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| Thread: I Gave Up Video Games |  This thread is pages long: 1 2 3 4 · «PREV / NEXT» |
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Ghost
Undefeatable Hero
Therefore I am
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posted September 01, 2012 04:21 PM |
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RedSoxFan3
Admirable
Legendary Hero
Fan of Red Sox
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posted September 01, 2012 04:24 PM |
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Corribus - I really don't see Tobacco as an addiction. I've been a casual smoker for years. I can have a cigarette whenever I want and then not touch it again the rest of my life. Video games on the other hand. Way more addictive. You feel invested in a game. If you stop playing it feels like I've given up. That I am somehow justifying that all that time I've put into the game is now going to waste.
I really believe that video games were a very serious addiction for me. And I do believe its something that can be chemically addicting when it becomes bad enough. After playing video games for 20-30 hours in a week, I start to feel anxious and video games makes me feel a lot better, a lot safer. It gives me an adrenaline rush. When a really intense game ends I can feel my heart pounding and I have to play another one.
People have lost their jobs, their marriages, and even their lives from video game or computer addiction.
Seraphim - It sounds to me like you are angry at me, because I hit a sore spot. I used to feel just like you. When I'm addicted to video games, I justify it by saying "I hate people" all the time or "People suck." There's a lot of snowty annoying people out there. But there's just as many really cool awesome people out there too. You just have to open your eyes and stop judging people before you meet them.
And as for what I deem true accomplishment. Doing something that will lead to future good health, longevity and/or prosperity in life for yourself or those around you. That's what I deem true accomplishment. Something that is good for your future. Video games or getting drunk or getting high really don't improve your future. It only makes you feel better right now. 10 years from now are you going to be happier in life because you beat all of the Zelda games or all of the Mario games?
Or are you going to be happier in life, because 10 years ago you decided to join a local writers group and though you never finished a novel, you met someone who is now your best friend or maybe even your spouse.
OhForFSake - Video games are partially a priority problem. It's magnified by your personal ability to become addicted to video games. This stems from your personality. I personally feel a sense of accomplishment when I play. I look at all the goals a video game offers and my mind views it as an easy source of satisfaction. That's what pulls me in. As you continue to play the game, the goals become more time consuming and more challenging, thus to get that feeling again you have to commit more time. This is how video games can be addicting. Some people feel the pull a lot more than others and I'm someone who can't control that pull very well. Add in the fact that I often feel an adrenaline rush when I play my favorite video games and now you're body will tell you to play video games whenever you're body needs adrenaline, rather than getting exercise or having sex or other things that are good for your health or longevity in life.
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Go Red Sox!
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OhforfSake
Promising
Legendary Hero
Initiate
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posted September 01, 2012 04:29 PM |
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Quote:
So you're saying a smoker has no choice?
No, I'm not. I'm saying that it isn't "there's always a choice", and it isn't "there's never a choice".
The ability to choose is strongest before the need to choose comes up. Therefore the battle is usually determined before the need of choosing, whereby it all lies in the preparation done.
E.g. if you put your hand in non-dangerous pain, all it requires is a flicker of doubt about the the non-dangerousness of the pain for you to pull back your hand. While it requires you to hold up your belief against the pain for an unknown amount of time, if you're to succeed. Since the time is unknown, it might seem like you'll have to endure forever.
Maybe it won't be doubt about the non-dangerousness of the pain, maybe it'll be a doubt if it's worth it, if it's what you really want, etc.
It's not a state of mind to function properly in, and I'm afraid it might be the state of mind of serious addicts most of the time, before they get their fix.
You might refuse the fix, but in reality, you've already lost when you find yourself fighting hard.
After all, reality of addictions are not a sole single evil. It's a whole group of activities, which you do not want to do, but cannot stop yourself from doing. Is it really better to say, run away by lie down and sleep or reading a novel? Or does the same problem not persist, that you are unable to do what you really want, whatever that might be? Or maybe merely unaware of what it is.
("You" is used in general, and not meant to be a specific person).
Edit:
@RSF
For some reason, addictions have come up a lot while I've been an active user here. Here's an old thread which I think shares some of the things you're saying: http://heroescommunity.com/viewthread.php3?TID=34836
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Living time backwards
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Doomforge
Admirable
Undefeatable Hero
Retired Hero
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posted September 01, 2012 05:40 PM |
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Quote:
People have lost their jobs, their marriages, and even their lives from video game or computer addiction.
And every other addiction under the sun. I guess you should make addiction thread then, and not video games? since the points you make can be universally applied to almost everything pleasurable humans can do 
Quote:
And as for what I deem true accomplishment. Doing something that will lead to future good health, longevity and/or prosperity in life for yourself or those around you.
Be careful. It's very easy to claim everything is useless according to that logic. Like, reading books (doesn't lead to good health or longevity), for instance, watching movies, being interested in history, art, heck - anything not related to sport and/or money. And that would turn us to amoebas who only work, train and sleep. Art - in the form of books, movies and video games - expands our mind and makes our imagination rich.
The thing I find wrong with your logic is that you picked a wrong target (video games), when your real problem was addiction. And you can become addicted to anything, not just video games.
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We reached to the stars and everything is now ours
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Tsar-Ivor
Promising
Legendary Hero
Scourge of God
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posted September 01, 2012 05:57 PM |
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And you can become addicted to anything, not just video games.
True, but he was addicted to video games, speaking of alcohol/tobacco/drug addiction is pointless when you have first hand experience with a certain type of addiction, especially since as gamers it's an addiction that we are more likely share with him.
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"No laughs were had. There is only shame and sadness." Jenny
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Fauch
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
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posted September 01, 2012 06:29 PM |
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Video games or getting drunk or getting high really don't improve your future. It only makes you feel better right now. 10 years from now are you going to be happier in life because you beat all of the Zelda games or all of the Mario games?
well, but that's the point, no? why do something if it doesn't make you happy right now, but might in 10 years?
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disturbed-Gnu
Supreme Hero
Pro Bacon Vodka Brewer
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posted September 03, 2012 11:33 PM |
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You don't have to stop gaming to do all the stuff you said on your list   but good for you 
You can make it a habbit to hang out with friends whenever you want, and/or game witht them online. You can party Thursday to Saturday or whatever you want, and have the meanest hangover sunday where you can cuddle with your girlfriend or the one you scored saturday night.
Just whenever you have the option to hang out, choose it over gaming.
Actually, put gaming on the bottom of your list.
It works for me 
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RedSoxFan3
Admirable
Legendary Hero
Fan of Red Sox
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posted January 14, 2013 02:02 AM |
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I've been playing video games again. A fair amount lately. I wouldn't say its been overly destructive, but I do feel like I haven't been meeting people the way I would like.
I really want to stop again, cause I'm starting classes this Thursday and there's a lot of things that I want to do with my time. Video games really isn't something I want to waste my time doing.
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Go Red Sox!
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Jackson
Known Hero
Random Spirit Lover
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posted January 14, 2013 07:54 AM |
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Quote:
I've been playing video games again. A fair amount lately. I wouldn't say its been overly destructive, but I do feel like I haven't been meeting people the way I would like.
I really want to stop again, cause I'm starting classes this Thursday and there's a lot of things that I want to do with my time. Video games really isn't something I want to waste my time doing.
Out of curiosity, what are your non-video game computer habits like, and what are your television habits like?
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Doomforge
Admirable
Undefeatable Hero
Retired Hero
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posted January 14, 2013 11:02 AM |
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Feels like you're under an awful lot of social pressure, RSF. Why are you actually giving in to other people's visions of a time well spent? You play games cause you like it. It's as much of a waste of time as everything else in the world, including drinking beer with friends which the modern society tries to make THE activity for people. I don't honestly get why would you want to give up gaming if you like it. If I were you, I'd rather simply limit it so that I had time for all the duties. Seriously, stop allowing people to tell you what's a well-spent free time, and what's not. Peer pressure should just crawl under a bush and die - a free time well spent is a free time you enjoyed spending. It doesn't really matter if it was gaming, sex, beer drinking, or stamp collecting. It's all meaningless in life anyway.
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We reached to the stars and everything is now ours
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Fauch
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
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posted January 14, 2013 02:58 PM |
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Edited by Fauch at 15:01, 14 Jan 2013.
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games is usually all I do with other people.
it has the benefit that no one has to figure a topic of conversation, since people usually have nothing interesting to say anyway.
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Corribus
Hero of Order
The Abyss Staring Back at You
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posted January 14, 2013 03:59 PM |
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Quote:
Video games really isn't something I want to waste my time doing.
You play video games a lot even though you claim that you consider it a waste of time. Either you're lying (to yourself) about the merits of playing video games or you have a psychological problem, because normal people don't spend time doing something they don't value.
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I'm sick of following my dreams. I'm just going to ask them where they're goin', and hook up with them later. -Mitch Hedberg
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Doomforge
Admirable
Undefeatable Hero
Retired Hero
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posted January 14, 2013 04:14 PM |
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Unless they are trying to fit in, be cool, like everyone else. Social pressure. Or perhaps their judgment about their desired life is altered by overwhelming "will of majority" to party and have random sex.
So you know, instead of actually giving in and being a nerd (what's wrong with that?), they party and look for random sex, which leads only to dissonance.
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We reached to the stars and everything is now ours
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Corribus
Hero of Order
The Abyss Staring Back at You
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posted January 14, 2013 04:39 PM |
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Edited by Corribus at 17:51, 14 Jan 2013.
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Unless they are trying to fit in, be cool, like everyone else. Social pressure.
That's still the product of a value judgment. If you do something to "fit in", you're doing it because you value the approval of other people. If you say that doing that thing is a waste of time, you're lying to yourself, because people don't usually do things they consider to be low value. Maybe you don't recognize the value judgment that's being made - many value judgments aren't the result of a deliberative process - but one is being made all the same. People ALWAYS choose to do things they value in some way. That's not the same as chosing to do things you personally enjoy, because sometimes we value things above (immediate) personal enjoyment. For instance, at the expense of playing video games (something I personally enjoy), I may exercise, go to the grocery store, or watch a chick flick with my wife, none of which I personally enjoy. I might lie to myself and say that any one of those is a "waste of time", but in fact the reason I do these things is because in some way I value them above my immediate personal enjoyment. I recognize that although they may not give me immediate enjoyment, and in fact may require work, there is some long-range benefit that will likely result. I exercise because I value my health (or in reality, I value the possibility of having more time later in life); I go to the grocery store because I value having food in the house for the remainder of the week; I watch a chick flick with my wife because I value having a good relationship with her and the likely benefits that entails. These are often complex decisions, but the difference between being an adult and being a child is that adults don't make decisions based on instant gratification - mature minds can weigh the importance of values now versus bigger rewards later on. (Real research has shown, for example, that when confronted, say, with a choice of getting one cookie now or ten cookies later on, children will almost always opt for the one cookie now and adults will tend to opt for the ten cookies later on.)
While this ability to weigh immediate vs. future benefits has certain advantages, it can often obscure the fact that value judgments are being made at all, and can lead to situations where we fool ourselves into thinking we're making decisions that aren't based on competitive values. Hence this foolish idea about "wasting time", which generally comes about because an individual recognizes there might be a larger future paypack from making a certain behavioral choice, but he lacks the willpower to resist the urge to get an immediate emotional payback from a different behavioral choice that gives him immediate (but short lived) value. That is, the individual recognizes that (in this instance) playing video games has no long-lasting value, and in fact he'd probably be better served, in the long run, by doing something that gives a more long lasting benefit, but he lacks the self control to resist his immediate psychological urges. We all do this to some degree, of course - we all "waste time" occasionally - but when it becomes pathological, that's pretty much the definition of addictive (or childish) behavior. No offense to RSF, but if video games are truly becoming a monopolizing influence in his life, and he is unable to strike a better balance between chosing activities that provide immediate and long-term benefits, then either he needs to grow up or get help from a professional psychologist, because it's not the sign of healthy adult psychological behavior. At the very least, it's virtually impossible to function socially and psychologically in our society if we live only by making value judgments based only on what benefits us in the instant of time decisions are being made.
NB: The recognition that something is a "waste of time" is in itself telling. Someone truly incapable of weighing future vs immediate benefits would not recognize playing video games all the time as a "waste", because they wouldn't recognize that they're passing up future benefits for immediate gratification. Children, for example, don't recognize watching TV as a "waste of time", even if their parents do. They'd watch TV 24/7 if they could, and not feel a pang of guilt about it! If you recognize something as a "waste of time", you at least recognize the consequences of your decision, even if you're incapable of making a better one. In that case you're somewhere along the spectrum of healthy - lazy - an addict, depending on how often you fail to incorporate future benefits into your decision algorthms.
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I'm sick of following my dreams. I'm just going to ask them where they're goin', and hook up with them later. -Mitch Hedberg
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OhforfSake
Promising
Legendary Hero
Initiate
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posted January 14, 2013 04:43 PM |
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Either you're lying (to yourself) about the merits of playing video games or you have a psychological problem, because normal people don't spend time doing something they don't value.
Children are people too, you know...
Joke aside. Many people spends time on stuff they don't value. Usually, but not always, because they value the reward.
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Living time backwards
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Corribus
Hero of Order
The Abyss Staring Back at You
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posted January 14, 2013 04:47 PM |
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Edited by Corribus at 16:48, 14 Jan 2013.
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You're right, I should have said "normal adults". My apologies and thanks for the catch. And you're wrong, people don't spend time on things they don't value. Give me an example to the contrary.
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I'm sick of following my dreams. I'm just going to ask them where they're goin', and hook up with them later. -Mitch Hedberg
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Seraphim
Supreme Hero
Knowledge Reaper
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posted January 14, 2013 04:55 PM |
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Yay, being hip, cool, hangin round with "Cool" dudedz, stoning yourself and so on are all subjective.
The add nothing to your "life". 10 years from now, the people you know now, except your really close friends, will forget you even existed.
The point I am trying to make is that, whatever you do, you gain valuable experience from it. The positives are the things that matter.
Gaming or meeting people, both add to your experience stockpile.
What you consider a waste of time, might seem important to others.
I for example consider golf,tennis,football and so on, pointless.
You could argue that they are good because they are "Physical" activities... You would do that because of the media brainwashing everybody into thinking that physical activity and all that garbage must be good... Its not always good and some people enjoy hobbies that have nothing to do with physical activity, like me. If I want to run, I can run and make a good time. I have a nice amount of physical activity per day and I still find to play a game or two in the spare time.
The point above all is, is to be free.Free to choose. As others pointed out, your real problem was addiction. Addiction takes away the possibility of choice.
Be it gaming or hanging out, both have their ups and downs, but they should be activities of spare time and you should be able to choose.
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Fauch
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
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posted January 14, 2013 05:12 PM |
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Quote:
Hence this foolish idea about "wasting time", which generally comes about because an individual recognizes there might be a larger paypack in the future by making a certain behavioral choice, but that he lacks the willpower to resist the urge to get an immediate emotional payback of choosing that gives him immediate (but short lived) value.
I actually think it is logical, because that biggest reward in the future is rarely granted. (I'm not talking about going to the grocery shop so that you have foods for the week )
you may work hard and do sacrifices to realize that in the end it wasn't worth it, or it doesn't provide any results, or the guy who promised a reward lied. at least, by taking the instant gratification, you are sure of what you get.
the only thing you are sure about when you are going to do something you don't like for future reward, is, well, that you won't like it...
about the cookie example, everyone knows that the best way is actually to eat all the cookies before someone else does. if you say you prefer to wait for the 10 cookies, you can be sure there will actually be none anymore
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Corribus
Hero of Order
The Abyss Staring Back at You
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posted January 14, 2013 06:01 PM |
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Edited by Corribus at 18:02, 14 Jan 2013.
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Quote:
Addiction takes away the possibility of choice.
No it doesn't. The addict always makes a choice. What the addiction does is make it difficult for the addict to effectively weigh (short and long terms) benefits and consequences of various behavioral options. In many cases this is exacerbated by the fact that ceasing a certain behavior, in addition to taking away the benefits, actually incurs a progressively steeper physical or emotional cost - a feedback mechanism that causes the same behavior choice to be made repeatedly. This is the case in chemical drug addiction, and possibly so in other behavioral addictions like gambling, etc.
Even so, the victim still has a choice. Addicts recover or give up their addictions all the time, even in the cases of chemical dependency. Usually having friends or family help you to make this choice helps.
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I'm sick of following my dreams. I'm just going to ask them where they're goin', and hook up with them later. -Mitch Hedberg
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mvassilev
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
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posted January 14, 2013 06:36 PM |
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Corribus:
Sometimes preferences are more complicated than the binary of having a preference or not. Sure, he may act in a way that indicates that he prefers to "fit in", but we as observers don't know enough to say that it's his motivating preference. Perhaps he's internalized certain social expectations, and has never considered that preference consciously. If you act in a certain way because you're motivated by a preference you don't think about, and upon considering it you no longer have that preference, was it ever a real preference?
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Eccentric Opinion
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