Curse

Lawnmower · Jul 25, 2007, 03:11 AM // 03:11

I talked to a person today who became incredible shocked that I told her that I play about 2 hours of video games every day. She called me childish and obsessed. I tried to explain to her that there are people who play much more than me, but she still thought that I was extreme.

So I asked myself: When does the game go from becoming a harmless pass time and entertainment advice, and turns into a waste of time. A waste of life, where he just throw away the best years of our lives, doing stupid things in imaginary childish fantasy worlds.

Is what we do as a hobby educational? Do we learn anything from it? Do we need to?

How much time can a person defend for themselfs for these things? I always hear people say: "yeah but im just playing more, instead of doing other crap like watching TV"!

The follow up question to this, is if course: Is it more educational to play guild wars than to watch an episode of say... prison break or the office or something?

Omniclasm · Jul 25, 2007, 03:21 AM // 03:21

The answer lies within you.
Is it a life waster if you are enjoying it?
What would be considered "life"? Going out and getting drunk every night and sleeping with a random person? Sitting down watching TV after school/work? Reading books?

Really, if you are still getting work and school done, who is to say what you can and can't do in your spare time? If you enjoy doing it, it is not a waste of life.

Edit: This is saying without a family. If ya have a wife/husband and kids, ignoring them constantly to play a video game is probably a bit harsh. But yeah, if you are single n all that, what you do in your spare time is your choice. Not like most people do productive things in their spare time off work.

trobinson97 · Jul 25, 2007, 03:22 AM // 03:22

You should of told that person to get off their high horse. Who the hell is she to judge you and what you do with your personal time? Yeah, there is a such thing as too much playing of video games, but there are very few things that are healthy if done excessively. Did that person prefer you to be more like them? If what that person said to you really got to you and is making you want to re-evaluate your priorities in life then more power to you my friend. Personally, I don't think 2 hours a day is bad at all.

As for do we learn anything from this hobby, sure. It's mostly useless knowledge but hey, whatever.

As for which is more educational, I don't worry about stuff like that. If I want to be educated on a particular subject I'd take a class on it, or read a book about it.

Operative 14 · Jul 25, 2007, 03:51 AM // 03:51

Well, look at it this way. GW doesn't start harping on you to take a break until after 3 hours of playing. So, in that sense, it's not a waste of time up to the 2 hour 59 minutes and 59 seconds mark. After that you a loser with no life.

Honestly though, I agree with the last few posters. If you're successful in life, you pay your bills, complete your work, and you are able to enjoy time with real friends, what you do in your spare time is of your own choosing. Whether it be reading a book, playing computer games, watching a movie, or anything else. And personally, I don't think 2 hours is very excessive. That's one movie, or watching two tv shows. At least in a game like GW you can go and socialize with people, if you call going and fighting dwarves with a pick up group socializing. That certainly isn't some you can do sitting and staring at a television.

Omega X · Jul 25, 2007, 04:15 AM // 04:15

That person you met sounds like a moron. Probably one of those kind of people who get all of their information from the Fox News channel.

But even if you aren't successful in life(most people aren't), your free time is still your own. The time you use for gaming really varies and can't normally be counted daily, especially if you are an active person half the time.

wetsparks · Jul 25, 2007, 04:46 AM // 04:46

It is much better for you to be playing a video game (mmo or single player) for two hours a night than it is to watch tv for two hours a night. While you watch tv you do nothing, think nothing.

With video games you have to think out puzzles, respond to your adversary, and are actively engaged in what is going on instead of having everything played out in front of you.

Your "friend" probably spends all night gossiping on the phone with her girlfriends and gets drunk/laid on the weekends.

Personette · Jul 25, 2007, 04:47 AM // 04:47

I don't think the TV excuse holds much water. It's like, "Well, if I wasn't doing THIS worthless thing, I'd be doing this OTHER worthless thing, so it's six of one half dozen of the other." Except your still admitting that you are totally wasting your time, and that ought to be unacceptable to you. Sometimes I regret that I'm not watching TV because at least TV leaves your hands free to do something useful.

I think people just need to be really clear about what they're getting from the game, and why. I play GW when I need to zone out; I need to zone out because I am otherwise really busy/stressed. I feel ok about playing when I know that I've got tons of other stuff going on; there's a balance. When that balance starts to tip, I know it's time to go stir something up outside my apartment.

I try to end every day like, "Well, what did I do right today, what did I do wrong today?" If I can say something like, "Well, I got a good hour and a half of (serious, non-fiction) reading in between the subway and my lunch hour, and I went to the gym, and I was reasonably productive at work," - that's fine for the average day and if I played a bit of GW in the time that was leftover, even if I could have been using that time better I know I'm mostly in the black where spending my time usefully is concerned. I like to make sure that I spend more evenings in a given week going out - to dinners or parties or whatever - than I do loafing around at home.

I don't understand people who use GW for really essential social interactions; you just can't build up the level of trust and interdependence that defines true friendship. I don't see adventuring online as a suitable substitute for real adventure, or pseudo-battles as equivalents for real trauma. If you aren't having real adventures, and real problems, go find some. That's what makes people interesting, and interesting people are better at keeping themselves entertained. I don't understand people who play when they're bored; why do anything you think is boring? There are so many interesting things to do.

kvndoom · Jul 25, 2007, 05:27 AM // 05:27

Unless she absolutely does not spend 2 or more waking hours on any given day doing something unproductive, she needs to flat out STFU. Period.

It's easy for people to bash something they don't like or understand. That's just human stupidity.

I remember a long time ago I was bragging that I finally got the OST to one of my favorite games. A woman I worked with said I was retarded for buying video game music. I looked at her and asked, "So if you go see a movie and you like the music a lot, you wouldn't buy the soundtrack?" She said she would, and I told her it was THE EXACT DAMN SAME THING, and she still didn't get it. It's pointless, really. Stupid is as stupid says.

Bankai · Jul 25, 2007, 06:21 AM // 06:21

You know what´s the problem? These people still think that video game music consists of beeps and the video games themselves are the same as pacman and tetris (no offense, awesome game) of a long time ago. Shallow. And ugly. I dare to say that about half of the games that came out last year have a better storyline than any movie that came out last year.

Isileth · Jul 25, 2007, 06:31 AM // 06:31

I think the problem with people that hold that view point is they forget, for lack of a better term, "The purpose of life". With what little time we have should we not spend it in a way that makes us happy? Obviousely there is a point when it is to much, but that varies vastly from person to person.

Someone who has a family with several kids and a 9-5 job will obviousely have to limit their time more than a 13 year old kid. The moment you start pushing more important things aside is when it becomes a problem. However most people over react about these things and the best thing you can do is to remind them that its something you enjoy.

As for gaming being childish that is a very old and very incorrect idea people seem to hold onto. The average gamer is in their mid 20's.

Sir Green Aluminum · Jul 25, 2007, 06:39 AM // 06:39

Gaming is becoming more popular and we do live in the future now. What does that girl do all day? Probably slut it up or chat on the cell or IM longer than that.

Etta · Jul 25, 2007, 06:59 AM // 06:59

Video games are now pretty much mainstream, just like reading a book or listen to the music. I have a full time job and my playing time now is nowhere near as much as when I was at the University. If you can keep it in mind that games are just that, something to entertain you when you need it.

Some people will never understand this sadly, older generation, (some) women/men, marketing people, the goverment and that lawer guy.....oh yeah that damn newspaper as well,the daily mail or some crap. As long you don't put games above all else and realize that there are something else out there, hot women, beers, fast car, home entertainment and a big ass HDTV etc. You'll do just fine.

cellardweller · Jul 25, 2007, 07:38 AM // 07:38

The only reason to do something productive is to gain resources so you can do something fun instead. The amount of time you have to waste playing is a direct indicator of how successful you are at life!

Tijger · Jul 25, 2007, 08:28 AM // 08:28

On weekends I sometimes play 8+ hours a day...and so does my wife.

We also have friends where the husband spends 8+ hours a day in WoW and the wife doesnt play at all, needless to say their marriage and social life is screwed while ours is just fine.

There's no point in trying to explain to someone who doesnt like or 'get' videogames what the fun is and why there's nothing wrong with it. The wouldnt say anything about you watching TV for 2 hours a day probably which, to my mind, is far more 'childish' since it requires no interaction.

Video games have been my preferred choice of entertainement for years now, especially since the advent of 'reality' shows on TV I would rather spend my time relaxing with a game then watch TV. Anyone who doesnt get that is entitled to their opinion but I dont see anything childish about it, quite the opposite.

Government Flu · Jul 25, 2007, 08:33 AM // 08:33

Quote:

The follow up question to this, is if course: Is it more educational to play guild wars than to watch an episode of say... prison break or the office or something?

To answer your question: Neither. They're both a complete waste of time, although from what I've heard The Office has had it's bright spots. I know for a fact that I'm wasting my life playing video games. They're mindless entertainment devices, and from what knowledge I gained from them, I could've gained in half the time and in more depth reading a book or doing something productive.

I, however, am a very peculiar person who passively realizes what is going on around me, yet does not do a damn thing to alter situations for what arguably seems better. In other words, I'm aware I waste my life one minute, one hour, one day at a time, yet refuse to unlock my full potential. It’s as though I’m going with the flow of things but without a boat to navigate the waters, if you’ll pardon the basic analogy.

Do I really think that having obsidian armor and having lots of shiny titles will somehow make me a better person or enhance my outlook on life? No. I've wasted weeks of time over the span of a year playing this game, and years of my life playing other games.

But this is what I do. I guess I find it to be my little safe spot, and since I’m not intrepid enough to go out of my shell often, I stay in my safe zone often.

Don't get sucked in.

Go outside and do something productive, although I’m sure most of you are doing fine in that respect.

And you know what? Ask yourself a real question. Something to really get the mind going. If you insist on engorging yourself in video games, at least make sure your brain doesn't rot away and you become a smoldering pile of leet speak and a lazy slob who doesn't even bother to spell words out completely.

Vex · Jul 25, 2007, 08:37 AM // 08:37

LOL, wonder what should would have said to about 8 hours a day.....

Surena · Jul 25, 2007, 08:47 AM // 08:47

If you can pay your bills, do at least some running or workout (can only recommend that!), meet some friends, stop being a nihilistic geek (the "oh the world sucks, is full of bad people and life is meaningless, people suck so gaming is the best thing to do" attitude/excuse), it's fine whatever you do with your free time. It's important not to neglect your partner, family, friends for the game - never ever.

Going out and getting drunk is overrated (if you think you can impress girls with it you're wrong). I used to do that a lot in earlier years (being drunk not so much

), spending alot in discos and clubs. It's worth the experience but should not be a regular habit imo. Even this can make people addicted and every missed opportunity/weekened makes them believe their social life just degraded.

cyberjanet · Jul 25, 2007, 09:04 AM // 09:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lawnmower

Is what we do as a hobby educational? Do we learn anything from it? Do we need to?

Let's look at typical hobbies:
Dancing
Stamp collecting, well collecting anything for that matter
Reading
Sewing
Cooking
Movies
Playing a musical instrument
Parachuting
Playing a Sport
Woodwork
Making videos
Board Games

Not many of those look educational to me, so I would guess a hobby is what you do outside of education. If you spend too much time studying or working, people will tell you to "get a life" and by that they mean indulging in a couple of hobbies.

If you spent two hours a day on any one of those things, I doubt you would be called childish or immature. The fact that you're spending two hours on video games falls into the same category. The criticism reflects on the person who made it, rather than on you. Why is playing a musical instrument, however badly, for two hours a day more moral than playing video games?

I presume from your concern that you're a kid. The correct response to the criticism is probably "Hmm, you're right, I guess I should hang around the mall with my mates, looking for shoplifting opportunities, or throwing bricks through windows..."

Boris De Pig · Jul 25, 2007, 09:14 AM // 09:14

My own 2 cents...

I work full time, I'm married and via a hefty mortgage own my own house.

I probably play Guild Wars most days for a couple of hours a day largely to unwind from the stress of my job. I work in aerospace, and if I don't do my job right, planes fall from the sky and the press tend to get very excited. Now, I'm sure you can appreciate that this is very stressful, so coming home from work, cooking dinner and firing up the PC for some mindless char/margonite/afflicted bashing is great. If there's a TV programme I want to watch, I log out (or go AFK in the guild hall) and go watch it. Nights out at the pub with the guys, again, those go ahead no problem. As for the wife situation, well, she has as many characters as I do and is further through all 3 campaigns than I am with most - and her situation is similar to mine, she goes out to the pub with her mates and reads a truly staggering amount of books.

I'd probably say I was addicted to playing games on my computer, but I hope I've managed to strike a reasonable balance between work/social/online gaming. Let's not ignore the massive social network that is Guild Wars, perhaps with random PUGs people might not be who they say they are, but I trust that my guildies are honest with me.

I don't think that watching TV is necessarily any better/worse for you than playing Guild Wars, and probably neither is reading a book. I subscribe to the theory of 'everything in moderation' (although there have been occasions where it's told me 'you have been playing for 12 hours, please take a break', but those have only been on special weekends (and those messages just mean 'you've had GW.Exe open for 12 hours').

BdP

Corinthian · Jul 25, 2007, 09:24 AM // 09:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lawnmower

I talked to a person today who became incredible shocked that I told her that I play about 2 hours of video games every day. She called me childish and obsessed. I tried to explain to her that there are people who play much more than me, but she still thought that I was extreme.

So I asked myself: When does the game go from becoming a harmless pass time and entertainment advice, and turns into a waste of time. A waste of life, where he just throw away the best years of our lives, doing stupid things in imaginary childish fantasy worlds.

Is what we do as a hobby educational? Do we learn anything from it? Do we need to?

How much time can a person defend for themselfs for these things? I always hear people say: "yeah but im just playing more, instead of doing other crap like watching TV"!

The follow up question to this, is if course: Is it more educational to play guild wars than to watch an episode of say... prison break or the office or something?

If only I had realized this in my years of youth. Playing video games gives you nothing, there is no real talent in there. Sure you can say you can infuse in a heart beat, but that won't get you anywhere in life. Anyone can learn that. Try picking up an instrument for example, and play it as masterfully as Guild Wars. It takes years, it is socially acceptable, it is entertaining and it's useful, you can actually make a living out of it. Or some other hobby, like boxing. You develop strong muscles and self confidence when you know you can take on any assailant and protect your friends.

But what talent do games give you? They're asocial, useless, muscle decay inducing entertainment... A system in which even the worst losers and outcasts can enjoy the feeling of, though virtual, success. And don't give me any of that crap when you say gaming is social just because you chat in TS or Vent. 90% of all communication is body language. You're only using 10% of your communication abilities.

I'm glad I'm over gaming. This forum account is the only remaining relic from my past which I won't miss even a second!

PS. TV is just as bad. And useless anyway.