Grown men playing video games

[73BARMYPgsp]

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I know, a little off topic. Does anyone else think this is weird? When I was a kid, (I am 38) we had Atari, then Intellivision, then NES and so on. The one thing they all had in common was they were toys--like babies and children have in their toy box. I can't think of a more collosal waste of time. It's like TV. Why watch other people doing things, when you could go out and do them yourself?

 

[erg923]

I think wasting time is the point. Sometimes after seeing patients all day, thats exactly what i wanna do.

 

[Psychology 76]

I know, a little off topic. Does anyone else think this is weird? When I was a kid, (I am 38) we had Atari, then Intellivision, then NES and so on. The one thing they all had in common was they were toys--like babies and children have in their toy box. I can't think of a more collosal waste of time. It's like TV. Why watch other people doing things, when you could go out and do them yourself?

Video games are great for recreation. After a tough day its nice to unwind in a virtual reality. I think its not uncommon in today's day and age.

 

[PsyDr]

in that most highly regarded scientific journal: the southwest airlines magazine ( i travel in style), they report that something like 54% of males 30-55 play video games.


makes sense that a rewarding behavior that someone has engaged in for hundreds of hours demonstrates a low spontaneous extinction rate. also, for the money, video games are relatively cheap entertainment (a $60 game provides 70+ hrs of play) when compared to other activities.

i imagine that such games provide a socially acceptable means to sublimate all sorts of impulses, be it killing hookers or feeling special.

 

[TMS@1987]

73BARMYPgsp,

I have nothing to offer to this thread. I just wanted to tell you I love your avatar-picture-thingy.

Ok, I've got that off of my chest. See you later guys!

 

[JockNerd]

Why watch other people doing things, when you could go out and do them yourself?

I can't "go out" and run around a post-apocalyptic warzone killing mutants or join fighting competitions and throw fireballs from my hands.

I love video games. Super fun casual distractions from work.

 

[FadedC]

Video games can be pretty advanced and complicated these days, requiring the use of extremely advanced controls and careful planning and strategy to succeed. There is also an extremely wide range of games from running a government to making music to of course blowing everything up. You could say they are a waste of time because you aren't doing anything productive, but then the same argument could be made for recreational reading, doing crossword puzzles, hanging out with friends, etc. But humans aren't robots and we enjoy doing stuff like that.

Perhaps a better question would be why the original poster is so offended by the fact that people enjoy playing video games. It must trigger a nerve or a memory somewhere.

 

[73BARMYPgsp]

Video games can be pretty advanced and complicated these days, requiring the use of extremely advanced controls and careful planning and strategy to succeed. There is also an extremely wide range of games from running a government to making music to of course blowing everything up. You could say they are a waste of time because you aren't doing anything productive, but then the same argument could be made for recreational reading, doing crossword puzzles, hanging out with friends, etc. But humans aren't robots and we enjoy doing stuff like that.

Perhaps a better question would be why the original poster is so offended by the fact that people enjoy playing video games. It must trigger a nerve or a memory somewhere.

Gosh, you got me. I am "offended" by what other people like. Spare me the analysis, psychology student.

To the serious--I am simply wondering how it went from being a toy to a national pastime/obsession. My step son goes to visit with his dad (who is also in his 30's) and comes back completely obsessed with his Xbox to the point of sneaking around to play it during hours when he is not supposed to be using it and then lying about it. I spend the next 3 weeks re-inserting him into the real world, tolerating the smart a** comments out of his mouth and correcting the low frustration tolerance. It seems like it has the addictive power of a narcotic.

 

[YoungestOld]

To the serious--I am simply wondering how it went from being a toy to a national pastime/obsession.

I think it's a combination of the technology becoming more sophisticated, the games themselves more diverse, and particularly the industry gaining more mainstream exposure. As you mentioned, video games were commonly thought of as kids' toys through most of the 80's, but now we have commercials of grandparents playing Brain Age and puzzle games on Nintendo DSs and moms performing solos on Rock Band 2.

It may be analogous to the first ~30-40 years of the film industry: moving from a curiosity to an accessible and popular entertainment form.

 

[erg923]

Gosh, you got me. I am "offended" by what other people like. Spare me the analysis, psychology student.

To the serious--I am simply wondering how it went from being a toy to a national pastime/obsession. My step son goes to visit with his dad (who is also in his 30's) and comes back completely obsessed with his Xbox to the point of sneaking around to play it during hours when he is not supposed to be using it and then lying about it. I spend the next 3 weeks re-inserting him into the real world, tolerating the smart a** comments out of his mouth and correcting the low frustration tolerance. It seems like it has the addictive power of a narcotic.

Well that sounds like other issues besides videogames to me....bu thats justs my opinion.

PS:I guess you dont like Wold of war craft either..... All us gammers shall rule the world one day....

 

[FadedC]

Gosh, you got me. I am "offended" by what other people like. Spare me the analysis, psychology student.

To the serious--I am simply wondering how it went from being a toy to a national pastime/obsession. My step son goes to visit with his dad (who is also in his 30's) and comes back completely obsessed with his Xbox to the point of sneaking around to play it during hours when he is not supposed to be using it and then lying about it. I spend the next 3 weeks re-inserting him into the real world, tolerating the smart a** comments out of his mouth and correcting the low frustration tolerance. It seems like it has the addictive power of a narcotic.

Well I will apologize for my last statement being somewhat inflamatory towards you, although in my defence your entire original post came off as extremely inflamtatory to those of us who do in fact enjoy playing these games.

Anyway no matter what the medium, as long as it's fun there will always be kids goofing off and doing it when they aren't supposed to. When I was a teen I read bad fantasy novels to the point that my parents had to put limits on it (which I would happily sneak around and avoid). My little cousins were obsessed with Disney movies and would watch them 24/7 if given the opportunity.

 

[Danae00]

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[DrYoda]

I know, a little off topic. Does anyone else think this is weird?

Depends on the amount of time they spend doing it. I know a few grown adults who spend hours everyday playing them, and that I dub as weird. If it's occasional I don't think it's too weird.

 

[erg923]

In the movie "The Break-up" Vince Vaughn plays online (Halo, i think) with this young kid and the dialogue between the 2 is hilarious......

 

[JockNerd]

To the serious--I am simply wondering how it went from being a toy to a national pastime/obsession. My step son goes to visit with his dad (who is also in his 30's) and comes back completely obsessed with his Xbox to the point of sneaking around to play it during hours when he is not supposed to be using it and then lying about it. I spend the next 3 weeks re-inserting him into the real world, tolerating the smart a** comments out of his mouth and correcting the low frustration tolerance. It seems like it has the addictive power of a narcotic.

Why are video games the culprit here?

 

[cara susanna]

One of the grad students in my program researches video game addiction. It's quite interesting.

That said, why just ask about men? I'm a girl and I love to play video games. Some of them have great storylines, better than some of the movies or even books you may find nowadays.

 

[Psychology 76]

One of the grad students in my program researches video game addiction. It's quite interesting.

That said, why just ask about men? I'm a girl and I love to play video games. Some of them have great storylines, better than some of the movies or even books you may find nowadays.

This whole discussion I think this is more of a sociological issue than a psychological one actually. I actually am writing about the positive effects video games have on society for a soc class. 😛

Just as its wrong to stereotype game players as only male, its also wrong to stereotype game playing with people who spend most of their day playing video games and do nothing else. Video games are just a good form of entertainment. However, just like anything else, video games in excess is bad news.

 

[YoungestOld]

Especially these days, video games can be a social activity. Further, many require strategy and hand-eye coordination. There is definitely a competition element that is satisfied. I don't see playing video games as much different than going out and playing a sport. I do both. Further, there is a rather wide palette of games on the market, targeted from child to adult (and in between).

I know a few psychologists that play. There are turn based games too that are quite fun. I am playing one now with a PhD materials engineer, a computer engineer, a psychologist, and a nurse. . . all adults of course. The trash talking alone is worth the price of admission.

I play a cooperative online game with a school psychologist, it's fun to rant about the field and troublesome kids/subjects between battles. It's great to know that many grad students and Ph.D.s still enjoy (and dare I say, have occasional time for?) video games!

And I second Cara's statement about good game storylines; you can really develop attachment to characters you spend 30-50 hours with, especially when you influence their decisions/attitudes/etc.

 

[Ollie123]

I actually maintain that video games are an improvement over plopping down in front of the TV. At least the good ones require some sort of cognitive processing, which is more than I can say for 95% of television.

That said, everything in moderation. I played video games a lot as a kid, but barely have time at all now and they are pretty much limited to social gatherings. I think everyone should have some "unwinding" time each day, be it reading, tv, video games, whatever. That "unwinding time" just needs to be a reasonable length of time.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

One of the grad students in my program researches video game addiction. It's quite interesting.

This is what i was thinking when 73 posted about his step-son. The physiological response for compulsive players is similar to that of other addicts. It is a pretty interesting area of research.

I heard a speaker a few years ago that did some research into "Sim" worlds. I can't remember the exact area of the research, but it had to do with "Real" relationships people had, versus their "Cyber" relationships/marriages. I think he also looked at people who pretended to be another gender. There is some odd stuff going on in some of the cyber communities.

RE this discussion....where does the Wii fall? I've seen them in retirement homes as part of "Exercise", in treatment centers, hospitals, etc.

 

[deleted176373]

I know, a little off topic. Does anyone else think this is weird? When I was a kid, (I am 38) we had Atari, then Intellivision, then NES and so on. The one thing they all had in common was they were toys--like babies and children have in their toy box. I can't think of a more collosal waste of time. It's like TV. Why watch other people doing things, when you could go out and do them yourself?

Don't judge, but my nephew got me hooked on COD 4/5, something cathartic about dropping someone across the net with a single well placed shot. 🙂

Mark

 

[deleted176373]

In the movie "The Break-up" Vince Vaughn plays online (Halo, i think) with this young kid and the dialogue between the 2 is hilarious......

Speaking of Vince Vaughn, am I the only one who thinks Frank Dattilio sounds like Vince Vaughn doing therapy??? Just close your eyes and imagine....

Mark

 

[twilson]

One of the grad students in my program researches video game addiction. It's quite interesting.

That said, why just ask about men? I'm a girl and I love to play video games. Some of them have great storylines, better than some of the movies or even books you may find nowadays.

Same here, cara. I'm female and love playing video games, I enjoy the plot and lore of them.. Not to mention Hollywood has been pretty horrible with its movie making as of late