Can video games stress the nervous system enough to cause mood changes? Tantrums? Explosive behavior?

Let’s be honest. By age five, these kids usually have the mouths of sailors. A wise man once said that a normal person, plus anonymity, plus an audience, equals…F@#$%wad. The tendency for anonymous crowds to be abusive is well-known, and adding in the competitive nature of online multiplayer games doesn’t help things.

You may have experienced it yourself, that player in the chat who gets angry and aggressive; calling people names and filling the screen with lines of typed abuse. If you’re on voice-chat, it could be shouted insults filled with curses, or sneered commands from someone convinced they’re superior.

This environment can become overwhelming for some, and many decide to drop out and play something else. At first, you might be driven by your emotions and react the same way, but after you realize it’s just a game and it’s not actually worth it, you’ll start looking for different online games that will not have these kinds of upsetting interactions with other players.

I know this. Why can’t I just give in and leave well enough alone???

I’ve watched similar “arguments,” however one-sided they might be, unfold often. Some people are simply too steadfast in jumping to conclusions and making wild assumptions, and regardless of logic, reason and proof, go on the offensive to “Attack!” and keep up the pressure afterwards. When things go from unfair to uncharacteristically sadistic, there’s little hope left.

Unfortunately, the vast majority of people who get this “mood” refuse to look at how their own behavior affects their relationship with their partner. And it’s not just women — this sort of fatalism is far too prevalent in both genders.

Not to channel Rodney King or anything, but sometimes, we just have to stop arguing, accept one another’s faults and proceed forward…

The last two days posts regarding that litigation-crazy fruit company have caused some serious arguments, all of which have no basis in logic or reality. You can read more about this in my forthcoming book, “Why You’re An Idiot: Why ‘Apple is Better Because F#$* You!’ Is Not a Valid Argument.”