Astral Dog
Member
I Don't some of the best and most precious memories of my life have been related to gamming, however i 'regret' wasting so much time being depressed and letting others influence my life in a bad way.
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I regret spending so much of my life on gaming
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In the end it does mean something. I was entertained. I was playing something that entertained me. If you wanna hole up all day and not have a social life, that's on you. Don't try to dissect the logistics of gaming like you're a psychologist please.
This echoes that no fap subreddit of "look how woke I am! Look at all I accomplished when I didn't jerk off!" No, you can still jerk off and do stuff. It's called not being lazy.
This echoes that no fap subreddit of "look how woke I am! Look at all I accomplished when I didn't jerk off!" No, you can still jerk off and do stuff. It's called not being lazy.
Calibos
Member
What other forms of entertainment do you accomplish something in? Maybe you take it all too seriously?
I don't know...I am 43, happily married with an awesome 3.5 year old who is just starting to scratch the gaming surface...why does it have to be SO important that you feel like you regret it. It's a pastime. I look forward to what little gaming time I have these days. There are times when I wonder what I could have drawn, sculpted or accomplished in the time I have spent gaming, but that is relevant in any entertainment time sink. Do you get the same feeling if you binge watch a series or go to a Sporting event for $100 a seat?
I sound like I am persecuting you...maybe try stepping away from it and picking up another hobby like crafting things or taking photos or something that has a tangible result. Build something. learn some programming, download Unreal Engine and make a game....
I absolutely understand. When I was a kid I loved runescape to an unhealthy degree. It was legitimately fun but I played it way too much because it gave me a social outlet I didn't have otherwise. Some people might point out that it's a good thing, but really it probably kept me from developing those skills until much much later.
I dont really regret much stuff I've done including gaming though, theres no point. I find that if I need to change something I just do it and not worry about the what ifs. The what ifs only cause depression and shit so it's pointless. You definitely probably got some people defensive with your post lol, some of them seem to be projecting a little bit
I dont really regret much stuff I've done including gaming though, theres no point. I find that if I need to change something I just do it and not worry about the what ifs. The what ifs only cause depression and shit so it's pointless. You definitely probably got some people defensive with your post lol, some of them seem to be projecting a little bit
SentientStone
Member
If it is a competitive game then yes (aside from fighters which I love), but if its a narrative or experience type game then no. Its like watching a movie and enjoying the emotional experience.
It's not related to gaming (maybe I should have made a different paragraph to make the jump from gaming to general more clear), it was a general statement.
Not in the slightest do I feel this way. Art and stories are what fulfill me and keep me going. There's nothing more fulfilling than to engage the brain and besides studying something (the right) games are a fantastic way to do that. I've certainly learned from games just as I learned from books or movies, mostly emotional understanding, empathy, awareness. I've learned much about history, geography. On top of that games can teach to understand systems, some require mathematical thinking, problem solving.
Games can inspire to learn, I've learned english mainly because of gaming, I'm in the process of doing the same with japanese. I've looked up historical events because I encountered references in games.
Simply put it's all about how you do it and how you engage with it. There's nothing wrong with finding fulfillment in physical activities or stepping away from gaming if it feels unhealthy to you, but this same truth does not apply to everybody. Games are not just disposable, useless things.
Games can inspire to learn, I've learned english mainly because of gaming, I'm in the process of doing the same with japanese. I've looked up historical events because I encountered references in games.
Simply put it's all about how you do it and how you engage with it. There's nothing wrong with finding fulfillment in physical activities or stepping away from gaming if it feels unhealthy to you, but this same truth does not apply to everybody. Games are not just disposable, useless things.
Chozo_Lord
Member
I don't regret gaming completely, I just regret putting too much time into certain games. Like this year I put almost 100 hours into MEA multiplayer just hoping they would patch it and make it as good as ME3 multiplayer. I really wish I gave up sooner and used that time to play one of the other amazing games that came out this year. Same with all forms of entertainment, my time is valuable so I try to spend my entertainment time on high quality things.
It's pretty much why I refuse to play those "co-op, mic required, best played with friends!" kind of games, since I get kinda intense and pressured when playing with more people and tend to not have fun at all. Had my first raid in Destiny 2 and it was miserable as fuck because I fucked up things badly and had to leave since people started to get angry.
So yeah, I have been focusing on other games and decided to get a gaming PC and play only single player stuff. I had this unhealthy obsession of "I should be playing more socially" and decided I wasn't having any fun with that. Started playing Pillars of Eternity, Cuphead and Civilization V. Feeling really glad I didn't stick with something I wasn't really liking. Maybe you should have dropped the hobby or look for something different to play instead of having such a bitter opinion of something that was a waste of time for you.
To be short. It's your own fault if you feel like you wasted your life on something. You didn't get more fit, learned something on the side or done something productive? It's on you. Now those years are all behind you, will you sulk about it or try to improve? That's on you too. (It's great you improved your life, OP, this was more of a general statement for someone who feels like the above.)
So yeah, I have been focusing on other games and decided to get a gaming PC and play only single player stuff. I had this unhealthy obsession of "I should be playing more socially" and decided I wasn't having any fun with that. Started playing Pillars of Eternity, Cuphead and Civilization V. Feeling really glad I didn't stick with something I wasn't really liking. Maybe you should have dropped the hobby or look for something different to play instead of having such a bitter opinion of something that was a waste of time for you.
To be short. It's your own fault if you feel like you wasted your life on something. You didn't get more fit, learned something on the side or done something productive? It's on you. Now those years are all behind you, will you sulk about it or try to improve? That's on you too. (It's great you improved your life, OP, this was more of a general statement for someone who feels like the above.)
Temeculan3000
Member
Ah well I agree with that. If you are doing something in your life to better yourself other than just gaming, then it is fine if you spend some of your free time gaming. It's only an issue when your only purpose in life is to play games, or if you claim to get all of your meaning through just games.
Have you read this forum? lol
Calibos
Member
Ok...after reading through your post again, I am getting more understanding of what you are talking about.
Different things for different people I guess.
If gaming is the thing that is getting in the way of this stuff though, especially career, sex life, finances and your standing among your peers, you should be concerned. Life balance is something people should pursue always.
Gaming isn't life for anyone who isn't having a professional career in the industry...if it's more than that for anyone else, it could be a problem.
Different things for different people I guess.
If gaming is the thing that is getting in the way of this stuff though, especially career, sex life, finances and your standing among your peers, you should be concerned. Life balance is something people should pursue always.
Gaming isn't life for anyone who isn't having a professional career in the industry...if it's more than that for anyone else, it could be a problem.
Bucket-o-roadkill
Member
Indeed, you should stop and sit in darkness and silence immediately.
Sure. I wish I had spent all the time I played games in something wortwhile. But it doesnt work like that. If it wasnt gaming it wouldve been something else non productive. So in the end it doesnt realy matter.
Edit: on the other hand I got my passion of making films through video games and making montages. Making films is my job now so I guess it was productive.
Edit: on the other hand I got my passion of making films through video games and making montages. Making films is my job now so I guess it was productive.
Astral Dog
Member
Also gamming i wouldn't have known GAF and learned lots of different points of view about life (yes im talking about OP)
It helped me ferl like i wasn't so alone.
It helped me ferl like i wasn't so alone.
IXI FalcoN
Member
Gaming, like everything else, is what you make of it.
I spent most of 2002-2005 LANing Halo CE and eventually Halo 2 on XBL. I still talk to some of those guys on at least a weekly basis. One of them now lives in Hong Kong with a wife and 1 year old girl. We were all between 12-14 when we met, half a life time ago. Those were some of the best moments I had growing up and I made some life long friends; I would never look at that as a waste.
Beyond that, some games have turned me on to other topics and broadened my knowledge and introduced me to other hobbies.
I spent most of 2002-2005 LANing Halo CE and eventually Halo 2 on XBL. I still talk to some of those guys on at least a weekly basis. One of them now lives in Hong Kong with a wife and 1 year old girl. We were all between 12-14 when we met, half a life time ago. Those were some of the best moments I had growing up and I made some life long friends; I would never look at that as a waste.
Beyond that, some games have turned me on to other topics and broadened my knowledge and introduced me to other hobbies.
ThatStupidLion
Gold Member
yeeeup - every day. it's my biggest guilt. i hate spending time gaming.
sure i enjoyed it growing up, but the industry and i have changed so much. its lost so much appeal to me.
but i cant quit it. actively trying to though. at least reduce the amount of time spent gaming.
i dont want my children to grow up addicted to games.
sure i enjoyed it growing up, but the industry and i have changed so much. its lost so much appeal to me.
but i cant quit it. actively trying to though. at least reduce the amount of time spent gaming.
i dont want my children to grow up addicted to games.
Heckler456
Banned
Yup. Absolutely. Looking back, it was a crutch. I wish I had better people surrounding me when I was a child.
The only gaming related thing I hate is my addiction to streams. S.o. goes to bed early, hell yeah time to play video games! 3 hours later I havent even turned my playstation on and Im watching a Hearthstone stream, game that I played like 2 years ago. Same goes for Youtube, I see an interesting video and the related videos start an endless loop thatll go on for hours.
I love playing video games but for some reason I get stuck watching others play instead.
I love playing video games but for some reason I get stuck watching others play instead.
The people at the highest level of achievement in their field probably don't spend any of their time relaxing with any form of entertainment. These people are entrepreneurs, professional athletes, musicians, prestigious university faculty, C-suite executives, etc. Performance at the very top requires dedication. A lot can certainly get done when time is not spent idly.
But for the rest of us, spending some time on entertainment isn't so bad.
If I were to rank various hobbies, I suppose gaming is as worthwhile as watching television or movies, but a bit less enriching than reading. In terms of self-improvement, there are other hobbies which both entertain and as well as develop some skill. I don't know if gaming develops any skill beyond gaming itself.
But for the rest of us, spending some time on entertainment isn't so bad.
If I were to rank various hobbies, I suppose gaming is as worthwhile as watching television or movies, but a bit less enriching than reading. In terms of self-improvement, there are other hobbies which both entertain and as well as develop some skill. I don't know if gaming develops any skill beyond gaming itself.
TrumanBurbank
Member
I agree OP. Glad you realized this now rather than later.
Renna Hazel
Member
You can definitely improve your social life with gaming by making friends through video games. Entertainment and fun isn't a waste of time in my opinion, it's the thing that makes life worth living.
Robot Carnival
Member
I'm gonna be 40 in a couple months and I still plays pretty regularly on PS4 and PC. play on my Vita and laptop while I'm on the road too. I see no reason for regret or stopping.
IncognitoPanda
Member
It should definitely be used sparingly, but recreation has its place, don't you think?
Plus gaming has many (although minor) advantages. It improves reaction times and even eyesight in cases, many games sharpen your problem solving skills, and today they even tell great stories.
Spending 5 hours a day in WoW is probably a huge waste, but I fail to see how games are worse than movies and TV shows. Probably better with a happy wife and child, though, congrats
Plus gaming has many (although minor) advantages. It improves reaction times and even eyesight in cases, many games sharpen your problem solving skills, and today they even tell great stories.
Spending 5 hours a day in WoW is probably a huge waste, but I fail to see how games are worse than movies and TV shows. Probably better with a happy wife and child, though, congrats
Cato the Censor
Member
Read Alice Coopers book "Golf Monster". If you are a high-performing successful person, you NEED a pasttime that is totally different from what you normally do.
If you want to get old, that is.
People waste their time all the time. If its not video games, its golf, poker, fantasy sports, or partying.
Obviously some time wasting activities (reading) are more productive than others, but ultimately happiness is better than pure productivity.
Having a structured, productive life doesnt matter if youre miserable or depressed.
Obviously some time wasting activities (reading) are more productive than others, but ultimately happiness is better than pure productivity.
Having a structured, productive life doesnt matter if youre miserable or depressed.
jonscrambler
Member
I also regret OP spending so much of his life on gaming
Susurrus
Member
Why regret it? It is just a form of entertainment. No different than reading (
), watching a movie (
), etc, except is interactive.
When I was a kid, I liked doing it, and I honestly feel it has increased my critical thinking and reflexes as a positive side effect.
Once I got older, it became a great way to decompress. I actually saved a lot of money in my early adult life, since instead of wasting all my money in the bars, I spent my time gaming, which was significantly cheaper, which would end up allowing me to have a huge nest egg to open an investment account that has me in a very comfortable place, and is continuing to grow. Now that I'm older, I have a wife and son, have a lot more responsibility at work, but also get out a lot more, I even live abroad, travel frequently, and study (after I got my Bachelor's from part time school, I picked up Japanese). But when it comes down to it, when I do get time to game, it is a huge stress reliever. I don't play every game, and am generally slowly working through a backlog (No More Heroes atm), but they still have their place.
If they're not fun for you, that's fine, don't play them. But it is all how you view it.
some games ARE reading
this too
When I was a kid, I liked doing it, and I honestly feel it has increased my critical thinking and reflexes as a positive side effect.
Once I got older, it became a great way to decompress. I actually saved a lot of money in my early adult life, since instead of wasting all my money in the bars, I spent my time gaming, which was significantly cheaper, which would end up allowing me to have a huge nest egg to open an investment account that has me in a very comfortable place, and is continuing to grow. Now that I'm older, I have a wife and son, have a lot more responsibility at work, but also get out a lot more, I even live abroad, travel frequently, and study (after I got my Bachelor's from part time school, I picked up Japanese). But when it comes down to it, when I do get time to game, it is a huge stress reliever. I don't play every game, and am generally slowly working through a backlog (No More Heroes atm), but they still have their place.
If they're not fun for you, that's fine, don't play them. But it is all how you view it.
family_guy
Member
Nothing we do matters, but...
Enjoy your life. Peace.
Enjoy your life. Peace.
How much gaming were you doing before? Yeah it's a form of entertainment, you shouldn't dedicate every passing minute to it.
Kamina
Golden Boy
So you are trying to say that youd have done something more productive if you had not been playing games?
No. You would have read more books, and/or watch movies or tv series more often. Maybe you would have gone to bars more often. But i guarantee you would not have been more productive.
No. You would have read more books, and/or watch movies or tv series more often. Maybe you would have gone to bars more often. But i guarantee you would not have been more productive.
Most of those things would be more fulfilling than any hobby but let's face some cold, hard truths: none of those things are really remarkable. Most people do those things a one point or another. You did nothing extraordinary unless you left out some important notes there.
shark sandwich
tenuously links anime, pedophile and incels
It should definitely be used sparingly, but recreation has its place, don't you think?
Plus gaming has many (although minor) advantages. It improves reaction times and even eyesight in cases, many games sharpen your problem solving skills, and today they even tell great stories.
Spending 5 hours a day in WoW is probably a huge waste, but I fail to see how games are worse than movies and TV shows. Probably better with a happy wife and child, though, congrats
Yeah there is nothing wrong with mindless recreation here and there. Everybody needs a little downtime. I think I said as much in my OP. You don't need to spend every waking minute doing something productive.
And yeah there are benefits to gaming. I'd say that most games are an optimization problem. They teach you to be analytical. They make you really good at filtering out noise and identifying relevant variables/patterns. But for me personally, I feel like those are things I learned in my teens and I'm not really getting anything else out of them now.
It's not the most productive use of your time, no, but neither is other media found on a screen. If I'm going to enjoy some entertainment on a screen, I'd rather have it be something that can challenge me to think critically. This explains why I like games focusing on "player agency" (Prey, Dishonored, Hitman), choice and consequence (New Vegas, Alpha Protocol, Witcher 3) or puzzles (The Witness, Limbo, etc). Then you have some truly artful games like Shadow of the Colossus.
This is also why I largely ignore the linear, cinematic style of games.
This is also why I largely ignore the linear, cinematic style of games.
shark sandwich
tenuously links anime, pedophile and incels
I mean, I wasn't a hermit who holed up playing video games 10 hours a day. But there was definitely SO MUCH emotional investment in it. To the point that the next big JRPG, the next video card, the next game system was THE thing that kept me going and made me excited for the future.
I don't regret a single second of playing any game that I enjoyed. There have definitely been some games I forced myself to play through; I do sorta regret those. That being said, I also regret wasting my time on certain shitty albums, books, and movies too.
*shrug*
I work out somewhat regularly, but I wouldn't want to replace movies with running. Hell, if I could only choose one or the other I would just embrace the gut.
I also reject the notion that games are mindless. There are some extremely thoughtful games out there. There are games that provide a genuinely beautiful, meaningful experience.
*shrug*
I work out somewhat regularly, but I wouldn't want to replace movies with running. Hell, if I could only choose one or the other I would just embrace the gut.
I also reject the notion that games are mindless. There are some extremely thoughtful games out there. There are games that provide a genuinely beautiful, meaningful experience.
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