Gaming is a waste of time

[Last One In]

I know that this a predominantly gamer community, as I was one myself until about 2 days ago, and I have something to tell you all; When you stop playing games life really opens up. I realized that staring at a screen for hours on end was frying my brain, as I was getting no culture or intuitive thoughts. All I would do is sit and play battlefield 2 or counter strike and mindlessly wait for the next round. I would sometimes think that it would be a good idea to go do something, but I was always just like "one more round." Well, since I quit playing, my life seems better and I feel more alive. I don't feel like the lazy shit I was when I played games, that's for sure. The only thing is that it is tough as nails to stay away perminantly. Has anyone else tried to quit gaming and what were the results?

 

[nofx]

games are just a way for me to relieve stress it seems like you played games, just to play games and had poor time management. i also look at your comp specs and see that it seems youll be wasting alot of money if you "quit" games forever

 

[$kelet0r]

can i have your computer then:E

 

[Axyon]

"Gaming is a waste of time."

By jove, it is!

 

[ComradeBadger]

Anything is a waste of time if it's all you do..

.. I go to art galleries and go out a lot, hang around with mates etc... playing games is a nice way to relax it's just a hobby.

 

[CptStern]

games are a form of entertainment ..I game instead of watching tv cuz at least I'm an active participant in my entertainment instead of just a spectator. That said, some of you guys spend too much time playing games ..I've been playing video games for over 20 years ..but there was a huge gap that lasted almost 10 years where I barely touched games ..which coincidentily lasted from the ages of 17 - 27. Now that I'm older, have money/family/house/good job, a bit of free time I dont feel like gaming is a waste of time ...but you people who havent established yourselves are still in school or just starting out a career would be better off if they spent less time gaming and more time living

 

[Alan Freeman]

It is a waste of time WHY??? you ask, well simple our parents say so. Some of us will go out occasionally but alot of us dont have friends or even go out at all. Some here make games there friends and somtimes its better to be inside playing games than to be out there in the world only god knows what could happin. I'm 23 and i've never had a girlfriend or even went on a real date. I dont think im ugly i just choose to do things on my own like go to the movies by myself and things like that.

If you think your done playing games wait till the next gen games and consoles come out a mojority of us will never leave the house.

 

[Dekstar]

Yeah can I have your rig? I'll give you like... £5?

Also I play games to just escape for a few hours. I also have lots of friends who also play CSS and so I just play and chat at the same time.
I can't say that it's destroying my brain, since I'm still writing poetry and stories, and doing well in school. But I agree about the energy levels.

 

[ComradeBadger]

To be honest, I wouldn't consider games to be a subsitute for friends and for me (and a few others) the lure of booze is too much :O

 

[CptStern]

it's different in europe ..you have a culture of pubbing whereas in north america people go to clubs, bars or restaurants..pubbing is what the university crowd do .***nning down to the local watering hole for a pint in north america usually means you have a drinking problem, whereas in europe it's more about the social aspects than anything else

 

[Jangle]

if you think 2 days is a long time to go without gaming, you must have played far too much anyway

 

[duffers20]

if you think 2 days is a long time to go without gaming, you must have played far too much anyway

Yeh that does suggest you play too much..

I tend to play games inbetween things, like when i get home from work before I go out or something. not all the time, I try and do other stuff to break it up, like go out with friends drinking/bowling/cinema/mtn biking etc. You shouldn't give up games, just do other stuff more. The majority of my friends play games (mostly guild wars and cs:s/cs:cz) and we all go out and stuff aswell as the occasional match at cs or guildwars.Its good fun, just break it up with other stuff.

 

[ComradeBadger]

it's different in europe ..you have a culture of pubbing whereas in north america people go to clubs, bars or restaurants..pubbing is what the university crowd do .***nning down to the local watering hole for a pint in north america usually means you have a drinking problem, whereas in europe it's more about the social aspects than anything else

I go to bars and clubs too .. last night was insane

 

[CptStern]

I go to bars and clubs too .. last night was insane

yes but it's all centralized in europe ..you can walk from one pub to a club to a restuarant to another pub to the next night club and back home ..we have to drive everywhere ..unless you live in the core and very few people can afford to do that

 

[ComradeBadger]

Ahhhh I get ya.. so you guys can't barhop :|

That sucks.. really does.. theres a Revolution RIGHT next to a club round here lovin' it!

Everything is within stumbling distance.. except for the old-man pubs at the top of the hill :E

 

[Beerdude26]

To be honest, I wouldn't consider games to be a subsitute for friends

QFT.
I might spend waaaay too much time behind my computer, and sometimes I might even think that I'd be happy only with my computer, but if you spend like 2 weeks behind your computer while only seeing your friends at school, you really realise : "God, my life sucks." (Today is one of those days )
You then get off that chair, and just hang out with your friends. And man, does it feel good
In the end, that's all you need :

Friends.

 

[Teta_Bonita]

In the end, that's all you need :

Friends.

To play games with. :E

 

[CptStern]

Ahhhh I get ya.. so you guys can't barhop :|

That sucks.. really does.. theres a Revolution RIGHT next to a club round here lovin' it!

Everything is within stumbling distance.. except for the old-man pubs at the top of the hill :E

we pubcrawl (barhop) but it's only in certain areas in the downtown core ..you have to get there somehow ..it gets expensive what with taxis and all ..it'll usually cost at least $50-60 both ways ..and I live relatively close to the downtown core


but I think you more than most comrade have the right idea ..mix social life with gaming and there should be no problem ...from the sounds of it some of the people here need to drop gaming all together for a little while and get back in touch with reality

 

[The Dark Elf]

Is this like appearing on television to denounce it?

 

[Alan Freeman]

QFT.
I might spend waaaay too much time behind my computer, and sometimes I might even think that I'd be happy only with my computer, but if you spend like 2 weeks behind your computer while only seeing your friends at school, you really realise : "God, my life sucks." (Today is one of those days )
You then get off that chair, and just hang out with your friends. And man, does it feel good
In the end, that's all you need :

Friends.

;( That brought a tier to my eye.

I DECLARE THIS DAY TO ALL GAMERS TO BE A DAY WE GET OFF OUR ASSES DAY AND SPEND TIME WITH OUR FRIENDS OR LOVED ONES.... after this round of course.

 

[Last One In]

Is this like appearing on television to denounce it?

From what I'm seeing, I certainly spent too much time in the last month playing video games. I would spend sometimes 5 hours a day sitting in front of my computer just playing. I can't say that battlefield was mindless (because of the strategy), but it was always hard to find people who wanted to be part of a serious squad. All in all though, I would rather be hanging out with my friends and family or shooting hoops and having real fun. The mediocre entertainment that television and movies provide can't compare to the enormous enjoyment that one feels when having fun with the ones they love.

 

[lister]

I know that this a predominantly gamer community, as I was one myself until about 2 days ago, and I have something to tell you all; When you stop playing games life really opens up. I realized that staring at a screen for hours on end was frying my brain, as I was getting no culture or intuitive thoughts. All I would do is sit and play battlefield 2 or counter strike and mindlessly wait for the next round. I would sometimes think that it would be a good idea to go do something, but I was always just like "one more round." Well, since I quit playing, my life seems better and I feel more alive. I don't feel like the lazy shit I was when I played games, that's for sure. The only thing is that it is tough as nails to stay away perminantly. Has anyone else tried to quit gaming and what were the results?

Right, so whats with the system then, if ur not into gaming y 1 hek of a system?
Also, sum people have a life other than playing games, prolly sumert u lacked?

 

[Angry Lawyer]

Its all about balance. Yes, I spend quite some time coding, and to an extent, gaming, but its a hobby, just like the television is for my father, and cross-stitch is to my mother. But I don't spend all day on the computer. I go to work, then after that, to the pub. Pop home, do a little coding. A little later, (assuming I'm in a relationship at the time), call the girlfriend. If it's a weekend, or I think I can get away with being hung over the following morning, I'll go clubbing. Otherwise, I'll either code some more, read a book, or go to the cinema. Hell, I even go and have singing lessons.

Balance is key. Never devote all of your time to one thing.

-Angry Lawyer

 

[mortiz]

To be honest, with the way it is on a Friday night in my local town centre, I'd rather be in doors playing a good game. I can have fun without fear of death.

But, yes, balance is always good.

 

[kirovman]

I know that this a predominantly gamer community, as I was one myself until about 2 days ago, and I have something to tell you all; When you stop playing games life really opens up. I realized that staring at a screen for hours on end was frying my brain, as I was getting no culture or intuitive thoughts. All I would do is sit and play battlefield 2 or counter strike and mindlessly wait for the next round. I would sometimes think that it would be a good idea to go do something, but I was always just like "one more round." Well, since I quit playing, my life seems better and I feel more alive. I don't feel like the lazy shit I was when I played games, that's for sure. The only thing is that it is tough as nails to stay away perminantly. Has anyone else tried to quit gaming and what were the results?

I know what you mean, but it's the same if you do any one thing for too long.

If you've spent all day working hard, doing something productive, sometimes there's nothing better than kicking back and playing some games. However if it's all you do, yes you are going to feel like crap. I know that because about 3 or 4 years ago, I just played games all summer and I felt like my brain had shrivelled up and died.

 

[Zeus]

Yes ok ill stop playing games, learning programming and graphic arts and go hang out in the streets like my "non-nerd" friends (as glo-boy would put it)...smoke some weed go to parties get drunk under age, get into trouble smash windows ect instead of keeping out of trouble, getting good grades and passing tests and possibly going on to college. Sounds like a great idea to me ...

 

[Ennui]

I play games religiously, but I get out a lot as well and I've got no problem balancing the two. I also am addicted to reading, so that helps.

 

[Last One In]

Reading is the corner stone of any healthy life. If I can find the time to read a good book, it is as though nothing else matters but finding out what happens next; it also improves your writting skills and makes you a faster reader. (they even have magazines that gives your arm a good work out too, if you know what I mean.)

 

[Ennui]

Yeah, it's a bit strange when I think about it though - put down DOD:S and pick up Dosteovsky.

Still, gaming for me at least has some weight, since I'm going to make a career out of game development.

 

[Zeus]

Yeah, it's a bit strange when I think about it though - put down DOD:S and pick up Dosteovsky.

Still, gaming for me at least has some weight, since I'm going to make a career out of game development.

really? what are you planning to be? (programmer, mapper or ect)..just curious because i am also interested in game development

 

[Sulkdodds]

Are games a waste of time if you squeeze in a few hours in between mountains of college work, socialising, writing and eccetera?

 

[Pesmerga]

During the day I play games and talk to friends on Vent, during the night me and a close friend of mine talk about really deep shit, for instance, lesbians, or the philosophical side of modding (points to it, purpose of the mod)

 

[Nat Turner]

I stopped playing games, but I'm online all the time still.

 

[CptStern]

During the day I play games and talk to friends on Vent, during the night me and a close friend of mine talk about really deep shit, for instance, lesbians, or the philosophical side of modding (points to it, purpose of the mod)

what about school/work?

 

[Nat Turner]

what about school/work?

lol he probably lives in his mommy's basement.

 

[CptStern]

lol he probably lives in his mommy's basement.

...which wouldnt be all that bad considering he's a teenager

 

[Fishlore]

I may only get an hour of gaming a week tops. It isn't really because I feel that I'd be wasting my time, but games these days really don't interest me at all anymore. Going out, hanging out, reading and a million other things are more exciting to me now than playing the same types of games over and over. Maybe if they released a couple more linear, WWII, FPS games that play exactly like every other linear, WWII, FPS I'd play more. Well...maybe not.

The Nintendo Revolution is the last hope I have to get back into gaming. It will either bring me back or push me away for good. Until then, well theres plenty of non-gaming stuff to do. I guess at the ripe young age of 29 I couldn't care less about graphics anymore. I don't want a better looking version of a game I played five years ago. I want something new. If I don't get it, no biggie, I'll just save a lot of money for other fun things.

 

[Gui!]

I love to game and i regulary chat to friends that i met through gaming. Saying that i always go out with my mates and have a wicked time. Thank the lord for booze.

It is good to get a few hours of gaming after a full day of work. Just somehitng i do to chill.

 

[ailevation]

I found this out awhile back. I am not much into computers and shit, I was because of PC games. Feels good that I game far less than before. But, I still like videogames. I'm just on the PC for about 2-3 hours a day now.

 

[CptStern]

I'm on a pc between 10-14 hrs per day ..my work is the bulk of that