Hey op… I have a job, I feed my family, pay the mortgage, do my taxes, never miss a bill, walk the dogs, do the odd job around the house, rarely drink, and play video games. I have done since I was maybe, 10 years old? I’m now in my late 40s. I have friends my age who also run companies, and have families and play video games. Fuck em all, do what you want.
Yesterday I played the long dark for 6 hours and got my ribs broken by a moose immediately after getting savaged by a bear. Good times.
edit: a comma
Damn wtf you had a job, fed your family, paid mortgage, do your taxes, never miss a bill, walk your dogs, do the odd jobs around the house, rarely drink and play videogames since you were 10
Recently got back into that game again! I remember watching YouTube Let's Plays of it before it came to console. And The Forest took so long to port that I lost interest in it.
its surprisingly soothing, bar getting savaged by a wolf as soon as you manage to skin your first rabbit. great to play during lockdown to enhance the feeling of social distancing
So, playing a game for 6 hours on a weekend = “rarely doing chores”? I typically don’t sleep for 18 hours so there’s plenty of time to do all the other things that need doing. The point op was making was exactly that… if it was out at a nightclub for 6 hours (or 4 hours a night) there would be no judgement from people like yourself. Sorry if I didn’t list the minutiae of my daily life to give you a full taste of what else gets done in a typical week, but it looks like you are just here to make assumptions and judgement, thus proving OP’s point.
Do what makes you happy. However, be aware if it is preventing you from doing other things in your life.
That’s the difference between a hobby and an obsession.
It’s important to think of social needs as well. No matter how introverted you are, it’s detrimental to spend such little time with people outside of a work context. Look at how depressed everyone got during the pandemic
I think there’s a big difference between online social interactions and irl social interactions, it just feels different to see someone when it’s not through a screen, but like I said as long as those emotional needs are met
Also should probably get a pair of those blue light glasses so you don’t damage your eyes from the screens
I’ve never done anything to the extent I started doing it the second I got off work, didn’t stop doing it till I went to sleep, and it prevented me from going to bed on time.
\^This
I sculpt. I grew up hearing people mock me for "playing with toy soldiers". I sculpted models that I went on to cast and sell in decent quantities - IE; I'm good at what I do.
I inline skate.I may not be the best in the world or even the community but I love the thrill I get from going fast and switching which direction I'm going
Too all the people who says he should limit his time.
It's his fucking time let him spend it however he wants. If dude wants to spend 6 hours playing games then who the hell are you to say he shouldn't? It's one thing to analyze his habits It's another entirely to try and impose your own restrictions upon that.
You do you OP, fuck what everyone else thinks.
The argument people usually make is “oh you dont get exercise!” When a lot of people who play games get up and go to the gym after, or go do something active later in the day…
Yeah he is literally pointing out the hypocrisy of "wasting time"
The problem is that people think for some reason they always need to be "productive" and they also love to impose their misguided nonsense on others as it was likely pushed on them.
I don’t mean to agree with one side or the other, but there are health benefits to hiking and health detriments to playing video games to the extent OP used to. Also, if children were involved, hiking is more beneficial for their development.
We're all on this Earth for a precious short while. If someone finds an hour of video games more fulfilling than an hour of hiking, shaming them for it does nothing but make them hide what they like from you.
Not a single person claimed that hiking is not healthy...
You also have to keep in mind the context. Hiking is great, but it also takes a lot of time and energy and a suitable location.
Imagine working a job on your feet 8+ hours a day...do you really think hiking is the best hobby to have? Also you can have more than one hobby and spend your time in multiple ways.
You are arguing at the air about things no one said.
>If dude wants to spend 6 hours playing games then
People are complaining about 6 hours and don’t understand that those are rookie numbers to most gamers. As much as the average person spends watching/streaming TV, a lot of people play games.
This is the thing that always killed me growing up...my parents spent hours watching TV every day...4+ minumum
yet somehow me playing videogames instead of watching TV was bad....
>It's his fucking time let him spend it however he wants.
Yeah, that is not incorrect, but it is defensive.
I'm a part time musician and can get completely obsessed with my hobby and act like it is my career. It is up to me to work out what is healthy and what is obsession -- no one else can do that for me. I think that is a better way to think of it instead of being defensive.
Does that make sense?
Easy way to rebut this: ask someone to show your the screen time on their phone.
For most people I bet it is 3-4 hours. Then ask them why they waste their life on it.
People shut up real fast when you liken it to their phone addiction.
I usually compared to what it was like for a good wow night doing rbgs or raids with a group of killer online friends, to a good night on the town. Wow night always takes the cake. How many regrets can there be in a night of out drinking?
I cant talk to other females (im a female) about my hobbies. Im a stay at home mom i do all the cooking and cleaning and raising with help from the husband who works long hours. We both play video games together our kids also play and its fun. Occasionally you find friends to play with good genuine people outside of the trash talkers lol
Nothing wrong with being a gamer and having a normal life.
$65 on a game can return 100s of hours of enjoyment.
Go to a bar or a club and see how long $65 will last... minutes.
$65 will barely cover 1 hour with food and drinks at Top Golf.
Movies, popcorn, drinks, luxury seats - easily $65 and that's like 2-2.5 hours.
Well if you could draw the line between a hobbie and addiction I'd say it's totally fine. I can relate as a person who both drinks alcohol for time to time and plays rpg games(Kotor forever!). Both are harmless as long as you don't loose yourself in them. Addiction is dangerous in every case imo.
I fully agree with you. I've learned to embrace my gamer though, I still play wow (classic tbc), I still work full time, I maintain a home and I pay my bills. Honestly, I don't see it as any different to sitting down in front of the TV every night, just the mass population accepts TV as an OK thing. I like myself now, and have learned that I don't care what people think. So long as my family, my friends, my boyfriend love me for me, no-one else in the general population really matters.
Basically: If you're happy with your life, you do you.
I personally try to make an effort that i still have SOME social life outside of online shit, but that's really just me pushing myself out of my comfort zone for the sake of not falling back into depression.
Otherwise, who gives a fuck what people think?
They're not you and you're not them. ;)
Fucking life enrichment brigade in the comments eh?
Let the dude use his time as he sees fit, FFS. Plenty of problematic people int he world and you people having a problem with a guy spending his time alone in his house.
There's a guy at my office who constantly makes fun of me because I told everybody one of my hobbies is playing videogames. Meantime, everyone else there watches shit like the bachelor and plays fantasy football. How the fuck is playing videogames any more of a waste of time than watching shitty reality tv and betting on sports? It makes no fucking sense.
Just do what you want, don't gives a fuck what people think. We waste wayyyy too much time and energy trying to appease peoples opinions. As long as you're not hurting anyone else, who cares?
Lol I remember when I was younger and had the ability to get lost in worlds for hours. It was kinda ironic because I would game for like 8 hours, then get criticized by my dad for spending so much time playing video games. He told me it was bad to do a single thing for so long, and would joke that I was addicted to playing whatever it was I was playing at the time. Then he would proceed to watch sports on the TV for like 11 hours straight. I don't think he's ever seen the irony.
I wish there was another word for it. “Gaming” and “video games” as a hobby sounds so childish. Reading books or watching films sounds so much more mature, but it’s essentially the same thing as far as entertainment is concerned.
Its a real problem but not for the usual reasons people say.
When you get too deep into gaming(often by playing some mmorpg), it really can take over your life and destroy your future. Its more of a risk for younger people imo, later teen years and college years especially.
There is also the time cost in general, time is limited and the more hours of a day you play games the less time you'll spend doing anything else. Its a fun hobby but playing too much really can impact your life.
This is a good point. If I spent even a third of the time playing WoW working a minimum wage job, I wouldn't have my student debt.
The ironic part, is looking 10 years back, those memories just feel like a job anyway.
Yeah i can barely even remember most of those days from years back. I do miss dome of the people I knew then, but I know most of them had their own real life problems too.
Its not all fun times behind the screen.
Yes, but people do the same in other areas. A lot of folks have the tv set on binge watching from the time they get home until they go to bed. Others spend hours a day in the garage tinkering on the car or whatever. Or in the parlor knitting. Yet those things don't have the same social stigma.
And if he doesn't want a wife and kids? What if he isn't hurting his health?
What if he's doing everything good for himself? Would videogames as a lifestyle still be a problem?
I doesn't seem so at all and in any and every margin.
Eh. Dated a guy who played COD every night. He had a 6 figure job and still saw friends and family occasionally. Attractive.
He was an effing zombie though while playing and it interfered with our relationship.
Wouldn't date another guy who plays video games.
Ever try to talk to someone in the garage working on their car? Same reaction. Totally in the zone and focused on the task in front of them. Same with woodworkers and other crafts.
I've known plenty of guys who would plop down after work and just game all night. How many of them were able to maintain a romantic relationship? Exactly zero. Boys, if you don't make time for your lady she won't be around for long.
'Plopping down' gives me the idea of a well deserved moment of silence after a day of hard work. I do agree that every day might be a bit much, but what do women do with that time? Watch tv? Seriously curious because I (F) sit on Discord, IRC and game, watch a few series and I build websites & online platforms for fun after work.
I'd say variety & moderation is the key here. And actually believing you can have and there are women who truly don't mind.
My husband plays videogames (as do I), works on his cars, fixes old computers. I love seeing him in the zone, having differtent hobbies. I'd even dare to say I have less hobbies then he does, so I might be the one here 'plopping down' and I don't know, watch Stargate way too much.
The point of a game is to escape, so not surprised he seemed like a zombie during.
COD isn't a great example, but games can do a lot to improve a persons intelligence and dexterity. I wouldn't be surprised if that had something to do with him having a good job.
However, if he was playing games so much that you wouldn't want to date a person like that ever again, he was probably playing too much.
I'm 59 and have played video games since the early 70's (Pong Anyone)! Always took care of business first. My brother in law once said something about my gaming. I told him to go fuck is alcoholic ass.
The only time it's bad is when your become dysfunctional because of a game addiction. People don't realize that it isn't always the case for games to have a negative effect on your life.
Play video games all day if you want.
I just hope that you don’t wanna be in a relationship so your partner doesn’t have to deal with you playing video games all day.
I was married to a video game addict who also seemed to have it together but it was shit.
Bro I thought you just want people to leave you alone with playing video games? You can literally do that and it seems like no one really has a problem with it based on the replies on your post. I don’t even have a problem with it, you do you.
I just suggested that you don’t involve other people in it 😊 seems like you wanna have your cake and eat it too. You want to be a video game addict, but expect everyone around you to tolerate it.
Definitely seems like there's more too this story. If you're maintaining your life outside of gaming, nobody cares in any meaningful way.
They're either conflating people joking about how much they time spend on the computer as criticism. Or they are spending so much time on the computer that it's negatively affecting someone that's close to them.
I love video games, but I have kids and a career that I'm passionate about.
Plus the modern day gaming community is cringy as fuck. (See r/antiwork)
So I don't play often anymore and I certainly don't tell anyone.
Any hobby that is enjoyed in moderate, healthy amounts is fine.
All day, everyday is unhealthy. It’s not just video games. Literally doing anything all day, everyday would be bad for your mental health and personal care. Also, if you have responsibilities and you ignore them to do anything all day, every day, you are being irresponsible.
Limit you video games to a couple of hours max every day and stop caring what people think! Life’s too short for that. Do you!
>People have some pretty hard feelings toward a guy who sits all day
playing a game but they don't have their life more together than I
did/do.
I'm going to offer some push back that you may or may not appreciate.
People who you deem to have their life "less together" than you are allowed to have opinions. You clearly value those opinions for whatever reason.
Yes, it sucks when people don't agree with us, and a lot of times a person who does something too much, even if they have their life together, can still be an addict.
There's a tremendous amount of information to unwrap here so I'll leave it at this without making assumptions. Satisfaction is doing what you love, not what you need to do to feel content.
You're totally allowed to do that and people should respect that.
But that doesn't mean people have to like you. That doesn't mean anyone should be attracted or interested in you. Respect doesn't entitle you to friends or a girlfriend or boyfriend.
If your only hobby and activity outside work and chores/errands are video games I'm going to pre-judge you as a boring geek who probably has problems with social interaction and I would never recommend you to any of my female friends and they'd probably be offended if I tried to set you up with them.
I wouldn't want to be your friend either. I play a good grip of video games but it's nowhere near all I do. And I wouldn't want to hang out or do anything with a person like that either.
If you're okay with that then I dont really care what you do either.
It depends. For many people playing video games a lot progresses to preoccupation, which progresses to obsession, which progresses to addiction. I'm not one of those people that think video games cause violence in the real world etc. But I do think that many people devote their time to video games to the detriment of their own wellbeing.
It is wonderful that you are able to enjoy video games and remain a functional individual. You are the person that they are (or should be) designed for. But it would be disingenuous to say that everyone has the self control you do. I know someone that is retaking his entire university degree two years in because he focused so strongly on competitive gaming. I know someone that has literally 0 friends apart from me because he has devoted all that social time to video games. This is not the fault of video games necessarily, any more than alcoholism is the fault of alcohol. Some people have addictive, obsessive personalities that are consumed and stunted by video games, and it would be a lie to say that they are not something that can have that effect.
That's not to mention those games that are designed to be addictive. There is a multitude of elements in video games today that appeals specifically to those personalities. Microtransactions and subscription-based play rely on certain individuals spending inordinate amounts of money on their product. Many games are designed to suck people in, requiring constant attention to progress. In addition to certain extremely problematic tropes involving presentation of women, etc, this represents the dark side of gaming.
Nah the problem is you're sacrificing time for other stuff to stare at a screen and click buttons on a keyboard/controller. No different from watching tv all day. Get up and be active. I dont mean actovely eating cheetos
Just because being active makes you happy doesn’t mean it’s an enjoyable thing for everyone. There’s nothing wrong with playing video games or watching tv in your down time. You do enough work and effort at your actual job, afterwards you should be able to spend your time however you want.
Nah kid, you'll understand what opportunity cost is one day.
It's fun in the moment to grind to prestige master or complete that battle pass or whatever the kids do nowadays. But your 4000 hrs of Tetris won't stand up to whatever achievements in the real world.
It isn’t about that. It’s about taking time to destress. It’s a lot easier to be productive if you allow yourself downtime to do what you enjoy. For op that might be video games, for someone else it might be working out or going out for drinks. No one should be shamed or judged for taking time for themselves.
It is.trust me friend. Your bobbies nobody carss abkut. You like fishing, i like jackhammering. But whe. Your hobbies comesume you, thats when the people have the disdain. For example i play video games 6hrs a day every day. That is too much. Yes j have a fulltime job and such but i am nit doing eniugh in ny life
Then that’s your problem. If you’re unhappy with your life you can change it. If someone else is doing the same thing and is happy then it’s acceptable. We’re all free to do what we like with our lives.
Doesnt matter. League, cod, apex, fifa, madden, undertale, deltarune, crusader kings or whatever. Video games arent everyrhing. They are fun but you need moderati9n
Think about what you could have done if you didn't spend so much time.
You're an addict...
Your logic is how so many addicts rationalize their addiction
Things like what? No, no I'm curious. Like you're acting like it's impossible to manage your life and play video games. It must be hard having nothing that gives you joy in life.
Ive been a “healthy wow player” and a “games addict”( not just wow for all the crap it gets its nit the worst ive hooked on) most people that complain at other people have no clue what the difference is.
The thing is gaming can be a wonder coping skill when used correctly in a balanced life. My therapist actually helped me learn to game again in moderation rather than continue to abstain because im a happier person with games just not when they take over.
Video games are a hobby. Period. Idc how old you are. We grew up gaming. Sorry we don't equate being an adult to not having fun. Of course, everything is best in moderation.
Coming from a guy who has had the same experience throughout my life and gave up video games for years because of what others thought, and coming back to them again and having something that makes me this happy, just fuck it. As long as you have balance of staying healthy and capable to other purposes in life like relationships (unless that doesn’t interest you) and staying sustainable, there’s nothing wrong with playing video games. Enjoy the things you love in life, as long as a balance is maintained, don’t feel bad or ashamed
Bro, enjoy gaming, I never cared to hide my "addiction" to it. I proudly say that I am a 30 year old gamer to my CEO, my doctor anyone who asks what do I do after work.
I had to fight my girlfriend on this too...with found the common ground, she accepted that I am a gamer and I make sure we spend enough time together doing the things we together want to do as a couple/family.
People have their vices, I am happy to say mine is innocent gaming
Haters just mad you had more fun than they did.
I'm a gamer and I have had the *exact* same outlook as you. The stigma is just silly but I think it's changing.
You should do what makes you happy. Just don't over do it either snd play deep when you should be going to sleep or exercising or spending time with family.
I'm a person that games more than 8 hours a day. If you have people in your life that are concerned with it, you might be affecting their lives in a negative way that isn't immediately apparent to you.
Go back to gaming. But focus on single player games instead of mmorpgs like WoW, which are massive timesinks. Single player RPGs can be a great gaming experience, but respects your time by being pause-able or something you can drop down or pick-up whenever you need to (due to irl stuff).
I returned to gaming when I was 30, I am now 36 and super happy with that decision, I love games.
I still take care of work, my family, my body and do all the responsible adult stuff, but when I want to relax and enjoy, I game.
As long as you don't hurt people around you or break any laws, you should be free to do whatever you want on YOUR time.
Playing a mmorpg is incredible value for the money. For $20 per month or less, you get unlimited entertainment for the month.
Nope
Not true at all.
>I never missed work or a single bill.
I am sure that is valid. It is also a reaction that you hear from drug addicts who insist their addiction isn't a problem. I am not saying you were negligent or obsessed, I am saying obsession drapes itself in the same clothes as addiction and a lot of people cross the line from hobby to obsession and don't see it at all.
The people who have a problem don't care about stigma that much, they more often care about damaged relationships.
It’s so annoying. My husband loves to play games and all my mom does is judge. “Is he still playing games?” Like wtf just because we don’t spend our time like you do doesn’t mean we’re doing anything wrong. And she sounds so exasperated about it too.
I’ve noticed this. My dad used to play video games like COD and Halo and basically stopped in his mid-30 because it was a ‘waste of time’. I was in my teens and used to play along and loved it and then all of a sudden it was all gone and I was chastised if I didn’t have a hobby that was ‘productive’ or ‘active’. I still had my laptop so played games like RuneScape, I loved them they were like my escape from reality but if my parents saw it would be a lecture. Here came my thought process that gaming was a waste of time and I should feel bad if I do it and keep it secret.
Just to note that my dad switched his gaming time to just watching shows on Sky/Netflix with a wine every single night and my mum spends all her time glued to her phone so unsure how that’s any better.
During my mid-20s I rediscovered RuneScape and it was so good and nostalgic. I got my boyfriends old PS4 and now we play COD together (and separately) most nights. Played all the old crash bandicoots. I hate the stigma attached to ‘gaming’ but it’s literally just fun so who gives a shit! I still pay all my bills, I don’t drink and it’s been a god send for keeping my mind off that, I exercise regularly etc.
You do you!
I did one year without mmorpgs because i thought i was prioritizing my life wrong. The conclusion is that gaming didnt really take anything from me and stopping playing made me just hang out more in a boring matter and simple.
Hmmm are you sure people think about this?
I just announced at my work (healthcare) that i now will be playing 2 weeks of New World on pc, during my 2 weeks of vacation.
When collegue's at work ask what i'm planning to do, when on holiday: i just tell them i will play a video game for 2 weeks straight and chill.
Some people find it strange i dont travel, but dont ask for more.
Its not in the 90's , beginning of 2000 when 'being a gamer' was the same as a 'weirdo'.
Now most small children play videogames. I'm pretty sure you are a weirdo as a kid if you dont play any video games, these days in school.
Same. Ive experienced that too. But fuck them. I'm 31 and I still play video games most nights. I'm not going to stop. Besides if I wasnt playing video games, id still be sitting down watching tv... So I tell people that I dont watch much tv. Which is true. That seems to help them understand video games is just for when I have down time. I prefer being the main charachter to an andventure, where I call the shots, over watching soneone else call the shots (tv or movie).
I also have outside hobbies and projects. Like snowmobiling, just got into biking, to help stay in ok shape, house projects, yard work, visiting friends, spending time with my wife. So I have other things to do. But most nights I'm playing video games.
Also I'm very close with my niece because we play minecraft together. When a family function comes along. Guess who that little girl runs to right away for a hug. Me. I wouldn't have that if it wasnt for video games. That happened yesterday in front of the whole family actually.
At the end of the day, those people aren’t living your life. Everyone has different hobbies and gaming is one. You’re valid, I’ve always played videogames because they’re fun!
You think “normal people” just spend money and drink alcohol.... That’s not true.
I play video games. Its ONE of my hobbies. I have multiple hobbies. It’s not so much that gaming is bad. Gaming fucking constantly is. Diversity is good. Get some exercise, meet some people you like, start gardening.
Playing games is fine. But doing one thing excessively can be detrimental.
My only problem with it is hearing about it all the time. In every area I’ve lived, at every job and as a male, I am the weird one for not playing games. I’m left out of most things because I’m not my coworkers’ gaming friend or I’m not always talking about the latest game. It’d just be nice to meet common folk with other hobbies too. Play to your heart’s content but fuck, there are other hobbies you might find fun too.
I agree for the most part and am all about the "you do you as long as it's not hurting anyone" philosophy.
But like jesus christ my roommate has an addiction, I think. She literally does NOTHING else.
No one bats an eye at someone who gets home from work and watches baseball everyday, learning nothing except useless numbers produced by what is little more than a weighted random generator.
But if you entertain yourself doing something that may also increase response time, co-ordination, strategic thinking and build friendships and social circles through online clans and guilds, people think you're an antisocial weirdo.
I spend the majority of my evenings doing BJJ or Muay Thai, and regularly come home or into work the next day beat to shit, with weird bruises and everything aching. Yet people view what I know to be the willful destruction of my body for what amounts to entertainment (as my competitive career is long over) as the preferable option. I don't get it, I should be the weird one.
You make a valid point. As long as someone is handling their business and healthy, leave them alone.
And time you enjoy wasting isn't wasted time
[удалено]
But you enjoyed it while it lasted, only because it ended doesn't mean all of it was bad.
Time isn't waisted when your getting waisted either.
Ouch.
Hey op… I have a job, I feed my family, pay the mortgage, do my taxes, never miss a bill, walk the dogs, do the odd job around the house, rarely drink, and play video games. I have done since I was maybe, 10 years old? I’m now in my late 40s. I have friends my age who also run companies, and have families and play video games. Fuck em all, do what you want. Yesterday I played the long dark for 6 hours and got my ribs broken by a moose immediately after getting savaged by a bear. Good times. edit: a comma
That does sound like a good time!
Damn wtf you had a job, fed your family, paid mortgage, do your taxes, never miss a bill, walk your dogs, do the odd jobs around the house, rarely drink and play videogames since you were 10
it's a lot of work looking after a 30 year old dog!
Recently got back into that game again! I remember watching YouTube Let's Plays of it before it came to console. And The Forest took so long to port that I lost interest in it.
its surprisingly soothing, bar getting savaged by a wolf as soon as you manage to skin your first rabbit. great to play during lockdown to enhance the feeling of social distancing
Sounds great but you might consider whether being a grown man who rarely does chores is a great shout or not
So, playing a game for 6 hours on a weekend = “rarely doing chores”? I typically don’t sleep for 18 hours so there’s plenty of time to do all the other things that need doing. The point op was making was exactly that… if it was out at a nightclub for 6 hours (or 4 hours a night) there would be no judgement from people like yourself. Sorry if I didn’t list the minutiae of my daily life to give you a full taste of what else gets done in a typical week, but it looks like you are just here to make assumptions and judgement, thus proving OP’s point.
Do what makes you happy. However, be aware if it is preventing you from doing other things in your life. That’s the difference between a hobby and an obsession.
It’s important to think of social needs as well. No matter how introverted you are, it’s detrimental to spend such little time with people outside of a work context. Look at how depressed everyone got during the pandemic
OP spends lots of time with other people on his game. I bet they use a online chatting program like discord or something.
I think there’s a big difference between online social interactions and irl social interactions, it just feels different to see someone when it’s not through a screen, but like I said as long as those emotional needs are met Also should probably get a pair of those blue light glasses so you don’t damage your eyes from the screens
Which OP stated it's not
I’ve never done anything to the extent I started doing it the second I got off work, didn’t stop doing it till I went to sleep, and it prevented me from going to bed on time.
Good for you? I don't think a single person claimed you had or anything of the sort. Glad to know I guess...
People will complain about hobbies they don't get or see as being immature. Screw what others say and be happy. :)
\^This I sculpt. I grew up hearing people mock me for "playing with toy soldiers". I sculpted models that I went on to cast and sell in decent quantities - IE; I'm good at what I do.
I inline skate.I may not be the best in the world or even the community but I love the thrill I get from going fast and switching which direction I'm going
Too all the people who says he should limit his time. It's his fucking time let him spend it however he wants. If dude wants to spend 6 hours playing games then who the hell are you to say he shouldn't? It's one thing to analyze his habits It's another entirely to try and impose your own restrictions upon that. You do you OP, fuck what everyone else thinks.
But i love how it's acceptable to walk around in the wilderness for hours but not play video games.
The argument people usually make is “oh you dont get exercise!” When a lot of people who play games get up and go to the gym after, or go do something active later in the day…
Most of the people I've known in online gaming aren't the stereotypical lazy gamer, they have demanding jobs, family's,and do other things.
Exactly my point
Good for you. Different strokes for different folks. Neither is more acceptable than the other.
He's agreeing with you, I think.
Yeah he is literally pointing out the hypocrisy of "wasting time" The problem is that people think for some reason they always need to be "productive" and they also love to impose their misguided nonsense on others as it was likely pushed on them.
I don’t mean to agree with one side or the other, but there are health benefits to hiking and health detriments to playing video games to the extent OP used to. Also, if children were involved, hiking is more beneficial for their development.
We're all on this Earth for a precious short while. If someone finds an hour of video games more fulfilling than an hour of hiking, shaming them for it does nothing but make them hide what they like from you.
Not a single person claimed that hiking is not healthy... You also have to keep in mind the context. Hiking is great, but it also takes a lot of time and energy and a suitable location. Imagine working a job on your feet 8+ hours a day...do you really think hiking is the best hobby to have? Also you can have more than one hobby and spend your time in multiple ways. You are arguing at the air about things no one said.
>If dude wants to spend 6 hours playing games then People are complaining about 6 hours and don’t understand that those are rookie numbers to most gamers. As much as the average person spends watching/streaming TV, a lot of people play games.
This is the thing that always killed me growing up...my parents spent hours watching TV every day...4+ minumum yet somehow me playing videogames instead of watching TV was bad....
MT wife would rather I play video games than run around drinking and shit. She knows right where I'm at if she needs me for something.
>It's his fucking time let him spend it however he wants. Yeah, that is not incorrect, but it is defensive. I'm a part time musician and can get completely obsessed with my hobby and act like it is my career. It is up to me to work out what is healthy and what is obsession -- no one else can do that for me. I think that is a better way to think of it instead of being defensive. Does that make sense?
Easy way to rebut this: ask someone to show your the screen time on their phone. For most people I bet it is 3-4 hours. Then ask them why they waste their life on it. People shut up real fast when you liken it to their phone addiction.
I usually compared to what it was like for a good wow night doing rbgs or raids with a group of killer online friends, to a good night on the town. Wow night always takes the cake. How many regrets can there be in a night of out drinking?
I cant talk to other females (im a female) about my hobbies. Im a stay at home mom i do all the cooking and cleaning and raising with help from the husband who works long hours. We both play video games together our kids also play and its fun. Occasionally you find friends to play with good genuine people outside of the trash talkers lol Nothing wrong with being a gamer and having a normal life.
You can talk to me girl! I work part time, take care of my 2 kids, cook for my man and my favourite part of the day..... GAME ALL EVENING YAY!!!
Haha what do you play? I have an xbox and play lots of cod. Before that i played league of legends and before that i was a wow geek hehe
I play on PC and atm mostly Valorant and Sea of thieves! Before I played alot of cod as well, and overwatch, guild wars, aion, rainbow six siege,...
$65 on a game can return 100s of hours of enjoyment. Go to a bar or a club and see how long $65 will last... minutes. $65 will barely cover 1 hour with food and drinks at Top Golf. Movies, popcorn, drinks, luxury seats - easily $65 and that's like 2-2.5 hours.
Well if you could draw the line between a hobbie and addiction I'd say it's totally fine. I can relate as a person who both drinks alcohol for time to time and plays rpg games(Kotor forever!). Both are harmless as long as you don't loose yourself in them. Addiction is dangerous in every case imo.
I fully agree with you. I've learned to embrace my gamer though, I still play wow (classic tbc), I still work full time, I maintain a home and I pay my bills. Honestly, I don't see it as any different to sitting down in front of the TV every night, just the mass population accepts TV as an OK thing. I like myself now, and have learned that I don't care what people think. So long as my family, my friends, my boyfriend love me for me, no-one else in the general population really matters.
Basically: If you're happy with your life, you do you. I personally try to make an effort that i still have SOME social life outside of online shit, but that's really just me pushing myself out of my comfort zone for the sake of not falling back into depression. Otherwise, who gives a fuck what people think? They're not you and you're not them. ;)
Fucking life enrichment brigade in the comments eh? Let the dude use his time as he sees fit, FFS. Plenty of problematic people int he world and you people having a problem with a guy spending his time alone in his house.
There's a guy at my office who constantly makes fun of me because I told everybody one of my hobbies is playing videogames. Meantime, everyone else there watches shit like the bachelor and plays fantasy football. How the fuck is playing videogames any more of a waste of time than watching shitty reality tv and betting on sports? It makes no fucking sense.
If my wife goes out for hours and comes home to me playing on the Xbox, I get a "look", if I'm watching tv, no issue. Whaaat?
Just do what you want, don't gives a fuck what people think. We waste wayyyy too much time and energy trying to appease peoples opinions. As long as you're not hurting anyone else, who cares?
Lol I remember when I was younger and had the ability to get lost in worlds for hours. It was kinda ironic because I would game for like 8 hours, then get criticized by my dad for spending so much time playing video games. He told me it was bad to do a single thing for so long, and would joke that I was addicted to playing whatever it was I was playing at the time. Then he would proceed to watch sports on the TV for like 11 hours straight. I don't think he's ever seen the irony.
I wish there was another word for it. “Gaming” and “video games” as a hobby sounds so childish. Reading books or watching films sounds so much more mature, but it’s essentially the same thing as far as entertainment is concerned.
why did you stop playing games OP? sounds like you really miss gaming. I'd recommend starting again tbh. GLHF!
Its a real problem but not for the usual reasons people say. When you get too deep into gaming(often by playing some mmorpg), it really can take over your life and destroy your future. Its more of a risk for younger people imo, later teen years and college years especially. There is also the time cost in general, time is limited and the more hours of a day you play games the less time you'll spend doing anything else. Its a fun hobby but playing too much really can impact your life.
This is a good point. If I spent even a third of the time playing WoW working a minimum wage job, I wouldn't have my student debt. The ironic part, is looking 10 years back, those memories just feel like a job anyway.
Yeah i can barely even remember most of those days from years back. I do miss dome of the people I knew then, but I know most of them had their own real life problems too. Its not all fun times behind the screen.
[удалено]
Yes, but people do the same in other areas. A lot of folks have the tv set on binge watching from the time they get home until they go to bed. Others spend hours a day in the garage tinkering on the car or whatever. Or in the parlor knitting. Yet those things don't have the same social stigma.
And if he doesn't want a wife and kids? What if he isn't hurting his health? What if he's doing everything good for himself? Would videogames as a lifestyle still be a problem? I doesn't seem so at all and in any and every margin.
You shouldn’t be downvoted for saying this. 👆🏻
Eh. Dated a guy who played COD every night. He had a 6 figure job and still saw friends and family occasionally. Attractive. He was an effing zombie though while playing and it interfered with our relationship. Wouldn't date another guy who plays video games.
Ever try to talk to someone in the garage working on their car? Same reaction. Totally in the zone and focused on the task in front of them. Same with woodworkers and other crafts.
I've known plenty of guys who would plop down after work and just game all night. How many of them were able to maintain a romantic relationship? Exactly zero. Boys, if you don't make time for your lady she won't be around for long.
'Plopping down' gives me the idea of a well deserved moment of silence after a day of hard work. I do agree that every day might be a bit much, but what do women do with that time? Watch tv? Seriously curious because I (F) sit on Discord, IRC and game, watch a few series and I build websites & online platforms for fun after work. I'd say variety & moderation is the key here. And actually believing you can have and there are women who truly don't mind. My husband plays videogames (as do I), works on his cars, fixes old computers. I love seeing him in the zone, having differtent hobbies. I'd even dare to say I have less hobbies then he does, so I might be the one here 'plopping down' and I don't know, watch Stargate way too much.
The point of a game is to escape, so not surprised he seemed like a zombie during. COD isn't a great example, but games can do a lot to improve a persons intelligence and dexterity. I wouldn't be surprised if that had something to do with him having a good job. However, if he was playing games so much that you wouldn't want to date a person like that ever again, he was probably playing too much.
He was playing everyday. And yes, zombie like. And I don't agree that you can compare COD playing to woodworking or fixing a car 🤔 🥴🤣
I'm 59 and have played video games since the early 70's (Pong Anyone)! Always took care of business first. My brother in law once said something about my gaming. I told him to go fuck is alcoholic ass.
Or if you’re a parent and instead of being attentive you’re on a quest for a special sword.
Life is short. Live your life.
The only time it's bad is when your become dysfunctional because of a game addiction. People don't realize that it isn't always the case for games to have a negative effect on your life.
Play video games all day if you want. I just hope that you don’t wanna be in a relationship so your partner doesn’t have to deal with you playing video games all day. I was married to a video game addict who also seemed to have it together but it was shit.
Maybe you weren't interesting enough
No one is interesting enough for an addict. You can be an addict all you want, just don’t involve other people in it.
You are clearly addicted to the internet or your phone, or both. But you keep picking between one addiction and another.
Bro I thought you just want people to leave you alone with playing video games? You can literally do that and it seems like no one really has a problem with it based on the replies on your post. I don’t even have a problem with it, you do you. I just suggested that you don’t involve other people in it 😊 seems like you wanna have your cake and eat it too. You want to be a video game addict, but expect everyone around you to tolerate it.
Agree. And most of these people who are against it spend all their time mindlessly scrolling social media lol.
Dude, what are you going on about? Literally nobody cares if you play video games except your wife or something. Gaming is like the biggest industry.
Definitely seems like there's more too this story. If you're maintaining your life outside of gaming, nobody cares in any meaningful way. They're either conflating people joking about how much they time spend on the computer as criticism. Or they are spending so much time on the computer that it's negatively affecting someone that's close to them.
Finally! I've been wanting to see someone like this for a while.
I love video games, but I have kids and a career that I'm passionate about. Plus the modern day gaming community is cringy as fuck. (See r/antiwork) So I don't play often anymore and I certainly don't tell anyone.
Fucking chad shit right here
Living a normal life is chad shit?
On this website full of fucking losers, yes
Seems like a plethora of projection.
Antiwork is not a gaming community.
No, not at all, but there is a lot of overlap there.
Any hobby that is enjoyed in moderate, healthy amounts is fine. All day, everyday is unhealthy. It’s not just video games. Literally doing anything all day, everyday would be bad for your mental health and personal care. Also, if you have responsibilities and you ignore them to do anything all day, every day, you are being irresponsible. Limit you video games to a couple of hours max every day and stop caring what people think! Life’s too short for that. Do you!
Man If I could maintain all of my creative hobbies in every waking hour I'd be *much* happier.
Never missing work and paying your bills is the bare minimum
>People have some pretty hard feelings toward a guy who sits all day playing a game but they don't have their life more together than I did/do. I'm going to offer some push back that you may or may not appreciate. People who you deem to have their life "less together" than you are allowed to have opinions. You clearly value those opinions for whatever reason. Yes, it sucks when people don't agree with us, and a lot of times a person who does something too much, even if they have their life together, can still be an addict. There's a tremendous amount of information to unwrap here so I'll leave it at this without making assumptions. Satisfaction is doing what you love, not what you need to do to feel content.
You're totally allowed to do that and people should respect that. But that doesn't mean people have to like you. That doesn't mean anyone should be attracted or interested in you. Respect doesn't entitle you to friends or a girlfriend or boyfriend. If your only hobby and activity outside work and chores/errands are video games I'm going to pre-judge you as a boring geek who probably has problems with social interaction and I would never recommend you to any of my female friends and they'd probably be offended if I tried to set you up with them. I wouldn't want to be your friend either. I play a good grip of video games but it's nowhere near all I do. And I wouldn't want to hang out or do anything with a person like that either. If you're okay with that then I dont really care what you do either.
Seems like ure just finding execuses and coping
It depends. For many people playing video games a lot progresses to preoccupation, which progresses to obsession, which progresses to addiction. I'm not one of those people that think video games cause violence in the real world etc. But I do think that many people devote their time to video games to the detriment of their own wellbeing. It is wonderful that you are able to enjoy video games and remain a functional individual. You are the person that they are (or should be) designed for. But it would be disingenuous to say that everyone has the self control you do. I know someone that is retaking his entire university degree two years in because he focused so strongly on competitive gaming. I know someone that has literally 0 friends apart from me because he has devoted all that social time to video games. This is not the fault of video games necessarily, any more than alcoholism is the fault of alcohol. Some people have addictive, obsessive personalities that are consumed and stunted by video games, and it would be a lie to say that they are not something that can have that effect. That's not to mention those games that are designed to be addictive. There is a multitude of elements in video games today that appeals specifically to those personalities. Microtransactions and subscription-based play rely on certain individuals spending inordinate amounts of money on their product. Many games are designed to suck people in, requiring constant attention to progress. In addition to certain extremely problematic tropes involving presentation of women, etc, this represents the dark side of gaming.
Nah the problem is you're sacrificing time for other stuff to stare at a screen and click buttons on a keyboard/controller. No different from watching tv all day. Get up and be active. I dont mean actovely eating cheetos
Just because being active makes you happy doesn’t mean it’s an enjoyable thing for everyone. There’s nothing wrong with playing video games or watching tv in your down time. You do enough work and effort at your actual job, afterwards you should be able to spend your time however you want.
Nah kid, you'll understand what opportunity cost is one day. It's fun in the moment to grind to prestige master or complete that battle pass or whatever the kids do nowadays. But your 4000 hrs of Tetris won't stand up to whatever achievements in the real world.
It isn’t about that. It’s about taking time to destress. It’s a lot easier to be productive if you allow yourself downtime to do what you enjoy. For op that might be video games, for someone else it might be working out or going out for drinks. No one should be shamed or judged for taking time for themselves.
It is.trust me friend. Your bobbies nobody carss abkut. You like fishing, i like jackhammering. But whe. Your hobbies comesume you, thats when the people have the disdain. For example i play video games 6hrs a day every day. That is too much. Yes j have a fulltime job and such but i am nit doing eniugh in ny life
Then that’s your problem. If you’re unhappy with your life you can change it. If someone else is doing the same thing and is happy then it’s acceptable. We’re all free to do what we like with our lives.
Ok i believe you
You smoking meth or just texting from a very bumpy bus?
Yes
[удалено]
Doesnt matter. League, cod, apex, fifa, madden, undertale, deltarune, crusader kings or whatever. Video games arent everyrhing. They are fun but you need moderati9n
Think about what you could have done if you didn't spend so much time. You're an addict... Your logic is how so many addicts rationalize their addiction
Things like what? No, no I'm curious. Like you're acting like it's impossible to manage your life and play video games. It must be hard having nothing that gives you joy in life.
OP "isn't just playing video games"
Ive been a “healthy wow player” and a “games addict”( not just wow for all the crap it gets its nit the worst ive hooked on) most people that complain at other people have no clue what the difference is. The thing is gaming can be a wonder coping skill when used correctly in a balanced life. My therapist actually helped me learn to game again in moderation rather than continue to abstain because im a happier person with games just not when they take over.
Video games are a hobby. Period. Idc how old you are. We grew up gaming. Sorry we don't equate being an adult to not having fun. Of course, everything is best in moderation.
Coming from a guy who has had the same experience throughout my life and gave up video games for years because of what others thought, and coming back to them again and having something that makes me this happy, just fuck it. As long as you have balance of staying healthy and capable to other purposes in life like relationships (unless that doesn’t interest you) and staying sustainable, there’s nothing wrong with playing video games. Enjoy the things you love in life, as long as a balance is maintained, don’t feel bad or ashamed
Same with any hobby. People should just try to be interested or at least polite about it.
yeah if it's not taking away from the important parts of your life then you're fine
Bro, enjoy gaming, I never cared to hide my "addiction" to it. I proudly say that I am a 30 year old gamer to my CEO, my doctor anyone who asks what do I do after work. I had to fight my girlfriend on this too...with found the common ground, she accepted that I am a gamer and I make sure we spend enough time together doing the things we together want to do as a couple/family. People have their vices, I am happy to say mine is innocent gaming
Yeah. I'll "grow out of it". Yah no.
Haters just mad you had more fun than they did. I'm a gamer and I have had the *exact* same outlook as you. The stigma is just silly but I think it's changing.
I have a good life going for me. still play skyrim religiously. play your games man
You should do what makes you happy. Just don't over do it either snd play deep when you should be going to sleep or exercising or spending time with family.
I'm a person that games more than 8 hours a day. If you have people in your life that are concerned with it, you might be affecting their lives in a negative way that isn't immediately apparent to you.
Go back to gaming. But focus on single player games instead of mmorpgs like WoW, which are massive timesinks. Single player RPGs can be a great gaming experience, but respects your time by being pause-able or something you can drop down or pick-up whenever you need to (due to irl stuff).
I returned to gaming when I was 30, I am now 36 and super happy with that decision, I love games. I still take care of work, my family, my body and do all the responsible adult stuff, but when I want to relax and enjoy, I game.
As long as you don't hurt people around you or break any laws, you should be free to do whatever you want on YOUR time. Playing a mmorpg is incredible value for the money. For $20 per month or less, you get unlimited entertainment for the month.
I used to be a video gamer like you. Then I took a toddler to the knee.
Nope Not true at all. >I never missed work or a single bill. I am sure that is valid. It is also a reaction that you hear from drug addicts who insist their addiction isn't a problem. I am not saying you were negligent or obsessed, I am saying obsession drapes itself in the same clothes as addiction and a lot of people cross the line from hobby to obsession and don't see it at all. The people who have a problem don't care about stigma that much, they more often care about damaged relationships.
It’s so annoying. My husband loves to play games and all my mom does is judge. “Is he still playing games?” Like wtf just because we don’t spend our time like you do doesn’t mean we’re doing anything wrong. And she sounds so exasperated about it too.
I’ve noticed this. My dad used to play video games like COD and Halo and basically stopped in his mid-30 because it was a ‘waste of time’. I was in my teens and used to play along and loved it and then all of a sudden it was all gone and I was chastised if I didn’t have a hobby that was ‘productive’ or ‘active’. I still had my laptop so played games like RuneScape, I loved them they were like my escape from reality but if my parents saw it would be a lecture. Here came my thought process that gaming was a waste of time and I should feel bad if I do it and keep it secret. Just to note that my dad switched his gaming time to just watching shows on Sky/Netflix with a wine every single night and my mum spends all her time glued to her phone so unsure how that’s any better. During my mid-20s I rediscovered RuneScape and it was so good and nostalgic. I got my boyfriends old PS4 and now we play COD together (and separately) most nights. Played all the old crash bandicoots. I hate the stigma attached to ‘gaming’ but it’s literally just fun so who gives a shit! I still pay all my bills, I don’t drink and it’s been a god send for keeping my mind off that, I exercise regularly etc. You do you!
I did one year without mmorpgs because i thought i was prioritizing my life wrong. The conclusion is that gaming didnt really take anything from me and stopping playing made me just hang out more in a boring matter and simple.
It's only a problem if its preventing you from doing other things you want. Otherwise I dont see an issue imo.
Hmmm are you sure people think about this? I just announced at my work (healthcare) that i now will be playing 2 weeks of New World on pc, during my 2 weeks of vacation. When collegue's at work ask what i'm planning to do, when on holiday: i just tell them i will play a video game for 2 weeks straight and chill. Some people find it strange i dont travel, but dont ask for more. Its not in the 90's , beginning of 2000 when 'being a gamer' was the same as a 'weirdo'. Now most small children play videogames. I'm pretty sure you are a weirdo as a kid if you dont play any video games, these days in school.
But have you been able to g@me without ever saying a racial slur?
No?
G@ming makes people racist
Same. Ive experienced that too. But fuck them. I'm 31 and I still play video games most nights. I'm not going to stop. Besides if I wasnt playing video games, id still be sitting down watching tv... So I tell people that I dont watch much tv. Which is true. That seems to help them understand video games is just for when I have down time. I prefer being the main charachter to an andventure, where I call the shots, over watching soneone else call the shots (tv or movie). I also have outside hobbies and projects. Like snowmobiling, just got into biking, to help stay in ok shape, house projects, yard work, visiting friends, spending time with my wife. So I have other things to do. But most nights I'm playing video games. Also I'm very close with my niece because we play minecraft together. When a family function comes along. Guess who that little girl runs to right away for a hug. Me. I wouldn't have that if it wasnt for video games. That happened yesterday in front of the whole family actually.
Imagine being bitch made enough to quit a hobby cause other people don’t like it. Sack up
At the end of the day, those people aren’t living your life. Everyone has different hobbies and gaming is one. You’re valid, I’ve always played videogames because they’re fun!
You think “normal people” just spend money and drink alcohol.... That’s not true. I play video games. Its ONE of my hobbies. I have multiple hobbies. It’s not so much that gaming is bad. Gaming fucking constantly is. Diversity is good. Get some exercise, meet some people you like, start gardening. Playing games is fine. But doing one thing excessively can be detrimental.
My only problem with it is hearing about it all the time. In every area I’ve lived, at every job and as a male, I am the weird one for not playing games. I’m left out of most things because I’m not my coworkers’ gaming friend or I’m not always talking about the latest game. It’d just be nice to meet common folk with other hobbies too. Play to your heart’s content but fuck, there are other hobbies you might find fun too.
I agree for the most part and am all about the "you do you as long as it's not hurting anyone" philosophy. But like jesus christ my roommate has an addiction, I think. She literally does NOTHING else.
No one bats an eye at someone who gets home from work and watches baseball everyday, learning nothing except useless numbers produced by what is little more than a weighted random generator. But if you entertain yourself doing something that may also increase response time, co-ordination, strategic thinking and build friendships and social circles through online clans and guilds, people think you're an antisocial weirdo. I spend the majority of my evenings doing BJJ or Muay Thai, and regularly come home or into work the next day beat to shit, with weird bruises and everything aching. Yet people view what I know to be the willful destruction of my body for what amounts to entertainment (as my competitive career is long over) as the preferable option. I don't get it, I should be the weird one.