to think anyone over the age of 25 playing computer games on their own should grow up?

[FlorencesMachine]

Maybe it's a generation thing, but I always thought computer games were for children

5foot5 - I think I made an assumption (you can I tell I'm pretty keen on wild, reckless surmising) that the OP probably wouldn't want to complain about the sensible types of gaming that so many people have given examples of here. Just the destructive type, like an obsession.

YANBU

An exDP was addicted to World of Warcraft. It was the only thing he wanted to do when not at work. I bloody hate that game with a passion.

Actually. I've re-read the OP now. Yeah. That's pretty inclusive.

OK then - OP - YABU. But if you agree with how I think about it, then YANBU!

OP is talking about the Daily Mail version of videogaming.

They're not playing them alone, they're playing with other people online. Not much different to blabbing on forums on your own only with a bit more killing. I wish I had time to play games

YABU!

I am a 26 year old male and I enjoy gaming. My DP and I ofton play as a couple, and also play younger child friendley games with the DC's as a family activity.

Computer games are not all for children. Many of them have very intricate adult storylines, and these days are written by holywood cript writers. The complexity of some games gives you a good mental work out.

MarianneM - you're opinion isn't really relational to whether adults should play games or not: you just don't like them at all. However, it has been proven that playing computer games can increase problem solving abilities and reaction times, as well as a number of other benefits.

I agree that playing them all the time can be a bad thing, but like television, reading fiction and any other semi-educational leisure activity, a moderate amount is good for you.

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4682801.stm
www.dsexls.com/games-benefits-of-video-and-computer-games.html
sheu.org.uk/sites/sheu.org.uk/files/imagepicker/1/eh203mg.pdf

To name but a few links.

YABU

I am 28. I waste much more time on MN than I ever do gaming. At the moment, I am working my way through an adventure game on the Wii to unwind after a couple of hours studying in the evening.

I work full time, go out three nights a week, study (as previously mentioned) read 'proper' novels/visit galleries/go to gigs/try to fit in two sessions of martial arts a week.

Sometimes you just need to kick back and switch off your brain.

Why the age "25" specifically?

willselfless - actually, that's one people should stay away from. It's more addictive than Mumsnet. There's a reason why other gamers call it "World of WarCrack".

TheAtomicBum

Your whole post

Proof that gaming is obviously bad for you.

My DH and I play WoW. We often spend a few hours each evening playing. We are part of a very social guild, so can easily spend a few hours chit chatting as we play. But, the guild has a great guildmaster, and his motto is 'RL first'. To say that WoW is 'World of Warcrack' is misleading. It can be...there are some guilds which are SERIOUS gaming. Miss your log in time and you get kicked, pressure to level to the right gear, rearranging schedules to be available for the next raid....but there are others, like ours, which are like MN, IMO - dip in and out, it will always be there, but take it or leave it. Of course, you build relationships with other regulars, and that is what pulls, not the game itself.

Wow, I didn't realise there would be so many replies.

I just always grew up with the idea that computer games were for children and maybe very young adults. I picked 25 because that allowed for some wriggle room for the younger adults. I didn't realise there were so many people still playing computer games.

Just the words 'guild' and 'raid' are bringing back terrible memories... No one will ever convince me that WOW is anything other than a complete waste of time. [Yes, I realise the irony of me spending time on MN.]

MarianneM: nah, just means that TheAtomicBum needs to put in some hours on Typer Shark

FlorencesMachine times change. The majority of UK adults under 30 now will have had PC and web access at school, if not at home, from the age of ten or so. We grew up with it.

Undertone if their mothers were stupid enough to let them spend their childhood playing computer games and tidied around them then that's a whole different story.
I totally know what type you're referring to- my brother is borderline one of those!

The OP on the other hand is being VU. She's just clicheing gamers and has obviously no idea what she's talking about.

I'm only 30 myself - I think maybe I was on the cusp of when it became acceptable to play computer games as an adult (i.e. how old you were when Loaded mag became popular).

I used to pack the DC off to bed early so I could take over Crash Bandicoot

It was on PS1 so that's showing my age!

I'm 25 (26 in August) and a gamer. And proud. To say games are all for children is just plain ignorant. Check out the top selection of games on Amazon for example to give yourself a bit of an education and you'll soon realise your mistake.

DH and I are both gamers in our spare time, specifically Xbox games. Far from the ignorant stereotype, we have a good marriage, we don't fight about it, we have a well fed, well looked after 20 month old DD, another on the way, we have a great sex life, hold down good jobs, keep a tidy-ish house and socialise outside of our games console a lot. As with everything else, everything in moderation, eh? Its something we enjoy, so we intergrate it into our lives and it fits.

Just because you don't know anything about it or have only heard bad things doesnt make it true.

YANBU!!!!

MarianneM - ? ?

OK, so there are a few speeling errors that have nothing to do with gaming. I type my posts in an hurry and don't bother to read them back to check them becasue I'm short on time.

So that's your entire counter point? What a well thought out an educated arguement!

LittleWhiteWolf,

It's not me knowing about games, it's just an assumption (and I concede there may be demographic factors coming into play) that computer games are fundamentally for children. That adults read Harry Potter doesn't make it an adult novel

berlinnovels - what game are you playing?

Me and DP originally met on WoW :) We play Rift now though. Much better in my opinion.