Gaming is one of two passions in my life and the other one is rooting for my
and the other one is rooting for my
and the other one is rooting for my local football team which is bordering
local football team which is bordering
local football team which is bordering up and by rooting for my team and doing
up and by rooting for my team and doing
up and by rooting for my team and doing volunteer work for the supporters club I
volunteer work for the supporters club I
volunteer work for the supporters club I have seen firsthand what most of you
have seen firsthand what most of you
have seen firsthand what most of you might already know and that is that
might already know and that is that
might already know and that is that organized sports can be a real positive
organized sports can be a real positive
organized sports can be a real positive influence on local communities and
influence on local communities and
influence on local communities and childhoods and in Norway almost every
childhoods and in Norway almost every
childhoods and in Norway almost every kid has been part of some sort of
kid has been part of some sort of
kid has been part of some sort of organization that lets them do their
organization that lets them do their
organization that lets them do their hobbies it’s not all sports it can be
hobbies it’s not all sports it can be
hobbies it’s not all sports it can be anything from drawing to theater or
anything from drawing to theater or
anything from drawing to theater or dancing but organized sports has been a
dancing but organized sports has been a
dancing but organized sports has been a huge part of this and this is a good
huge part of this and this is a good
huge part of this and this is a good thing because organized sports is about
thing because organized sports is about
thing because organized sports is about more than just exercise these
more than just exercise these
more than just exercise these organizations make sure that there is an
organizations make sure that there is an
organizations make sure that there is an adult presence they teach some stuff
adult presence they teach some stuff
adult presence they teach some stuff like how to work hard to achieve
like how to work hard to achieve
like how to work hard to achieve something they teach them values like
something they teach them values like
something they teach them values like solidarity and they teach acceptable
solidarity and they teach acceptable
solidarity and they teach acceptable behavior like sportsmanship
behavior like sportsmanship
behavior like sportsmanship and to some of these kids those that
and to some of these kids those that
and to some of these kids those that might otherwise feel a little bit left
might otherwise feel a little bit left
might otherwise feel a little bit left behind
behind
behind it can also be somewhere to call a home
it can also be somewhere to call a home
it can also be somewhere to call a home somewhere to belong and because so many
somewhere to belong and because so many
somewhere to belong and because so many of the children in Norway are part of
of the children in Norway are part of
of the children in Norway are part of organizations like this it actually
organizations like this it actually
organizations like this it actually becomes a defining factor in how whole
becomes a defining factor in how whole
becomes a defining factor in how whole generations turn out so having these
generations turn out so having these
generations turn out so having these kids in these organizations learning
kids in these organizations learning
kids in these organizations learning these values is a good thing not just
these values is a good thing not just
these values is a good thing not just for them but for us as a society
but there is a problem the number of
but there is a problem the number of kids being a part of an organization
kids being a part of an organization
kids being a part of an organization like this in organized sports it has
like this in organized sports it has
like this in organized sports it has flatlined and it’s going slightly down
flatlined and it’s going slightly down
flatlined and it’s going slightly down and because we’re becoming more and more
and because we’re becoming more and more
and because we’re becoming more and more people in this country that means that
people in this country that means that
people in this country that means that the number of kids not participating is
the number of kids not participating is
the number of kids not participating is increasing and because having these kids
increasing and because having these kids
increasing and because having these kids in these organizations learning about
in these organizations learning about
in these organizations learning about well these values is a good thing we
well these values is a good thing we
well these values is a good thing we want more of this not less and even if
want more of this not less and even if
want more of this not less and even if you take a closer look at this you know
you take a closer look at this you know
you take a closer look at this you know it’s let’s a slight increase you will
it’s let’s a slight increase you will
it’s let’s a slight increase you will see that when they become teenagers
see that when they become teenagers
see that when they become teenagers there’s a huge drop out so not only are
there’s a huge drop out so not only are
there’s a huge drop out so not only are the fewer participating they’re also
the fewer participating they’re also
the fewer participating they’re also quitting earlier now why is this
quitting earlier now why is this
quitting earlier now why is this happening why is participation declining
happening why is participation declining
happening why is participation declining there are probably a lot of different
there are probably a lot of different
there are probably a lot of different reasons for this but one of them is
reasons for this but one of them is
reasons for this but one of them is computer games or gaming and that puts
computer games or gaming and that puts
computer games or gaming and that puts me in sort of an awkward situation
me in sort of an awkward situation
me in sort of an awkward situation there’s a tension between my two
there’s a tension between my two
there’s a tension between my two passions right gaming and football now
passions right gaming and football now
passions right gaming and football now in the world of gaming and on the
in the world of gaming and on the
in the world of gaming and on the internet there are almost no adults
internet there are almost no adults
internet there are almost no adults present even though as much as 96
present even though as much as 96
present even though as much as 96 percent of all the boys and 76% of all
percent of all the boys and 76% of all
percent of all the boys and 76% of all the girls between the ages 9 and 16 are
the girls between the ages 9 and 16 are
the girls between the ages 9 and 16 are playing games they play everything from
playing games they play everything from
playing games they play everything from cell phone games to Super Mario to
cell phone games to Super Mario to
cell phone games to Super Mario to eSports no organized competitions
eSports no organized competitions
eSports no organized competitions between teams and players but there
between teams and players but there
between teams and players but there aren’t almost no adults present and even
aren’t almost no adults present and even
aren’t almost no adults present and even fewer of them understand any of it
fewer of them understand any of it
fewer of them understand any of it and there are almost no organizations
and there are almost no organizations
and there are almost no organizations either
either
either and those that are there we know we’re
and those that are there we know we’re
and those that are there we know we’re very little about them we don’t know if
very little about them we don’t know if
very little about them we don’t know if they teach these values and if they do
they teach these values and if they do
they teach these values and if they do we don’t know if they’re any good at it
we don’t know if they’re any good at it
we don’t know if they’re any good at it and we suspect that they’re not and this
and we suspect that they’re not and this
and we suspect that they’re not and this makes us as a society worried we see
makes us as a society worried we see
makes us as a society worried we see these kids isolate themselves we see
these kids isolate themselves we see
these kids isolate themselves we see them sleep all day we see them stop
them sleep all day we see them stop
them sleep all day we see them stop being physically active they stop being
being physically active they stop being
being physically active they stop being social and if you try to talk to them
social and if you try to talk to them
social and if you try to talk to them about it or suggest they might do
about it or suggest they might do
about it or suggest they might do something else for a change
something else for a change
something else for a change they might even get hostile or
they might even get hostile or
they might even get hostile or aggressive you’ve probably all heard a
aggressive you’ve probably all heard a
aggressive you’ve probably all heard a story like that or seen it this is a
story like that or seen it this is a
story like that or seen it this is a story told a hundred times because this
story told a hundred times because this
story told a hundred times because this is the stigma of being a gamer so what
is the stigma of being a gamer so what
is the stigma of being a gamer so what would you see if you took a closer look
would you see if you took a closer look
would you see if you took a closer look would you see anything else that dark
would you see anything else that dark
would you see anything else that dark rooms and energy drinks and junk food
rooms and energy drinks and junk food
rooms and energy drinks and junk food you will most definitely see that but
you will most definitely see that but
you will most definitely see that but you might also see a couple of aspects
you might also see a couple of aspects
you might also see a couple of aspects that are similar to the world of sports
that are similar to the world of sports
that are similar to the world of sports you would probably see people working
you would probably see people working
you would probably see people working hard to do something difficult that
hard to do something difficult that
hard to do something difficult that required skill you would probably see in
required skill you would probably see in
required skill you would probably see in teams working together as a group to
teams working together as a group to
teams working together as a group to achieve something and some ID of and
achieve something and some ID of and
achieve something and some ID of and also find new friends on the Internet
also find new friends on the Internet
also find new friends on the Internet and there are probably some competitions
and there are probably some competitions
and there are probably some competitions being played and trophies being won but
being played and trophies being won but
being played and trophies being won but if you really made an effort you would
if you really made an effort you would
if you really made an effort you would also notice a couple of things that are
also notice a couple of things that are
also notice a couple of things that are missing you would see a world that’s
missing you would see a world that’s
missing you would see a world that’s almost totally unorganized with
almost totally unorganized with
almost totally unorganized with fragmented way of communications and to
fragmented way of communications and to
fragmented way of communications and to outsiders this looks like chaos real
outsiders this looks like chaos real
outsiders this looks like chaos real chaos you would find the world where
chaos you would find the world where
chaos you would find the world where it’s much easier to get bullied or
it’s much easier to get bullied or
it’s much easier to get bullied or alienated from a group and what about
alienated from a group and what about
alienated from a group and what about that one guy that wants to be good at
that one guy that wants to be good at
that one guy that wants to be good at something but sucks right
something but sucks right
something but sucks right will there be anyone there teaching him
will there be anyone there teaching him
will there be anyone there teaching him like a coach who probably wouldn’t now
like a coach who probably wouldn’t now
like a coach who probably wouldn’t now organized sports isn’t perfect either
organized sports isn’t perfect either
organized sports isn’t perfect either like any large group of people there
like any large group of people there
like any large group of people there will be problems there are problems with
will be problems there are problems with
will be problems there are problems with bad attitudes toxicity and even racism
bad attitudes toxicity and even racism
bad attitudes toxicity and even racism but the difference is that there’s a
but the difference is that there’s a
but the difference is that there’s a system in place to deal with this they
system in place to deal with this they
system in place to deal with this they handle it when it happens and those
handle it when it happens and those
handle it when it happens and those systems might not be as present in the
systems might not be as present in the
systems might not be as present in the online world of gaming and this is
online world of gaming and this is
online world of gaming and this is exactly the reason why we tell these
exactly the reason why we tell these
exactly the reason why we tell these kids to get out of their basement and go
kids to get out of their basement and go
kids to get out of their basement and go do sports whatever just do something
do sports whatever just do something
do sports whatever just do something else because we want them exposed to
else because we want them exposed to
else because we want them exposed to these systems we want the systems to
these systems we want the systems to
these systems we want the systems to teach them these values because having
teach them these values because having
teach them these values because having these kids in these organizations
these kids in these organizations
these kids in these organizations learning these values is a good thing
learning these values is a good thing
learning these values is a good thing for them and our society but we’re not
for them and our society but we’re not
for them and our society but we’re not really succeeding we don’t really
really succeeding we don’t really
really succeeding we don’t really understand them most of those don’t
understand them most of those don’t
understand them most of those don’t don’t understand why they do it or what
don’t understand why they do it or what
don’t understand why they do it or what they do and as a general rule but you
they do and as a general rule but you
they do and as a general rule but you don’t understand you either ignore or
don’t understand you either ignore or
don’t understand you either ignore or fear so you end up stigmatizing them
fear so you end up stigmatizing them
fear so you end up stigmatizing them instead pushing them further away so
instead pushing them further away so
instead pushing them further away so while we might complain about these kids
while we might complain about these kids
while we might complain about these kids going down to their basements
going down to their basements
going down to their basements we’re also closing the door behind them
we’re also closing the door behind them
we’re also closing the door behind them preventing them from coming back up so
preventing them from coming back up so
preventing them from coming back up so we should probably try something else
we should probably try something else
we should probably try something else we should choose to act otherwise and I
we should choose to act otherwise and I
we should choose to act otherwise and I truly believe that how we respond to
truly believe that how we respond to
truly believe that how we respond to situations like this it says something
situations like this it says something
situations like this it says something about us as human beings and as a
about us as human beings and as a
about us as human beings and as a society now what if we stopped trying to
society now what if we stopped trying to
society now what if we stopped trying to drag them out of their basements and
drag them out of their basements and
drag them out of their basements and into these systems what if we took the
into these systems what if we took the
into these systems what if we took the systems to them and made gaming in
systems to them and made gaming in
systems to them and made gaming in eSports a better place
eSports a better place
eSports a better place what if we made sure that when they
what if we made sure that when they
what if we made sure that when they spoke passionately about their hobbies
spoke passionately about their hobbies
spoke passionately about their hobbies they were met with curiosity and
they were met with curiosity and
they were met with curiosity and understanding instead of a stigma what
understanding instead of a stigma what
understanding instead of a stigma what would that do to them and why does that
would that do to them and why does that
would that do to them and why does that matter to us think about it if you if
matter to us think about it if you if
matter to us think about it if you if someone told you that you are something
someone told you that you are something
someone told you that you are something negative right matching the stigma this
negative right matching the stigma this
negative right matching the stigma this is you would you like that person if
is you would you like that person if
is you would you like that person if they said what you love doing has no
they said what you love doing has no
they said what you love doing has no value and how many people you need
value and how many people you need
value and how many people you need telling you this before you start
telling you this before you start
telling you this before you start thinking that it’s everyone thinking
thinking that it’s everyone thinking
thinking that it’s everyone thinking this about you would you be open or
this about you would you be open or
this about you would you be open or would you isolate yourself if everything
would you isolate yourself if everything
would you isolate yourself if everything everyone was like that and how long do
everyone was like that and how long do
everyone was like that and how long do you need to be isolated before you
you need to be isolated before you
you need to be isolated before you become something negative or toxic or
become something negative or toxic or
become something negative or toxic or even destructive now try and picture the
even destructive now try and picture the
even destructive now try and picture the opposites that you have a hobby that
opposites that you have a hobby that
opposites that you have a hobby that you’re happy with it and that your
you’re happy with it and that your
you’re happy with it and that your friends and family are encouraging you
friends and family are encouraging you
friends and family are encouraging you and if you want to be better at it or do
and if you want to be better at it or do
and if you want to be better at it or do it more you can go to a coach who will
it more you can go to a coach who will
it more you can go to a coach who will train you and if you do something
train you and if you do something
train you and if you do something impressive you might even get credit for
impressive you might even get credit for
impressive you might even get credit for it
it
it maybe people would share you wouldn’t
maybe people would share you wouldn’t
maybe people would share you wouldn’t that make you a lot more likely to do
that make you a lot more likely to do
that make you a lot more likely to do something positive in return this is
something positive in return this is
something positive in return this is about more than just a practical thing
about more than just a practical thing
about more than just a practical thing it’s not really about how to organize
it’s not really about how to organize
it’s not really about how to organize someone or something it’s not about what
someone or something it’s not about what
someone or something it’s not about what kind of systems do we need here and
kind of systems do we need here and
kind of systems do we need here and there this is about making a place for
there this is about making a place for
there this is about making a place for someone to belong this is about us as a
someone to belong this is about us as a
someone to belong this is about us as a society deciding who gets to be on the
society deciding who gets to be on the
society deciding who gets to be on the inside and who gets left outside and the
inside and who gets left outside and the
inside and who gets left outside and the people on the inside they can be
people on the inside they can be
people on the inside they can be valuable to us and close
valuable to us and close
valuable to us and close to us but the people on the outside they
to us but the people on the outside they
to us but the people on the outside they are the potential friends and allies we
are the potential friends and allies we
are the potential friends and allies we wasted and sometimes they are at risk of
wasted and sometimes they are at risk of
wasted and sometimes they are at risk of becoming something more destructive as
becoming something more destructive as
becoming something more destructive as well so maybe the problem isn’t just
well so maybe the problem isn’t just
well so maybe the problem isn’t just them maybe it’s us and how we as a
them maybe it’s us and how we as a
them maybe it’s us and how we as a society treat them and we really have an
society treat them and we really have an
society treat them and we really have an opportunity to do something positive
opportunity to do something positive
opportunity to do something positive here and knowing what we now know
here and knowing what we now know
here and knowing what we now know shouldn’t we make sure that everyone
shouldn’t we make sure that everyone
shouldn’t we make sure that everyone gets invited inside
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