Researcher feels bad for the "PlayStation Generation"
by Nick Doerr 
{ Mar 5th 2007 at 5:30PM }
Apparently an executive in Homeland Security thinks ill of today's youth. Tell us: do you avoid math and science problems because they are too difficult? That's exactly what Jay Cohen believes when he said there is a crisis in this country he described as the "PlayStation generation" of students who want immediate gratification and avoid math and science because it's too hard. Guilty as charged. I hate math and science. Probably why I'm in the Terry College of Business. No chemistry needed. Yucky.Cohen is trying to get the funding to create new technology to better scan items at the airport, as well as something called project Chloe. This involves drone aircraft flying around airports with heat sensors to detect missiles and blow 'em up with lasers... or whatever. Tell us, Cohen, would you rather have an Air Force fellow who also plays a lot of Warhawk to help remotely control those drone planes, or someone who knows the molecular makeup of a lotus flower? Games are good for us. But like anything, there are those who have an unhealthy addiction to them. But for the most part, we believe gaming is a positive activity. How about you guys? Any stories where your prowess in gaming actually helped you out? Or are we really just the lazy "PlayStation Generation"?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
James @ Mar 5th 2007 6:34PM
I don't know about prowess, but video games got me interested in computers in the first place. I run into a lot of kids now who are going to college for computer science to write video games. Statistically some of them will have to find real jobs, and that will just further the field. But seriously, I would say that the playstation generation or more specifically, the internet and interactive media as a whole has driven interest in computer science up and definitely not degraded the field at all. Those that can't take it drop out anyways.
san @ Mar 5th 2007 7:46PM
Kids aren't avoiding math and science because they play too many video games; they are avoiding them because they are difficult in comparison to some other academic subjects. I was born in the 1960s and my generation for the most part avoided math and science. We are just at an all time low for youth going into math, science and engineering disciplines. Sure, video games, home theater, lots of our contemporary entertainments, provide greater, easier distractions than some of the traditional, more rigorous diversions, like reading.
The argument here is against recreational pursuits that offer instant or quick gratification, that they thwart interest in complex academic subjects. But you can make the argument that some fields of math or science -- like chemistry, for example -- offer much quicker gratification than fields like business.
Honestly, you'd rather have that Air Force guy understand the cellular structure of a lotus flower or the molecular structure of a hydrocarbon molecule. That represents a entrenched ability to learn, comprehend and make good decisions based on learned information. You can teach them how to pilot a drone a lot faster than you can teach them those other things -- assuming they have the dexterity to be proficient at that sort of thing.
But in general, it's societal, it's not video games. It's lack of respect for intellectual pursuits and formal encouragement to go after them. Cohen should have a look at his administration's funding of extra-orbital space exploration and other pure science pursuits with limited commercial application -- and the lack of support of past administrations for same -- before he starts pointing fingers at PlayStations.
Arno @ Mar 5th 2007 8:33PM
On a related note, I feel sorry for Playstation fanboys.
James @ Mar 5th 2007 10:38PM
It never ceases to amaze me the number of trolls on here that need to rationalize the purchase of their lesser console by ragging on this one.
andyscout @ Mar 5th 2007 10:46PM
That's a load of bull.
I'm arguably a prime member of the the "Playstation Generation." My first system was the PS1 when I was around 9.
I'm currently a first year student at Cal Poly, in Aerospace Engineering. In fact, I'm taking a break from some Vector Calculus homework from my Calc 4 class.
And I'm not the only one. Last year in high school, I had plenty of friends interested in math/science related fields. Halo was our drug of choice as a break during study sessions for Physics or Econ. And most of the people in my class scored well on the AP exams...
Well, that's just my two cents.
Colin @ Mar 5th 2007 10:58PM
I myself never experienced this first hand, but I work in a hospital and talk to certain doctors on a regular basis. This general surgeon I know does a lot of Laproscopic surgery. He said its a lot like playing a videogame with somewhat complex controls. He said he sometimes plays an hour or two of Halo before a long surgery. They actually have an Xbox hooked to the tv down in the Surgeon's Lounge. Halo 1 only though. Headshots with the pistol for the win!
Marcus @ Mar 6th 2007 12:58PM
Sega was my first console. Sonic was the shiznet! haha. I think video gaming helped me out alot in the army. Some games teach vauleable lessons needed to survive in some tough enviorments. Some might argue that there is a huge difference between video games and real life... But take a look at GT, Forza, F1 on ps3, Flight simulator. Cant get more realistic than that... I think gaming is a very good thing for many of people around the world.. Anyone who ever said "I blame the video game." they where just trying to escape jail time....