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Games & gear: Video Games, Am I wasting my life?
Video Games, Am I wasting my life?
by greggie123 - 12/1/06 7:16 AM In reply to: Video Games, Am I wasting my life? by wjnthreeI too play video games and over the years have often asked myself the same question. It's obviously one born of many years of being told not to waste our time by teachers and parents. Of course the best philosophy about this subject, and every other subject, is the old saying, "everything in moderation." There's the 5-10 hours a week game-player, and there's the 5-10 hours a day game player who's a deadbeat unemployed adult stoner still living at home with his parents. It sounds like you are a student so you don't fall into this last category.
One of the most intelligent and enlightening things I have read on the subject is from the book, "Everything Bad Is Good for You: How Today's Popular Culture Is Actually Making Us Smarter" by Steven Johnson.
Buy this book or obtain it from your local library and give it to your parents the next time they start nagging you about your game playing. Better yet - be proactive and get it now - don't wait for more nagging.
ml
Games are a useful *diversion*
by Kulero - 12/1/06 9:40 AM In reply to: Video Games, Am I wasting my life? by wjnthreeKeep in mind what a game is: a recreation, a way to relax and divert yourself. But this presupposes activities that you're resting and diverting yourself from. Live! But don't let games become your life. Make friends and socialize with them, study, work productively, exercise joyously, travel (for real), learn a foreign language. There are many other things to challenge yourself with than a computerized scenario, and you may find as much or more joy in these.
Stephen Covey (7 Habits author) advises, "Begin with the end in mind." Think about when you're looking back at your life in old age. Which of the following statements about your life will bring you more satisfaction?
"I SCUBA dove at the Great Barrier Reef, stood at the foot of the pyramids at Giza, married for life someone who loves me, raised and nurtured two children, grew a successful business, mastered Spanish and visited people throughout South America." OR...
"I conquered the final Boss creature (or whatever the end scenario is) in Diablo, Final Fantasy X, and 150 other video games."
A previous poster wrote, naming specific examples, that activities in games can be exhilerating and fun, and that's true. But are they achievements which will make yourself proud afterward? To summarize, enjoy video games, but keep them in proper perspective. That will establish for you how much time you want to devote to them. Remember that time is the one commodity you have in life which you have in a limited supply, and once spent can never be replaced.
Games
by zoepod - 12/2/06 2:35 AM In reply to: Games are a useful *diversion* by KuleroI play about 20hrs a week playing video games, and it does not affect my own life at all, so if you can control it theres no prob. The only prob you may have is the online gaming which i got addicted to, and it did start to begin to affect my life, but i got out in time, warcraft is a dangerous addiction!!!!
RE: Games
by quietman928 - 12/5/06 10:08 PM In reply to: Games by zoepodWhat I'm hearing from most of the posts here is that anywhere up to twenty hours a week is O.K.as long as your other responsibilities are being met. I agree with that, we all need time to simply enjoy what we've been given; BUT we also have the responsibility to return to society or
Mother Earth some part of what we've been given/taken. That twenty hours a week would go a long way towards improving your sense of obligation to
be an active part of helping others, your society, and the limitless
work to try to save our descendants a healthy planet on which to live.
Volunteering your time to help others can actually be a very
rewarding and instructive way of spending extra time. (As if there were such a thing). So play games for a while, but spend an equal
amount of time being an active member of life, both yours and others.
Sorry about the preaching, enjoy your gaming!
Chip Conway
ut4jc@.com
games
by S.R.K. - 12/7/06 3:07 AM In reply to: RE: Games by quietman928I'll agree with that!!! live life but you can still enjoy the "quite time' also
Video Games, Am I wasting my life?
by riseup13 - 12/1/06 10:35 AM In reply to: Video Games, Am I wasting my life? by wjnthreeVideo games are a source of entertainment that engage the user. Spending time watching TV or movies is less engaging for the brain. As long as video games are not stopping you from living your life, there is no problem with 10-20 hours a week. Online games actually encourage communication between players.
devil's advocate
by andyhat - 12/1/06 12:22 PM In reply to: Video Games, Am I wasting my life? by riseup13I want to play the other side of the argument of everything is ok in moderation. I say if you are going to do something, do it right. You could be below average at 100 different activities or be really good at 2 or 3. You could have 100 casual relationships or 2 bestfriends. My advice: if you are working or going to school you should probably limit your gaming during the week to getting to the next save point or 1-2 hours maximum, whichever occurs first. Then when the weekend comes around, do what makes you happy. Play for as long as you want. Get 50 levels for your character, defeat the next four bosses, take your custom team from preseason to playoffs. Lan with 10 of your buddies from school, play online with 20 people you will never meet, or play by yourself in the basement. Does it matter?
Games
by onesuperfool - 12/1/06 11:59 AM In reply to: Video Games, Am I wasting my life? by wjnthreeDude Just Don't Worry About It Games Help Hand Eye Cord nation
...but they don't do much for your spelling
by vbeeby - 12/6/06 3:37 AM In reply to: Games by onesuperfool"Games Help Hand Eye Cord nation".... It's a good idea to learn to write before you start to game.
Please spend some time with the language.
by kdean1 - 12/1/06 2:58 PM In reply to: Video Games, Am I wasting my life? by wjnthree"Turn that damned thing off, your frying your brain and wasting your life!"
YOU'RE frying brain and wasting YOUR time. "you're" and "your" are different words with different meanings.
It's YOUR life
by axekick - 12/1/06 10:34 PM In reply to: Video Games, Am I wasting my life? by wjnthreeGreat post and I believe the fact you are concerned enough to inquire for opinions speaks volumes about your character. At 4-5 hours per week I certainly do not think that is wasting your life. There is a generation gap here that your parents may not understand the entertainment value of video games, much less the other positive benefits. How many hours per week do your parents watch television? In my opinion, most television, American Idol, any reality show,Hollywood gossip show, etc.. is wasting time/life. Entertainment is meant to help someone unwind from all that life requires, such as homework, studying, school, work, girlfriend problems... and entertainment is therefore "part" of life and not a waste of it. I do know and have myself over indulged in video games to the tune of 30 hours per week while unemployed and that can be problematic once it goes over 10 or so hours per week. Ask them how often they watch television each week compared to your television and video game time combined. If they only watch C-Span, National Geographic, History Channel, etc.. those are educational and informative but most of television is total crap. Don't be confrontational with them but I would seek out stories on people with successful careers that stemmed from video game play, how it improves certain mental abilities, hand-eye coordination, etc.. make a fact based and legitimate defense and try to get them to see it from your perspective rather than trying to prove them wrong. Good luck.
(NT) IMHO yes, unless you earn money with them.
by Ryo Hazuki - 12/2/06 6:13 AM In reply to: Video Games, Am I wasting my life? by wjnthreeMany experts are saying no.
by Reclaimer.45 - 12/2/06 7:28 AM In reply to: Video Games, Am I wasting my life? by wjnthreeIf you are wasting your life with 4-5hrs, I'm in deep trouble, lol.
Just as a previous poster spoke of seniors clinging to the Radio Days, many adults have a dim view of video games, refusing to acknowledge that gaming is a reflection of a cultural shift. I recently wrote an article about it that may help in your defense. : )
http://ezinearticles.com/?id=369035
A 75-year-old lady that plays video games all night?!
by akdhustler - 12/2/06 5:20 PM In reply to: Video Games, Am I wasting my life? by wjnthreeI think it's okay to play video games, as long as you don't play them ALL day (and I know people who just play ALL day). As long as you get things accomplished, like homework, work, time with family, chores, etc... I used to think that I get so addicted to games that I lose my motivation to do anything else, but that's just ME and not the video game's fault. The trick is to give yourself a limit (like 1 hour a day) and stick with it, because it's always good to give yourself a break.
As for your brain rotting... My 75-year-old aunt plays online video games every night (often until 2 a.m.) and yet she has a really sharp mind! Recently she drove me into New York City and drove herself from New Jersey to North Carolina (in 11 hours). She loves crossword puzzles, reads tons of magazines and the newspaper, watches TV, etc., etc. Basically, she isn't senile. In fact, the only thing I remember her forgetting is her laundry.
But anyway, her example shows that video games don't make your brain degenerate. She has always loved video games - Pacman is her favorite - and continues to play them (this is why everyone calls her the "Groovy Aunt"). But the important point is that playing video games is not all she does with her time. She devotes her mind to other things, like reading, which I think is the reason why she's not senile.
No you are not
by pkarirose - 12/3/06 4:14 PM In reply to: Video Games, Am I wasting my life? by wjnthreeAll the people advising moderation have good points.
Yes the online gaming is the most addictive but if you ask people why its rarely because of the game its because of the people they play with.
I have met many nice players from around the world and will visit some of them next year. Learnt how to type some phrases in 7 other languauges.
All games have a interest level self life usually 2 - 6 months depending on the game some only hours.
you also learn a lot of technical know how and get to joion great forums like cnet (its cnets fault i'm addicted to online games they gave me my first download lol).
4 - 5 hours isn't excessive i play lost more but still go to work and go out with friends and to the movies(not many good ones out so more gaming time) read books and watch tv.
its has made my mind a lot sharper more focused and you learn to appreciate the differences in the cultures and languages and realise that people are the same around the world.
We are always telling the people in our clan to go to school work on a date etc.
Another thing is teach your parents how to play so they can see what you are doing with your time as lots of people on our games play with girl/boy friends, friends and family including parents& grandparents.
Their is your comeback line say play with me and i'll do some other things with u too. my sister and i can't get our mom off the computer thats the only downside is you lose computer time but you may get someone who will level your character for you or create a support character. Andd talk to them say if they don't like the game you play ask if you can find another they will like you to play.
Also show them the people selling game related items characters on ebay and show them the prices after all if you had gotten a ps3 and ebayed it I'm sure they would have been happy with the extra 2000 profit.
Oh and write letters or stories using pen and paper as this seems to be the area that shows the only loss from being on computers. write to your parents grandparents and tell them you love and appreciate them for all they have done for you get them to write you back and tell you things that have happened in their lives truly can be interesting reading better than books sometimes. ask for their advice like you do here as writing can be a lot less confrontational than talking if you have a disagreement.
But its good to see you love your parents and are listening to them and cutting back.
As always look after you and your family cause no matter what the game they will always be there for you.
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