Are video games a waste of time?

[davep]

I've played videogames off and on since I was in highschool. Now I'm 50. I've never thought of myself as a 'gamer' and was never really hardcore into gaming (not logging tons of hours). But if I added up all the time I sat in front of a screen to play a game it would be shocking, even though I only play(ed) a few hours a week, usually less than that (I have a million different interests that provide much more fulfillment).

I feel pretty good when I'm playing them but afterwards always kind of 'meh', much like the documented social media studies.

I could go on and on about this but I'm curious what other people think? There's also a part of me that worries that some folks will look back with regret at all the hours (days? months? years?!) that they've spent on videogames. Was it worth it? We have a very finite time on this earth....

[Majingir]

Re: Are video games a waste of time?

Like all things, it's a matter of how much you spend doing it/what you're not doing because of it.

If you're playing games instead of getting important things done, that's bad. But same applies to anything like going to the movies or watching a game instead of that important task.

If you're just doing it as a fun hobby, then why not? That's how you choose to spend your time. No different than someone else choosing to spend their time doing something else.

Might have been here or somewhere else, but it's a true statement I read. Video games technically are one of the cheapest hobbies per hour spent on it.

Go to a 3 hour game, you're probably spending over $100? Go to a 2.5 hour movie, maybe $30 or something? Play a video game, sure the price could be between $50-90 or something, but you're definitely spending more than a few hours playing that game.

[KSUowls]

Re: Are video games a waste of time?

I definitely don't think they are a waste. If video games are a waste then so is every other hobby.

What else would I spend the time on?
Sure, I could spend the time on self improvement or another project around the house and be more "productive" but that sounds like an awful way to live life to just always strive for more output any time I am not sleeping.

There are a finite number hours available to us in life. The number of hours that we have outside of work and various obligations is even more finite. So, spend the that time doing what you enjoy.

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[Majingir]

Re: Are video games a waste of time?

I definitely don't think they are a waste. If video games are a waste then so is every other hobby.

What else would I spend the time on?
Sure, I could spend the time on self improvement or another project around the house and be more "productive" but that sounds like an awful way to live life to just always strive for more output any time I am not sleeping.

There are a finite number hours available to us in life. The number of hours that we have outside of work and various obligations is even more finite. So, spend the that time doing what you enjoy.

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I find the people who say video games are a waste of time are the people who spend their free time doing extra work/chores and other things which just drains them.

Isn't downtime supposed to be relaxing? If you're just as busy if not busier during your "down time", is that really as good as you make it seem?

[AUChase]

Re: Are video games a waste of time?

I don't know what is considered a normal life anymore but if you're a tax paying adult with a job and responsibilities a lot of it takes care of itself.

I'm limited to an hour or two of free time most nights by the time work, chores, youth sports, etc. are done. I don't think it's any more a waste of time to use that to play games than it is to watch sports, read a book, watch a movie, etc.

I do think it can be unhealthy if it's getting in the way of your social life and responsibilities but it's not the only hobby where that happens either.

Everything in life requires moderation..

[Hooe]

Re: Are video games a waste of time?

If playing video games is something which brings you joy and it doesn't impede either your ability to live the life you want to live or your ability to support people who depend on you, then it's not a waste of time.

I do think the concern about how much time playing video games is too much is valid, though. Video game addiction is a real thing, and many video games are designed nowadays to keep people playing (to an extreme degree in mobile games, and many console GaaS games have copied all the worst dark patterns introduced by mobile games at this point). The companies making these games do not care about your mental health, they want your attention and dollars and that's it. If you're having problems managing your time because of video games to the point that it is negatively impacting your career, relationships, or whatever else, maybe then it's time to consider setting some boundaries for yourself.

One of the reasons I'm glad I'm a sports gamer is that it is relatively easy for me to play one game in a season and feel like I got enough out of the experience to put the controller down for the day and go do something else. When playing more open-ended games like city-builders or survival games, I absolutely feel how those games try to (and sometimes do) get their hooks in my ADHD-stimulus-seeking brain to make me lose my entire day playing them lol.

[Ghost Of The Year]

Re: Are video games a waste of time?

If it helps, think of it as you supporting the economy and helping people put food on their table, a roof over their head and clothes on their back.

[Majingir]

Re: Are video games a waste of time?

If playing video games is something which brings you joy and it doesn't impede either your ability to live the life you want to live or your ability to support people who depend on you, then it's not a waste of time.

I do think the concern about how much time playing video games is too much is valid, though. Video game addiction is a real thing, and many video games are designed nowadays to keep people playing (to an extreme degree in mobile games, and many console GaaS games have copied all the worst dark patterns introduced by mobile games at this point). The companies making these games do not care about your mental health, they want your attention and dollars and that's it. If you're having problems managing your time because of video games to the point that it is negatively impacting your career, relationships, or whatever else, maybe then it's time to consider setting some boundaries for yourself.

One of the reasons I'm glad I'm a sports gamer is that it is relatively easy for me to play one game in a season and feel like I got enough out of the experience to put the controller down for the day and go do something else. When playing more open-ended games like city-builders or survival games, I absolutely feel how those games try to (and sometimes do) get their hooks in my ADHD-stimulus-seeking brain to make me lose my entire day playing them lol.

That's what I like about sports games. I can pick up and play whenever. And I don't feel like playing a bunch of games so I won't be playing for 3 hours straight, although I love playing armchair GM and love doing franchise modes and I do that a lot too.

If you're taking time off work/school to play games (or do any hobby really), or imo if you're spending money on extra content like VC and that type of stuff/freemium game purchases then that a problem.

Games are easy to get addictive to and adds up fast without you realizing it. I skipped the entire ps4 era of games because after a ps3 I just got tired of buying the same kind of games every few years and probably spent too much time on it anyways. Got back in with a ps5 a few years ago and so far have been controlling things better.

[l3ulvl]

Re: Are video games a waste of time?

I used to feel like if I wasn't playing a sports franchise/association/career mode I was wasting my time if I played anything else. Like if you're not making season/team/player progress, you're stagnant.


It's kinda weird how I've progressed as a gamer that I barely play sports games at all because of how skill trees and side quests draw me in. I play Destiny daily because of bounties, I wanna log in every day and knock the bounties out.



Basically, I wouldn't saying gaming is a time waster, but it's a great time killer, it's not like I can use that time to fix the world

[davep]

Re: Are video games a waste of time?

What do you think the average time gaming per day is for people on here?

1?

2?

4+?

[Ghost Of The Year]

Re: Are video games a waste of time?

What do you think the average time gaming per day is for people on here?

1?

2?

4+?

Mine is 2. But I work. On weekends its more.


Playing video games isn't any more a waste of time than watching a movie, reading a book, looking at a painting on a wall or going outside to smell flowers. Probably the biggest waste of time is trying to change someone's opinion on something they've already made up their mind about lol.

[Collegefbfan]

Re: Are video games a waste of time?

Not a waste of time. Beats doing drugs and cheaper than gambling (at least for me). If it is a thing you enjoy, and all the "life stuff" gets done first, then enjoy your video games. I normally play a sports game after the wife dozes off on the couch. I have a career job, I cook supper most nights, I enjoy being with family, and I put those things first. Almost like thinking, "Is watching YouTube a waste of time?" One is about as productive as the other.

[davep]

Re: Are video games a waste of time?

I'm also curious how people feel after they've played them...do they feel good? or felt it was worthwhile? Or just meh? Or somwehere inbetween?

[Ghost Of The Year]

Re: Are video games a waste of time?

I'm also curious how people feel after they've played them...do they feel good? or felt it was worthwhile? Or just meh? Or somwehere inbetween?

For the most part I play sports games. I do play a little bit of non-sports but its spread out pretty good, I don't have near the emotional attachment as sports. When I win in a squeaker, I feel great about that. When I kick *** , I usually feel good about that too lol. When I blow a game and lose one I should have won, that stinks and I'm already thinking what I should have done different as soon as its over. When I have my *** handed to me, I'm usually shell-shocked and numb to the loss. I also think that while video games aren't inherently a waste of time, anyone who does feel that way, thats ok, and they probably should avoid playing and find another hobby. Hobbies should be fun, not leave you gut wrenched pondering the question '' why are we here.'' Unless your hobby is philosophy lol.

[l3ulvl]

Re: Are video games a waste of time?

I'm also curious how people feel after they've played them...do they feel good? or felt it was worthwhile? Or just meh? Or somwehere inbetween?

I get irrationally angry


like I'm trying to do a thing, and someone else is also trying to do a thing, and we get in each others way, it drives me nuts





if I get to the end and have the best score, I do feel a little better