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Keep in mind that one's personal experience may not be representative of the "average" person. > single-player games I get obsessive about some games. A compl
by xapata 9y ago
Keep in mind that one's personal experience may not be representative of the "average" person.
> single-player games
I get obsessive about some games. A completionist, one might say. And when I've achieved what I want to in the game, I suddenly wake up and realize I haven't been outside for a week and I've ignored my friends, family, and colleagues. Worst, the guilt of that realization can be so overwhelming that I am tempted to ignore it and simply start another game that takes over my consciousness.
I've observed similar behavior in some others. It was most obvious among World of Warcraft (WoW) players when I went to university. I knew more than a handful of WoW players who dropped out of school because they found their in-game social circle more important than just about everything else in their lives. Rather than studying or going out, they needed to be present for the next raid (WoW session).
- putinontheritz 9y agoI would say WoW, Facebook, Reddit, HN etc all use that little bit of dopamine hit to keep people “playing” as long and as often as possible. I say that have started play WoW again after several years off and dumping Reddit this evening. Both of the can be enjoyable places and there are some really good Reddit communities, but it can be be just as addictive.
- Rarebox 9y agoYeah, I consider reddit/hn to be more of a waste of time (for me) than videogames. Still, it's easier to browse Reddit than progress in a videogame.
- deleted 9y ago[deleted]
- striking 9y agoWoW isn't single-player, is it? I think GP was commenting on the fact that spending some time alone (with video games or otherwise) won't necessarily tear society apart, as long as it's done in moderation.
- xapata 9y agoSingle-player in the sense that one typically plays physically alone even if virtually together.
- scrollaway 9y ago> I've observed similar behavior in some others. You'll observe that in more than just porn and games, you'll observe it in life in general. In fact for a lot of people that's the definition of a mid-life crisis: Suddenly waking up, realizing that you've been wasting your life slaving at a job you don't like, to make money that pays for things you don't own which you only have to offset how shitty your job makes you feel. If your doctor told you right now, "you have exactly two weeks to live", would your life be unchanged for the next two weeks, or would you suddenly wake up and think "Holy hell, what have I been doing for the past age(self) years?"
- SapphireSun 9y agoMan, if only instead of buying a Jet ski these poor souls would find socialism.
- scrollaway 9y agoOr, you know, call their parents to say "I love you" before they lose the option to.
- SapphireSun 9y agoWhy not both? :D
- giggles_giggles 9y agoyou'd be too hungry to drive the jet ski
- SapphireSun 9y agoSeems unlikely. < 1% of the US population is engaged in agricultural pursuits. Distribution is about to get self driving cars.
- ferongr 9y ago
- cortesoft 9y agoI feel like this is just describing the human experience. We go through cycles of obsession and focus, and then a realization that our obsession and focus has kept us from other parts of our lives. We adjust, and then repeat the cycle. It could be video games, but it could be lots of hobbies, or work, or a new relationship, etc.
- xapata 9y agoSome things in modern life are a bit easier to obsess over, more like alcohol and other drugs than other kinds of hobbies.
- mturmon 9y agoWhat is new is the tight, software-driven loops of dopamine release and conditioning feedback that Facebook and others have developed and exploited.
- ben_w 9y agoFacebook is the optimiser, each second of your attention a paperclip.
- brightball 9y agoCompletionist is a good term for that. I gave up online games when I realized how much of a problem that is for me. My hard rule about games in general now is that I only play them with other people in the room.
- ben_w 9y agoI have a similar problem. I realised while playing GameThatCannotBeMentionedBecauseOfNoDisparagementRule that reaching maximum level in Magic or Archery skills on real life versions of those skills would make me a pretty good stage magician or archer. I never did end up learning magic tricks or real archery, but I did go onto Duolingo and learn German. Kaj Esperanto. Και Ελληνικα…
- xirdstl 9y agoI have similar experiences with single player games sometimes. Though after, I might go weeks without playing anything. That is one reason why I have always avoided MMOs. I may obsess over a single player game for a few weeks, but there is always an end.
- throwaway30306 9y agoI've done this with League of Legends. I find that it corresponds very closely with times in my life when I am depressed[1] about some other aspect of my life. When I feel out of control, and the game provides a stable environment with known rules, where I have a great deal of agency to impact the outcome. It's a trap, if course; in real life, ignoring problems is (usually) not a good strategy for resolving them. On the flip side, though, when I'm not playing as part of one of these sessions, I like my relationship with the game. Especially, it's a great way of keeping in touch with a friend long-distance, which is normally something I struggle with[2]. [1]: In the colloquial, not medical, use of the word. [2]: Somewhat, I also put less effort into long- distance friendships by choice; putting in lots of effort to keep in contact with someone who I wouldn't otherwise interact with becomes a chore and I don't get as much out of it. Since I would still be gaming otherwise, this doesn't become a chore, and regularly using voice chat makes it even better, compared to a game like scrabble where it's just text. (This part not being unique to League, of course; any other real time team game would do the same).
- whywhywhywhy 9y agoIf it wasn't video games it would be something else.