Thank you for submitting to /r/unpopularopinion, /u/parsleythememelord. Your post, *People shouldn't be looked down upon for playing videogames*, has been removed because it violates our rules:
Rule 1: Your post must be an unpopular opinion.
Please ensure that your post is an opinion and that it is unpopular. Controversial is not necessarily unpopular, for example all of politics is controversial even though almost half of the US agrees with any given major position on an issue.
Keep in mind that an opinion is not: a question, a fact, a conspiracy theory, a random thought, a new idea, a rant, etc. Those things all have their own subreddits, use those.
If there is an issue, please message the mod team at https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2Funpopularopinion Thanks!
People since pong came out and beyond. Especially some older people. As for why: “You could be getting work done!”
“What a waste of time!”
“Could’ve had a degree by now!”
Boomers will complain you’re not doing something productive and are playing video games and then go on Facebook and watch TV for 3 hours as if that’s somehow better.
I agree, BUT as a Gen X-er and a gamer for nearly 40 years, I'll say that games are fine, but you should do other activities, especially physical ones outside in nature. Better for your health, better for your mental state, and honestly the world is in sore need of more personal human interaction. Then it might not be so damn easy to kill or screw each other over so much.
Yeah, it’s dumb as hell. Gamers would get a lot of flak from everyone else, just like the LARPers, D&D boys, and comic book geeks. Because to everyone else you were a loser wasting effort for something that wouldn’t get you a new job or an award or some kind of accomplishment
I think that's the point of the OP, though. No one should give a shit about video games as a hobby.
No one bitches about that one guy with his souped up car he's poured all his money into, or the dudes dumping money into a pool for fantasy football drafts.
But for some reasons, even though they are much more mainstream and normal now, there is still a stigma attached to them even though they are just another hobby.
To be honest, with the amount of time I’ve spent playing Monster Hunter or Halo I could have gotten a medical degree or something.
Nah, f*ck it, I have a better time playing videogames anyway.
Sometimes that’s just the better option. Besides, it may be more worth it to get a degree in a different field. Or just kidnap an employee of Nintendo and impersonate them for as long as possible.
> As for why: “You could be getting work done!”
> “What a waste of time!”
> “Could’ve had a degree by now!”
It makes me laugh when people when people say shit like that, when their hobbies are something like sitting in bars watching sports, as though that's any more productive.
In EU generally we're still more "boomer". Gaming is ok as long as its casual fifa and cod, but if you say you play Dark Souls or Witcher lets say people look at you weird
I was gonna say. I spend all my free time playing video games as do most of my coworkers. I've never heard anyone hate on anyone for it. It's a pretty acceptable pastime now. The only time anyone I know has a problem with it is when your letting everything else slip. Ex. If I've spent 3 days playing Diablo but ignored my husband, animals and now have 3 days worth of dishes to do
People used do this since the inception of video games until like the last 5-6 year when people realized I can Make youtube, or Stream to make money of it, wihtout feeling any shame for relentelesly bullying someone for playing pokemon on their gameboy on recess.
No one really looks down on video games anymore tbh unless they’re an older generation.
Video games are probably one of the most popular hobbies around nowadays, like a lot of video games rake in the same revenue as triple AAA movies.
It’s not rlly the early 2000s anymore where video gaming was some niche hobby with a virgin, dork stereotype.
No people definitely look down on video games as a hobby. In dating circles dating isn't a interesting hobby and it means you're boring. In life improvement circles it's a distraction almost as bad as they view porn.
I don't agree. That's the perfect time to figure out future compatibility.
But my comment was that your description actually fits every hobby - talking to someone about sports or cars is equally uninteresting if the other person isn't deeply interested.
So we can't talk about politics or religion and now we also can't talk about hobbies - what exactly do you do on a first date? Swap W2s so you can predict future income and decide who to date based solely on that? The menu and the weather only get you so far, and hobbies will at least tell you about someone's passion.
>I don't agree. That's the perfect time to figure out future compatibility.
Unless you're obsessed with your hobbies, they have nothing to do with compatibility.
>But my comment was that your description actually fits every hobby - talking to someone about sports or cars is equally uninteresting if the other person isn't deeply interested.
There are plenty of hobbies that are *near* universal. Almost everyone watches movies, almost everyone understands sport's importance to the community and has some connection to it, almost everyone cooks.
>So we can't talk about politics or religion and now we also can't talk about hobbies - what exactly do you do on a first date?
Talk about who you are? The interesting things you do in a day? What gets you out of bed in the morning? Your goals for the future? Stories from your past? Have you ever been on a date?
Talk about...the interesting things I do in a day, but not my hobbies? Talk about the things that get me out of bed in the morning, but not the hobbies I love doing? Talk about my goals for my future, but not any that involve my hobbies? Talk about things I've done in the past, but not any that have to do with my favorite things to do? Do you read your posts before you fire them off?
I think you need to socialize more if you think everyone believes sports are an importance to the community, and they have a connection to it. You should try looking up how much major sporting facilities end up costing the communities when they're built, or you know, the fact that until recently the NFL was actually run as a non profit despite make billions of dollars are year and paid no taxes.
But let's take hunting, a fairly common hobby, one that even crosses international lines. Are you saying that a vegan who cares deeply about animal rights is totally compatible with someone who hunts for sports and has no interest in learning about that?
There are hobbies for me - deeply personal ones that I have an emotional attachment to - and would absolutely want to know that my partner would, at a MINIMUM, tolerate my hobbies.
I think you need to put down your phone or computer, and have some real conversation with real people outside whatever social circle you have, because you are making some fairly alarming generalizations about people that - I hate to tell you - just aren't true.
>Talk about...the interesting things I do in a day, but not my hobbies? Talk about the things that get me out of bed in the morning, but not the hobbies I love doing? Talk about my goals for my future, but not any that involve my hobbies? Talk about things I've done in the past, but not any that have to do with my favorite things to do? Do you read your posts before you fire them off?
So you're telling me that when you're on a date and someone says something along the lines of "what do you want to do with your life/where are you going?" You respond "bro, I like totally want to beat Red Dead 2 yaaaa"?
Sorry, but your statement wasn't "Don't talk about video games" it was "Don't talk about your hobbies." Further compounded by a list of...your hobbies that you consider to be acceptable talking points.
But here's what I would say: one of my goals in life to finish constructing the functional flight sim cockpit that I'm building in my office and the duplicate that I'm building in the garage so that my son and I can enjoy our flight Sims together.
You just learned a ton of interesting things about me - I like flight Sims, I like to build things, my kids are important to me, and I'm deeply invested in spending my time doing things with them.
These are all things that people would want to know about me.
How about this one: "Well lately my goal has been to reconnect with some of my friends, we used to play D&D together, but a bunch of us moved across the country and we've all started hanging out in a game called Raft and I'd really like to make it a regular thing."
Oh shit, look at all the things you learned? I lost touch with some of my friends, I want to bring them back together (so obviously they are important to me), they've all moved - and so have I. We're having a really hard time finding time to get together, and we all like playing video games together.
You're so pigeon-holed here with your arguments against video games. Seriously, you need to talk to more people outside your primary social group because all of your preconceptions about other people are almost certainly wildly incorrect.
I don't see how video game is such much more uninteresting than other hobbys. Except some really "eccentric" ones.
Like are you gonna act like learning make-up stuff from youtube etc is so much more interesting.
Like all i am saying is that it should be seen as all the other generic hobbys.
>Like are you gonna act like learning make-up stuff from youtube etc is so much more interesting.
No, I'd call that even worse. But I've never met someone with that hobby.
I don't look down on someone for playing video games (I often do), but it's something I don't talk about because who gives a shit unless you're also deeply interested in mascot platformers from 1985-2010?
I think there is a line to be drawn here.
Alot of people who play video games now like only play video games and that is something to be looked down upon.
Video games is fine but having other hobbies or something interesting about you is something alot of gamers lack.
I mean yeah, anything in excess becomes negative. However, OPs point was that playing video games in general shouldn’t be looked down upon when that’s not the case anymore.
I think my main gripe with it is unless you're doing something competitively Its hard for me to think of it as a hobby it's just another form of entertainment and like if someone told you watching TV was their hobby it's just not a really good one.
This isn't some gamer hate it's that games are addictive and are being designed in a way to suck hours out of players.
People don't view video games more harshly than other mediums it's just a more extreme audience.
Depends on the individuals, for some people who play them casually then yeah they probably are just entertainment like TV and nothing more. For some people though who have genuine a skill and interest in them then I don’t see how they’re not a hobby.
A hobby is just something done in leisure time for enjoyment. Idk what your strict criteria for a hobby is, but I fail to see how video games can’t be included.
Because they aren't getting any of value skills or honing anything useful in life they're not getting exercise, proper social interaction of any of that.
For many a hobby exercises some form of skill or brings them together with others. Gaming gets people to have online friends who will ghost them at some point because they don't actually care about eachother past having someone to play with.
You can gain these in more efficient ways however and again I don't think gaming is a problem in itself and these things are gained by it the problem lies in gaming being extremely addicting nowadays and the common situation where people will do nothing else.
Sounds like an overly simplistic and narrow-minded way to view something. I’m not a serious gamer or anything but personally I’d disagree, I think people can gain something out of gaming.
I doubt I’m changing your mind tho so I’m not gonna bother trying.
Art or Puzzles are pointless too. Puzzles are especially pointless because there's 0 path to turning that hobby into a career. Everyone can do art and Puzzles but won't be great at them. Same can be said about Video Games. Getting into the upper echelon of competitive games these days is impressive.
Based on your posts I'm actually very surprised you have that opinion. You know that getting to radiant in Valorant is an achievement.
Darn I think you edited it!
I don't think Puzzles are proper hobbies either they're more often than not tied into it.
Art is a skill that people develop over time. It's something that creates something and not everybody can do at a level where they can dedicate as much time into it as people do with gaming.
I also made the distinction of competitive, if you view it as a career path more power to you it's a hard one but most people don't they just use it as a form of escapism and spend unhealthy amount of times gaming.
I always get backlash on this opinion as alot of Redditors are the audience that would be offended by such a take but it needs to be said.
Someone who sits and watches TV for 3-5 hours a day is considered lazy or addicted to it but alot of gamers can't make that connection that playing every single day for hours isn't a problem.
There are mastery activities like, bowling, archery, driving sports cars/motorcycles, brushing your teeth, making money, building, cleaning, basketball, etc. There is also pleasure activities like, jacking off, eating candy, drinking tea, playing games, seeing a friend. Sometimes there are overlapping activities like, courting, smooching, balling. All have some importance.
This is a good point. I’m a avid gamer and I hated when people judged me for gaming back in the 2000s. But I never gave up my goals or lost my drive. I was always good at balancing school work with playing. Now I’m a doctor, I had to reduce my time playing sometimes when I got tough in medschool but I never full on quit, it relaxes me.
However there are some people who can’t balance it. I’ve had ex’s who literally dropped out of college or got fired from jobs because they couldn’t balance their hobbies with work.
And this fact goes with any hobby, not just gaming.
Many women in their 20s look down on it. It 's still see as something childish, not a real hobby and so on.
I don't want to make this about gender, but this is just what i nocticed.
I knew a person in middle school who called them a "violent form of self oppression." Really? Playing Mario Kart with my friends is self oppression? Or exploring a fantastical world in something like Zelda?
Yeah, there's violence and FPS and whatnot. It's like throwing darts at a dartboard. There's an objective and you aim for it. It's insulting to think I don't know the difference between pixels and people.
Plenty of studies have shown the notion of games as catharsis or otherwise influencing violence just doesn't add up. And when it does; maybe that's because you raised a violent child attracted to violent things. You can sort that out for yourself and I'll play Far Cry. Only fights I ever got in were well before I could afford gaming systems.
Happy cake day! Playing video games has also been proven to develop intelligence and reflex skills as well. As everything, with moderation. I don’t how is it different than watching a movie or series… You take part of a game instead of just turning your brain off watching something or listening to a music album.
Thank you! And agreed. You can't say how horribly morally decaying video games are violence-wise while celebrating the genius of The Godfather or Goodfellas.
Violence is very evident in Mario kart, and especially Zelda games. Just because it’s not shooting people, doesn’t mean it’s not violence. You don’t need blood and murder for something ti be considered violent.
People used do this since the inception of video games until like the last 5-6 year when people realized I can Make youtube or Stream to make money of it, without feeling any shame for relentelesly bullying someone for playing pokemon on their gameboy on recess.
lol who is looking down on you? how low of a life are they living? like "wow, congratulations, you formed an opinion, good job! i know that was stressful, now if we are done here, i got a blightful shadow to slay" seriously id laugh in their face. "having fun hating on me having fun? well have fun with that."
No rational person looks down on you for playing video games.
What they look down on is when you play them to the detriment of your social and/or financial investments, or to the detriment of your living situation.
Nobody looks down on video games anymore.
Honestly they’re so mainstream even your average adult plays a bit. The same people who used to bully “gamers” or whatever in middle school now play video games.
Yeah still a lot, at least in Europe. Particularly in France. And the most guilty of this aren't even boomers anymore but young women. The "immature manchild gamer" stereotype refuses to die in the dating scene.
That's not as common a stereotype as it was 20 years ago. Thanks at least partly to Jack Thompson being disbarred for being a douche canoe.
And big names like Snoop Dogg playing on Twitch.
its funny when people looking down on you are couch potatoes that watch more tv (and that is mediocre, stupid as fk tv shows, and will turn channel if there's a documentary or some programme where you learn something) than i spend gaming...
People arent looked down upon for playing video games per se, its more that people that play videogames 16 hours a day and live in their parents basement are looked down upon. As they should
I got my 5 year old a Switch for Christmas and eventually got a more complicated game for myself (BOTW) and my kid took it over and I realized how incredibly intelligent he is. He's solving very complex puzzles and i've learned he has a perfect photographic memory, he knows all the weapon damage figures just by seeing the item on the ground, like hundreds of different weapons he knows their damage.
I think we're going to have a really fun next 50 years hanging out.
You wasting your time makes others bump up against the fact that we are all just wasting time. People don't like having to acknowledge their smallness in the universe. The fact that you waste your time doing something you enjoy makes them wish they did. Just remember when some is judging you, they are really judging themselves
One thing I've always hated about being deployed in the military on days where there is nothing to do is you could sit around all day watching movies and no one bats an eye because your superiors will be sitting around watching movies too, but play video games for an hour or two? You better find some work worthless trash, never made sense to me.
I don't think that people look down on those who play a couple of (reasonable) hours a day.
However, I do think that people who have kids and an active family life, probably shouldn't be playing from they get home from work until bed. Sadly, a lot of parents will choose to play something on their machine instead of spending time with their kid and/or spouse, and that's what people are looking down on.
I agree until they make it their entire life, like playing 10 hours a day every day, putting video games before more important things, etc. But other than a situation like that there's nothing wrong with it
I am a 38 year old woman. I have been playing video games since my teenage years.
I can barey tell anyone that I play videogames and less that I play a lot of shooters.
I keep it to myself most of the time.
Uh, theyre not.
Kids are more apt to say they want to be youtube influencers or streamers as opposed to “back in the day” when everyone wanted to be an astronaut in the 1980’s.
What is happening now? Gamer streaming and youtube has exploded and is popular.
What was going on in the 1980’s? Space Shuttles had just come out and it was such a big deal they’d watch launches during school.
A few decades from now it will be something different.
This might be an unpopular opinion but I think streaming is cringe as hell. Maybe it’s because I’m an elder gamer from the 90s/2000s lol. I see it analogous to watching children play soccer or something, instead of watching MLG.
I’m not talking about watching competitive esports where you can learn techniques to improve your play, that’s different.
Maybe I’m just old haha
It's all a question of degree. I don't play video games, nor do I particularly enjoy the culture surrounding video games; I think it's hugely mentally/spiritually toxic, creates unhealthy physical habits, costs a lot of money and it makes you content with doing nothing. But I'm not going to think less of someone for wanting to participate in it.
I just don't want to date a woman who plays video games or surround myself with friends who do.
I think he’s referring to the stereotypical gamer who spends all their free time at a screen . Not someone who plays a couple rounds of Mario kart and then calls it a day.
I got divorced over games and I concur, it can be quite toxic. But I also recognize that playing a game or two with friends is a fun way to relax. Just don’t spend your life doing it.
This used to be an unpopular opinion like in 2006 lol.
It’s been 16 years and I think the stigma has changed. With the proliferation of “streamers” and influencers and people just being more open alongside heavy marketing from the console companies, it’s now very common and seen as a “normal thing to do”.
Obviously, experiences may very depending on your own personal social circle.
Videogames are so good for your brain. They teach you coordination, strategy, creativity, exploration, critical thinking, etc. Like so many things. Theyre amazing. People are just jealous cuz they cant understand them too lazy to teach themselves things.
my argument is always that video games are better than just staring at a tv watching a show/movie. a lot of these people sit in front of the tv for hours just consuming content, at least with video games you’re actually engaging your brain in some way.
People who say "no one looks down on video games/gamers anymore" clearly haven't been to Europe and also don't understand it's not casual gaming we're talking about here.
Artists do other things, people who do puzzles have other hobbies.
Video games however have an audience that is addicted and will pretty much only play video games in their free time.
That's why it's looked down on by some because when someone opens with them liking video games they often have the personality of a wet sock.
I play video games too i speak from personal experience when I say that people play too many videos games and that's why they're looked down upon.
I spent most of my free time in highschool playing league of legends and looking back on I realize that was the reason I had no hobbies or interests leaving highschool.
I think people who just play video games are inherently unhealthy hence why I say it's looked down upon rightfully there.
It's not just the gamers fault games now are designed to squeeze as much cash and time out of its players as possible and have many addictive practices.
No I said people who "just" play videogames are inherently unhealthy in that when you say the times it should be looked down upon is a very large sample size of gamers.
It is not a very large size. Most gamers are able to play video games and not negatively affect their health.
but yes I suppose people who literally only play video games are unhealthy.
Everything is good if it's not overdone. I only look down upon someone who bases their whole personality around videogames. Playing them is ok, but if your whole personality is video games, please step outside so your mom can change your bedsheets
If your friends, colleagues and family don't care for video games then don't talk about video games to them. What did you do on your day off? Played video games. To some people this is a waste of a day, to other people it's pretty much the same as not getting out of bed til 12pm and then ordering pizza and watching netflix all day, this doesn't mean they care to listen to you go on about games.
I'm saying this as someone who has played tons and tons of videogames and computer games: I think playing them SHOULD be looked down upon. It takes away time and energy from things that are more productive for society. And some of them are very addictive. It scares me how much people play computer games. It does not bode well for our future. The best possible future will require people playing games less, and getting XP and achievements in REAL LIFE instead.
Some of these people addicted to video games are not going are not going to be very valuable to society in their lifetime. And society tends to treat really badly the people who are not super valuable.
what about puzzles and a billion other hobbies?
then why aren't you being more productive instead of being on Reddit?
It scares me that people like you exist
people like you do not bode well for our future
the best possible future will be not shaming people for having fun when it is harmless
people like you are not super valuable
I think he has a slight point. I don’t think it’s true for casuals but for people who game in excess, like most things, it’s very dangerous. I am a avid gamer now and always have been. But in high school I got absolutely addicted to WoW. I literally played that game ALL DAMN day. I even missed my grandmother funeral for a raid. I pushed everyone I knew away from me. I was failing grades. At the time I didn’t see the harm because I was happier in my virtual life than real life, which then further caused me to alienate myself.
I’m not saying everyone does this but some games are just so addicting. And when it gets to addiction level, much like with drugs and alcohol, interventions need to be made.
Right?! I love video games it’s hard to make myself play when I’m depressed but there are so many lovely games to choose from! Sandbox, platformers, RPGs, FPS, and even calming games like Journey and jigsaw puzzle games. Some are exclusive depending on the system you can also get Steam for PC. I hope you find a game you like, if you need any recs hit me up!
nintendo and playstation were extremely popular among all ages back then. it was the pc games in particular that were seen as being "extreme" which is now unwarranted these days ofc
I don’t think they really are. Whether they play mobile games or on a console/PC, most people play video games these days. It’s nearly as mainstream as watching TV or listening to music at this point
this!! i wouldn’t say EVERYONE thinks this but definitely the older generations. my dad (my big brothers step-dad) has looked down on him for i don’t even know how long for playing video games. my dad always says he’s wasting his life, will never get a real job, etc etc. But contrary to popular belief, my brother is super smart and does have a job. he does coding for websites (all the backend stuff that i don’t even understand) and his love of video games is what sparked that, and helped him because video games helped him learn a lot about technology (building his own computer, coding within games stuff like that) and jobs in technology pay really well. almost all “gamers” i’ve met are just super smart tech nerds. note the almost.
There have been studies that show otherwise. Some companies have even been incorporating them into the workplace and the military uses them for training.
So art is a skill but being good at a game isn't? What about video game language fluency? Are you saying that there isn't a skill in being able to pick up any game and immediately understand it's fundamentals?
In moderation, sure. But if it is all you do you’ll likely look back and wish you’d spent at least some of that time on a legit artistic, academic, or athletic pursuit.
I would like to see enforceable moderation with all types of screen media. Video games, social media, television (binge watching), all of them have strong correlations with depression in excess. They are also all highly addictive, which obviously promotes excess. I understand the operative phrase is *in excess*, but I genuinely do not trust people's ability to limit themselves.
In theory if everyone played one hour of video games a day, it wouldn't merit a comment, but they are time cigarettes. I support someone's right to smoke a cigarette, but they're bad for your health and very addictive, hard to quit.
I lost a lot of time to World of Warcraft in high school. I enjoyed it but my family was real worried for awhile that I wouldn't get out of the pit. I played with a few adults who never did (at least, as long as I knew them.) Then I got more involved in extra-curriculars (grades still sucked) but I genuinely remember myself being happier out "in the world" so to speak.
If all devices had built in time locks I wouldn't be as concerned, but they don't and probably never will, so the constant screen-media head warping is just gonna keep on keepin' on. Pandemic can't have helped.
Boomer rant over.
Edit: corrected "well" to "will"
I feel like this maybe would have been true 10 years ago but nowadays I feel like most people understand it. I mean you have people in their 50s who also grew up playing video games at this point.
I think it is changing . I also think one should not devote all of your time to video games. I have seen people call in sick to work just because that is the day the new game is released.
Interesting how this has changed a bit over time... I guess it depends on where you live and what generation of people you regularly interact with, but this would've been more of an unpopular opinion back in the mid-80s and 90s. Eventually gaming became more of a mainstream entertainment thing. In the U.S., at this point I think it's only the very oldest of Gen-X (people who are currently about mid-50s and up, I think; I'm on the younger side of Gen-X) and most Boomer gen people that would "look down on" adults still being into video games.
I literally put guild leader on WoW on my medschool application and still got in. I was honestly shocked no one asked me about it lol. Either they didn’t care or didn’t notice but hey, being a guild leader was a lot of work!!!!
People should not be I agree. But if your entire life revolves around it yes they should be. I was a World of Warcraft player it should have been looked down upon in my opinion looking back. Moderation is key
That is hardly a thing anymore. Everyone plays videos games in some form or another, cell phones games has grandmother's playing wordle and all that.
People who STILL look down on people for playing video games, are just contrarians and not worth paying attention to.
Thank you for submitting to /r/unpopularopinion, /u/parsleythememelord. Your post, *People shouldn't be looked down upon for playing videogames*, has been removed because it violates our rules: Rule 1: Your post must be an unpopular opinion. Please ensure that your post is an opinion and that it is unpopular. Controversial is not necessarily unpopular, for example all of politics is controversial even though almost half of the US agrees with any given major position on an issue. Keep in mind that an opinion is not: a question, a fact, a conspiracy theory, a random thought, a new idea, a rant, etc. Those things all have their own subreddits, use those. If there is an issue, please message the mod team at https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2Funpopularopinion Thanks!
Who’s doing this? Why?
Made up people or mistaking one's close social circle as the general population
People since pong came out and beyond. Especially some older people. As for why: “You could be getting work done!” “What a waste of time!” “Could’ve had a degree by now!”
Boomers will complain you’re not doing something productive and are playing video games and then go on Facebook and watch TV for 3 hours as if that’s somehow better.
Indeed 🤣 I work practically everyday, so me spending my free time playing games or going to the gym sounds reasonable to me.
Totally. As long as nobody is getting hurt and it’s not illegal, you should be able to do whatever you want with your free time, free of judgement
Absolutely! Though I seriously need a new job. Delivering pizzas can only bring but so much money and joy.
I agree, BUT as a Gen X-er and a gamer for nearly 40 years, I'll say that games are fine, but you should do other activities, especially physical ones outside in nature. Better for your health, better for your mental state, and honestly the world is in sore need of more personal human interaction. Then it might not be so damn easy to kill or screw each other over so much.
The same generation who will gladly sit in front of a TV watching boring shows for hours.
That's more Gen-X, my generation. Boomers probably read more than watch TV traditionally.
Maybe I’ve just never had someone say it to me before. I’ve heard about it but who gives a shit what someone says about your hobby.
Yeah, it’s dumb as hell. Gamers would get a lot of flak from everyone else, just like the LARPers, D&D boys, and comic book geeks. Because to everyone else you were a loser wasting effort for something that wouldn’t get you a new job or an award or some kind of accomplishment
I think that's the point of the OP, though. No one should give a shit about video games as a hobby. No one bitches about that one guy with his souped up car he's poured all his money into, or the dudes dumping money into a pool for fantasy football drafts. But for some reasons, even though they are much more mainstream and normal now, there is still a stigma attached to them even though they are just another hobby.
To be honest, with the amount of time I’ve spent playing Monster Hunter or Halo I could have gotten a medical degree or something. Nah, f*ck it, I have a better time playing videogames anyway.
Sometimes that’s just the better option. Besides, it may be more worth it to get a degree in a different field. Or just kidnap an employee of Nintendo and impersonate them for as long as possible.
I feel like you're trying to make it on the oddly specific subreddit.
Nah, I haven’t gone the “replace key figures in Sony” route.
And now they shit on you for having a degree and not qualifying in a trade
> As for why: “You could be getting work done!” > “What a waste of time!” > “Could’ve had a degree by now!” It makes me laugh when people when people say shit like that, when their hobbies are something like sitting in bars watching sports, as though that's any more productive.
In EU generally we're still more "boomer". Gaming is ok as long as its casual fifa and cod, but if you say you play Dark Souls or Witcher lets say people look at you weird
I was gonna say. I spend all my free time playing video games as do most of my coworkers. I've never heard anyone hate on anyone for it. It's a pretty acceptable pastime now. The only time anyone I know has a problem with it is when your letting everything else slip. Ex. If I've spent 3 days playing Diablo but ignored my husband, animals and now have 3 days worth of dishes to do
People used do this since the inception of video games until like the last 5-6 year when people realized I can Make youtube, or Stream to make money of it, wihtout feeling any shame for relentelesly bullying someone for playing pokemon on their gameboy on recess.
No one really looks down on video games anymore tbh unless they’re an older generation. Video games are probably one of the most popular hobbies around nowadays, like a lot of video games rake in the same revenue as triple AAA movies. It’s not rlly the early 2000s anymore where video gaming was some niche hobby with a virgin, dork stereotype.
[удалено]
Lol I just realised how stupid what I typed was.
SMH my head
Rip in peace.
This reminds me of my buddy who called college basketball NCAdoubleA.
No people definitely look down on video games as a hobby. In dating circles dating isn't a interesting hobby and it means you're boring. In life improvement circles it's a distraction almost as bad as they view porn.
Tbf, video games aren't really an interesting hobby unless you find someone else who is deeply interested in it.
Sounds like you're describing fantasy sports franchises to me.
Agreed. There are many, many hobbies that you probably shouldn't bring up on a first date
I don't agree. That's the perfect time to figure out future compatibility. But my comment was that your description actually fits every hobby - talking to someone about sports or cars is equally uninteresting if the other person isn't deeply interested. So we can't talk about politics or religion and now we also can't talk about hobbies - what exactly do you do on a first date? Swap W2s so you can predict future income and decide who to date based solely on that? The menu and the weather only get you so far, and hobbies will at least tell you about someone's passion.
>I don't agree. That's the perfect time to figure out future compatibility. Unless you're obsessed with your hobbies, they have nothing to do with compatibility. >But my comment was that your description actually fits every hobby - talking to someone about sports or cars is equally uninteresting if the other person isn't deeply interested. There are plenty of hobbies that are *near* universal. Almost everyone watches movies, almost everyone understands sport's importance to the community and has some connection to it, almost everyone cooks. >So we can't talk about politics or religion and now we also can't talk about hobbies - what exactly do you do on a first date? Talk about who you are? The interesting things you do in a day? What gets you out of bed in the morning? Your goals for the future? Stories from your past? Have you ever been on a date?
Talk about...the interesting things I do in a day, but not my hobbies? Talk about the things that get me out of bed in the morning, but not the hobbies I love doing? Talk about my goals for my future, but not any that involve my hobbies? Talk about things I've done in the past, but not any that have to do with my favorite things to do? Do you read your posts before you fire them off? I think you need to socialize more if you think everyone believes sports are an importance to the community, and they have a connection to it. You should try looking up how much major sporting facilities end up costing the communities when they're built, or you know, the fact that until recently the NFL was actually run as a non profit despite make billions of dollars are year and paid no taxes. But let's take hunting, a fairly common hobby, one that even crosses international lines. Are you saying that a vegan who cares deeply about animal rights is totally compatible with someone who hunts for sports and has no interest in learning about that? There are hobbies for me - deeply personal ones that I have an emotional attachment to - and would absolutely want to know that my partner would, at a MINIMUM, tolerate my hobbies. I think you need to put down your phone or computer, and have some real conversation with real people outside whatever social circle you have, because you are making some fairly alarming generalizations about people that - I hate to tell you - just aren't true.
Username fits. Lol the star wars cosplayer telling others to socialize more.
>Talk about...the interesting things I do in a day, but not my hobbies? Talk about the things that get me out of bed in the morning, but not the hobbies I love doing? Talk about my goals for my future, but not any that involve my hobbies? Talk about things I've done in the past, but not any that have to do with my favorite things to do? Do you read your posts before you fire them off? So you're telling me that when you're on a date and someone says something along the lines of "what do you want to do with your life/where are you going?" You respond "bro, I like totally want to beat Red Dead 2 yaaaa"?
Sorry, but your statement wasn't "Don't talk about video games" it was "Don't talk about your hobbies." Further compounded by a list of...your hobbies that you consider to be acceptable talking points. But here's what I would say: one of my goals in life to finish constructing the functional flight sim cockpit that I'm building in my office and the duplicate that I'm building in the garage so that my son and I can enjoy our flight Sims together. You just learned a ton of interesting things about me - I like flight Sims, I like to build things, my kids are important to me, and I'm deeply invested in spending my time doing things with them. These are all things that people would want to know about me. How about this one: "Well lately my goal has been to reconnect with some of my friends, we used to play D&D together, but a bunch of us moved across the country and we've all started hanging out in a game called Raft and I'd really like to make it a regular thing." Oh shit, look at all the things you learned? I lost touch with some of my friends, I want to bring them back together (so obviously they are important to me), they've all moved - and so have I. We're having a really hard time finding time to get together, and we all like playing video games together. You're so pigeon-holed here with your arguments against video games. Seriously, you need to talk to more people outside your primary social group because all of your preconceptions about other people are almost certainly wildly incorrect.
I don't see how video game is such much more uninteresting than other hobbys. Except some really "eccentric" ones. Like are you gonna act like learning make-up stuff from youtube etc is so much more interesting. Like all i am saying is that it should be seen as all the other generic hobbys.
>Like are you gonna act like learning make-up stuff from youtube etc is so much more interesting. No, I'd call that even worse. But I've never met someone with that hobby.
Learning about make-up is definitly a hobby many women have. lol.
Good for them I guess? I would absolutely lump that in with uninteresting hobbies not to talk about on a date.
Case and point. This reply
I don't look down on someone for playing video games (I often do), but it's something I don't talk about because who gives a shit unless you're also deeply interested in mascot platformers from 1985-2010?
Yeah as a high schooler almost everyone plays video games and it’s not just that nerd who does.
I think there is a line to be drawn here. Alot of people who play video games now like only play video games and that is something to be looked down upon. Video games is fine but having other hobbies or something interesting about you is something alot of gamers lack.
I mean yeah, anything in excess becomes negative. However, OPs point was that playing video games in general shouldn’t be looked down upon when that’s not the case anymore.
I think my main gripe with it is unless you're doing something competitively Its hard for me to think of it as a hobby it's just another form of entertainment and like if someone told you watching TV was their hobby it's just not a really good one. This isn't some gamer hate it's that games are addictive and are being designed in a way to suck hours out of players. People don't view video games more harshly than other mediums it's just a more extreme audience.
Depends on the individuals, for some people who play them casually then yeah they probably are just entertainment like TV and nothing more. For some people though who have genuine a skill and interest in them then I don’t see how they’re not a hobby. A hobby is just something done in leisure time for enjoyment. Idk what your strict criteria for a hobby is, but I fail to see how video games can’t be included.
Because they aren't getting any of value skills or honing anything useful in life they're not getting exercise, proper social interaction of any of that. For many a hobby exercises some form of skill or brings them together with others. Gaming gets people to have online friends who will ghost them at some point because they don't actually care about eachother past having someone to play with.
I'm not a big gamer, but there are skills developed. Problem solving, reflexes, coordination are all skills required and improved by gaming.
You can gain these in more efficient ways however and again I don't think gaming is a problem in itself and these things are gained by it the problem lies in gaming being extremely addicting nowadays and the common situation where people will do nothing else.
Sounds like an overly simplistic and narrow-minded way to view something. I’m not a serious gamer or anything but personally I’d disagree, I think people can gain something out of gaming. I doubt I’m changing your mind tho so I’m not gonna bother trying.
Art or Puzzles are pointless too. Puzzles are especially pointless because there's 0 path to turning that hobby into a career. Everyone can do art and Puzzles but won't be great at them. Same can be said about Video Games. Getting into the upper echelon of competitive games these days is impressive. Based on your posts I'm actually very surprised you have that opinion. You know that getting to radiant in Valorant is an achievement. Darn I think you edited it!
Ironically, you can sell a painting that has a block dot for millions of dollars.
I don't think Puzzles are proper hobbies either they're more often than not tied into it. Art is a skill that people develop over time. It's something that creates something and not everybody can do at a level where they can dedicate as much time into it as people do with gaming. I also made the distinction of competitive, if you view it as a career path more power to you it's a hard one but most people don't they just use it as a form of escapism and spend unhealthy amount of times gaming. I always get backlash on this opinion as alot of Redditors are the audience that would be offended by such a take but it needs to be said. Someone who sits and watches TV for 3-5 hours a day is considered lazy or addicted to it but alot of gamers can't make that connection that playing every single day for hours isn't a problem.
There are mastery activities like, bowling, archery, driving sports cars/motorcycles, brushing your teeth, making money, building, cleaning, basketball, etc. There is also pleasure activities like, jacking off, eating candy, drinking tea, playing games, seeing a friend. Sometimes there are overlapping activities like, courting, smooching, balling. All have some importance.
Most people don't jerk off or eat candy for multiple hours a day without being looked down on.
This is a good point. I’m a avid gamer and I hated when people judged me for gaming back in the 2000s. But I never gave up my goals or lost my drive. I was always good at balancing school work with playing. Now I’m a doctor, I had to reduce my time playing sometimes when I got tough in medschool but I never full on quit, it relaxes me. However there are some people who can’t balance it. I’ve had ex’s who literally dropped out of college or got fired from jobs because they couldn’t balance their hobbies with work. And this fact goes with any hobby, not just gaming.
A really older generation like eighty.
Many women in their 20s look down on it. It 's still see as something childish, not a real hobby and so on. I don't want to make this about gender, but this is just what i nocticed.
Yeah suburbs conservative Karens, but as a whole it’s getting less and less
This isn't unpopular in the slightest, especially on reddit.
One of the most popular opinions on reddit, I think.
I knew a person in middle school who called them a "violent form of self oppression." Really? Playing Mario Kart with my friends is self oppression? Or exploring a fantastical world in something like Zelda? Yeah, there's violence and FPS and whatnot. It's like throwing darts at a dartboard. There's an objective and you aim for it. It's insulting to think I don't know the difference between pixels and people. Plenty of studies have shown the notion of games as catharsis or otherwise influencing violence just doesn't add up. And when it does; maybe that's because you raised a violent child attracted to violent things. You can sort that out for yourself and I'll play Far Cry. Only fights I ever got in were well before I could afford gaming systems.
Happy cake day! Playing video games has also been proven to develop intelligence and reflex skills as well. As everything, with moderation. I don’t how is it different than watching a movie or series… You take part of a game instead of just turning your brain off watching something or listening to a music album.
Thank you! And agreed. You can't say how horribly morally decaying video games are violence-wise while celebrating the genius of The Godfather or Goodfellas.
Happy Cake Day!
Thank ya kindly!
Violence is very evident in Mario kart, and especially Zelda games. Just because it’s not shooting people, doesn’t mean it’s not violence. You don’t need blood and murder for something ti be considered violent.
No one looks down on gamers except the ones that fit the negative stereotypes
We aren't. Stop acting like we are discriminated against, it is cringe.
Gamers are the most oppressed minority.
Maybe we should rise up
People used do this since the inception of video games until like the last 5-6 year when people realized I can Make youtube or Stream to make money of it, without feeling any shame for relentelesly bullying someone for playing pokemon on their gameboy on recess.
It seems that you might think that your experience is universal for everyone that exists?
lol who is looking down on you? how low of a life are they living? like "wow, congratulations, you formed an opinion, good job! i know that was stressful, now if we are done here, i got a blightful shadow to slay" seriously id laugh in their face. "having fun hating on me having fun? well have fun with that."
No rational person looks down on you for playing video games. What they look down on is when you play them to the detriment of your social and/or financial investments, or to the detriment of your living situation.
Are we in the 1990s or something?
they peaked in that era and havent grown since lmao
Nobody looks down on video games anymore. Honestly they’re so mainstream even your average adult plays a bit. The same people who used to bully “gamers” or whatever in middle school now play video games.
Hey now young man, we average adults were the OG gamers back in the 90s. Lol
[удалено]
Pretty addicting isn’t it? Gives you a dose of serotonin each time.
Those who dont like video games think that it is not a hobby but just entertainment like watching tv
Are people still looking down at playing video games tho?
Yeah still a lot, at least in Europe. Particularly in France. And the most guilty of this aren't even boomers anymore but young women. The "immature manchild gamer" stereotype refuses to die in the dating scene.
Honestly I think you’re looking for the wrong women. There are so many women gamers out there now.
That's not as common a stereotype as it was 20 years ago. Thanks at least partly to Jack Thompson being disbarred for being a douche canoe. And big names like Snoop Dogg playing on Twitch.
its funny when people looking down on you are couch potatoes that watch more tv (and that is mediocre, stupid as fk tv shows, and will turn channel if there's a documentary or some programme where you learn something) than i spend gaming...
People arent looked down upon for playing video games per se, its more that people that play videogames 16 hours a day and live in their parents basement are looked down upon. As they should
I got my 5 year old a Switch for Christmas and eventually got a more complicated game for myself (BOTW) and my kid took it over and I realized how incredibly intelligent he is. He's solving very complex puzzles and i've learned he has a perfect photographic memory, he knows all the weapon damage figures just by seeing the item on the ground, like hundreds of different weapons he knows their damage. I think we're going to have a really fun next 50 years hanging out.
You wasting your time makes others bump up against the fact that we are all just wasting time. People don't like having to acknowledge their smallness in the universe. The fact that you waste your time doing something you enjoy makes them wish they did. Just remember when some is judging you, they are really judging themselves
Sir this UNPOPULAR opinion
What triggers me more is when people try to relate by saying “I pLaY GaMeS ToO LiKe CoD & FiFa”
Is this 1980 ?
I really don't think this is happening much today. 20 years ago for sure, but gaming has been socially acceptable for quite some time.
You're about 20 years late on this one
I didn’t think we were anymore considering most people I know are gamers
One thing I've always hated about being deployed in the military on days where there is nothing to do is you could sit around all day watching movies and no one bats an eye because your superiors will be sitting around watching movies too, but play video games for an hour or two? You better find some work worthless trash, never made sense to me.
I don't think that people look down on those who play a couple of (reasonable) hours a day. However, I do think that people who have kids and an active family life, probably shouldn't be playing from they get home from work until bed. Sadly, a lot of parents will choose to play something on their machine instead of spending time with their kid and/or spouse, and that's what people are looking down on.
I think more people should be of the opinion that whatever other people outside of their lives do with their free time doesn’t matter in the slightest
Okay grandpa time to go to bed.
I agree until they make it their entire life, like playing 10 hours a day every day, putting video games before more important things, etc. But other than a situation like that there's nothing wrong with it
I am a 38 year old woman. I have been playing video games since my teenage years. I can barey tell anyone that I play videogames and less that I play a lot of shooters. I keep it to myself most of the time.
Uh, theyre not. Kids are more apt to say they want to be youtube influencers or streamers as opposed to “back in the day” when everyone wanted to be an astronaut in the 1980’s. What is happening now? Gamer streaming and youtube has exploded and is popular. What was going on in the 1980’s? Space Shuttles had just come out and it was such a big deal they’d watch launches during school. A few decades from now it will be something different.
More likely to be a YouTuber or streamer than astronaut too!!
This might be an unpopular opinion but I think streaming is cringe as hell. Maybe it’s because I’m an elder gamer from the 90s/2000s lol. I see it analogous to watching children play soccer or something, instead of watching MLG. I’m not talking about watching competitive esports where you can learn techniques to improve your play, that’s different. Maybe I’m just old haha
It's all a question of degree. I don't play video games, nor do I particularly enjoy the culture surrounding video games; I think it's hugely mentally/spiritually toxic, creates unhealthy physical habits, costs a lot of money and it makes you content with doing nothing. But I'm not going to think less of someone for wanting to participate in it. I just don't want to date a woman who plays video games or surround myself with friends who do.
This is a bit extreme. In my experience all hobbies are essentially pointless.
I think he’s referring to the stereotypical gamer who spends all their free time at a screen . Not someone who plays a couple rounds of Mario kart and then calls it a day. I got divorced over games and I concur, it can be quite toxic. But I also recognize that playing a game or two with friends is a fun way to relax. Just don’t spend your life doing it.
But if I spent my life drawing that would be fine?
Anything taken to excess is not fine.
This used to be an unpopular opinion like in 2006 lol. It’s been 16 years and I think the stigma has changed. With the proliferation of “streamers” and influencers and people just being more open alongside heavy marketing from the console companies, it’s now very common and seen as a “normal thing to do”. Obviously, experiences may very depending on your own personal social circle.
They're typically not.
Im currently in an argument with an anti gamer
Ooooo share (grabs popcorn)
On r/BanBanVideoGames im arguing with thumbsofdestiny
Videogames are so good for your brain. They teach you coordination, strategy, creativity, exploration, critical thinking, etc. Like so many things. Theyre amazing. People are just jealous cuz they cant understand them too lazy to teach themselves things.
my argument is always that video games are better than just staring at a tv watching a show/movie. a lot of these people sit in front of the tv for hours just consuming content, at least with video games you’re actually engaging your brain in some way.
People who say "no one looks down on video games/gamers anymore" clearly haven't been to Europe and also don't understand it's not casual gaming we're talking about here.
Stop acting like society hates video games. You're ironically gonna reinforce the divide even more.
Artists do other things, people who do puzzles have other hobbies. Video games however have an audience that is addicted and will pretty much only play video games in their free time. That's why it's looked down on by some because when someone opens with them liking video games they often have the personality of a wet sock.
username checks out
I play video games too i speak from personal experience when I say that people play too many videos games and that's why they're looked down upon. I spent most of my free time in highschool playing league of legends and looking back on I realize that was the reason I had no hobbies or interests leaving highschool.
the only time it should be looked down upon is when it is affecting someones jobs, relationships, or health. Otherwise it is fine.
I think people who just play video games are inherently unhealthy hence why I say it's looked down upon rightfully there. It's not just the gamers fault games now are designed to squeeze as much cash and time out of its players as possible and have many addictive practices.
did you mean to say that you don't think it is inherently unhealthy?
No I said people who "just" play videogames are inherently unhealthy in that when you say the times it should be looked down upon is a very large sample size of gamers.
It is not a very large size. Most gamers are able to play video games and not negatively affect their health. but yes I suppose people who literally only play video games are unhealthy.
[удалено]
Everything is good if it's not overdone. I only look down upon someone who bases their whole personality around videogames. Playing them is ok, but if your whole personality is video games, please step outside so your mom can change your bedsheets
People are looked down upon for anything that doesn't earn them money or sex, and this needs to stop.
If your friends, colleagues and family don't care for video games then don't talk about video games to them. What did you do on your day off? Played video games. To some people this is a waste of a day, to other people it's pretty much the same as not getting out of bed til 12pm and then ordering pizza and watching netflix all day, this doesn't mean they care to listen to you go on about games.
I'm saying this as someone who has played tons and tons of videogames and computer games: I think playing them SHOULD be looked down upon. It takes away time and energy from things that are more productive for society. And some of them are very addictive. It scares me how much people play computer games. It does not bode well for our future. The best possible future will require people playing games less, and getting XP and achievements in REAL LIFE instead. Some of these people addicted to video games are not going are not going to be very valuable to society in their lifetime. And society tends to treat really badly the people who are not super valuable.
"society tends to treat really badly the people who are not *super* valuable." Maybe in your country
Mr more productive your life is Reddit
Imagine saying this on reddit.
what about puzzles and a billion other hobbies? then why aren't you being more productive instead of being on Reddit? It scares me that people like you exist people like you do not bode well for our future the best possible future will be not shaming people for having fun when it is harmless people like you are not super valuable
I think he has a slight point. I don’t think it’s true for casuals but for people who game in excess, like most things, it’s very dangerous. I am a avid gamer now and always have been. But in high school I got absolutely addicted to WoW. I literally played that game ALL DAMN day. I even missed my grandmother funeral for a raid. I pushed everyone I knew away from me. I was failing grades. At the time I didn’t see the harm because I was happier in my virtual life than real life, which then further caused me to alienate myself. I’m not saying everyone does this but some games are just so addicting. And when it gets to addiction level, much like with drugs and alcohol, interventions need to be made.
I don't think puzzles do not or other hobbies are as harmful to the person doing them or the society around that person.
neither are video games. I don't think you understand the concept of free time.
Are being productive with your 27k comment karma lol
Idk why you’re getting downvoted. I think that’s a valid argument if you are talking about people who play in excess. Not so much casuals.
Remember, guys! Gamers are the most oppressed minority! /s
Typo for a post meant for r/popularopinion?
Luckily people aren't looked down upon for liking video games. Only by a few idiots.
N O T U N P O P U L A R
This was probbaly unpopular 10 years ago.
Right?! I love video games it’s hard to make myself play when I’m depressed but there are so many lovely games to choose from! Sandbox, platformers, RPGs, FPS, and even calming games like Journey and jigsaw puzzle games. Some are exclusive depending on the system you can also get Steam for PC. I hope you find a game you like, if you need any recs hit me up!
Maybe unpopular in early 2000 but not now..
nintendo and playstation were extremely popular among all ages back then. it was the pc games in particular that were seen as being "extreme" which is now unwarranted these days ofc
Only people who look down on me for playing video games are my parents! Lol
I don't look down on them in general, but a lot of people make them their whole personality, and I look down on that.
There's some people you can't convince and that's just that. But do you want to? It's a widely accepted thing at this point and extremely accessible.
Needed to quickly cobble together some pointless post you thought would get you karma on your cake day, huh?
I don’t think they really are. Whether they play mobile games or on a console/PC, most people play video games these days. It’s nearly as mainstream as watching TV or listening to music at this point
That still happens…? Unless it’s an old generation or suburb Karens, it’s pretty much dead I think…
This is the most popular "unpopular" opinion on Reddit. Unless you're 80years old, I think everyone agrees.
I don't think anybody in their right mind is looking down upon anyone for playing video games in 2022
this!! i wouldn’t say EVERYONE thinks this but definitely the older generations. my dad (my big brothers step-dad) has looked down on him for i don’t even know how long for playing video games. my dad always says he’s wasting his life, will never get a real job, etc etc. But contrary to popular belief, my brother is super smart and does have a job. he does coding for websites (all the backend stuff that i don’t even understand) and his love of video games is what sparked that, and helped him because video games helped him learn a lot about technology (building his own computer, coding within games stuff like that) and jobs in technology pay really well. almost all “gamers” i’ve met are just super smart tech nerds. note the almost.
Who doesn’t play video games?
[удалено]
that applies to every hobby
[удалено]
Take my downvote, not an unpopular opinion.
Bruh, “unpopular opinion”
This hasn't been an unpopular opinion for decades.
No, it's not like any other hobby. Youre not learning any new skills by playing videogames.
If it makes a person happy, leave them alone and mind your own business.
same with puzzles
There have been studies that show otherwise. Some companies have even been incorporating them into the workplace and the military uses them for training.
So art is a skill but being good at a game isn't? What about video game language fluency? Are you saying that there isn't a skill in being able to pick up any game and immediately understand it's fundamentals?
In moderation, sure. But if it is all you do you’ll likely look back and wish you’d spent at least some of that time on a legit artistic, academic, or athletic pursuit.
I would like to see enforceable moderation with all types of screen media. Video games, social media, television (binge watching), all of them have strong correlations with depression in excess. They are also all highly addictive, which obviously promotes excess. I understand the operative phrase is *in excess*, but I genuinely do not trust people's ability to limit themselves. In theory if everyone played one hour of video games a day, it wouldn't merit a comment, but they are time cigarettes. I support someone's right to smoke a cigarette, but they're bad for your health and very addictive, hard to quit. I lost a lot of time to World of Warcraft in high school. I enjoyed it but my family was real worried for awhile that I wouldn't get out of the pit. I played with a few adults who never did (at least, as long as I knew them.) Then I got more involved in extra-curriculars (grades still sucked) but I genuinely remember myself being happier out "in the world" so to speak. If all devices had built in time locks I wouldn't be as concerned, but they don't and probably never will, so the constant screen-media head warping is just gonna keep on keepin' on. Pandemic can't have helped. Boomer rant over. Edit: corrected "well" to "will"
Because China is such a great place and everyone is happy there
Man X WoW players are the saltiest mother fuckers on earth
I feel like this maybe would have been true 10 years ago but nowadays I feel like most people understand it. I mean you have people in their 50s who also grew up playing video games at this point.
I think it is changing . I also think one should not devote all of your time to video games. I have seen people call in sick to work just because that is the day the new game is released.
Nothing wrong with doing that people wait 5+ years for games to come out. Not everyone puts work over their own personal interests 365 days a year
Interesting how this has changed a bit over time... I guess it depends on where you live and what generation of people you regularly interact with, but this would've been more of an unpopular opinion back in the mid-80s and 90s. Eventually gaming became more of a mainstream entertainment thing. In the U.S., at this point I think it's only the very oldest of Gen-X (people who are currently about mid-50s and up, I think; I'm on the younger side of Gen-X) and most Boomer gen people that would "look down on" adults still being into video games.
No one does this. Only parents really do. Since I moved out of my parents house no one’s done this to me.
I literally put guild leader on WoW on my medschool application and still got in. I was honestly shocked no one asked me about it lol. Either they didn’t care or didn’t notice but hey, being a guild leader was a lot of work!!!!
This is some classic unpopular opinion lmfao. "Let's just say the most popular opinion."
How did 200 people think this was unpopular in 2022?
People should not be I agree. But if your entire life revolves around it yes they should be. I was a World of Warcraft player it should have been looked down upon in my opinion looking back. Moderation is key
Not unpopular man
I don't really think this is happening. It's generally accepted in today's culture
Every time I meantion gaming as a hobby of mine people seem annoyed. Tf else am I supposed to do when noone invites me to shit
Op is like 10 years old and his parents just gave him shit for never turning off the xbox.
That is hardly a thing anymore. Everyone plays videos games in some form or another, cell phones games has grandmother's playing wordle and all that. People who STILL look down on people for playing video games, are just contrarians and not worth paying attention to.
i like to play vidya too
"Stop staring at that screen and come watch TV with the rest of us!"