halo corrupts our youth

halo corrupts our youth

Thousands of people flocked to stores last night that were set to release the popular video game “Halo 3" in an attempt to be some of the first to own it. Some camped out of popular stores such as Best Buy and GameStop as early as Saturday night. One such customer, R. J. Bollard, a freshman at the University of Washington, said he would “have 73 cents in his bank account as of midnight.” This game has been long awaited, (it was available for pre-order as early as last Thanksgiving) and is set to sell the most copies in the first 24 hours of any game previously released.

Another individual, Uche Nwachukwu, the first person in line at the Best Buy in Manhattan, said he had “been waiting since 6 p.m. Sunday. “I camped out for Halo 2 and I camped out for the [Microsoft xbox] 360 itself, but I was always third in line or fifth in line....This time I was determined to be first.” At least he has his priorities in order.

It is ridiculous for anyone to camp out over night for a video game, let alone all weekend. People make it seem like they will not be able to survive if they don’t acquire Halo 3. Joseph Hunter, 19, a student at Morehouse College in Atlanta, said the series has “sort of become an obsession” and said entire dormitories at Morehouse face off against one another in Halo combat. Regarding Halo 3, he said, “I knew if I didn’t have it my life would be over.” Whether or not this is a gross overstatement, it is representative of how video games is corrupting the minds of young students. Instead of doing homework, or perhaps studying, they are facing off “against one another in Halo combat.”

The fact that the majority of people waiting enthusiastically for the game are students, is very distressing. Waiting all weekend for this is not what they should be doing. If you have time, one could go to the mall after they are done with their work to go pick up the game. Some have been waiting for more then the weekend though. Dan Gibson of Georgia Institute of...