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I can no longer allow myself to sink any more of my life into video games. Because after thousands of hours of gaming, I've realized I haven't learned a single thing that I could apply to real life. Once I turn off the computer, I'm left with nothing, not a single memory or experience that has expanded me as a human being, that has pushed the boundaries of what I hope to experience in this lifetime.
In truth, since quitting games, I've realized virtually anything I do is more productive than gaming. Even reading a single page of a quality book has given me more insight into the way people think than 50 hours of a crpg. I could do anything and it would help me more. Explore a forest, look at a flower up close, run until my legs give out, lie down and watch the clouds. I could go to sleep and even that would benefit me more: by giving me the vitality to pursue the rest of my life with greater vigor. Even smoking pot has taught me more than playing video games. At least then, I felt alive for trying something new!
I remember the recurring gag in Calvin and Hobbes where Calvin is watching the TV and his mother tosses him out the door to see the outdoors and stop "rotting his brain". But TV is an excellent hobby compared to video games. You can pick up how Louis CK spins his life stories into hilarious rants that make you consider the absurdities of life. You can vicariously experience the highs and lows of human emotions, you can pick up the eloquence of the character's speech, the way they carry themselves. All of this is accomplished in a single episode of 30 mins to 1 hour in length, no hacking and slashing inserted in between. And TV, with its crucial position in pop culture, gives you a point of connection which you can use to start conversing with almost anyone.
Some of you will read this and disagree because for you, video games are a controlled segment of a balanced social, athletic, and intellectual lifestyle. But for those like myself, I think video games are among a select group of destructive hobbies that insidiously consume your time while giving nothing in return. The events of the past year have led me to this moment. I can see vividly in front of me what I could have accomplished with the time I wasted playing games. And I can no longer accept the wastefulness of gaming as a hobby. I had always believed with all of my heart that the experiences it gave me were worth something. But I don't believe this anymore. And it's a sad thing to admit.
TLDR After playing games for 20 years, I realized I've gained nothing that could apply to my real life. I think it is worth seriously considering whether video games are worthy of your time.
  
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I agree to some extent but all work and no play make Jack a dull boy.
And I disagree with TV being better. Sure you can get some interesting information from documentaries, but it's the very definition of passivity.
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TLADT24920 Posts
hmm I disagree. TV is sooo passive, you just sit there and watch people move round on a screen lol. If you mean you can discuss it with someone after and you did meant it, then that's a bonus but a game is much more interactive and beneficial than a TV show ever will be and you don't even need to do something to get its benefits. I think it also depends on what game you play. Something like SC will help you make faster decisions and improve your multitasking and focus. I can even argue that short term memory might even see a small benefit.
As they say though, everything should be done in moderation. Too much of anything is a bad idea and I think that's what's happening here because it sounds like you're spending a lot of time playing games. My advice would be to go find a good volunteer experience to start. Drop how much games you are playing to 1-2 hours a day and spend more time doing other thing outdoors. Going hiking, swimming, reading a book, draw, play an instrument etc... all those would be beneficial. Once you find a nice hobby, immerse yourself in it. I don't know if you're a student or you have a job atm etc... so can't say much otherwise.
Just as a side note: you can socialize quite a bit in video games depending on the type of game you are playing. Stronger bonds and you get to meet new people that might share the same passion. Best of luck and hope things cha nge for the better for you 
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Depending on what game(s) you play and how much you play, it certainly can be a massive time sink that accomplishes [almost] nothing.
I realized that probably a year or two ago and since then I've played a lot less games. Usually the only time I play now is when I play 2v2 SC2 with my brother (we live together). I've been using my extra free time doing more cooking, which I really enjoy when I give myself time to do it, hiking, going to the gym, and picking up a programming language (just started this week). Now that I've seen improvements in my life because of this I would find it very difficult for me to go back; it's very rewarding.
If you have the self control I don't think it's necessary to eliminate all games 100%, but if you're an all or nothing kind of guy then it's probably a good idea to cut them out. 1-2 hours a couple days of the week with friends/family is perfect for me though.
What are you planning on doing with all your free time now?
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This post was a much better use of your time.
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PEBKAC
If you're not getting anything out of the games you're playing, it's likely not a problem with the games. Artists who play games can appreciate and critique the highs and lows of the design in different parts of the game. Programmers can appreciate the complexity and interdependent nature of the clockwork that runs in the background - the AI, destruction and creation, the functions used to create interesting effects etc. Musicians can appreciate the character of the soundscape, whether it fits with the "physical" and emotional environment, how it might have been improved or what genius little touches were added that made everything just work together. I could go on.
All these different aspects are part of the interaction of playing the game and are very mentally stimulating and occasionally inspiring. If you don't get anything out of playing games, you're probably just not interested in anything. Get a hobby and let it bleed into your life. As a bonus, you'll be a more interesting person and thus will no longer have a problem interacting with people.
However, most media has aspects like this, you might argue. Games are highly interactive and generally (not in all cases) involve the player deconstructing, manipulating, and sometimes mastering a complex ruleset. This is something you won't ever be able to do in a book or a television show, and it's why gamers have been shown to have more advanced problem-solving skills. The software is (with your implicit permission) essentially training you to manipulate the ruleset to achieve your desired outcome. This is different from learning. Books are great for learning, but they can only train vocabulary.
Reading Dune is not going to make you better at working out the financial issues in your life or help you put together more efficient routes for travel in a large city or efficiently coordinate with a large team etc. Everyone should read it imo, but the simplistic view you take equates the benefits of every activity with every other activity as if they can be measured pound-for-pound against each other. Reading a book won't increase your muscle mass. Different activities give different benefits.
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On August 31 2014 07:54 Grobyc wrote:
Depending on what game(s) you play and how much you play, it certainly can be a massive time sink that accomplishes [almost] nothing.
I realized that probably a year or two ago and since then I've played a lot less games. Usually the only time I play now is when I play 2v2 SC2 with my brother (we live together). I've been using my extra free time doing more cooking, which I really enjoy when I give myself time to do it, hiking, going to the gym, and picking up a programming language (just started this week). Now that I've seen improvements in my life because of this I would find it very difficult for me to go back; it's very rewarding.
If you have the self control I don't think it's necessary to eliminate all games 100%, but if you're an all or nothing kind of guy then it's probably a good idea to cut them out. 1-2 hours a couple days of the week with friends/family is perfect for me though.
What are you planning on doing with all your free time now?
I've decided today to quit for good but I have already stopped playing games for 2 months, the longest period in my life so far. Most of my spare time has been spent reading, not just books, but random blogs, articles, forums on the internet. It's amazing how information-dense prose is, it is the most efficient way to convey thoughts and information. I can learn so much more in so little time. Games have some of the same information but with 20 hours of hacking and slashing shoved between the sentences.
I played Starcraft for the last 3 years probably every spare chance I could get, every hour I could stay up at night. Uninstalling it was one of the hardest things I've done and my first close encounter with addiction. I played so much and I wasn't even improving, I was just playing not to get worse. But I had this magnetic draw towards the computer every time I was inside. It was as if nothing else of interest existed. Once I left the house it was fine, but at least to me, games have this way of threatening to consume everything. They are too dangerous to toy with.
Before that I played mmos for 2 years but it was much easier to quit. By that point, I was bored and it was so obvious to me that if I deleted my account, nothing in my life would have changed. i.e. for all the items and gold I had accumulated in game, I had accomplished nothing in reality. Which is how I came to Starcraft. It appealed to me how it was skills-based rather than accomplishment-based . But I ended up in a trap of training my fingers to follow a dance that similarly had no connection to real life.
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I applaud you for making a positive change, but like you noted I think you can, in moderation, have a positive experience with gaming.
One thing that is true is that many of those games probably give you very little experience you can apply to real life...especially the MMOs which are just mindless grind-fests (incidentally I'm glad I've never played one). The only thing you're really supposed to get out of them is enjoyment, but I'm starting to realize that most of the time its not so much enjoyment as it is a passive aggressive addiction. Looking back on the moments when things were going "well" in a video game (I was making progress) I can't say that I was really enjoying myself, I was just in an almost pacified, mindless state of immersion.
I was also really happy to give up SC2, though I didn't have as hard a time of it as you did. It provokes way too much anxiety and stress for it to be worth it for the victories. Also I don't want to end up with carpal tunnel syndrome or some wrist problems later on in life for constantly tapping keys and moving my mouse.
There were some PC games in the past I have really fond memories of, like Fallout 1 and 2 or Arcanum, or Deus Ex or Bioshock. Those were truly entertaining experiences, and I think I learned a lot of nuances in how to read and write English from them as well (they were intelligent games). There was no real grinding addiction mechanic there, just quality gameplay. So for the most part I think its just a matter of choosing wisely what you play rather than quitting it all completely.
But all in all I think you could probably get just as much if not more joy in real life than you ever could playing a video game, if you really apply yourself and you have no serious problems. So its not a big deal if you quit forever .
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Sounds like y'all seeing life as one big achievement grind, but when you log out (die) will they really count for much more?
Anyways as long as you're having fun that's all good, and if quitting gaming helps then good on you
edit: Would add that if I lived in Canada, I'd play a lot less video games cos of awesome skiing, hiking, fishing, white water rafting, mountain biking, natural beauty that bits of Canada seem to be overflowing with.
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On August 31 2014 08:28 Suichoy wrote:Show nested quote +On August 31 2014 07:54 Grobyc wrote:
Depending on what game(s) you play and how much you play, it certainly can be a massive time sink that accomplishes [almost] nothing.
I realized that probably a year or two ago and since then I've played a lot less games. Usually the only time I play now is when I play 2v2 SC2 with my brother (we live together). I've been using my extra free time doing more cooking, which I really enjoy when I give myself time to do it, hiking, going to the gym, and picking up a programming language (just started this week). Now that I've seen improvements in my life because of this I would find it very difficult for me to go back; it's very rewarding.
If you have the self control I don't think it's necessary to eliminate all games 100%, but if you're an all or nothing kind of guy then it's probably a good idea to cut them out. 1-2 hours a couple days of the week with friends/family is perfect for me though.
What are you planning on doing with all your free time now? I've decided today to quit for good but I have already stopped playing games for 2 months, the longest period in my life so far. Most of my spare time has been spent reading, not just books, but random blogs, articles, forums on the internet. It's amazing how information-dense prose is, it is the most efficient way to convey thoughts and information. I can learn so much more in so little time. Games have some of the same information but with 20 hours of hacking and slashing shoved between the sentences. I played Starcraft for the last 3 years probably every spare chance I could get, every hour I could stay up at night. Uninstalling it was one of the hardest things I've done and my first close encounter with addiction. I played so much and I wasn't even improving, I was just playing not to get worse. But I had this magnetic draw towards the computer every time I was inside. It was as if nothing else of interest existed. Once I left the house it was fine, but at least to me, games have this way of threatening to consume everything. They are too dangerous to toy with. Before that I played mmos for 2 years but it was much easier to quit. By that point, I was bored and it was so obvious to me that if I deleted my account, nothing in my life would have changed. i.e. for all the items and gold I had accumulated in game, I had accomplished nothing in reality. Which is how I came to Starcraft. It appealed to me how it was skills-based rather than accomplishment-based . But I ended up in a trap of training my fingers to follow a dance that similarly had no connection to real life.
I don't think that's a close encounter with addiction. That simply is addiction based on that first bolded sentence.
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Thanks! That looks like an awesome thread, I'll check in later.
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TLADT24920 Posts
On August 31 2014 13:08 Grobyc wrote:Show nested quote +On August 31 2014 08:28 Suichoy wrote:On August 31 2014 07:54 Grobyc wrote:
Depending on what game(s) you play and how much you play, it certainly can be a massive time sink that accomplishes [almost] nothing.
I realized that probably a year or two ago and since then I've played a lot less games. Usually the only time I play now is when I play 2v2 SC2 with my brother (we live together). I've been using my extra free time doing more cooking, which I really enjoy when I give myself time to do it, hiking, going to the gym, and picking up a programming language (just started this week). Now that I've seen improvements in my life because of this I would find it very difficult for me to go back; it's very rewarding.
If you have the self control I don't think it's necessary to eliminate all games 100%, but if you're an all or nothing kind of guy then it's probably a good idea to cut them out. 1-2 hours a couple days of the week with friends/family is perfect for me though.
What are you planning on doing with all your free time now? I've decided today to quit for good but I have already stopped playing games for 2 months, the longest period in my life so far. Most of my spare time has been spent reading, not just books, but random blogs, articles, forums on the internet. It's amazing how information-dense prose is, it is the most efficient way to convey thoughts and information. I can learn so much more in so little time. Games have some of the same information but with 20 hours of hacking and slashing shoved between the sentences. I played Starcraft for the last 3 years probably every spare chance I could get, every hour I could stay up at night. Uninstalling it was one of the hardest things I've done and my first close encounter with addiction. I played so much and I wasn't even improving, I was just playing not to get worse. But I had this magnetic draw towards the computer every time I was inside. It was as if nothing else of interest existed. Once I left the house it was fine, but at least to me, games have this way of threatening to consume everything. They are too dangerous to toy with. Before that I played mmos for 2 years but it was much easier to quit. By that point, I was bored and it was so obvious to me that if I deleted my account, nothing in my life would have changed. i.e. for all the items and gold I had accumulated in game, I had accomplished nothing in reality. Which is how I came to Starcraft. It appealed to me how it was skills-based rather than accomplishment-based . But I ended up in a trap of training my fingers to follow a dance that similarly had no connection to real life. I don't think that's a close encounter with addiction. That simply is addiction based on that first bolded sentence.
Gotta agree with Grobyc. That's definitely addiction lol.
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Had to google crpg. Apparently it's just "computer" rpg, lol.
I think RPGs can be just as engrossing as books at times. But then again, I like to play RPGs for the lore analysis rather than the actual leveling and equipment. Active playing an RPG is like active reading a book.
For example, if you take the Mass Effect series, in a similar vein to Dostoevsky's Brothers Karamazov's embodiment of the different kinds of the human spirit in his three characters, a lot of the races in the ME series is essentially an isolated and purified version of the human personality. And as an interesting side note, they also put in biological, social, political, and cultural aspects that are harmonious with that particular personality trait. The Krogan signify strength and independence. Their Spartan like lifestyle and culture signify this very much so. The Turians are more focused on collectivism and honor. In a way, it's like the good version of a 1984 society. There's a lot of neat stuff like this throughout the series. And moving through the game is like a continuing revelation of the author's intent. Just like a book yo.
Sadly there aren't a lot of games that do this well. To be honest, most RPGs are poorly planned, written, and executed. But when you find one that's done well, it's a nice treat.
Edit: To respond to your actual OP. Games are good in moderation. TV sucks monkey balls. Even documentaries suck unless you're watching it for the deep sea monsters. Taking life lessons from a comedian is generally not a good idea. Nor is it good to be overly influenced by the 'reality' displayed by television shows and films. Real life ain't like that. Sometimes I think people's expectations are retarded because of too much TV or fictional nonsense. But I do agree that playing games 24/7 is usually a useless and wasteful activity.
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Dude TV is way worse than video games.
On August 31 2014 07:21 Suichoy wrote:
I remember the recurring gag in Calvin and Hobbes where Calvin is watching the TV and his mother tosses him out the door to see the outdoors and stop "rotting his brain". But TV is an excellent hobby compared to video games. You can pick up how Louis CK spins his life stories into hilarious rants that make you consider the absurdities of life. You can vicariously experience the highs and lows of human emotions, you can pick up the eloquence of the character's speech, the way they carry themselves. All of this is accomplished in a single episode of 30 mins to 1 hour in length, no hacking and slashing inserted in between. And TV, with its crucial position in pop culture, gives you a point of connection which you can use to start conversing with almost anyone.
Ok but you could use this same airy rhetoric to describe video games.
They train your concentration and coordination. They teach you real life lessons, sometimes social, as in WoW, and other times strategic, as in SC2. etc etc
I get it though. You are unhappy with your life as you probably should be. I trust you that your life sucks. But it's not video games' fault. You are demonizing video games when video games can be a healthy part of someone's life. Find something productive to fill your time, then the video game usage will subside naturally.
In your blog you are focusing on the unproductive parts of your life. You should focus on your productive interests and then make them happen.
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I highly disagree.
It sounds to me you did not ever learn how to learn from video games and that is the biggest problem.
Starcraft 2 is possibly the game that I learnt the most.
I have learnt to strive a higher goal, a method to do things better, how to accept losses while taking the useful information in so I can keep improving.
It taught me a lot about what kind of person I really am as well, my risk/benefit ratio under different situations etc.
then other games have taught me a tonnes of language skills, basic knowledge on different societies such as stereotype, history etc, philosophical questions that are brought up, artistic presentation (framing, lighting, colour tone), IT stuff etc.
at the end, it's not the medium that is the problem, it's your attitude towards it.
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On August 31 2014 15:32 ETisME wrote:
I highly disagree.
It sounds to me you did not ever learn how to learn from video games and that is the biggest problem.
Starcraft 2 is possibly the game that I learnt the most.
I have learnt to strive a higher goal, a method to do things better, how to accept losses while taking the useful information in so I can keep improving.
It taught me a lot about what kind of person I really am as well, my risk/benefit ratio under different situations etc.
then other games have taught me a tonnes of language skills, basic knowledge on different societies such as stereotype, history etc, philosophical questions that are brought up, artistic presentation (framing, lighting, colour tone), IT stuff etc.
at the end, it's not the medium that is the problem, it's your attitude towards it.
I can't invalidate your experiences by comparing them to mine. If you have considered what you could have accomplished in the time that games have demanded from you and been satisfied with what you received instead, then I am glad for you. But I would have made the same justifications as you three months ago and I wonder if some of you will come to a point where you reach the same conclusion as me.
Three months ago, it seemed silly to see video games as potentially dangerous. I had long ago tuned out the ignorant media cabal that constantly labeled a gaming lifestyle as unhealthy or unnatural. I was always ready to fend off what seemed like an attack on our identity and an attempt to snuff out a blossoming art form. To be a gamer is simultaneously a rejection of the world's judgment and a symbol of pride, is it not?
It was a shock when I came across posts from other Starcraft gamers documenting their addiction and how it had taken away from their lives. It was different, feeling the attack come from within our community. It awoke something in me, something that led me to consider, without any of my external defenses, what games had actually given to me. When I thought of the time I had invested and saw how little I had been given in return, it hurt.
I agree with previous posters, I have experienced the great beauty in the single-player campaigns that make the art, music, characters, narrative all come together into a magnificent interactive immersive experience. But nearly all other cases, I think the nutritional content of games pales significantly next to other activities. Again, I think there is more to be learned in a single page of a well-written book than in 30 hours of gaming. And there is clearly a dangerous addictive element to games that I wish I had considered more seriously.
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On August 31 2014 16:17 Suichoy wrote:Show nested quote +On August 31 2014 15:32 ETisME wrote:
I highly disagree.
It sounds to me you did not ever learn how to learn from video games and that is the biggest problem.
Starcraft 2 is possibly the game that I learnt the most.
I have learnt to strive a higher goal, a method to do things better, how to accept losses while taking the useful information in so I can keep improving.
It taught me a lot about what kind of person I really am as well, my risk/benefit ratio under different situations etc.
then other games have taught me a tonnes of language skills, basic knowledge on different societies such as stereotype, history etc, philosophical questions that are brought up, artistic presentation (framing, lighting, colour tone), IT stuff etc.
at the end, it's not the medium that is the problem, it's your attitude towards it. I can't invalidate your experiences by comparing them to mine. If you have considered what you could have accomplished in the time that games have demanded from you and been satisfied with what you received instead, then I am glad for you. But I would have made the same justifications as you three months ago and I wonder if some of you will come to a point where you reach the same conclusion as me. Three months ago, it seemed silly to see video games as potentially dangerous. I had long ago tuned out the ignorant media cabal that constantly labeled a gaming lifestyle as unhealthy or unnatural. I was always ready to fend off what seemed like an attack on our identity and an attempt to snuff out a blossoming art form. To be a gamer is simultaneously a rejection of the world's judgment and a symbol of pride, is it not? It was a shock when I came across posts from other Starcraft gamers documenting their addiction and how it had taken away from their lives. It was different, feeling the attack come from within our community. It awoke something in me, something that led me to consider, without any of my external defenses, what games had actually given to me. When I thought of the time I had invested and saw how little I had been given in return, it hurt. I agree with previous posters, I have experienced the great beauty in the single-player campaigns that make the art, music, characters, narrative all come together into a magnificent interactive immersive experience. But nearly all other cases, I think the nutritional content of games pales significantly next to other activities. Again, I think there is more to be learned in a single page of a well-written book than in 30 hours of gaming. And there is clearly a dangerous addictive element to games that I wish I had considered more seriously.
I am a person with many interests, "gamer" is just a part of my hobbies.
I have never considered myself anything special just because I play videogame.
It's the same for me liking badminton and swimming.
I treat SC2 as a sport is because I am a sporty person myself. The routine practice, goal and how to evaluate and improve, competition are essential life skill.
There are dangerous addictive elements to video games, but so do almost any other things.
Also it really depends what do you mean by "nutritional content".
SC2 taught me all those while actually allowing me to live through them; a self learn book would have provided guidelines.
That's the difference between a passive information gathering and an interactive one.
If you are into real life useful skills and knowledge, then story books are not what you should be looking for.
self learn books will be a tonnes better, but even then, going to classes is a lot more useful.
And trust me, I do read A LOT, I know how it feels to read a damn good book.
I have at least over 120 books stored at my home now, in the study room (me and my dad are book worms)
But I have not found books anymore nutritious than video games.
They can be more entertaining, or expressed more beautifully, but that's not to say they are more nutritious.
This only means they are better at what you view as nutritious.
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Moderation. Learn it. Don't game all night every night. Also you smoke pot and wonder why your life isn't great?
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On August 31 2014 16:51 sUgArMaNiAc wrote:
Moderation. Learn it. Don't game all night every night. Also you smoke pot and wonder why your life isn't great?
lol weed makes your life better
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EPT
