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"..so I don't allow myself to buy a console." this is common with so many other people I know (and try to convince to game with me as Adults). I think its all

"..so I don't allow myself to buy a console." this is common with so many other people I know (and try to convince to game with me as Adults). I think its all too common to watch Nextflix & HBO for 20 hours in a week, but video games are taboo, despite being more social and cognitively enhancing.

jeron 10y ago
to say Netflix and HBO is fine but gaming is too much of a time drain makes no sense. I've banned myself from both during the work week. The amount of reclaimed time is insane and I feel a lot more productive.
gozur88 10y ago
The difference is there's no length to most video games. If you sit down to watch a movie you've blocked out ninety minutes (or whatever), and when the movie is over you're not going to tell yourself "I'll just watch for five more minutes." If you're the kind of person who can't ignore that voice you'll end up spending a lot more time gaming than you intended, particularly if your game of choice has some sort of level treadmill.
- ashark 10y ago
  You also don't suffer for spending 2-3hrs watching a movie then waiting indefinitely before watching another. Even if you're watching a series of movies they were originally released months to years apart, so you'll be fine when you pick it back up—a glance at the Wikipedia summary for the previous entry will do if you feel it's necessary. With video games, take weeks off and you'll have forgotten the story (if any/relevant) and how to play effectively. At least that's my experience with single-player games—if I take too much time off I just have to start over, because I'll be too bad at it to handle the later stages I'm in on my last save, won't remember enough of the story, and will have lost my connection to the characters.
taway_1212 10y ago
I can watch TV shows when I'm so tired that all can I do is veg out on a sofa. Games require more engagement and energy - which I could be spending on other things.

jeron 10y ago

to say Netflix and HBO is fine but gaming is too much of a time drain makes no sense. I've banned myself from both during the work week. The amount of reclaimed time is insane and I feel a lot more productive.

gozur88 10y ago

The difference is there's no length to most video games. If you sit down to watch a movie you've blocked out ninety minutes (or whatever), and when the movie is over you're not going to tell yourself "I'll just watch for five more minutes." If you're the kind of person who can't ignore that voice you'll end up spending a lot more time gaming than you intended, particularly if your game of choice has some sort of level treadmill.

ashark 10y ago
You also don't suffer for spending 2-3hrs watching a movie then waiting indefinitely before watching another. Even if you're watching a series of movies they were originally released months to years apart, so you'll be fine when you pick it back up—a glance at the Wikipedia summary for the previous entry will do if you feel it's necessary. With video games, take weeks off and you'll have forgotten the story (if any/relevant) and how to play effectively. At least that's my experience with single-player games—if I take too much time off I just have to start over, because I'll be too bad at it to handle the later stages I'm in on my last save, won't remember enough of the story, and will have lost my connection to the characters.

taway_1212 10y ago

I can watch TV shows when I'm so tired that all can I do is veg out on a sofa. Games require more engagement and energy - which I could be spending on other things.