From Amanda's very early writing (1990s to early 2000s), shared as it was originally written.
Well, I've done it! I've been to Sega World in Sydney. I vowed I would never set foot in a 'pin ball palace' , but my adored neice and nephew were visiting and they wanted to go.
We had tickets to all the rides - I didn't even know they had rides - and I hate rollercoasters! However, being the doting aunt , I climbed onto the Dino Rider or soemthing like that and had a famtasitic time! I screamed non stop during what most people would call a Sunday stroll! My nephew who is 10, kept telling me beforehand that it was 'boring' and not as good as the rollercoaster! But it didn't stop me screaming!
Then it was the 'rollercoaster'. It was just my kind - very gentle slopes; a couple of sharp stops and turns
onto and a large plastic spider looming above our heads! We went on this ride 6 times!
The guillotine was fun - stick your head in a hole and listen to words about how you will die and then a whoosh of air precedes the sound of a large blaade slicing through yoru neck! I tried - but failed- to keep my head there without creaming!
My favorite game was in the section where, for roughly the gross national profit of a nation the size of the USA , you can buy enough tokens to operate three machines. It's the one that has about seven crocodile heads that come out of caves, and my job was to bang the croc on the head before it retired to its hidey hole. I'm not normally so violent but every time you hit a croc on the head it makes the best noise! I laughed hysterically and badly embarrassed my neice and nephew!
I learned that I would never be any good at driving racing cars! Thomas (aged 10) didn't want to ride Indy 500. But gracefully diegned to join the rest of us - and he won! I , of course, came last but laughed more than anyone else!
Despite enjoying these aspects of Sega world, my experience triggered some concerns about the electronic entertainment in which our children revel.
For example, why does the place have to be dark? What's the matter with daylight? I appreciate that blocking out hte sun minimises the risk of skin cancer but spending hours in artifical light can't be good in any way. More windows would be good! And that might even let fresh air in - air conditioning is great as long as there's fresh air from somewhere!
What is it about Nintendo type games or gameboys that create addiction in children - especially boys? I'll never forget the image of my four nephews all 'playing together ' last Christmas. They were all sitting in one room; heads sharply bent as they slumped over their gameboys; no one uttering a sound!
For hours they will sit inside - as opposed to the running about outside we did as children - for hours shooting computerised people. So good for the soul - not! Sure they might learn good eye hand coordination skills but I'd rather see them being active and exercising
@Xand moving muscles and joints like they should be moved - instead of starting thier sedentary lifestyles 15 years ealrier than we did. Remember, sedentary lifestyles are significant contributers to bowel cancer, heart disease and arthritis - our kids are starting at age five. Oh oh. Not to mention the eyestrain or RSI that I'm sure would accompany
Most boys today choose computer games or Sega world over chasing each other around the back garden. Or jumping in the swimming pool. Where have we gone wrong?
Is it easier to let them stay occupied playing those games than to go out and play with them? I wonder what seeds we are sewing?
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Make a commitment to spend more time with your children outside - take them bushwalking; riding; to the beach; walking - anything that's active - offer them alternatives to Nintendo and Sega World. With any luck, they'll choose you!
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