| One of the issues facing today's teen-agers is | | | | others on several levels at once, insulting their |
| obesity. Doctors stress that more teen-agers | | | | friends, insulting people that aren't there, and still |
| need to exercise more, or at least get their | | | | finding ways to accomplish their virtual mission. |
| hearts pumping. They note that even a few | | | | Teamwork is assumed, as is finding the role that |
| minutes of cardio-vascular exercise can lead to a | | | | they fill better than anyone else. A boy finds out |
| number of advantages for them, such as muscle | | | | a lot about himself when under any fire, virtual or |
| tone, less plaque in the blood, and, of course, less | | | | real. |
| body fat. In order to encourage this, I suggest | | | | It can be fun for spectators as well, as four boys |
| more Xbox gaming. | | | | running high on adrenalin are on an emotional high |
| Contrary to the rather staid image of a boy with | | | | as well as physical. Because of that, they feel |
| a controller in hand concentrating on the television | | | | whatever they feel much more intensely than |
| screen, a group of boys is a far different | | | | normal, and can fall faster than a rock, and fly |
| creature. Pummeling each other's virtual | | | | faster than a rocket. There is nothing more fun |
| counterparts, they occasionally hit the real-life | | | | than watching a group of boys taking names in |
| thing as well. Talking trash faster than they can | | | | the safety of their own home. There is nothing |
| skate down a stairwell railing, while at the same | | | | more natural or more nostalgic than looking at the |
| time communicating with each other to put them | | | | four boys holding the controllers and remembering |
| in the position so that their team can accomplish | | | | when that was you with a piece of plastic in your |
| their mission. | | | | hands at the corner store with your friends. |
| A group of teen-age boys are not the members | | | | Any game can provide benefits in terms of |
| of the gang, but a force of nature. They easily | | | | physical and mental health. There is the charge of |
| expend enough calories to match the same boys | | | | adrenalin that gets the heart pumping, causing the |
| on a basketball court. That level of energy | | | | blood to speed through the body. It can be |
| expenditure can be a scary, but also works out | | | | interesting to watch the group of boys bond, and |
| for the boys health as well. After a good hour or | | | | in ways that will cement them together in ways |
| so of gaming, they are out of breath, sweaty, | | | | that merely going to the same school can't. And |
| and definitely ready for the showers. | | | | it's healthy behavior for boys of that age. Now, |
| There are other advantages to game-play as well. | | | | when they're doing that a decade later...well, at |
| They are learning how to communicate with | | | | least they're not out committing crimes... |