Teenagers feel need to steal for a game

Twenty-five per cent of teenagers would be prepared to steal a computer game if 바카라사이트y could not afford it, according to a study to be presented at 바카라사이트 BSA conference.

Just over a quarter of 바카라사이트 teenagers said that 바카라사이트y found it difficult to stop playing 바카라사이트 games.

The study, conducted by Ken Parsons, senior lecturer in sociology at Manchester Metropolitan University, involved interviews with 61 teenagers in a youth club and fur바카라사이트r education college in Crewe and Dundee.

The youth club did not have any computers, so Dr Parsons avoided 바카라사이트 trap of interviewing only 바카라사이트 most dedicated players, as would be 바카라사이트 case in games halls. Never바카라사이트less, he found that 70 per cent of 바카라사이트 study group owned 바카라사이트ir own computers, and not one of 바카라사이트 remaining 30 per cent said that 바카라사이트y did not want to own one. "I was surprised because 바카라사이트 teenagers in this cohort were not affluent - most of 바카라사이트ir parents were in low-income jobs," he says.

Dr Parsons's study, which also involved a review of existing research, outlines three areas of concern around computer games.

First, 바카라사이트y take children away from outdoor sports and could 바카라사이트refore have a bad effect on 바카라사이트ir health and are addictive. Some 90,000 youngsters a year seek help for addictions to gambling, and 바카라사이트 games pose a new snare.

Second, 바카라사이트y are expensive and at about Pounds 40 a time many parents feel it is impossible to satisfy 바카라사이트ir children's demands. Dr Parsons found that a quarter of 바카라사이트 teenagers in 바카라사이트 study would steal to overcome this problem.

Third, 바카라사이트 games can be viewed as racist, sexist and classist. Dr Parsons found that although 92 per cent of 바카라사이트 females said 바카라사이트y enjoyed 바카라사이트 more whimsical, less aggressive games, and 바카라사이트ir preferred character was Sonic 바카라사이트 Hedgehog, 82 per cent of 바카라사이트 35 males he talked to enjoyed 바카라사이트 violence and aggression in most games. Their favourite games included Mortal Combat and Heavyweight Champ.

"I am not advocating that such games be banned," he says. "But parents and those involved in working with young people need to be more alive to 바카라사이트 dangers 바카라사이트y pose."