Online gaming

[OpheliaPayneAgain]

(Yes this is leading on from a comment made in another forum)

Dunno what I'm BU about though. Ok, AIBU to think that it's all a bit juvenile to be blatting imaginary people on Black Ops or Warcraft?

I don't know any 40yo who xboxes or online games - do I lead a sheltered life or just mix predominatly with adults? All I know is - they are out there, with an inability to sustain a RL relationship. Apparently.

[SparklyVampire]

I met my DH on and online game called Second Life, 4 years and 1 DD later we are very happy, have a fantastic life and we play WoW in the evenings together.

Gilb the panda's are awesome

[YouBloodyWolf]

Watching those emotionally manipulative talent shows or grim soaps is sadder and more harmful, IMHO. Each to their own though. Gaming is good for de-stressing and it can be very sociable - a few people in different departments where I work meet up online now and again and it's a good way of staying in though.

I don't do it myself, mind. I couldn't get near the TV for long enough.

[Nixea]

WoW and LotRO here as well, as does my DH. It's an outlet for after the kids are in bed and we communicate far more when gaming together than we do if we just put the TV on or sit reading. Oh, and RabbitsMakeGOLDBaubles just had me spitting tea at the computer. I have a knitted murloc on my shelf and DH always says it's the only murloc he's seen that doesn't come with multiple mates!

[Kafri]

OMG OP! You have no idea just how many people play online games these days! I choose not to but similarly my DH does. I would put money on you knowing someone who plays one game or another-you just don't know it cos that person you know clearly has a RL as well and chooses to tell you about that side of their life as thy know gaming isn't something you're into.
For the most part my DH doesn't say much about his games-I get the odd comment about Halo or Fifa (usually when there's a new one out and he wants it)

Oh and shock horror - I have a RL with DH too. We go out for meals, we go to the cinema, we go to the pub quiz and we're expecting our first child in a few weeks! (And we both manage to fit in work too)

I really hope you never watch TV, read a book, see a film, watch the news or whatever OP - wouldn't like you to be in any way involved in killing anyone!

Oh, and you can get off your high horse now, OP, it's getting a sore back! Leave people to enjoy what hey like to do and I'm sure they'll leave you to what you enjoy!!

[BabeRuthless]

A large part of me and DP getting together is our shared love of games. I've been happily playing nothing but Borderlands 2 for the last few months and its a great stress reliever. He's currently absorbed in the new Assassins Creed. We're both in our late 30s and I can't ever see us stopping our gaming. Ds is not neglected, our home runs smoothly and we both have full time jobs. I don't see how anyone has a problem with this.

[GilbGeekette]

RabbitsMakeGOLDBaubles Oh noes the tadpoles!

[AceyAssassino]

YABU

I game online regularly, you can usually find me on Call of Duty or similar games. I kill people on there, they respawn 3 seconds later and usually have their revenge on me lol

I have a family, I work 40 hours a week, I don't really watch tv and love getting getting immersed in a game world especially if it has a really good story which many of the games do, you should try one I think you'd be surprised :-)

[RabbitsMakeGOLDBaubles]

I don't kill people. I kill murlocs which deserve to die for being so annoying and always pulling multiples along with them. And they smell! Of FISH! [cross face]

[honeytea]

I don't kill people online though, therein lays the difference Do you read books/watch films where people die? Mostly in wow you are killing dragons ányway.

I met my DP whilst playing wow, we are expecting our first baby (due to our very real relationship.) We play online games but also have other hobbies and lots of lovely friends.

I don't have time to concern myself with what other people choose to do as a hobby. Op you obviously need something to enrich your life if you are finding yourself with time spare to worry about what others spend their spare time doing.

I guess as we are only people on the internet (and therefore not real ) you will disregard our opinions anyway. If I were you I would ask myself why I feel the need to ask unreal (imaginary?) people about other people's (who you say yourself you don't know) hobbies.

[Arana]

So it's juvenile to interact with real people in real situations where you work together to solve problems, but you don't think it's juvenile that people get lost in imaginary universes cooked up in books or films?

[MurderOfGoths]

"Although I could do without the conversations about how the Sith were being mean to him!"

Haha, serves him right, the Sith are obviously far superior

[MurderOfGoths]

I was hooked on GUild Wars for a while, then moved to Age of Conan, and then on to SWTOR. Tried going back to GW when we stopped being able to afford SWTOR, but it just doesn't stand up against other games. Not overly keen on GW2, I used to be years ago, but it took so bloody long to turn up I got bored long before it was released!

[glentherednosedbattleostrich]

YABVVVU

DH has a very responsible job, he is a great dad who spends huge amounts of time with his family just not doing any of the fookin housework

He also happens to enjoy online gaming, Star Wars and a new free one he has found. He finds it relaxing and destressing in the same way I find ranting on here and sending borderline abusive emails to George Osbourne relaxing and destressing.

Although I could do without the conversations about how the Sith were being mean to him!!!

[GilbGeekette]

WoW for 7 years here, met (and married) DH in Azeroth (and also in real life obviously). Gaming was (and is) just a way of switching off for me, and low stress socializing, especially for the years I was a single parent and going out was a no-no due to lack of babysitters and funds! Currently playing Guild Wars 2 (because it's so pretty and no subscription - yay!) but am considering a return to WoW because of the pandas

[RabbitsMakeGOLDBaubles]

Trying to work out if I know any of you now. Do we have any MutinyMamas? Ach memories!

[McChristmasPants2012]

i play a few online games, Eveonline, LOL, BO2. i am always on the headset.

currently i am playing eve and MN. I am always on the headset once the kids go to bed, got to love team speak and skype

[FlaminNoraImPregnantPanda]

... and we've met up with some guild members in real life too.

[FlaminNoraImPregnantPanda]

I'm 40 and I love WoW, as do my husband and daughter. We all play together. Our guild leader is 72.

[squeakytoy]

I know plenty of middle aged and elderly women who play Farmville, which is pretty much the same thing.. it is still online gaming.

[ZeldaUpNorth]

He starts work at 11:30-8pm 2 days a week, the rest of the week he's self employed so can start/finish when he wants.

[GalaxyDefender]

These threads pop up occasionally and always make me

My mother is in her forties and has been gaming for over twenty years. We've always played together! My dad is 60 and plays shooters occasionally when he's not playing golf

Gaming is as legitimate a hobby as watching tv/reading etc. But it hasn't quite shaken that stereotype of all gamers being immature people who can't get a date or function in the real world.
Then again, I think passively watching TV instead of being involved with your entertainment is a bit weird, so what do I know?

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

Zelda that is a different situation IMO. He is behaving selfishly, incredibly so. Doesn't he have work to get up for in the mornings? When do you spend any time together?

[mrscumberbatch]

[MurderOfGoths]

"My dp is 32 and plays his games (fifa or cod) from 7pm when kids go to bed until 3am ish non-stop. Tbh i find it pretty sad and yes it does have an impact on our relationship as he's coming to bed as i'm about to get up"

I suspect in that case if it wasn't games it'd be something else unfortunately.
:(

Gaming doesn't create selfish people, it's just one outlet for the selfishness.

[TheCatIsEatingIt]

DH is 40. He plays on his Xbox from time to time, mostly fantasy/adventure or racing games rather than killing games. He also goes to work, watches films and TV, reads books, designs websites, sees friends and plays sports. As part of a healthy balanced life, I see nothing wrong with it.