Taken from gamespot:

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Good to see someone did at least mention the rising gas prices.

Kind of hard to justify driving more to do something when most people are becoming hard pressed to Eat and Afford gas to work.

95% of people that base something like that on % stats is an idiot... d'oh!

No, seriously, I don't care about 1.2 trips per person compared to .9 trips per person... show me how many people (by the number) came through 10 years ago yesterday, and how many people went through yesterday. Also, show me the stats on what recreational (if any) attractions have been created (these include bars, YMCAs, Wal-Marts, Kennywoods, Six Flags, roller rinks, etc.) in areas surrounding or in travelling distance of where most visitors come from.

I would LOVE to take my kid on vacation to the Grand Canyon or Yellowstone. I simply can't afford it. In between the rising gas prices, or costs of flying and renting a car, it's too expensive. Add in the general cost of living compared to what people make, and most people can't afford it either. Taking a vacation is a luxury, and a lot of people can't afford it.

That report is totally biased, "performed by Oliver Pergams, an assistant professor in biological sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago." Find someone who might not have such an investment in certain results.

Exactly!
First of all our jobs don't give us the vacation time they did 20 years ago. We are going in earlier and staying later. Anyone remember it used to be 9-5?
We are working on unpaid lunch breaks, unpaid overtime, even weekends.
I work Sundays for instance.
Do not blame my 12.99 a month game on why I can't take some time off to go see a geyser.
Blame my boss.
Blame low pay and little time away.
Sometimes I wonder if these people that write this crap live in the same world I do.

...War...rampant world-wide diseases...world hunger...terrorists...global warming...corporate/government scandals...WAIT!!! This just in: a scientist has just shown that there "might" be a correlation between video games and national park attendance...

That's it! Everyone in the bomb shelter right now! And be sure we have an internet connection down there!

I dont notice this much in london england. We have good sized parks (hyde park, regents park, syon park etc etc) and they still fill out on warm days.

Although saying that, we have parks everywhere within walking/cycle distance of us. We dont have to shell out money to get to them heh.

that brings up a good question other contries can do it -- why does the US have a problem with it -- that includes violence -- sorry but japan has alot of violent cartoons and yet thier doing better than us .... mom and i have talked about that time and time again -- i dont get it i watch alot of anime and so do my kids (14-16) and yet we dont have them jumping up and killing someone --- and to top that one off my youngest one loves military movies like black hawk down she watched it when she was about 10 --- i guess it all comes down to HOW you raise your kids --- you teach them the differences and pray nothing else gets in the way --- same with going out and getting fresh air yeah its easyer to sit them in front of the cyber babysitter -- but are you watching the babysitter or are you doing your own thing? when my kids go out side they check in i even go out there to check on them and yes that includes this week -- letting them out of your reach could end up having problems they think they can get away with more and more ... also a small note yes i love nature and all but the only reason why i would go camping is cause up here in alaska we have almost 24 hrs of sunlight during the summer i dont want to be out there in the dark sorry toooo many storys about people getting hurt out there ... i preferr a controled situation than that yes we have bears near where i live but why would i want to sleep next to a bear den? i think the parks need to think and adjust to todays life style and make it more convenant for us to go out to these parks ... by the way i worked for the USFS and i know 10 yrs ago till now nothing has changed ... ok enough of my babble .......

Good points in there... Gas Prices... travel costs.. My husband and I keep promising ourselves we will go somewhere.. first we have to get a reliable vehicle.. then keep it in gas.. then have money for sleeping and eating arrangements. It's not that GAMES are keeping people at home in front of a game console, it's that no one has the money or time to make that trip, no matter how much they would like to!

Considering that it is normal hot outside, and you get all sweaty when you visit parks....get bitten by bugs, possibly eaten by wild animals...raped, killed or something like that by some psycho...drown because you were drinking and surfing, swimming or boating....why not stay home and play games. At least if anything bad happens to you, you will more than likely be in a cool environment listening to your favorite tunes. JUST KIDDING. Technology has made us all a bunch of lazy bastards.