Tools Are Not Bad, Deeds Done With Them Are
New cultural phenomenon appear regularly. Like all new things, they take time to understand. New experiences become popular because they provide value, but people seem shocked to find that there are downsides as well. Television, the Internet, social media, the written word can enhance minds, expose us to new ideas, and change us for the better. They can also dull our senses, draw us in to empty experiences, and transmit harmful or degrading information. Each new medium of communication can be addictive, and can be used for good or ill. Video games are routinely blamed for violence despite a lack of scientific evidence. Blaming video games for poor behavior and dismissing an entire field of entertainment is like giving up on reading because Twilight was trash. It is a new medium for communicating ideas, and just like other mediums, some of the ideas are better than others.