Curse

Mercury Angel · Sep 02, 2005, 11:47 PM // 23:47

If you look around a bit, you'll find video gaming comes under a LOT of assualt, and gamers as well, for things that are perfectly normal in other hobbies.

# Capital investment
People with a passion for their hobby tend to invest their money into it, whether it's sports, music, books, or games. They'll buy rare or uncommon items for the sole purpose of collector's value, sentimental value, or just because they're compulsive shopper and need something to rationalize their spending on.

However, gamer's get flak for spending money on games, for spending real life money for in-game items, or for paying subscription fees.

A sports fanatic could be content with watching the game on TV with their standard cable package... But you know what? Huge sports channel packages and memorabilia are sold regularly.
To own antique instruments is a sign of sophistication. Same deal for aged books, especially if they have a signature by the author. A signature! A little name in ink, wow. You're paying for THAT?

But no, a gamer is a loser with no life for using their money in such a way.

# Time spent
To be passionate about your hobby, you spend many MANY hours engrossed in it. Reading about it, doing it yourself, and watching others doing it.

Sports fans will glue themselves to the sofa for long intervals of uninterrupted viewing of their games. Musicians spend hours and hours every day practicing their instrument. Bibliophiles read for large portions of their life.

Gamers may spend hours glued to their video games. It's nothing amazing really.

Yet, apparently, it's unhealthy to be late for a class or appointment because of video games, but perfectly reasonable to reschedule your life around your recitals.

# The anatomy of an obsession/addiction
This one's by far the most subjective at all.
When does a passion for a hobby become an addiction? And when is that addiction healthy and appropriate, and when is it not?

Well, let's not worry about that for the nonce. Instead, I want to point out that the words 'addiction' and 'obsession' are thrown around FREQUENTLY when people discuss other's gaming habits.
Friends and families are quick to tell you you're addicted to gaming, and are offended should you happen to list anything they might put in EQUAL OR MORE time into.
People can spend hours on forums, instant messengers, or the phone, for example, with ease. Heaven forbid you tell them they have an addiction there.

I'm not saying addictions are healthy, but I am saying people use the word far too commonly, and without thinking about themselves at all. Please, before you toss around a buzz word like addiction, take the time to look it up, read about it, and see if it applies to yourself first.

I'm a musician, a bibliophile, a gamer, a scholar (I enjoy learning things at leisure, as odd as it may sound), and a fitness+health nut (more focused on nutritional aspects though.) I dabble in a lot too, mainly in crafts (creating things, be they books, pictures, video games, or cross stitching) and the fine arts.
I've spent a lot of time devoted to various different hobbies, at various intensities (Marching Band back in High School ate up a LOT of time), and from this position, I think I can be fairly objective.

My point in all of this is that gaming is as valid a hobby as any other, and there's NOTHING NEW introduced by it over any other. No, not even obsessing over virtual goods.

Take, for example, the jersey pieces advertised to come in some sports card packs. Those jerseys could be bought cheaply in whole, and you could cut them yourself. It's not the jerseys that have value to you. It's the intangible idea that they were worn by stars. That doesn't exist any more than the items in a video game.
The same goes for a signature. A perfectly forged signature is of no value to you, yet a real one is. Why is that? Something else that doesn't physically exist.

With that in mind, I say once again, video gaming has introduced nothing new to our culture that wasn't already there, and should be as accepted as much as any of them.

Edit: And thanks goes out to a friend for inspiring this in response to me linking him to that ebay item (couple items down), and sparking the whole debate that led me to write this.

Vermilion Okeanos · Sep 02, 2005, 11:52 PM // 23:52

Those people will learn when they try to gang on a small white kid... then the white kid suddenly kung fu their arses... then the news reporter, news paper writter came to interview the kid...

"wow, do you take karate class?"
"no"
"uhh, kung fu class i meant"
"no"
"how did you know those moves?"
"video games"
"Video Games!?"
"yea"
"Wow, we should play some video games too then"

But of course... those parent who blame video game for their education failure on the kid got to go first...

Relax... like everything in history... Digital Gaming also require time to be accepted... Photography wasn't consider art only awhile back...

Mercury Angel · Sep 03, 2005, 12:05 AM // 00:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vermilion Okeanos

Relax... like everything in history... Digital Gaming also require time to be accepted... Photography wasn't consider art only awhile back...

It's not video gaming in particular, really.
I'm always an advocate of tolerance and empathy among people, on a large variety of subjects, from ageism to xenophobia.
I'd use a z word if I could, but none come to mind.

sino-soviet · Sep 03, 2005, 12:11 AM // 00:11

The thing is, there are no blatant advantages to playing videogames, unlike sports and reading and such. Also, gamers have a reputation for having a total lack of social skills. Not so much the ones who post on forums though.

ManadartheHealer · Sep 03, 2005, 12:15 AM // 00:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mercury Angel

I'm...a scholar (I enjoy learning things at leisure, as odd as it may sound)...

I enjoy learning things for the hell of it to, and it's not as weird as it sounds.

Playing video games is a hobby, and the only reason it comes under fire is because everyone knows it is the best hobby

lord_shar · Sep 03, 2005, 12:34 AM // 00:34

"When will video gaming get the respect as a 'hobby' it deserves?"

Answer: When cellulite becomes fassionable.

Mercury Angel · Sep 03, 2005, 12:34 AM // 00:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by sino-soviet

The thing is, there are no blatant advantages to playing videogames, unlike sports and reading and such. Also, gamers have a reputation for having a total lack of social skills. Not so much the ones who post on forums though.

Only because society approves.

A large amount of sports fans may rarely, if at all, actually PARTICIPATE in their sport. However, the physical health benefits as a side effect are nice.
The merits of music are purely subjective, be they rap, classical, and so on and so forth. No scientific study as offered hard facts about classical music offerring any non-insubstantial benefit to your mind, although the moment a study is published saying it MIGHT, or COULD, people run out and buy their children 'baby motzart'.

The real benefits to playing music are that you could get a job, or earn a scholarship for them, which are things determined entirely by society. If we didn't approve of music, then those wouldn't exist.
They are therefore not an inherent aspect of music itself.
However, even if you discount that, video game enthusiasts have the same options, although not as much in adundance. Schools of game design and development are popping up around the country, and obviously somebody makes the video games we all play.
Tools are being distributed across the internet with tutorials, and people can create their own video games. (RPG maker was huge at one time)

And people in general have a reputation for being idiots, but I give them the benefit of the doubt. (zing. Kidding, and that's not directed at anyone in particular.) More on-topic, jocks have the reputation of having the manners of a troglodyte, and the brains of a thumb tack.

The greatest differences between various hobbies exist solely in people's minds.

In context, you also have to consider that, as with black looters in New Orleans, correlation =/= causation. Shy people may be drawn to games, but by no means does it make all gamers shy, or all shy people gamers.

Of course, by lack of social skills, you might be talking about the people that blurt perverted lines, and are the ones who advertisers of websites such as Newgrounds cater to. (yay for porn banners -_-;;; ) That's more of a common trait among the male gender however.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lord_shar

"When will video gaming get the respect as a 'hobby' it deserves?"

Answer: When cellulite becomes fassionable.

You do realize that obesity is a growing trend in general period, right?

By the way, pick your stereotypes better, people!
Are gamers scrawny geeks, or are they big and fat? It can't be both.

EchoSex · Sep 03, 2005, 12:36 AM // 00:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by sino-soviet

The thing is, there are no blatant advantages to playing videogames, unlike sports and reading and such. Also, gamers have a reputation for having a total lack of social skills. Not so much the ones who post on forums though.

Touche - It's been proven that surgerns who played videogames worked more smoothly and swiftly in the operating room than doctors who did not pick up a controller now and then.

Soul Shaker · Sep 03, 2005, 01:14 AM // 01:14

Gaming is not accepted like music or reading or sport for a few reasons:

Games are very new to this world compared to these. Reading was once considered a very sophisticated thing, and only the rich males, and the absolute richest females could learn to read. Music, well, it's a talent. Gaming ain't a talent, it's just a long investment sitting in front of a screen pressing buttons. Sure, you can learn music, but someone with talent learns faster. Again with the history thing, music is 200-400 years old, and good musicians were worshipped, and one of the main forms of entertainment. Sport, well, history again......but the fans, i have no idea.

Sport is a bit violent. Music is not violent. Reading is not violent. Gaming in general depicts extremely violent scenes, and has no real physical or mental benefit to real world skills.

Nazutul · Sep 03, 2005, 01:16 AM // 01:16

"music is 200-400 years old"

Hahahahaha!!!!! Soul Shaker, that's ridiculous.

Krank · Sep 03, 2005, 02:31 AM // 02:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nazutul

"music is 200-400 years old"

Hahahahaha!!!!! Soul Shaker, that's ridiculous.

Are you joking?

Autumn_Leaf · Sep 03, 2005, 02:57 AM // 02:57

i think gaming isn't considered a hobby b/c people tend to percieve a hobby as an outdoor or physical activity which gaming tends not to be.
i believe video games are growing much more popular, ex. look at the comercial today, within the recent year i've seen ad's for killzone, dmc 3, god of war,ect.

gamers do have a rep for being anti-social or lacking of social skills, but if you look at games like counter-strike or guild wars people use chat systems and vent/ts. gamers are social, we just like to talk about games in addition to sports, books, t.v shows.

Arturo02 · Sep 03, 2005, 03:14 AM // 03:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soul Shaker

Gaming is not accepted like music or reading or sport for a few reasons:

Games are very new to this world compared to these. Reading was once considered a very sophisticated thing, and only the rich males, and the absolute richest females could learn to read. Music, well, it's a talent. Gaming ain't a talent, it's just a long investment sitting in front of a screen pressing buttons. Sure, you can learn music, but someone with talent learns faster. Again with the history thing, music is 200-400 years old, and good musicians were worshipped, and one of the main forms of entertainment. Sport, well, history again......but the fans, i have no idea.

Sport is a bit violent. Music is not violent. Reading is not violent. Gaming in general depicts extremely violent scenes, and has no real physical or mental benefit to real world skills.

puff puff give!!

PieXags · Sep 03, 2005, 03:18 AM // 03:18

I wouldn't call gaming a hobby, it's more a way of life.

chris_nin00 · Sep 03, 2005, 03:41 AM // 03:41

Quote:

When will video gaming get the respect as a 'hobby' it deserves?

Never...
/sigh

EchoSex · Sep 03, 2005, 03:43 AM // 03:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris_nin00

Never...
/sigh

Yee have so little faith, Chris >.< But chances are, your right.

Divinitys Creature · Sep 03, 2005, 11:34 PM // 23:34

I never watch sports - EVAR except if it's something amazingly notable like the whole country or countries are watching like finals at wimbledon, some olympic events. Why? I'd rather play them. Watching sports just seems boring to me - get out and play. My RL friends used to be pissed and tried to get me into it but now they just aceept that I don't like watching sports o_0. People use sporting events as ice breakers and ways to find common ground with each other - good for them it's a useful social tool, but not necessary.

Playing video games is at least interactive. Sure there are games which are about as interactive as pointing a remote control and clicking a button. But challenging PvP in GW for example owns TV. It is social. Working as part of a well-oiled guild, where members operate like a piece of finely tuned machinery, builds team working skills, responsibility, cameraderie etc. It's a team sport and you are actually playing it instead of chilling in front of the TV yelling at players that can't hear you - but it's relaxing to some and entertaining.

Super Mario Brothers probably didn't make you a genius or fitter though LOL, but back in the day it was fun and entertaining to some like watching sports is to others. For the sports watchers they have a communal experience, bond during it, get to talk about stuff and all that - so I'm not knocking sports.

I think people who have a low opinion of gamers are jerks. Judgemental jerks. Sadly most of the RL people I know think of gamers like this.

EDIT: let's all move to S.Korea and be worshipped for our uber micro

EDIT 2: Somebody get me some cheerleaders to cheer me on during GvG

ManadartheHealer · Sep 04, 2005, 02:40 AM // 02:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by PieXags

I wouldn't call gaming a hobby, it's more a way of life.

omg /signed