Games & gear forum: Video games are making you waste your life away if -

What was the point of this? To impress us with your poorly thought out and argued Psych 101 level analysis of video games?

There's actually some contradictory research as to whether exercising to relieve stress is actually as healthy as we think. Stress triggers the fight of flight autonomic response in our body, so does exercising. So, you can argue that all you're doing is increasing testosterone and adrenaline levels in the blood, which is very hard on your body for a prolonged period of time.

If you're reading a book, you're usually even more stationary than playing a video game, so that means you're not getting any exercise. I have nothing against reading books, I love my Kindle, but let's at least be honest about it: you're exercising your mind at the expense of the rest of your body.

The hand eye coordination is true, just to a very limited extent.

Video games can also have a number of positive social elements. Someone with a generalized social anxiety disorder might be able to find some level of companionship with people in say World of Warcraft. The separation afforded by the video game, may be enough to allow them to open up a little, and develop some kind of relationship with other people. It may not be the most healthy of relationships, but it is better than social isolation.

I could go on, but have to go to work. So, I'll just say that your analysis is half baked at best. One of the things you learn about psychology once you get past Psych 101, is that you can't just stop when you find an answer that fits your particular opinion on a subject. You have to follow the trail to wherever it leads, and accept that sometimes your hypothesis going in was flat wrong.

Have you ever played a video game?

I have been a gamer since before the days of Pong and after a long day of work I enjoy powning noobs with friends. This gamer plays 20+ hours a week after working 40+, cooking dinners, washing dishes, mowing the lawn and everything else that goes with being a husband, father, grandfather and a home owner.

In your final note you state "it's not ok to play them 10-20 hours a week like the no-life average gamer does"
That is insulting!

Sincerely,
hyghwayman

First off, what got your panties in a bunch? Second, not everyone has an obsessive personality. Those cases are EXTREME cases that shouldn't generalize the average gamer. Most people can actually play a video game without killing themselves or sacrificing a social life. Maybe YOU can't, but most normal people can. Yes, I agree video games generally do not relieve stress, but I don't play them to relieve stress, I play because it's FUN, and after a hard days work I like to take a break and have FUN. I'm sorry if I don't find excercise or reading a book fun. So seriously get a life, or better yet go read a book........