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I've been addicted to games and now addicted to playing soccer, albeit less so probably due to being older with more responsibilities. And I see lots of similar

I've been addicted to games and now addicted to playing soccer, albeit less so probably due to being older with more responsibilities. And I see lots of similarities between the two very different kinds of games and the "addictions" to them. Even health-wise, it's hard to say if playing games all day is worse than getting tackled into hospital. I've met many people who were going for pro-sports when they were younger that destroyed their health and/or hurt their career prospects and had to re-invent themselves. How do we distinguish what is a healthy hobby/persuasion, and what is an addiction?

umvi 8y ago
> and now addicted to playing soccer Reminds me of this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NwHNHNXsg0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NwHNHNXsg0
- analyst74 8y ago
  That's hilarious! And it is exactly how I feel sometimes about people ostracizing certain obsessions.
simmanian 8y ago
I've thought about this too, and came to the conclusion that being addicted to playing soccer is an order of magnitude healthier than being addicted to playing starcraft. First, there's the exercise aspect. Playing soccer during the day allows your hormones to be much more balanced and your mind healthier than being cooped up in your room through the night to play video games. Then there's the social aspect as well. Playing soccer allows you to have real, physical interactions with others and have a sense of community, whereas virtual interactions provide cheap knockoffs to temporarily meet your social needs. Yes, gaming has become more social than ever before, but the lifestyle and culture that form around gaming make it rather difficult to form lasting, meaningful relationships with people that don't just fade away after giving you dopamine rushes. I just don't think it's easy to have a healthy life when you're addicted to games. It's too easy to say "one more game" until the sun rises.

umvi 8y ago

> and now addicted to playing soccer Reminds me of this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NwHNHNXsg0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NwHNHNXsg0

analyst74 8y ago
That's hilarious! And it is exactly how I feel sometimes about people ostracizing certain obsessions.

simmanian 8y ago

I've thought about this too, and came to the conclusion that being addicted to playing soccer is an order of magnitude healthier than being addicted to playing starcraft. First, there's the exercise aspect. Playing soccer during the day allows your hormones to be much more balanced and your mind healthier than being cooped up in your room through the night to play video games. Then there's the social aspect as well. Playing soccer allows you to have real, physical interactions with others and have a sense of community, whereas virtual interactions provide cheap knockoffs to temporarily meet your social needs. Yes, gaming has become more social than ever before, but the lifestyle and culture that form around gaming make it rather difficult to form lasting, meaningful relationships with people that don't just fade away after giving you dopamine rushes. I just don't think it's easy to have a healthy life when you're addicted to games. It's too easy to say "one more game" until the sun rises.