Comments
Follow Comments Sorted by time
shepard530
· 5 years ago
· FIRST
No, obsessively playing video games to the detriment of your health and relationships is considered a mental disorder, which is absolutely true.
12
bethorien
· 5 years ago
they do however have very stupid guidelines for what is considered video game addiction with a hard and fast "hours per week" limit as to being sane levels of video games
4
guest_
· 5 years ago
Yeah. That’s pretty ignorant. “Hours per week” is a poor metric to define addiction by as much as “drinks per day” isn’t the best way to define alcohol addiction. It might be a RELEVANT criteria to diagnose- it Is more likely someone who plays 20 hours of games a week is an addict than someone who plays 2 hours a week... but you could be bored and have nothing better to do too. When I was recovering from a surgery I bought a console and did nothing but eat, sleep, and play it for the month or so I was down. Then I got better and didn’t touch it for a year. When I was young and broke I’d play games because it didn’t cost money and was fun.
1
Show All
famousone
· 5 years ago
As someone who is young and broke, I feel it
1
guest_
· 5 years ago
For all the fallback video games get.... ok- so every minute spent playing a game or most “recreation” is a minute a person could put towards bettering things. But- sometimes those opportunities aren’t there- or it’s really hard. People get beat up, beat down. Some folks need to recharge and do something else.
1
guest_
· 5 years ago
I’d rather a kid who is having a rough time pick up a game, have fun, relax, feel like a winner- accomplish something even if it’s in a game and get to feel good about themselves- then have that kid stewing and miserable at life, have them feeling defeated etc. video games get a bad rap. In general they aren’t productive and they don’t help reach goals or better your life. But.... there’s nothing wrong with using time you’d use for leisure anyway playing games. Games are something great to enjoy that have a very low relative cost and environmental impact per hour of enjoyment vs. other activities.
bethorien
· 5 years ago
actually games do tend to better you and the time spend in them might not be directly productive in the form of gaining wealth but basically every video game in some form improves some attribute of the person like reaction time, critical thinking, etc
guest_
· 5 years ago
Oh no. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying there are no benefits to gaming, or any other hobbies. When I say they are generally not productive- I mean that most people that aren’t surgeons using robots etc, or for therapeutic purposes- they aren’t generally an aid to reaching any specific life goals- speaking from a general stance.
▼
famousone
· 5 years ago
I'm pretty sure playing games like Siege or 2019 Modern Warfare made me better at clearing rooms and simulated urban raids.
guest_
· 5 years ago
Lol. I won’t argue they didn’t. Like I said- I phrased that a bit wrong. I’m by no means sayin games are “useless.” I was saying that theoretically in absolutes the argument that any recreational activity isn’t GENERALLY less efficient or productive than a real world activity when it comes to achieving a specific goal besides “fun” etc.
▼
·
Edited 5 years ago
guest_
· 5 years ago
In other words- an improvement to room clearing from games would most likely be less than that of practicing in a kill house an equivalent number of scenarios. But my original point was that it is often impractical for one to do such activities.
▼
guest_
· 5 years ago
I used to (and rarely still do) race cars competitively. Computer simulation- even video games with decent physics, are a great help. I used to start budget strapped aspiring drivers out on games because it was the cheapest way for them to “learn” visualizing racing lines and get the concept. We built a few simulators over the years (improving with technology,) and they all were helpful on muscle memory, motor skills, and reading the track.
▼
guest_
· 5 years ago
So I’m by no means intending to say video games are a waste of time. My point was that while there are many situations where the logic that there is something more productive or beneficial a person could be doing- and that the opposite can be true but generally for most people isn’t- it’s immaterial.
▼
guest_
· 5 years ago
Video games probably prevent much more violence and social issues than they cause. They usually have metered and progressive rewards, validation, and most are built to allow players to be a “boss” in game. Video games fulfill fantasies and wishes. They simulate things- those which we may have in our lives and wish to improve upon (like as I say originally- those who actually have practical use for the motor skills or other things they can get from a game,)
▼
·
Edited 5 years ago
guest_
· 5 years ago
Or things we don’t have in life but need. Thy could be validation, feelings of power, a sense of belonging, a feeling of understanding the rules, control, routine, excitement, whatever. Games are an overall positive in society. That’s my point. That yes. People CAN be addicted or people CAN fall into a trap where they medicate with games for life issues too far and sabotage their ability to remedy the issues (or stop caring enough to remedy them) because of games.
▼
guest_
· 5 years ago
But those are exceptions to the rule. Most people get positive things from games, and like I said the first time- wether or not something has ANY “real world” benefit isn’t important here. The fact is that people enjoy games. People are content to spend precious time of their lives in games. Of all the ways a person could “waste” (to quote the detractors) time- video games are probably one of the healthiest. Especially for people who don’t have the access to much money or “real world” entertainment.
▼
guest_
· 5 years ago
A single game- a good game- can be played for many years. That one game plus a system. All you need. Whenever you get bored and aren’t going to or able to do anything else- the game. That doesn’t work with many others things. If you want to paint or knit or sculpt you’re going to need consumable supplies that cost money. You can find yourself with nothing to do and no money to be able to do the thing you want. But if you own an SNES and Super Mario- you have something to do 20+ years and on.
▼
nordoki
· 5 years ago
Will I qualify for monetary compensation for my gamine obsession?
1
guest_
· 5 years ago
Ummm..... “cutting off your penis” is generally a mental disorder. Getting gender reassignment surgery is no more a mental illness than getting a breast reduction. As aptly said above- playing video games isn’t a mental illness. Addiction is. Wether that’s gambling, sex, drugs, pain, or anything else. An addicted brain functions different. REALLY liking video games doesn’t make you an addict. Wanting to do something else and being unable to generally does as does video gaming that prevents you from normal functions of living.
11
mrfahrenheit
· 5 years ago
Sorry sir, I can't come in to work today, I'm a gamer
1
