Hi, we're here from Curiosity.com to help you get smarter in just a few minutes.

I'm Cody Gough.

And I'm Ashley Hamer.

Today you learn about the long tradition of blaming games for society's decline

and we'll answer a listener question about what makes the wind

you'll also learn about why history is so complicated from historian Justin Jample

let's satisfy some curiosity if you've ever listened to our podcast, then you know I'm a gamer.

And like all gamers, I would say it's pretty annoying when people blame video games for all of society's

problems, like violence and addiction.

Well, imagine my surprise when I learned that this is nothing new,

and I don't just mean this has been a thing for my whole life, which it has been,

I mean that blaming games for social or moral decline has been popular for millennia.

Seriously, and this blaming game, ironically, actually serves another purpose entirely.

It is used as a political tool to manipulate public sentiment.

No, really, I have proof.

As far back as the 5th century BC, the Buddha was reported as saying that, quote,

some recluses while living on food provided by the faithful continue addicted to games and recreations."

A reference that historians say was referring to chess specifically.

Meanwhile, in ancient Greek and Roman culture, dice games were outlawed during the rise of Christianity for

promoting immoral tendencies. Later even sports came under fire. The Book of

Sports was a 17th century compendium of declarations of King James I of England,

and it outlined which sports and leisure activities were appropriate to engage in after Sunday

...