"Life is too short to worry about highscores"

[gremmy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKBRG_QgEAM

 

Not sure if this has a great discussion value, as I'm sure most in here are aware of this issue (I am at least), but I thought I'd post it :thumbup:

 

Watch the video, post what you think, and let's see if we can get a discussion going :)

[green9090]

This guy's going to be pissed when he learns that "value" is subjective.

[stonewall337]

This guy's going to be pissed when he learns that "value" is subjective.

This. Without Highscores, RS would be boring. Ya see, its revolutionary, but some people ENJOY competing.

[NukeMarine]

To be honest, if he was able to give this message to himself 30 years ago, he wouldn't have listened. Looking back on what you could have been doing 30 years is easy. However, you can't do something with 30 years of your future in mind.

 

I will say that the last 4 years of spare time I put toward physical fitness and Japanese will net me better results in the future than the four years of free time prior to that aimed more at Runescape. Now, I doubt I'd have realized that without experiencing it though.

[Krampell]

Interesting, a few things may have sounded true and made sense,

I can't understand that just because he realised what he had "wasted" his time on video games over more important things doesn't mean that we have done/will do it too.

Just because his life sucked because of video games doesn't mean ours will.

 

I really enjoy video games, and unlike him, I have learned things from them.

Maybe it's not as important as like going to a class in school but you never know.

 

Maybe I don't usualy meet the people I met in online games, but I learn to know them and talk to them.

It's like, I don't have to ring on a friends door just to talk to him, I can just call them instead.

 

Anyway, seeing as he said he "wasted his life" doesn't mean I will, I'm still young and have plenty of time left in my life.

I'm still studying so it doesn't matter if I play games to talk to people instead of talking to them irl. I get enough of rl contact with people at school for now.

[stonewall337]

Exactly. What you could have done is different. Some people can play a lot, and still be normal, and not have it ruin their life. Some can't. But many things are relative. I could have been better at basketball, but I don't enjoy it as much, although I still play with friends whenever I can.

 

Also, video games were NOT to blame. It was his lack of self control. I had when people use BS arguments like that.

[Den]

"The Burning Crusades" made me smile. :P

 

He might not have learned anything from video games, but Runescape has improved my english by loads since I started.

I've also had many questions in tests at school where stuff from runescape helped me get the right answer.

 

To sum up, I agree with stonewall.

[Sy_Accursed]

He was a bit too preachee-ish for my liking.

As other have pointed out he seems to take for granted if you are a gamer you push other things aside in order to game more; this jsut is not true for the vast majority of gamers.

Sure on the odd occasion you might stay up a bit late or leave a bit late for a lecture/party or w/e when you are within touching distance of a big achievement (like a lvl 99 in rs or finally beating a game on expert), but usually you run your gaming around your life.

[Jeffwilson99]

He sounds like he was really addicted to video games. I guess he didn't get the balance that he talked about right From my point of view, maybe I spend a bit much of my free time doing the same thing, I've never been at the point where it starts having a hugely negative impact on my life. Like, I'd rather go out and socialise on a Saturday night rather than game, and I don't ignore my friends and family in order to game either. Maybe I'm just not much of a gamer?

[Sy_Accursed]

Picking up on what someone else said about self-control I think it is a very good point.

 

It's like obese people who blame mcdonalds tasting too good or poor metabolism for their weight; when its obviously an issue of self control. I'm sure we all (or most of us atleast) don't have an amazing metabolism (so we can easily gain weight if we over eat) and find fast food somewhat appealing but we control ourselves.

 

And obviously the same holds true for gaming.

[Maximusa]

Well I can only speak for myself but when I was 4-10 years old and was gaming for the 'majority' of my freetime then I enjoyed it and didnt regret it in later years. Neither did I feel depressed or lonely etc as he described how he felt.. What I mean is - If I ever did it wasnt due to video games but other reasons. I also lived in countryside and everyone lived way too far away for me to visit besides when at school.

 

Ditto for 10-20 for most part.

 

Now im 20+ and I cant say how I would feel once im 30 because I am not yet 30. However I presume it is the same deal. Could be wrong I guess but I doubt it.

 

I have done other things. Had different gfs. Gone different places. Had different experience doing other things. Out of all of these experiences, excluding being with a partner, I would say gaming was always the thing I enjoyed most. I got alot pride in what I do even if I know it meaningless (I feel life is ultimately meaningless so..) - I got personal pride in how well I do in stuff. I dont really care that much what others think and even try to stay under the radar.

 

If this guy seriously got 'divorced' due to video gaming then I guess I congratulate him for giving it up..? Because I would never in hell allow it to go that far that my partner would give up. If she spoke to me and told me I was gaming too much I would listen or otherwise she deserves to leave, but I wouldnt let that happen, I would do something about it. Aslongs as she knew from the beginning what it involved being with me and just how much of my free time will probably be dedicated to gaming, atleast this time in my life, probably later too. She understands that and accepted it very early in our relationship. While I agreed that I would always make sure I spend time with her and make sure she is always more important.

 

Now if he couldnt do that.. then I glad he gave it up. I dont have that problem but maybe when im 30 or older I may feel different idk. I can only say that I doubt it atm. I love it more than any other hobby I got ten fold. Thats just me and I like the whole sillyness of calling myself a gamer even if its just part roleplay or whatever want to call it. Its like calling yourself a 'footballer' except I dont care about that and prefer competitive games.

 

It is more meaningless than say studying... but thats the point. Its meant to be more rewarding but its ultimately meaningless rewards. Doesnt mean you cant achieve both.

 

I hope live a long life and a long life of gaming. Its brilliantly meaningless just like life. On the otherhand I may change as I get older but I doubt it. I am looking forward to gaming with my children aswell as more physical sports or whatever.

[stonewall337]

Good point baz, I loved gaming with my dad even more then I liked playing chess with him. I used to watch him play warcraft 2, and descent, as well as heroes 2. Then I started playing with/vs him. Of course, eventually he stopped gaming, which is too bad, but nothing is quite like gaming with friends/family together in real life.

[Sylpheed]

This stereotype is as old as time itself. I turned 20 this year and I'm studying for a degree right now. Do I play video games a lot? You bet I do, but guess what, it's perfectly easy to balance your time between gaming, studying AND having a social life.

 

Like others, social life/work always takes priority over gaming for me. Do I sometimes get my priorities wrong? Of course I do, everyone makes mistakes in their life.

 

But, in the end, regardless of how you live your life, as long as your happy then whose right is it to tell you your living your life wrong? Nobody.

 

The guy in the video has nobody to blame but himself IMO.

[blacksimon]

Hm, lets look at it. Over the years playing runescape, I've easily had over 80 accounts, spent thousands and thousands of hours in front of my computer. I've been playing runescape for nearly a decade. Sure I never finished highschool, but in my time playing runescape, I worked seriously at any job I had over the years, never late to work, or playing at work, I eventually built my own company, which is doing quite well, hell.. I even got married recently. I play alot, sure, but only when I know there isn't anything better to do, because if I'm not playing runescape there's a big chance ill be watching TV, or sleeping..

[Erebus]

So true... Seriously that were my thoughts while watching the video..

[fertjuh3]

Video games are good for fun, as long as you use your spare time for them and not make time for them.

[No_99_Melee]

The whole "consumer of time" aspect in the video is BS. It all depends on the merit you place on the activity. Who's to say that learning to play guitar is less of a consumption of time than video games? I also think the fact that he had to quit the games completely was kind of childish on his part. This guy needs to learn that you can still be healthy physically, mentally, and socially while still playing videogames. I play video games avidly, but when I do I'm often playing with friends and I take time out of my day to do important things such as going to classes and the gym. Just because he couldn't maintain a healthy balance doesn't mean videogames are the devil.

[Vex]

Video Game addiction is real. Same as alcoholism, however the majority of people can drink & game responsibly, others however can't. Now in kids/teenagers it's up to the parents to take responsibility, however for adults it's up to their peers or themselves to be honest and admit they need some form of help.

 

That's one of the reasons I quit WoW, when I had to arrange my real life or cancel going out in order to raid or w/e, eventually you wake up one day and think, wtf am I doing. As for gaming in general there is nothing wrong with it. Just make sure you live life without regrets & ultimately able to recognise when it starts interfering with your studies/job/relationships.

 

If you want to game 15 hours a day, that's your prerogative. I just guarantee you will look back and regret it, using health is not a valid excuse when you see the feats that some people achieve. But if your gaming in your free time while doing whatever, be it study or work etc, then it's completely different and you are just filling the void in your spare time. You could argue that you can use that spare time for something more productive, but then it wouldn't be spare time and you need some form of escapism or relaxation to function well at your other tasks.

 

Anyway the world of video game addiction is an interesting one, and there is a lot of money to be made out of other peoples addictions. Especially in the HR riddled world we live in.

[la la la]

I like DG for the community. Talking on skype with 4 other people, trying to improve our teamwork in a dungeon- I'd say that's better than getting drunk and hooking up with some drunk girl at a party instead.

[Xanotex]

He gave the answer and causes of his own problems, he said he's a fat, divorced and lonely guy, and he blames the games. Not everyone is like that, I for one have a girlfriend, have friends in real-life, and I'm sure 70% of the people gaming have friends etc too. He just blames games because he's one of the extreme examples around the world. The fat guy that lost his woman etc thanks to gaming. Boohoo, they are indeed entertaining, don't be stupid enough to let them take over your complete life.

 

And they are not a waste of time, they are educating. You guys might laugh but thanks to runescape and various other games I actually learned my English.. Okay it's not awesome, but I have a huge advantage over the other people in my class. I also learned a lot of things. Just a stupid example, copper+tin=bronze. See what I mean? Some gamers even take it professionaly and game for money. How is that negative? It brings people together.

 

Just let people decide, and if you're fat and lost your wife well, you'll realise you went too far.

[PereGrin]

Why is the video full of stereotypes? It detracts from the credibility. Sound's to me like this guy is still blame shifting. He blames video games for his being overweight and divorced? I won't touch the divorced part, that's a different subject. But you become overweight because you eat more then you should.

 

It is really good propaganda, I will give the video that much. But the constant flashing of pictures, the multiple video game screenshots, the little cartoon hand puppet, and the entire animation format is a bit far for some guy's confessional.

 

He is an artist and an animator, and that video does a very good job of showing off his capabilities. The subject of the video almost guarantees that some people will take this video and post it on different forums, thus getting Brian's name (conveniently given at the end of the video), some online recognition.

 

The story may or may not be true, but the video itself was made for reasons beyond being a cryfest of how bad video games made his life suck.

 

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Why does he also put all these pictures and clips of multiple video games throughout the video, but then when you get to the grill, he has a perfectly laid out World of Warcraft disk set sitting on the grill alone? What happened to the rest of the games that he "showed" in the beginning of the video?

 

And 7 days to learn both Spanish and French? Last I checked, it took far longer then that to learn 2 new languages. 7 days is about how long it takes to level from 1-80 in WoW.

[GlowinRedM]

Most of the gaming I do besides RS is with friends and lots of em. Its like a social event for us to go to his dorm and play Xbox for hours and just go nuts. That or Mario Kart :D

[Ginger_Warrior]

"I'm not addicted"

 

Suppose I was addicted, how would I know any better? Isn't that the whole point of addiction?

 

It just makes me laugh how fast some people on here have distanced themselves from this guy's experience, and instantly denied that playing RuneScape for hours on end is even a little bit unhealthy when, frankly, if they were suffering from an addiction, they wouldn't have any rational basis to claim they aren't.

 

I'm not claiming that people on here are addicted, just that it's irrational to claim this person's experience is something no-one else could ever go through.

[Low C]

Video games and how they correlate to the psychological aspect of social interaction is a great thing to study, i might choose that for my scholarly paper. However, personally I don't believe video games affect everyone that way unless they have a very addictive personality and go to extremes. OP should post some links to credible sources on his first post to add some discussion, hard to take a guy who says video games made him obese and divorced seriously lol.

[Sir_Kurity]

This guy's going to be pissed when he learns that "value" is subjective.

This. Without Highscores, RS would be boring. Ya see, its revolutionary, but some people ENJOY competing.

Highscores don't improve my gameplay experience in any way.

 

And unless your in the top 100 or so in a skill or overall, no one else really cares where you are on the high scores either.