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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To say men playing video games is childish?

444 replies

PampersNotPampered · 16/10/2015 13:21

My DP is the most wonderful person, and the video games don't annoy me to an extent of anger, but they do raise my eyebrow a lot.

DP is only 22 but I think this is still too old to be playing games, although I understand men more than twice his age do. I once asked DP ''aren't you a little old for those?" And his reply was a very calm 'no, it's a stress reliever and my boss plays it too' (his boss is 44 with a wife and 2 DCs).

What cringes me out the most is him swearing and talking to other players over the zombie games etc, who are mores often that not less than half his age or not much older than half his age! Yes, really.

I understand that I'm lucky he's the type to ask 'do you want me to come off this?' And often I just say no darling. This is because I can get on with other things. Even I ask him to come off, he will and you wouldn't have known he even liked playing because he acts so normal once he's off.

My DP is a 'normal' bloke in all aspects apart from the silly video games. I just wish he'd stick to fishing instead lol.

AIBU to say grown men playing video games is a little bit eye brow raising worthy? I understand it is a stress buster, and perhaps I'm just a moody cow and need to be put in my place by fellow MNetters.

OP posts:
MackerelOfFact · 16/10/2015 17:17

5Foot5 Oh I spend most of my free time in my sex dungeon. Wink

EponasWildDaughter · 16/10/2015 17:24

- DP is only 22 but I think this is still too old to be playing games
- I once asked DP ''aren't you a little old for those?
- My DP is a 'normal' bloke in all aspects apart from the silly video games. I just wish he'd stick to fishing
- AIBU to say grown men playing video games is a little bit eye brow raising worthy?

Oh come on OP, the main thrust of your OP was all about thinking gaming is too childish for a 22 year old. Now you've made the main point all about swearing at children.

My eldest is 22. I had her when i was 22. I remember when she was only a few weeks old sitting watching (now X)H playing some game on our old PC. That was the beginning. She grew up seeing her parents gaming in the evening sometimes, and now it's a pass-time for her (and her BF).

I cannot for the life of me understand how anyone under the age of 40 would see gaming as a 'childish' pass-time. (or call them 'video games' Hmm)

YouTheCat · 16/10/2015 17:29

I'm a 46 year old woman. I love gaming.

I think anyone who would dismiss another person's interests as 'childish' is an arse.

redredblue · 16/10/2015 17:54

Yabu
Have you ever played video games?
If you saw how fun they were you wouldn't have this opinion

Cnmorgan13 · 16/10/2015 17:56

My hubby and I are avid gamers( 27 & 28). I remember getting a verbal beat down from what had to be a 12 year old American boy because I "only had the starter gun" Grin
The kids can take care of themselves Wink

PampersNotPampered · 16/10/2015 18:11

Perhaps I was a little too harsh with my feelings towards DP's gaming,
However, you'll find that in reality, my original opinion isn't that uncommon.

I had a joke with DP and we had a look through this thread together. He agrees that the younger the gamer, the genuinely more gobby they are. I suppose it's just me as eith a protective Mother instinct kicking in.

I have played Mario bros before, loved that Smile

Myself and DP also time ourselves and compete with puzzles, so my original view of gaming being childish has more or less disappeared.

For the person calling DP a 'child', he is a grown man with a child of his own. He also has full adult responsibility and a family to take care of. Not sure a child could quite manage that one.

And in a light hearted tone that I'm trying to portray, why is it odd that I could games like Xbox video games? That's what they are, aren't they? Hmm

OP posts:
CassieBearRawr · 16/10/2015 18:20

Like so many on AIBU yes, YABU.

You can't avoid fecking children when you game online, why should someone else's shitty parenting ruin his game?

GriefLeavesItsMark · 16/10/2015 18:36

OP, from your posting style I would guess you are considerably older than 22. maybe that is why you find computer games 'childish'.

Gruntfuttock · 16/10/2015 18:38

Oh, you're a "myselfer"

PuntasticUsername · 16/10/2015 18:38

"However, you'll find that in reality, my original opinion isn't that uncommon."

Just on this thread, then.

YABU, btw.

MustBeLoopy390 · 16/10/2015 18:44

Yabu. And if you are so worried about him ganging up on kids put the headphones on yourself on Call Of Duty (or any multiplayer game tbh) and YOU try not to react to the squeaky little pricks who constantly whine on about fucking ya muvva, tea bagging ya and calling you a camper/hacker Angry the one thing I hate about online. And if you think gaming is immature you'd find me pathetic, 25 and love Lego games, Disney infinity and sky landers amongst other more 'mature' games

TaliZorahVasNormandy · 16/10/2015 18:44

YABU. I'm a girl gamer and I'm 32. I dont play online though. I did once, the amount of young kids playing 18 rated games bad.

TheMotherOfHellbeasts · 16/10/2015 18:54

YABVU DH and I love playing on our Xbox after DS is in the land of nod. Not that we get much chance these days. We don't play online though, only RPG type games like Mass Effect. Some Xbox and a glass of wine, great fun!

helenahandbag · 16/10/2015 18:56

YABVU. DP and I are 25 and both love gaming. He is currently playing FIFA while I faff about on the iPad, it doesn't bother me at all. He has been at work all week and wants to de-stress. I've been off sick for two days and am perfectly happy to feel sorry for myself on the sofa while he shouts at the referee Grin

TaliZorah · 16/10/2015 19:02

TaliZorahVasNormandy hi

HicDraconis · 16/10/2015 19:12

YABVU - and I think it's interesting that the entire thread has been full of people who disagree with you and yet you think your original opinion is not uncommon. There's a wide spread of ages and social demographic on here and nobody shares your unreasonableness so not sure where you'd get that idea from!

Current games have good plot lines, amazing graphics, mind stretching puzzles and are a very good way stress reliever. Not to mention a hobby that keeps your mind active is beneficial later in life.

I'd far rather DH was gaming than sitting doing nothing with the sole purpose of killing the occasional fish in real life!

TaliZorahVasNormandy · 16/10/2015 19:12

Hi Tali. Keelah Se'lai and all that Grin

ouryve · 16/10/2015 19:13

You're about as clear and consistent as lumpy lukewarm custard, OP.

LeftMyRidingCropInTheMortuary · 16/10/2015 19:17

YANBU, OP.

The ones like in the big bang theory - that buy comics etc are just weird! I certainly wouldn't marry/breed with one.

I particularly hate the ugly cables and boxes that go along with everything. Gets really dusty, takes up loads of room. And they sit there, eating, not washing, oblivious to the stink and mess around them. For hours.
(ex-boyf was like this).

TheMotherOfHellbeasts · 16/10/2015 19:21

TaliZorah Grin (have always loved your username btw) exactly!

LeftMyRidingCropInTheMortuary · 16/10/2015 19:22

I find female gamers even weirder to be honest. I imagine them to be dressed in black and have tattoos and wildly coloured hair and piercings and all that jazz. Same with female football fans. Call me bigoted but it's very unfeminine and unattractive. A bit like drinking pints. Nothing wrong with doing a bit of batch-cooking or embroidery in your free time instead.

I seriously think gaming is just such a massive waste of time. You don't have anything to show for it at the end of the day. Whereas, eg, mumsnet you actually learn stuff!

And YY, writing on an internet forum is pretty weird too. But I AM a bit weird. Just, in a different way.

JacobFryesTopHatLackey · 16/10/2015 19:25

I buy comics and graphic novels, as does my dp and were happily breeding away. Each to their own.

I certainly wouldn't want to marry/breed with a football fanatic (who are renowned for their cleanliness). But then I wouldn't call those men weird, just different.

TaliZorahVasNormandy · 16/10/2015 19:27

Lefty, no tats or piercing, I have red hair. I'm wearing black trousers and a top that says "I love LA"

I make cakes sometimes. Tried knitting, hard on the fingers.

TaliZorahVasNormandy · 16/10/2015 19:28

And thanks Mother Assuming you are talking to me (grin)

TaliZorahVasNormandy · 16/10/2015 19:28

whoops emoticon fail Grin