Ben-DutkaNewspaper reporter: "Hey, I just found these poll results about video games."
Newspaper editor: "Nobody cares."
Newspaper reporter: "No, it proves games are evil."
Newspaper editor: "Really? Go with it."
Newspaper reporter: "I dunno…the numbers are pretty flimsy…"
Newspaper editor: "I said go with it ."
Yet another newspaper has found a way to question the gamer lifestyle; it's The Daily Mail and as noted by PCR , the paper cited a report by One Poll that "clearly" shows how games wreck relationships. The numbers are really super incriminating: about 5% of gamers admit that their hobby cost them a relationship, and about half of women say they're "jealous" of the time their partners spend gaming. It also says that 1 in 10 men have admitted to choosing a game over sex. These results were statistically strong enough to prompt a spokesperson to say:
"It seems like a games console often means there are three people in a relationship. It's a bit sad if the virtual world is taking precendence over the real world."
And the top relationship busting game? Call of Duty . It's followed by Football Manager (what?) and Grand Theft Auto . Now, I'm sorry, I'm all for learning more about a particular group or culture or whatever, especially if you're not exactly "in-the-know." But are you kidding me? Did anyone else see those numbers? Hey, do this- replace games with sports. Go right ahead. Let me know the percentage of avid sports fans who admit to relationship troubles due to a football game.
Better yet, take any hobby on planet earth and drop it into the poll, and see if the numbers aren't higher. What we enjoy doing by ourselves can have a negative impact on anything we do with other people; it's called logic and…well, math (i.e., amount of time in any given day). As for the bit about "half the women" upset at their partner's playing…yeah, well, no offense to the ladies, but about 90% of them can find a way to be upset with any hobby at any time.
And this is nationwide news, people. That quote and those results. Yaaaay.