Is there a stigma against playing video games?

Campogna · 13-08-2018 11:28AM #1

As an 18 year old lad who used to play copious amounts of video games, I never tell people. I also now play the odd console game with mates but I would never tell a girl I was trying to impress, even if she asked.

Also, gaming is now seen as a form of addiction by the WHO. It's interesting to note the general view that games are juvenile and people see gamers with contempt and as wasters even though video games are varied and can be enjoyed by people of all ages.

So my question is, do you play video games and do you tell people you do? If you do not play video games do you see people that do as wasters/immature?

Woke Hogan · 13-08-2018 11:30AM

Every geek on this site probably spends half the day playing video games, so you're not gonna get anyone admitting here that it is a waste of time.

Faith+1 · 13-08-2018 11:30AM

Video games can be fun in moderation. I love playing my PS4 but would I play it for hours on end? No, 1-2 hours is enough.

WinnyThePoo · 13-08-2018 11:34AM

I know quite a few grown woman who play video games. It's a way to let off steam i suppose. That saying, the only game I've play myself is Championship Manager 01/02 and that's and that's closing in on its 20th anniversary soon.

B0jangles · 13-08-2018 11:46AM

Nothing wrong with playing lots of games, but in my experience anyone refers to themselves as a Gamer is usually a tremendous wanker.

somefeen · 13-08-2018 12:03PM

I love video games but I'll be the first admit they're a waste of time. If I buy a new game I'll be hooked to it for about 2 or 3 weeks then I get bored and regret wasting so much time on it. Ultimately I have better things to be doing that would translate into actual skills and achievements but games let me stop thinking for a while. Its like a holiday for my brain.

Campogna · 13-08-2018 12:06PM

Yeah I find that is very much the case as well. However, one can play the guitar every day and not call themselves a guitarist, with that in mind do you think playing games as a hobby would be on par with practicing an instrument or something like that?

Star Bingo · 13-08-2018 05:00PM

B0jangles wrote: »

Nothing wrong with playing lots of games, but in my experience anyone refers to themselves as a Gamer is usually a tremendous wanker.

Refers to or considers?

I still manage to make time for a select few AAAA++++ titles :rolleyes: once I’ve cleared my backlog of like one game and the price has dropped to around a tenner but alas I; Gamer.

TheValeyard · 13-08-2018 05:01PM

Games are awesome. Im never giving them up.

D3V!L · 13-08-2018 05:03PM

I'm 39 and I've been gaming since I was 3. My wife is 35 and can repeatedly kick my ass at several games. Loads of people our age grew up gaming. I didn't think there was any stigma attached to it these days !!

Star Bingo · 13-08-2018 05:04PM

Don’t tell me your mouth doesn’t still water a little when you see those lush screenshot reveals

13-08-2018 05:07PM

I don't care what anyone thinks of my gaming. For some reason, the most interactive thing you can do on your couch is seen by many as the biggest waste of time. I judge people more for thinking that than they'd judge me for my hobby.

Sal Butamol · 13-08-2018 05:08PM

I know a guy in his 30s who is a gamer. Works in a games shop, comes home and plays games all night and does nothing else.

Every day without fail. He has no life whatsoever outside of games.

He's a nice guy but I get the impression that if you took his games away he'd go on a berserk rampage.

It's not healthy.

DickSwiveller Returns · 13-08-2018 05:08PM

It's for children and teenagers.

Jerichoholic · 13-08-2018 05:09PM

somefeen wrote: »

I love video games but I'll be the first admit they're a waste of time. If I buy a new game I'll be hooked to it for about 2 or 3 weeks then I get bored and regret wasting so much time on it. Ultimately I have better things to be doing that would translate into actual skills and achievements but games let me stop thinking for a while. Its like a holiday for my brain.

It's no more a waste of time than staring at facebook all day or watching some reality TV ****e every night.

TheValeyard · 13-08-2018 05:11PM

somefeen wrote: »

I love video games but I'll be the first admit they're a waste of time. If I buy a new game I'll be hooked to it for about 2 or 3 weeks then I get bored and regret wasting so much time on it. Ultimately I have better things to be doing that would translate into actual skills and achievements but games let me stop thinking for a while. Its like a holiday for my brain.

You should see my Steam account, full of games ill probably look at but never finish.

Cleopatra_ · 13-08-2018 05:18PM

I like to play games. I'm usually reluctant to say it but only because hard-core gamers seem to be disappointed when I mention it and they realise I'm not a hard-core gamer myself. The missus likes to play games too. Sometimes we play together, none of this multi-player stuff though, the old fashioned sharing of the controller is how we do it!

gerrybbadd · 13-08-2018 05:19PM

Above all threads to start, and you omit Atari Jaguar as a poll choice? C'mon, it writes itself!

aaronjumper · 13-08-2018 05:19PM

Everyone has their thing to unwind. Yoga, telly, reading, music etc.

A lot of people still think it's something just for kids that you're supposed to grow out of despite all the 18+ 'don't let kids anywhere near this' games out there.

gerrybbadd · 13-08-2018 05:20PM

DickSwiveller Returns wrote: »

It's for children and teenagers.

Of course it is:rolleyes:

Especially those R rated titles.

Captain Flaps · 13-08-2018 05:21PM

TBH if I was trying to impress a girl and I was worried about telling her about my hobbies, she's probably not worth much further consideration. Your partner doesn't have to share your hobbies but they shouldn't be put off by them.

kubjones · 13-08-2018 05:23PM

Video games for me are my way of not spending money on drink and drugs.

I'd probably consider it an addiction, but also considering I wouldn't even spend 20 quid a month on them I'm alright with that.

And not even so much of an addiction that it takes over my life, I work a regular 9-5, go training some days and would come home for 2-3 hours, possibly longer after I got everything I needed done, done.

I get no buzz from TV shows at all save a few, but sitting down with a headset and diving into a game with a few friends is a nice way to unwind, I think.

erica74 · 13-08-2018 05:24PM

I think there is a stigma. My husband loves to play Skyrim, he occasionally plays other games but that's his favourite. He plays Skyrim about once every 2 weeks because he just doesn't have time to play it more often. If he mentions his xbox, he gets comments like "you should go outside and get some sun" or "does your wife lock you away in there for a bit of peace" and shite like that. If I mention my husband playing xbox, I get comments like "oh that's banned in our house" and there seems to be assumptions made that I'm forgotten about in another room while my husband spends 5 hours a day on his xbox:pac:

A lot of people seem to think that video games are antisocial and those that play them are hermits hiding away from the world. I just think that everyone is interested in different things and it can be difficult for other people to understand things that don't interest them.

Campogna · 13-08-2018 05:25PM

Captain Flaps wrote: »

TBH if I was trying to impress a girl and I was worried about telling her about my hobbies, she's probably not worth much further consideration. Your partner doesn't have to share your hobbies but they shouldn't be put off by them.

Fair enough. Just my thinking is first impressions are crucial and I do not want to bring up a hobby that a majority of people could potentially view as for children. I'm playing devil's advocate here!!

I think video games are fantastic but it seems that nowadays there is a stigma and this is exacerbated by the fortnite craze that is driving kids and the like insane.

Mokuba · 13-08-2018 05:25PM

I was probably addicted to League of Legends for 3 years. I barely did anything other than play it. I put on huge weight and failed at college.

It was giving me a sense of accomplishment daily that I didn't deserve. My real life was falling apart while a did well in some video game. What do I have to show for that game now? F*ck all.

I play now in very occasional moderation. I fixed my life and now it's a nice hobby. The danger is when it is negatively impacting your life - socially, physically, educationally. And that happens more than quite a few would like to admit.

lertsnim · 13-08-2018 05:26PM

It's the people who watch soap operas that people should be looking down on.

JohnnyFlash · 13-08-2018 05:26PM

Captain Flaps wrote: »

TBH if I was trying to impress a girl and I was worried about telling her about my hobbies, she's probably not worth much further consideration. Your partner doesn't have to share your hobbies but they shouldn't be put off by them.

That depends doesn’t it? She might not care if you spend a few hours a week playing. Large amount of people wouldn’t want to be going out with some neckbeard who spends 5 or 6 hours a night raiding virtual villages and killing dragons with members of his online clan.

TheValeyard · 13-08-2018 05:27PM

JohnnyFlash wrote: »

That depends doesn’t it? She might not care if you spend a few hours a week playing. Large amount of people wouldn’t want to be going out with some neckbeard who spends 5 or 6 hours a night raiding virtual villages and killing dragons with members of his online clan.

Sounds fun.

Rothko · 13-08-2018 05:27PM

There does seem to be a stigma around it in that some people, for whatever reason, will look down on you for playing them. I've never understood it though. I don't really see it as being all that different from watching a movie or listening to music.

Campogna · 13-08-2018 05:27PM

erica74 wrote: »

I think there is a stigma. My husband loves to play Skyrim, he occasionally plays other games but that's his favourite. He plays Skyrim about once every 2 weeks because he just doesn't have time to play it more often. If he mentions his xbox, he gets comments like "you should go outside and get some sun" or "does your wife lock you away in there for a bit of peace" and shite like that. If I mention my husband playing xbox, I get comments like "oh that's banned in our house" and there seems to be assumptions made that I'm forgotten about in another room while my husband spends 5 hours a day on his xbox:pac:

A lot of people seem to think that video games are antisocial and those that play them are hermits hiding away from the world. I just think that everyone is interested in different things and it can be difficult for other people to understand things that don't interest them.

That's interesting. This is what I was suggesting but I would argue that gaming is VERY social, it is very easy to make online friends playing multiplayer games.

Your husband clearly enjoys a bit of Skyrim once in a while and the fact that you get comments like that clearly demonstrates that a lot of people have a blatant misconception about people who play vidya

jaxxx · 13-08-2018 05:28PM

DickSwiveller Returns wrote: »

It's for children and teenagers.

Probably the most idiotic and ignorant comment I've seen in a long time.

Is there a stigma against playing video games?

What do you think about video games? 79 votes

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