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  • Rob: Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English. I'm Rob.

  • Finn: and I'm Finn. Hello.

  • Rob: Hello, Finn. Did you have a good weekend?

  • Finn: Yeah, it was OK thanks although,

  • you know, I'm a bit tired now.

  • Rob: Why's that?

  • Finn: It's a bit embarrassing but I stayed up all night playing a computer game.

  • Rob: All night?! You must be addicted.

  • Addicted, by the way, means unable to stop doing something.

  • Finn: Well, maybe today's programme might have some advice for me.

  • Rob: That's right. Today we're discussing whether

  • computer games are bad for our health - and in particular - bad for children.

  • Finn: OK, Rob, why don't you wake me up a little

  • bit by asking me today's quiz question?

  • Rob: OK - here goes. In America, what percentage

  • of people who play computer games are female? Is it... a) 28%

  • b) 38% or c) 48%

  • Finn: Well, I do know a few female gamers so how about b) 38%.

  • Rob: OK, right. Go for the middle option?

  • We'll find out if you're right later on.

  • OK, so what kind of computer games do you like to play, Finn?

  • Finn: Well, I quite like those role-playing games.

  • You know, the fantasy role-playing games.

  • Rob: OK, well, role playing is where you create your own characters

  • and stories in a fantasy - or imaginary - world.

  • But, to be honest, those kind of games aren't really up my alley

  • which means they're not really suited to my tastes or abilities.

  • Any other kind of games you like, Finn?

  • Finn: Yeah, I also quite like shoot-'em-up games.

  • These are games where you have to do a lot of shooting and there's a lot of violence.

  • Rob: It's funny because you don't strike me as a violent person, Finn.

  • Finn: I'm not, at all. I wouldn't hurt a fly, Rob!

  • But maybe shooting people on a computer screen seems a bit more harmless.

  • Rob: OK. And not to hurt a fly means to be gentle

  • and unwilling to make people unhappy.

  • And harmless means unlikely to hurt or upset anyone.

  • Well, let's hear Internet safety advisor Alan MacKenzie discussing

  • how adult computer games can have a negative effect on children.

  • Alan MacKenzie: Many people understandably will just think that a game is just a game

  • and not realising the explicit content that's in there

  • and as you suggest, the violence and sexualisation of women in particular,

  • which is wholly inappropriate for anybody, never mind children.

  • Finn: Well, you know, if you want my opinion, Rob, a game is just a game.

  • It's generally a harmless form of entertainment.

  • What do you think?

  • Rob: I'm torn, actually - meaning I'm unable to decide.

  • Most people, like you Finn, probably aren't affected by what you see in computer games.

  • But we can't ignore the small percentage of people who are affected.

  • Finn: Well, that's true really, isn't it, Rob?

  • And whilst playing computer games all night doesn't make me violent,

  • it certainly makes me very tired!

  • Rob: I can see that. But also Finn,

  • when do you and your wife actually talk to each other

  • when you're in your own computer fantasy world for hours on end?

  • Finn: Yeah, it's not great, is it?

  • And for hours on end means a long time, by the way!

  • So, I don't know.

  • Maybe if she played as well,

  • then we could have some virtual conversations...

  • Rob: Well, that sounds ridiculous! But let's move on.

  • Alan talks about explicit content in games.

  • What does that mean?

  • Finn: That means showing things in an open and direct way.

  • So some adult games contain open violence and sexualisation.

  • Rob: And shall we explain what sexualisation means?

  • Finn: Yes. It means making someone or something sexual and in this case, women.

  • This might be through the shape of a woman's body,

  • or the clothes she wears, or the way she behaves in these games.

  • Rob: Alan says this type of explicit content

  • violent or sexual - is inappropriate for computer games.

  • And inappropriate means not the right thing for a particular situation.

  • Finn: And he is worried about children accessing this type of content.

  • Let's hear more from him. What advice does he give?

  • Alan MacKenzie: So it's a matter of educating the parents

  • and the wider community in these issues,

  • and making them aware of the type of content that's in there,

  • and why it's inappropriate,

  • and the effects that it may be having on their children and their behaviour.

  • Finn: Alan thinks it's the responsibility of parents and the wider community

  • now that means other groups of people, such as friends, relatives and teachers for example

  • to check on what children are viewing and playing.

  • Rob: But this will only work if they understand

  • which types of content are OK and which aren't.

  • Finn: That's right. So the adults need educating too.

  • They need to be shown.

  • Rob: Yes, that's right.

  • So I'll be checking on your behaviour from now on, Finn!

  • Finn: OK, That's probably a good idea.

  • So, let's hear the answer to today's quiz question next.

  • Rob: Yes and I asked you, in America,

  • what percentage of people who play computer games are female? Is it... a) 28% b) 38% or c) 48%?

  • Finn: And I went for the middle option, as usual, and I said b) 38%.

  • Rob: And you are wrong, this time Finn!

  • The answer is actually c) 48%.

  • Are you surprised by that?

  • Finn: Yes and no.

  • I think a lot more people are playing games in general,

  • so lots of them must be women.

  • Rob: Absolutely. Why not?

  • OK, shall we now listen to the words we learned today?

  • Finn: Good idea. We heard:

  • addicted

  • fantasy

  • up your alley

  • shoot 'em up

  • not to hurt a fly

  • harmless

  • for hours on end

  • explicit content

  • sexualisation

  • inappropriate

  • wider community

  • Rob: Thank you. Well, that brings us to the end of today's 6 Minute English.

  • We hope you enjoyed today's programme.

  • You can hear other 6 Minute English programmes at bbclearningenglish.com.

  • Please join us again soon.

  • Both: Bye!.

Rob: Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English. I'm Rob.

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