What's wrong with playing RuneScape, honestly?

[aerendil]

My point was not to redirect the thread to those issues,(however, I'm not against overage, just underage, which, where I live, is the absolute majority of it), but put how bad is into perspective. I'm trying to get a good discussion going about why rs is regarded as so "bad".

 

mind i'm probably up a tree, expecting a rational debate and discussion around runescape; sorry for trying :P

[Omali]

Personally, I've learned how to solve puzzles due to rs(or mental challenges, more than just puzzles), how to keep semi calm under stress (heavy bossing where 1 screw up means riptagon), and I've made some wonderful friends, who I do stay in contact with even after they've quit.

 

RuneScape can be very educational. People have talked in the past about learning conversational English through playing RuneScape, the economy is a great way to learn supply/demand economics (and with the Grand Exchange, you could argue, giving tips on how to play the actual stock market), and how to interact with other people. As for how people are focusing on the OP, it's basically because the premise of his argument started off with how RuneScape wasn't a bad thing, followed up with a laundry list of how badly RuneScape was an unhealthy detriment on his life.

[Ginger_Warrior]

My point was not to redirect the thread to those issues,(however, I'm not against overage, just underage, which, where I live, is the absolute majority of it), but put how bad is into perspective. I'm trying to get a good discussion going about why rs is regarded as so "bad".

I'd suggest that if playing RuneScape has gotten to the point where it's acting as a disincentive to, or preventing you from socialising with friends and expressing sexuality*, it's already entered the realm of "bad" because what started out as a perfectly normal and innocuous attempt at escapism, has transformed into something which is impacting on your everyday needs as a human being.

 

Playing RuneScape, just like playing any video game, isn't "bad". To play it obsessively in such a self-destructive and de-humanising manner unquestionably is, in the same way that working 80 hours a week would be "bad", or gambling all your money away so you can no longer afford heating would be "bad".

 

* by this, I don't mean having sex necessarily; sex and sexuality are two different, although related concepts.

[Omar]

As I said, aerendil, there probably isn't anything wrong about Runescape that isn't also the case for other activities. You're essentially asking why people stigmatize each other. From the Wikipedia article about social stigma:

"German born sociologist and historian, Gerhard Falk [2] has written over fifty scholarly works, including STIGMA: How We Treat Outsiders. About Stigma, he wrote:

All societies will always stigmatize some conditions and some behaviors because doing so provides for group solidarity by delineating "outsiders" from "insiders" (Falk, 2001)."

 

RuneScape can be very educational. People have talked in the past about learning conversational English through playing RuneScape, the economy is a great way to learn supply/demand economics (and with the Grand Exchange, you could argue, giving tips on how to play the actual stock market)

As a matter of fact, economists are very interested in MMOs because collecting data is much easier in that context and it's a pretty good way to get closer to ceteris paribus conditions. I know Valve hired Yanis Varoufakis for this; he even has a blog on their website.

[Omali]

As I said, aerendil, there probably isn't anything wrong about Runescape that isn't also the case for other activities. You're essentially asking why people stigmatize each other. From the Wikipedia article about social stigma:

"German born sociologist and historian, Gerhard Falk [2] has written over fifty scholarly works, including STIGMA: How We Treat Outsiders. About Stigma, he wrote:

All societies will always stigmatize some conditions and some behaviors because doing so provides for group solidarity by delineating "outsiders" from "insiders" (Falk, 2001)."

 

RuneScape can be very educational. People have talked in the past about learning conversational English through playing RuneScape, the economy is a great way to learn supply/demand economics (and with the Grand Exchange, you could argue, giving tips on how to play the actual stock market)

As a matter of fact, economists are very interested in MMOs because collecting data is much easier in that context and it's a pretty good way to get closer to ceteris paribus conditions. I know Valve hired Yanis Varoufakis for this.

 

A friend of mine used his knowledge of economics he gained from RuneScape to play the stock market. He does quite well for himself, although he stopped not because the money wasn't that great but because he got bored doing it.

[Omar]

I think it's a stretch to say you can play the stock market because you know how the GE works. At best, you have a clue of how investors' "animal spirits" work, but there are no "Behind the Scenes" or update descriptions that will let you know in advance what changes in technology and tastes will occur; instead, it's the price system that tells us what is valued, what isn't, what's overproduced, what isn't, etc. To game the stock market in the same way you do in RS requires you to anticipate changes in prices based on the same changes in prices.

[Platinum_Myr]

There can be, but a lot of that would be considered insider tradings if you got the information non publicly. The problem is that it is a much bigger risk to "play" the stock market, and there are much more informed people than you. Though you probably can learn some and get decent at it.

[Sylpheed]

Socail life stuff - involves confidence and meeting people - however if you are highly introverted, like myself, its ok to spend most of your time alone.

I'm very introverted. I also enjoy meeting new people wherever possible and discovering what makes them tick. If I spend too much time indoors and on my own, I start to get fidgety. When I'm talking to people, I can usually do so in my own witty, facetious and confident manner. Being introverted just means I'm primarily occupied with my own thoughts and feelings instead of those of other people.

 

Being introverted is a very poor justification for playing RuneScape for large quantities of time.

 

That isn't what Introverted means.

 

Only thing the OP has proven is how unhealthy addiction is, and that he is certifiably insane and has zero basic understanding of the world outside of his house.

 

Also this.

[Ginger_Warrior]

Amusingly you failed to provide your own definition as to what Introverted means, while insisting my own was inadequate.

[Galco]

So, here's a pros and cons list of playing RuneScape excessively if you're extremely overweight:

 

Pros:

Lose weight if you decide to skip meals because of XP wasting.

Increase brain size and amount of knowledge it can hold.

Get somewhere in RuneScape, so you can actually enjoy the game the way it was meant to be played.

Have something you can enjoy.

 

Cons:

Excessive play can lead to eye strain.

It eats your life away. Only do this if you're a nolife/lowlife.

 

See how there's more pros than cons?

 

Thanks for reading guys. I appreciate it. Comment if you want.

 

If you're reading this from FaceBook, yes, this is David Brian Easley typing this.

 

Oh, and just imagine if I took out a few hours to exercise/day during the summer. I would probably be ripped right now.

Pros:

1. Losing weight because you skip meals is virtually impossible. Your metabolism will simply slow down to go right along with your eating habits. Unless you don't eat at all, in which case go to the doctor, you're sick.

And the very moment you quit playing occupying your time with runescape, the very moment you become bored, you'll likely find something else to fill this time. And it will most likely be eating, that fills this time.

 

2. Runescape has taught me nothing. It doesn't make your brain bigger and it doesn't fill your head with knowledge relevant to anything other than runescape.

I would love it if runescape could've taught me how to make a star with programming in graphics class. But I don't think trigonometry is ever mentioned in the game quite frankly.

 

3. You could just as easily bot those levels, and go ride a bike. And as for having something you can enjoy? Riding a bike seems pretty fun to me.

 

Cons:

1. Derp.

2. You don't have to be a no life, and it doesn't eat your life away. It eats away spare time. Sure, maybe you could've thrown that spare time into doing something more "productive". But that's not what humans do. We get bored, and we eat our time away. And quite frankly socializing with friends, riding bikes around town, etc are the exact same time eaters that runescape is, and their productivity is probably right around the same level.

 

More cons:

1. Carpal tunnel syndrome.

2. Procrastinating playing this game instead of doing your class work(Doesn't anything and everything fun in life do this anyway though?) and watching your grades fall.

3. Sleep deprivation.

4. Decreased mental ability(Yeah its a con in the opposite of your pro because your pro was a blatant lie, this game does not utilize any part of the brain, rather it focuses on us doing repeated mindless tasks, which we can do with ease while only being semi-conscious in what is essentially a hypnotic state)

5. UNHEALTHY EATING HABITS(Your pro pretty much proves this one)

6. Stress(How many of us can honestly say we don't feel like this game, and other games, are some what a chore to play sometimes?)

 

Do I really need to continue sir?

[So Rowdy]

This is lame as heck. When you get denied from colleges and don't receive scholarships in the future because you failed important classes, you'll think again exactly how important this game is. The only thing that this game has done for me is improved my mental math when selling lobbies in w1

 

When you start to rationalize an online game into how it can be healthy and beneficial to you...well that's an indicator in itself of how unhealthy and addictive this game is

[Sylpheed]

Amusingly you failed to provide your own definition as to what Introverted means, while insisting my own was inadequate.

 

People inclined towards Introversion generally find themselves most comfortable in their own company or small groups of people. They generally have no desire or need to be around groups of people small or large to be happy.

 

Extroverted people can view this as shyness or disinterest but they are simply two perfectly valid personality types. Extroverts by contrast, generally become bored in their own company and generally need to be around other people to be comfortable and happy.

 

Very generalised but that is essentially what the two mean.

[Omar]

I've got to agree, it sounds more like you're self-absorbed or selfish (for lack of better terms--myself, I think they're good traits).

[Miss Lioness]

Amusingly you failed to provide your own definition as to what Introverted means, while insisting my own was inadequate.

 

People inclined towards Introversion generally find themselves most comfortable in their own company or small groups of people. They generally have no desire or need to be around groups of people small or large to be happy.

 

Extroverted people can view this as shyness or disinterest but they are simply two perfectly valid personality types. Extroverts by contrast, generally become bored in their own company and generally need to be around other people to be comfortable and happy.

 

Very generalised but that is essentially what the two mean.

 

Then what is when you are kinda both? Because I can find myself in both =/

[Sylpheed]

Amusingly you failed to provide your own definition as to what Introverted means, while insisting my own was inadequate.

 

People inclined towards Introversion generally find themselves most comfortable in their own company or small groups of people. They generally have no desire or need to be around groups of people small or large to be happy.

 

Extroverted people can view this as shyness or disinterest but they are simply two perfectly valid personality types. Extroverts by contrast, generally become bored in their own company and generally need to be around other people to be comfortable and happy.

 

Very generalised but that is essentially what the two mean.

 

Then what is when you are kinda both? Because I can find myself in both =/

 

It's not black and white, not everyone is an absolute introvert or extrovert. I consider myself to exhibit qualities of both too.

[muggiwhplar]

Amusingly you failed to provide your own definition as to what Introverted means, while insisting my own was inadequate.

 

People inclined towards Introversion generally find themselves most comfortable in their own company or small groups of people. They generally have no desire or need to be around groups of people small or large to be happy.

 

Extroverted people can view this as shyness or disinterest but they are simply two perfectly valid personality types. Extroverts by contrast, generally become bored in their own company and generally need to be around other people to be comfortable and happy.

 

Very generalised but that is essentially what the two mean.

 

Being introverted simply means you use up energy in social interactions and "recharge" in solitude. Extroversion is the opposite. It's a spectrum, with most people lying somewhere between the two extremes.

[constrictor]

Amusingly you failed to provide your own definition as to what Introverted means, while insisting my own was inadequate.

 

People inclined towards Introversion generally find themselves most comfortable in their own company or small groups of people. They generally have no desire or need to be around groups of people small or large to be happy.

 

Extroverted people can view this as shyness or disinterest but they are simply two perfectly valid personality types. Extroverts by contrast, generally become bored in their own company and generally need to be around other people to be comfortable and happy.

 

Very generalised but that is essentially what the two mean.

 

Then what is when you are kinda both? Because I can find myself in both =/

 

Take a personality test, it'll explain alot of it.

Like for example, I am 4% introverted, which means I am on the line between introverted and extroverted but will tend (only slightly) to be more introverted.

 

OT to OP:

Being the person I am, I 100% use RuneScape purely as a destresser, a hobby, but purely to remove my mind from things which are stressing me. The moment something else can do this instead of RuneScape or the moment RuneScape becomes a source of stress, I know it is time to take a break.

 

Even more on topic, because RuneScape is a destresser for me, [bleep] what people say about it. I use it so I don't go punch a hole in my wall, and if I find riding a bike or hanging with friends will better suite me than I do that instead.

 

So enjoy RuneScape for the box you have it in, but certainly do not let it take over or control your life.

[Donnie]

Shyness and social anxiety =/= introversion.

[constrictor]

Shyness and social anxiety =/= introversion.

 

This has already been addressed.

 

Introversion is when one prefers to be with one's thoughts or prefers interection with very few (usually a small group of close friends/acquaintances) individuals.

Usually they also prefer to have conversations that matter, (to them, what this looks like depends on the idividual) or not have them at all.

Example would be if someone likes RuneScape and is introverted they may seem much more invested in a conversation discussing RuneScape than say donkeys.

[Galco]

Amusingly you failed to provide your own definition as to what Introverted means, while insisting my own was inadequate.

 

People inclined towards Introversion generally find themselves most comfortable in their own company or small groups of people. They generally have no desire or need to be around groups of people small or large to be happy.

 

Extroverted people can view this as shyness or disinterest but they are simply two perfectly valid personality types. Extroverts by contrast, generally become bored in their own company and generally need to be around other people to be comfortable and happy.

 

Very generalised but that is essentially what the two mean.

 

Then what is when you are kinda both? Because I can find myself in both =/

 

The truth is that everyone is an introvert and an extrovert.

No one wants to be around butt loads of people 24/7. That would be exhausting.

And no one wants to be alone or only around the same small group of people 24/7. That would get bland and repetitive eventually.

 

These identifiers are nothing more than personality traits that we all have at varying levels depending on our mood.

 

You could easily "read the stars" and tell every single human being, that on some days they want to be left alone, and on other days they want to be with as many people as possible, and most people would likely find this star reading to be an accurate representation of them and their personality.

 

My honest opinion on it is try not to focus on it.

If you focus on an identifier such as introvert, or republican or anything of the like, you'll probably alienate yourself from other view points and will likely suffer some what trying to meet your expectations as purely an introvert or purely an extrovert.

[Trinitydunge]

Losing weight by skipping meals has got to be the worst way to lose weight.

 

You missed the whole point of the topic..

 

I must say man, that probably had to be the greatest thing i've ever read ahahaa!

[thejollyroger]

Amusingly you failed to provide your own definition as to what Introverted means, while insisting my own was inadequate.

 

People inclined towards Introversion generally find themselves most comfortable in their own company or small groups of people. They generally have no desire or need to be around groups of people small or large to be happy.

 

Extroverted people can view this as shyness or disinterest but they are simply two perfectly valid personality types. Extroverts by contrast, generally become bored in their own company and generally need to be around other people to be comfortable and happy.

 

Very generalised but that is essentially what the two mean.

 

Being introverted simply means you use up energy in social interactions and "recharge" in solitude. Extroversion is the opposite. It's a spectrum, with most people lying somewhere between the two extremes.

 

Yeah, I personally find this last definition best for me... loneliness and being alone are not necessarily the same. I treasure my alone time, because it DOES allow me time to recharge. I'm usually processing my social time during those periods, thinking about what people have had to say, and such. I do tend to prefer one-on-one or small group interactions to crowds.

 

Anyways, speaking more broadly: I'm 38 years old. I've played video games since 1980, pen and paper RPGs since about 1984, live action since about 2000, and Runescape specifically since 2003. What's been referred to as "the gaming culture" has been a large part of my life. Anyone that would tease me for that has been ignored a long time ago.

 

It's not my only hobby, though. I was involved in some team sports during my youth and young adult years. I really like to fly kites and I've worked with a local kitemaker of some minor fame. I have done gardening off and on since I was in high school. I was involved in computers and home audio for about as long. One very good friend I met through RS was a database administrator and now drives a truck long haul.

 

I know Runescape seems like the scapegoat of the MMO world... and I'm aware of what the kids think. I started Runescape about when I was starting a family. I went through some really hard times with disability. I was judged pretty severely by this community at that time, and even Silverion had some harsh words to say that ... well, he does not know me a whit, really. Was I in too deep? I probably was. But I knew what was truly important in life.

 

My daughter, a wee babe when I started, is now a J-pop obsessed "all arms and legs" tomboy and proud gamer girl. She snuck on FunOrb without me knowing, but she knows she's got to wait a few years before I'll let her make a Runescape account. She knows her mom (who had a presence here for a time, she doesn't play Runescape anymore) and I are dead serious about her schoolwork, although we had to jump some difficult hoops to get accommodations for some of her special needs. My son was born shortly before I left Tip.It for a time, and we learned he was high-functioning autistic a few years before I decided to be a little more active under this alias.

 

Both of them are amused by what I do in this game, but anyone that knows me well knows I work hard for these kids. They know I'm disabled and unemployed, but still do a lot to provide for them.

 

Don't blow your future on this game. It's not worth it. There's nothing wrong with spending some free time here, but it should be in measured, moderated amounts. Now, someone mentioned economics-- yep, here I go mentioning Duke Freedom again. I still believe that young man has got a future in economics... *if* he wants. He didn't seem particularly inclined to pursue such studies when I last talked to him, but that's okay. At best, though, a game or a simulation won't completely school you on any particular subject.

 

I understand the weight issue... I've got to lose at least 100# myself. A back injury and years of psych medicine has made that difficult-- but-- the others here have some wisdom to what they say. Consider doing what I did and talk to a dietician/nutritionist. I don't think any of them would counsel you to skip meals. They might suggest some healthy snacks while you play-- cut vegetables, nuts, things like that. Most of it, really, is finding out how many calories you need in a day (for me, it's about 2-2.2K calories) and then figuring out what lifestyle choices you can make to achieve that... forever. Changes can't be temporary; they have to be changes you'll live with.

 

I've been in the mental health community for 28 years (as a patient) and I have little to no shame saying so. Sure, I'm crazy, and I've got paperwork to prove it-- but there's nothing stopping me from having a fulfilling, productive life, and I have made good with some counseling, finally. I've met a fair number of cowardly and arrogant jerks in my time there, but... there's nothing wrong with asking for some help to get things sorted. You get out what you put in, I think, and I would agree that spending some time would be useful. I am reading a lot by what you say that does have me concerned... anything taken to an obsessive and compulsive degree really is not healthy, and I'm speaking frankly from my own experience.

 

Kudos if anyone has read this far. I'll leave it right here.

[Marduk_God]

What makes it a bit of a shunned topic in many circles is the age demographic it's most often associated with. RuneScape is, for all intents and purposes, considered a kiddies' game. The rather patronising and often blundering way Jagex communicates with the playerbase also factors into this. Many of their articles are designed in a way as if they consider themselves to be talking to (what they see as) ten to twelve-year olds.

 

In the end, it's not the game itself that is to blame, or Jagex' antics, or even the community. It's the meaning that is attributed to all these things that is pivotal - the association with childish and immature behaviour (cfr. Seignobos - signifier & signified). Once you grow past that stage, you'll notice that most of the people who look at it from that specific pejorative angle are generally people who are acutely aware of their social environment and want to be perceived as 'serious' and 'adult' - because of that they want to disavow any and all association with things that (what they perceive) are considered 'childish' and 'immature'.

[Omar]

I disagree, it was still lame when I was 12. It was just associated with geeks, I think, and well, kids will use any pretext to pick on each other at that age.

[ohhh]

What's wrong with playing RuneScape? Nothing. It's only the bad reputation Jagex aswell as some players yearning for better graphics gave it. I like the current state of RuneScape.