To think it's not normal for an 18 year old to play video games on their day off?

[FiremanSamuel]

To think it's not normal for an 18 year old to play video games on their day off? Mine doesn't move!

RedPeppers Sun 25-Jun-17 14:17:38
Why is it sad?

Because we are social beings and putting a game as something with kore imrtance than friend sis a shame.
Because there was PLENTY of things to do outside (whatever takes your fancy, walking in the countryside, going o a museums, a walk in the park, seeing friends and family, reading etc etc take youR pick really). These are things that are more likely to give you joy, give some some energy, refill you emotionally, spiritually, and energy wise than sitting down in front of a console,

I go for walks in the park, I see friends/family, I go to museums, I read (and according to my GR Book challenge I have read 71 books this year) And I also have a lvl 110 mage, who is now 10 years old and I like to kill pretend monsters. I have made and met some fantastic people due to online gaming.

Want to explain to me why reading etc, is seen as a more worthy pastime than gaming? As it usually is, and as if they are mutually exclusive. Oddly, I have many interests. But yes, on occasion I have spent 6+ hours in a day "gaming". I have booked the day off work when an expansion was due out. I can also get totally engrossed in a book for hours. Who are you to say what others should find gives them joy?

Unadom Im sorry but I will disagree with you there.

I have NEVER said that gaming was an issue. I saying that excluding yourself from contact with other human beings IN FAVOUR of gaming is an issue. When, as it is the case in the OP, the person spends all their day in front of a screen instead of being out with friends.
The case you are talking about could be ME, as I've actually explained.

Due to ill health I cannot do all these things such as socialising, going out etc...MN is my way to have a little of social contact (or I could spend my whole days in my own sat in my armchair, not moving). But is it as good as meeting people in flesh, having friends you can talk to and share your joys and struggles and whatever you like? Of course it's not! And I'm pretty sure that the guy who joined your group wouldnt say that either.

I found it very interesting of how some people of this thread are reacting very personally to anyone who says 'nope. I don't think that spending youR day in front of a screen is healthy'.
It makes me wonder why.

It also makes me wonder why it is ok to dismiss the experience of someone else when it's not the same that you.
My experience is that MN (and games) is a form of escapism. It's a way to get some social contact when you can't have. It's nowhere near as good than the real thing though and leaves you still feeling isolated anyway. It's not 'real' life with real people.

It's completely different than playing 2 hours with a game and then then having 'a normal life' seeing people, meeting up with friends, going to work and seeing people etc etc.

I know that's how the last 4~5?years have been for me.

I've just tabbed in from WoW while my character is flying between quest destinations. I'm 58. Over to my left is DS4, playing - I'm not sure what - a retro RPG by the look of it. He's 20. DS2 and 3 are probably not playing just now, but preparing their house for visitors who will no doubt start gaming when they arrive, either PC or tabletop. DS1 probably isn't either,because he has small children to wrangle, but he'd be on the Wii if he had the chance. DSis may play Heroes of the Storm if her back holds out and/or there isn't anything rivetting on telly this afternoon.

The only one in my family who doesn't play computer games is DB. He's a bit weird though.

My DH is a teacher and this year he finishes term 2 days before my DD1. I know he will spend the first day gaming. He's 35 and it helps him clear his head.

Xpost bears
I hope my last post explains better what I am trying to get at.

GrapesAreMyJam Sun 25-Jun-17 15:13:46
Bears- my Mage is 110 as well 😉

My mage is older than my kids :-) I have just found out about the Trial of Style Transmog Competition also.

This is so my thing, I have about 30 transmog sets already made, now planning for more.

I bought a game for the play station consisting of retro Megadrive games I played in my youth. As soon as DS shows me how to switch the bloody thing on, Im looking forward to at least a day of playing Sonic. I'm 47.

After playing wow for 8 years, I've moved to final fantasy 14 now. I miss my balance Druid.

Everyone has their own way of relaxing, I like tv and mumsnet. My husband likes his x box. Each to their own!

It's normal. Gaming is a hobby for a lot of people and it's completely acceptable.

I spent most of Thursday playing Rust and Runsescape with my DH. We are a LOT older than 18...
Then today my 6 year old and I have built an ocelot town on Minecraft and had some very heated Mario Kart battles. We've had a lot of fun!

Sounds normal to me. And the comments like 'I thought people stopped this at 16' are bollocks. Many grown men (AND women) buy and play video games. Stop infantalising people, just because they play video games. It's insulting. What's more, my cousin (33) works in the industry, and makes a fucking tidy packet thank you.

RedPeppers Sun 25-Jun-17 15:14:58
Xpost bears
I hope my last post explains better what I am trying to get at.

The thing is, on occasion I have excluded myself from human contact in favour of gaming, more so when I used to raid. I go through stages of being really into Wow, then hardly logging on for months on end.

I have also excluded myself from human contact (if that is how we are terming it) because a book from a favourite author was due out that day.

Also due to just not wanting to go out, not feeling up to it.

But I do not see it as me "excluding from social contact" just that some days, I don't want to see people.

I have an active social life, and see friends/family often, but tbh, sometimes you do just want a day in front of the screen, or reading a book, or watching tv and not having to worry about socialising.

I might have spent 6 hours on WoW so far today but it is far from the be all and end all of my life.

I spent yesterday (re)-playing Twilight Princess. I'm 52 :)

GrapesAreMyJam Sun 25-Jun-17 15:19:25
Bears transmog is definitely one of the best things to come out of this game. I 8have a fiery set for my fire mage!*

Best thing I have ever done is my Wonder Woman transmog.

I have a fire mog, but rarely use it as I am arcane. I also like to match my pets to my mog, and my mount. Not geeky at all.

I have to say also, (as some others have,) is playing games day in, day out, any worse than spending hour after hour, day in, day out, on internet forums, speaking to random folk you don't know? No it isn't, so people bashing people who lay video games, just leave people alone. Not hurting you are they?!

*PLAY video games, not LAY. grrrr.

Tali Yes! I think I have read some of your work, at least I'm pretty sure I have from what you've said. I'm on Archive quite a bit. If I am thinking of the same works you write brilliantly, you have a real gift . Sorry, there's no way to say that without sounding patronising, but its not meant that way.

I often think its sad that there aren't more accolades for fanfic writers, so much of the fanfic I've read has been streets ahead in quality compared to a lot of conventionally published novels.

Red different strokes for different folks heh? Most of the time I work from home, and in my job I have to be charming, charismatic and extremely on the ball. I also live in a tiny remote community in Alaska and my house seems to be the community meeting point, rarely is there not someone visiting. I also have a social butterfly for a toddler, so my house is usually filled with his friends. At the end of the day, when DS is asleep I just want to escape that and just relax.

Variety is the spice of life, it would be a boring world if we all liked the same thing . Plus it would be even harder to get hold of cool new games and that would cheese me off immensely.

I'm in my early 30s and I love a day off playing my video games. I have other hobbies and other enjoyment too, but I love losing myself in a game for hours :)

Sounds totally normal.

very normal, even grown adults play to destress

And that's what I am getting at!

Whittington a balance life, speeding two hours on a game isn't an issue. Maybe even 6.

But reducing you social life because of that isn't (that's what the OP was hinting at. Games instead of a social life).
It's all well to say oh yes but I'm still seeing people at work bla-bla. But what happens when works isnt there anymore? And your friends have drifted away because gaming was more important?

Before you are saying that its not the case and I'm taking it too far, look at the amount of isolation in the society as a whole. Look at how many people don't have anyone to talk to for days (I know quite a few people btw).
Gaming, as any other game and leisure activity is all good. As long as you also fulfill the other things you need in your life (need for connection, being in nature, intimacy etc etc). If gaming stops you from doing that, then there is, ime, a really big problem.
(And yes I've had plenty of or rather too much time to think about what we or I need to be able to flourish in life. And gaming or MN is nowhere near on the top of the list)