Gaming, the Great Escape.

I don't play games online, I did as a kid on an Atari but that's where I think it should stop. I am realistic to know that it is a huge industry though, but people get hooked on games and addicted to the point they spend money on games, lose the ability to be social and also it can damage relationships.

I stayed with a friend and her boyfriend once, and he came home and played games each night. She said it happened all of the time and it damaged their relationship, and the split up shortly afterwards.

I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but when you lose control is that good or healthy? My friend's boyfriend stayed up until midnight in the spare room playing games, and my friend had to say that as a guest I probably needed to go to sleep. Instead of stopping, he moved things out to the kitchen and played. He was about 30 and worked full time, and was addicted.

I don't see a problem with being 30, working a full time job, and playing video games. Playing until midnight doesn't mean he's addicted too, it's just what he likes to do to relax.

You said that you have wasted valuable time playing video games that could have been put somewhere else. Is there something else specifically that you feel like you should be doing? I'm definitely a fan of gaming, and I think it can be a great hobby to have, as long as one doesn't neglect their responsibilities.
I think how one relates to video games depends on the person. If you are using your off-time when gaming, and you are not hurting anyone, then I don't feel like you have wasted/are wasting your time being a gamer. But as with all things, it is good to exercise moderation.

A lot of people might consider it a waste of time, but it is big business. In my son's senior year of high school, his Chinese teacher (who my son adored) told the class that, if she were to let her two sons play video games at all, she would only let them play about 10 minutes a day. My son, who lives and breathes video games, said several kids in the class gave a simultaneous outcry about that 10 minute time limit.

My son waxed philosophical about the teacher's statement, saying that most non-gamers have absolutely no idea how long a session has to be to really enjoy any given video game. He said most story-heavy games, especially those released years ago, will take more than ten minutes to get to actual gameplay, and can boast a whopping 20+ hours of gameplay total, not including the time it might take for younger or slower players to finish the game.

Over the years, my dad has also been someone who always thought that being into games amounted to nothing, which has always been a point of contention between me and him, because my son has been heavily into games since he was a kid. Of course, when people see someone take their "hobby" and turn it into a business, views about things change.

My son has been creating video game music for many years. When he was just a young kid, he started composing on "Mario Paint Composer". These days he still creates video game music, and sells it online.

Also, currently he's working creating his own indie game. Have you ever seen the movie "Indie Gamer" about (among others) the young guys who made "Super Meat Boy"? It's hard work and very time consuming to be sure (the artwork, the coding, the planning, the music, etc.), but people create and play games because they love it. Sometimes not always as an emotional escape, but just for the appreciation of that particular artistic medium.

BlackMarch said:

I don't see a problem with being 30, working a full time job, and playing video games. Playing until midnight doesn't mean he's addicted too, it's just what he likes to do to relax.

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Hmmm, the point was he ignored his girlfriend, forgot to sleep, and as he used the guest room for gaming he never thought to stop and let them sleep when it hit midnight. Can't see that there is a problem with that, That isn't normal. He ended up losing his girlfriend, and yes, that is an addiction when you can't stop.

janemariesayed said:

While surfing the net, as I like to do, I came across an article (sorry I didn't save the link) about 'Operation Farmville'. It apparently recorded how when the game was released that the unemployment figures went up sky high which they were saying some of it could have been related to people playing the game.

I have played some games on the net, more so on Facebook but I will admit that it helps me to escape when I am feeling depressed or in a low mood. I think that this is probably the same for the majority of sufferers of depression, especially for those of us who have any level of 'Social Anxiety Disorder'. Which is a symptom of depression itself.

Being a gamer has made me feel that I've wasted so much valuble time that could have been placed else where, but it has helped me immensely too. I tend to keep my gaming to the morning till 9 o clock and then from about 6. I don't feel bad about it then as most people are either out socializing or watching TV at that time so I take it as I'm doing it in my free time then it's not wrong.

Gaming is a big escape for me emotionally, is it the same for you too? Do you play games and if you do, do you use gaming as an escape and do you feel guilty for playing, for example do you feel it's a waste of time?

Then again, do you think that, if gaming has been the cause of a lot of unemployment across the world that, it could have also been the cause of some people's depression?

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I've only played two games online (and yep, they really do help you escape into another world, a very safe, happy world.) One, in particular, really did that for me, and that was Petville on Facebook (when I was on FB.) You get to fix up your own house for your pet, and feed him/her, but the most fun was fixing up that house and doing little tasks to earn money so you could buy more stuff for the house, like furniture, decorations, etc.

The only other game I've ever played online was Family Feud. I like that one because it's a really good brain exercise before bed. Not too stressful, because you're really not playing for money or actually competing to win, just trying to think of the top, best answers to simple survey questions.

I used to be addicted to the game SIMS3. I would start to play the game at 9pm up to 4am and sleep for two to three hours before I went to work. Yes, it was a sort of escape because while I can't control my life, I can control the life of my sims, though not totally as the other computer-controlled characters in the game are interacting with them. It's like real life on a safer and more controllable setting. I would create villains and choose the mean and unlucky traits for my sims and see how they go through their life with those traits, I would stir their existence by letting the babies cry due to hunger or unhygienic state. I would destroy relationships by flirting with the married sims. OMG, I must have been born a villain, and the game was my way of venting it within the bounds of law.

I felt guilty, though, because I could have spent the time more profitably, like I could have studied programming or honed my writing skills. The addiction ran for a few months until at last my video card gave up and the hard disk followed. The withdrawal period was depressing but I needed to get over it so I had to find more interesting things to do in addition to sleeping earlier than usual.

Video games seem to be quite individual when you get down to whether or not they're an addiction.

For me, I decided they were an addiction. I limited my gaming to 10 hours per week at one point, but it still caused problems with isolating, obsessiveness, and compulsiveness.

So for me, I don't play any video games these days. I haven't played one for 3-4 years I think.

And I feel great.

That said, it's not necessarily wrong for others to play video games. But it is wrong when it crosses into the point of addiction. And that's when it starts causing problems in your daily life (like it did mine).

Many games are designed to be addictive. Zynga, a $5 billion company, makes Farmville. And they design addictive games.

That doesn't mean everyone who plays Farmville is addicted.

But I think in many cases you're missing out on a lot in life when you game regularly.

Gaming is not a bigger waste of time than anything else that people do like watching TV or going to the movies with friends. I mean, you're staring at a screen either way, so what's the big deal? XD

I have had people tell me that I am addicted to games, but I know that I'm not. During the work week, I hardly ever play any games at all. Almost all of my gaming happens when I am off work. If it were an addiction, it would be interfering with other parts of my life, and it doesn't.

I feel that gaming is a great way to take my mind off things that are bothering me. It also helps me feel better about myself sometimes because most games have small goals to reach, and it is nice when you can accomplish something, even if it's so small.

janemariesayed said:

That is the way I think of it too @MeowsePad that others are maybe just sat in front of a telly. Sometimes I take a bit of time off from playing games and I start to get other things done. So playing can cause procrastination unless limits are put on the available play time. I try to section out my work days and make sure that I include a bit of everything I have to do. That way I can reward myself by playing after finishing a job.

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I tend to procrastinate even when I have nothing at all to do, so I don't blame that on the games. XD Gaming just happens to be one of the things that I do while I procrastinate.

I consider myself a gamer. I was once a little too much into games though not to the point of addiction but I did realise that if I continued it would definitely end up there.

So mindfully I detached myself from gaming and instead turned my interest elsewhere. I still miss gaming but I can now control the urge easily. I was also suprised to find the new hobby quite beneficial and interesting too.

MeowsePad said:

Gaming is not a bigger waste of time than anything else that people do like watching TV or going to the movies with friends. I mean, you're staring at a screen either way, so what's the big deal? XD

I have had people tell me that I am addicted to games, but I know that I'm not. During the work week, I hardly ever play any games at all. Almost all of my gaming happens when I am off work. If it were an addiction, it would be interfering with other parts of my life, and it doesn't.

I feel that gaming is a great way to take my mind off things that are bothering me. It also helps me feel better about myself sometimes because most games have small goals to reach, and it is nice when you can accomplish something, even if it's so small.

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I agree, and in fact, I'll add to that. For me, gaming wasn't so much an escape as it was a way to have some social interaction (back when I played a lot more). I lived out in the country, I didn't have friends or family nearby, and it was a way to talk to other grown ups while also having some fun.

I guess if it's your only interaction with other people, it could become an issue. I knew a guy who was in therapy, because he'd rather stay home, in his room, and talk to people online either in a game or on social media. He never wanted to leave the house or talk to people in person. The more time he spent online, the worse it got. He started scheduling short trips to go out. He was given exercises like speak to at least one person, later it was speak to two. I guess it helped (I hope), since I rarely saw him online after a while.

If you truly think you are addicted, it might be worthwhile to try to find someone to talk to about it. I've heard of support groups, and you can probably find some online. Maybe talking with others who can truly understand what you're going through would be helpful. Empathy from people who truly understand can be comforting. They might have some tips as well.

No need to hate yourself. You love yourself enough to recognize that there is a problem. Now, you just need to love yourself enough to work on it.

Just read some books and get over with it, it's not that complicated. best book with newest science backing is Presence and positivity the new energy sources of the 21st century by victor hagen. Youll find it on amazon

I never thought of it, but yes. It is my real escape when I feel bad. Even if I get angry after a game (ex. If I lose ) it's still better than being depressed and full with thoughts. It's never bad to play, it even helps me. People call me out sometimes but I prefer staying home to play >,< I don't consider gaming as wasted time. I'd rather say that going to the cafe or club with friends is a wasted time (XD sry, that's my view). I used to be more social but with time I realized I'm an introvertive person and I love it. And if you find that perfect one (like I did/) whom you can play games with - then u got the jackpot! ... So yeah, play games/ read books to escape depressing stressfull reality))