particularly young men, who are transitioning into manhood with all the strong hormones and emotions that go along with it. These strong feelings can be easily stimulated by violent or even merely intense games. The powerful surges of testosterone are there for a reason in young men, and to be artificially stimulated (especially on a regular basis) can be weakening and incredibly addictive. For instance, I believe it weakens the young man, “taking him out of the battle” as it were, when he is constantly preoccupied with "how to get to the next level" or "how to build the next civilization" in on online, artificial environment.
Our young men were destined to engage in great causes, fight battles, and discover truths in courageous ways. I believe that Satan counterfeits the feelings of satisfaction gained by doing this in the real world with online imitations that yield no tangible results, and leave one feelings stimulated, but empty. (I have wondered at the rampant depression in our young men; would that happen if they were out building castles, fighting battles for truth and liberty, or conquering or exploring the wildernesses…be they the physical wilderness or the “wilderness” of their minds?)
I do not believe that our young men are ready to find a healthy balance for these intense media-driven stimulations and the changes their manly bodies are experiencing when immersed in it—especially between the ages of 10 and at least 14 for now (based upon personal observation and experience). Their character needs to be molded beforehand, and they need to come into a sense of their manhood without the influence of counterfeits, if they are going to be fit warriors in the cause of truth and liberty. We must not send them into life with these powerful tools--their drive and passion and sheer manliness--before they know how to use them. To me it seems like giving them a huge battle ax that they cannot wield, let alone use, and telling them "go ahead and play with it and see what you can do."
Maybe my analogy is a little too strong, but maybe not. I have a huge respect for the men of history that have taken their manliness and done something with it, and know that we can only have a free society and happy, satisfied men if they are allowed and enabled to "fight the battles they were born to fight". I realize there are all types of factors involved with that, and perhaps some parents will feel that some use of the online games and other stimulating media is actually precisely what their son needs to prepare. I lovingly refrain from judgment, just would like to encourage us as parents to use the media cautiously, aware of the powerful influence it can have in shaping the minds and lives of our young men.
Elder Bednar gave some awesome counsel. He stresses that he realizes the great good media and modern technology provide for us...that they are not inherently bad. He merely suggests that there are two questions we can ask ourselves as we use modern technology in our everyday life:
1) Does the use of various technologies and media invite or impede the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost in your life?
2) Does the time you spend using various technologies and media enlarge or restrict your capacity to live, learn, love, and serve in meaningful ways?
Actually, he doesn't just suggest, he raises an "apostolic warning". I love what he says in the video below: "To be encircled about eternally in the arms of God's love will be a real, and not a virtual experience..."
There is an awesome mormon message about this at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CstRqAlAZf0
I would like to finish this post with an awesome video by Elder Christofferson titled, "Let us be Men"
http://lds.org/pages/mormon-messages?lang=eng#let-us-be-men
I am grateful for the husband I have, and that he is such a man. I hope to create an environment in my home that will allow my boys to become men free from addiction and free to choose the good over the bad influences in their life because they can tell the difference...
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