Life is miserable without video games

I really doubt lack of video games in your life gave you the job and the girlfriend you want.

 

Perhaps not. But it is 100% certain that I would never have been able to get a real job, or a real girlfriend, had I chosen to escape reality, instead.

 

The last time I had a wife, she had discovered online video games. She disappeared into her little fantasy world completely. It has been so long that I had almost forgotten that before everything got bad, and then really bad, it started with video games.

I remember begging, insisting, imploring, demanding, and doing everything I could to get her to understand that this was changing her as a person. It was having a huge effect on our marriage. She became uninterested in anything but her stupid games. We couldn't even watch a movie or TV together anymore. She always had her face planted in the computer. She had no involvement in anything else. I could see her mental sharpness and apparent intelligence diminishing and I told her so. I warned her that this was going to make mush of her brain. And that's exactly what happened. By the time our marriage completely collapsed, she was nothing like the woman I married. By comparison she seemed mean, withdrawn, and stupid.

I will never know if video games ruined our marriage or if it was just a part of the problem; maybe a small part of the problem. I suspect there were other deeper issues. But I watched it change her into an angry little hermit. That's for sure.

 

I'm curious, do you have the same view of books, sports, movies, etc.?

 

No. Because I don't know anyone who's had a problem spending every waking hour reading books, watching movies, watching sports at the expense to relationships, family or job. I personally know three people that are addicted to gaming. One who is a minor, turns into real boy playing sports, and having fun with friends when his tablet is taken away.
I think for some people video games is like a drug.

 

Never played video games. I do cross word puzzles and Scrabble. But I do stay online way too much lately with too much bad news and politics. Waste of time.
I'm old enough to be your granny.

 

Or an outlet. I have a little cousin who gets bullied at school. Nothing too severe but he's just kind of tall and skinny and isn't a great communicator. But when he gets home and logs into call of duty, he's the leader of his team and they are like 500-17 or something nuts like that. It makes him happy

 

Well, yes and no. Plenty of developers are trying to essentially hit the same notes in the brain as drugs when they develop their games. But that's also something that you get with sports, whether you are a fan or a player. Heck, is american football healthy, what with the level of extremely severe injuries, as well as the long term effects such as CTE that hits a large number of players?

I'm not saying that gaming as a hobby can't go to extremes; it certainly can. But so can other hobbies as well, and I don't think it's fair to judge the very worst cases of gaming against the very best cases of, for instance, sports.

 

Oh, and since you clearly do think video games have no real value at all, I'd like you to listen to the following. Feel free to also listen to the other testimonies regarding video games marked with "Because Games Matter" from Extra Credits.

 

I hate them. I work in computers and had a job for awhile fixing them in 81. They give me a stomach ache.

 

I still play pinball a couple times a month at the penny arcade in Manitou Springs, Wizards gotta do what wizards do.

 

To add to all this. There is nothing that fights depression and anxiety better than video games taking into account the side effects.

Therapy.
Side effect: high monetary cost and it in most cases fails.

Medication.
Side effect: it depends on what you take.
You cant depend on medications on the long run.

Drugs and other substances.
Food. Adds calories.
Caffeine. Adds stress later on.
Alcohol. Not a long term option.

Video games.
No side effect, apart from the possibility of a waste of time.


I play Civ6 at the moment. I got sick of all those online FPS's

 

Total nonsense. Go out and get some exercise. I'm about 20 years older than you and I would bet a week's wages that I could leave you in the dust in the gym.

A hard workout is guaranteed to lift your spirits. It is a chemical certainty. And the side effects are health, the addition of muscle mass, fat loss, and enhanced confidence and a sense of well being. .

It is especially notable that you didn't even mention exercise. Have you ever exercised? Do you know how?

 

Of course I have. I do Calisthencis 3 times a week (about 30-40 of exercise). I used to do strength training with weights, but I thought my back is at risk because of the scoliosis that I have. There was a day that I felt pain from doing a partial set program for my shoulders (a military press with a barbell).

I diet well.

And I am going to go back to train (practice BJJ) 4 times a week (each time is a 3 hour session) when I get a job.


I tried to go for 3 months without gaming, and it felt horrible. I felt much more depression and anxiety.

I actually got sick of Civ6. I installed battlefield 2 and Tribes Ascend.

Video games are the best mood boosters and distraction from life, considering the amount and magnitude of side effects that it has.

 

Runescape.

Level 105 ranger, 106 mage, 104 slayer, 99 summoner, 104 inventor.

 

Just...one....more....turn.....

Well, I've been up too long now. Might as well just keep playing, take a shower, then go to work.

*Wake up face down on keyboard at 10am*

 

Whatever you are addicted to is going to be hard to live without.

For me it would be mixed drinks on a Friday evening after work.