Gaming = waste of time/life?

[DjQuick2008]

Was in a bad relationship in february and she just reminded me why i spend so much time configuring game systems and learning new things about gaming. I don't feel drained when im engaged in watching new videos about emulation or how a ps2 or ps3 can be modified. People on the other hand leave me on low battery if they arent good for me.

 

[AnonymousCookieMonster]

Gaming can be useful!
I have learned a lot from games... things like:

I agree.. Include Problem solving. Games that raise actual skills are not a waste of time. But i still wouldn't want to do them for too long at a time.

A lot game i enjoy are puzzle based. TIS-100 being one of my favorites, but is annoying at the same time due to limitations.

Some games (usually card or the like) can let you test scenarios of conditions of how you make choices in discards while not having to have actual players. Though you could write a brute-force algorithm to tell you how said scenario would go after a million of said hands vs actually experiencing it.

 

[igotpsychicpower]

I agree.. Include Problem solving. Games that raise actual skills are not a waste of time. But i still wouldn't want to do them for too long at a time.

A lot game i enjoy are puzzle based. TIS-100 being one of my favorites, but is annoying at the same time due to limitations.

Some games (usually card or the like) can let you test scenarios of conditions of how you make choices in discards while not having to have actual players. Though you could write a brute-force algorithm to tell you how said scenario would go after a million of said hands vs actually experiencing it.

mmmh I would argue that puzzle games have minimal impact on our cognitive abilities, it doesn't improve your fluid intelligence which is innate, in fact you just become good at the game.

 

[UnDubious]

Traveling isn't insipid at all, depending on what you do on your trips. Seeing the world is great. Dating is not insipid if there is any kind of connection and you do things you like on the dates (obviously dates can be bad, as can trips... but so can be games).

Somebody said work is a waste of time. Sure feels that way, and many jobs are arguably so, but a human being has to do some type of work. Our brains/nervous systems aren't built to have fun all day every day, in fact any type of hedonistic lifestyle eventually damages our ability to even have fun or feel good at all as our dopamine receptors become downregulated and whatever else. I do think having some fun is good and valuable, but it can't be the main thing you do all day or your life becomes empty and meaningless.

 

[JustLooking123]

mmmh I would argue that puzzle games have minimal impact on our cognitive abilities, it doesn't improve your fluid intelligence which is innate, in fact you just become good at the game.

It can depend on the generalization abilities of the person too...
Some people can learn real-world skills even from playing puzzle games.
Probably i'm not one of them, but i have seen some of those people myself.

 

[LiberoVulpesLiberoVulpes's icon]

You like what you like and that's that.

Wondering if its productive, is a symptom of the system you live in, nothing else.

It does not matter if its a waste of time or not, what matters is whatever you believe it is.

 

[AnonymousCookieMonster]

mmmh I would argue that puzzle games have minimal impact on our cognitive abilities, it doesn't improve your fluid intelligence which is innate, in fact you just become good at the game.

Maybe. Moving things to take up the minimum amount of space possible, rewriting assembly code to make a 10 instruction run take 7 instead to do the same thing only faster or just smaller. Figuring out how to take the various tools in Minecraft to make a fully workable CPU within the game, and running simple code.

These can be very complex skills, forcing you to think in entirely different ways of problem solving. Also how many things you can generally keep track of at the same time and seeing the bigger picture of something.

Now if you're talking say Tetris where it's 'put block in slot' then yeah maybe not so much except in reaction time.

 

[Megalodonix]

It's about moderation and time management, really.
The more responsibilities you have, the less time you'll have for gaming, unfortunately...
It's never a waste of time as long as it doesn't interfere with more important stuff.

Besides... as other people in this thread have already stated, gaming can also be a valuable experience, for example, I learned all of my English grammar and vocab from the games I play, and some of the games I've played have shaped me for the person that I am today and I'm really glad that I spent the time playing them, no regrets whatsoever.

TL;DR: No, gaming is a wonderful hobby, not a waste of time. Just make sure to game in moderation tho

 

[igotpsychicpower]

Traveling isn't insipid at all, depending on what you do on your trips. Seeing the world is great. Dating is not insipid if there is any kind of connection and you do things you like on the dates (obviously dates can be bad, as can trips... but so can be games).

As a general concept, traveling and dating don't represent the romanticized version you make of them. Most of the time, people are just going to consume and take part in the same attractions as tourists from all over the world, a far cry from the explorers and pilgrims who set out to discover the world.

 

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

Everything is technically a waste of time if it doesn't pay you nor feed you, but that's besides point, really -- we NEED distractions in order to function.

To me there's nothing quite as beautiful as to getting lost in a fictional world for hours or even days at the time, knowing full-well that I'm just resting in the meantime.

Now, this can be abused to the point of causing real problems in your life, but it's an addiction I'm not afraid of facing.

 

[JaguarGod6]

Nope, in fact I feel truly sorry for people who don't play video games regularly.
What an empty and meaningless life they live.

Exactly.

 

[igotpsychicpower]

Maybe. Moving things to take up the minimum amount of space possible, rewriting assembly code to make a 10 instruction run take 7 instead to do the same thing only faster or just smaller. Figuring out how to take the various tools in Minecraft to make a fully workable CPU within the game, and running simple code.

These can be very complex skills, forcing you to think in entirely different ways of problem solving. Also how many things you can generally keep track of at the same time and seeing the bigger picture of something.

Now if you're talking say Tetris where it's 'put block in slot' then yeah maybe not so much except in reaction time.

This kind of game tends to filter out people with low IQ and attract a specific category of player. Let's be honest the average Minecraft player plays on servers in multiplayer or creative mode without worrying about programming with command blocks. Sure, it can introduce you to new concepts and tools but not everyone can actually learn from it

 

[Dark Lucifer]

if you talking about waste of time Then yes

Because this game is waste of fucking time

 

[Deleted member 884]

Nope, in fact I feel truly sorry for people who don't play video games regularly.
What an empty and meaningless life they live.

Exactly.

Irony?

 

[Megalodonix]

if you talking about waste of time Then yes
View attachment 37822
Because this game is waste of fucking time

totally forgot this exists lmao

 

[igotpsychicpower]

if you talking about waste of time Then yes
View attachment 37822
Because this game is waste of fucking time

is it just me or does this look like a mediocre version of NiD

 

[SpcDaicon]

What could be considered time well spent? Spending time and effort to generate something like money? Than spending time with friends or family, watching a movie or simpling existing is a waste of time

Humans are useless creature in nature, that's what make us human. Animals can't even fathom the concept of wasting time but we not only understand its meaning but also rejoyce in it.

 

[Matricks]

I dont job, I like playing,watching games and movies, inet 16hrs every day, I dont go outside only few timea to trash bins or get post.
Get food from online supermarket homedelivery., everything done online etc.
My end life is play to death and not to work till death.

 

[Hikari.EXE]

I know this is a game forum, so I guess some people won't like my answer.

If we set the definition of "waste of time" as something that does not create value, sure, almost anything is considered "waste of time", like hanging out with friends.

But if we consider "waste of time" as poor/low quality of entertainment, I agree that gaming is "waste of time", sure, this is 100% personal, but let me explain my point of view: besides the practical use, it's all about the memories you retain after you do the activity, gaming in this case.

In my case, I could play a game with low/high graphics, or good/bad mechanics, but what stays with me after time passes is the plot/story and world builing of that universe created, and I think that the time used to build those memories are less effective as reading directly those stories. In other words, I think reading values more of my time than gaming, but it's a double edge sword, reading creates less dopamine than gaming, which means that is easier to play for 5 hours comparing to read for 5 hours.

At least for now, I'm trying to decrease my level of dopamine to make real life things (not digital ones) more appealing, which means books, hobbies, and so on.

Besides of what I wrote before, I still play games, why? because is something that I grow up doing and it is my last resort, the solid "fundation" I was built uppon.

That's a weird way of looking at games.
So essentially, you "play" games for the memories? I play them because they're fun! I enjoy interacting with this digital world since many games are fantastical in nature and you can't do that irl. Of course if you look at games like memories to be remembered, all of your interactions with it will be sour, you are not playing the game, you are passing throught it, clinging on to glimpses of emotions felt. If you value the story above all else, then yeah you'll get a very small return for investing your time in it, don't get me wrong a good story can enhance an otherwise good game to great, but I mainly play them for the mechanics, so our priorities are a little different.
Maybe you should switch your gaming time with reading time, you'll get more out of it by the looks of it.

 

[moonbits]

Yeah, I feel like I've wasted my life playing them. I might just regulate myself more; go on trips or try new things. Games at my age don't provide value, or insight or change my world views.

 

[Dark Lucifer]

is it just me or does this look like a mediocre version of NiD

Correct me if I wrong but I'm pretty sure this is the same developer who makes Sonic series

 

[cjl8336]

it isn't a waste of life but if you find yourself poopsocking/catassing, you have been on the vidya for too long

 

[Hikari.EXE]

Yeah, I feel like I've wasted my life playing them. I might just regulate myself more; go on trips or try new things. Games at my age don't provide value, or insight or change my world views.

Hey, that's a cup full mentality no?
"Games my age don't provide value, or insight or change my world views." You never know!
I used to think the same, I tought I learned all I had to know about people and the nature of the world, but color me surprised when a simple saturday morning japanse kid's show taught me about the hopes and dreams that different people have and the lenghts each are willing to go through to acomplish them. Don't write something off just because you think it's a waste of time, you'll never know until you find out.

 

[Antihero]

TBH, it's all about perspective. This discussion is futile imo!

 

[igotpsychicpower]

Correct me if I wrong but I'm pretty sure this is the same developer who makes Sonic series

Yeah by Sonic Team and SEGA before they went full woke and garbage