Video Games: Is There A Benefit or Is It All Just A Waste Of Time?
When my boyfriend comes home from a long day at work, he plops down on the couch to unwind with a video game. I hate it. I’ve often thought about destroying his precious console in the middle of the night and as much as I don’t want to be a nag—I do find myself making jabs about his gaming. Sound familiar?
If he were doing anything else but gaming I wouldn’t care, but there’s just something about that total barrier that gets put up when dudes plug into their video game that is infuriating. Of course there are worse things, would I rather he were out with his buddies? No, but it’s hard to see that there are any benefits to gaming sometimes.
Studies are being done all over the world now about gaming and its effects on the mind and skills of youth and the results are staggering. Different games are going to engage different skills, plus auxiliary involvement with gaming such as social interaction with other gamers and game writing/developing has its advantages. Not all games can be simplified down to categories like ‘violent’ anymore. Analysis of complex story lines, graphics, programming and logistics are all part of the process that goes along with playing certain games. Practicing these skills is obviously important and helpful in other areas of life. Schools and learning centers will progress to incorporate gaming based technology as teaching tools in the future and the blanket ‘video games are bad’ prejudice will fade over time.
How does this help when it comes to keeping our partners or kids away from the unhealthy results of video games? Maybe the more we can learn about games the more we can choose to incorporate a healthier aspect to gaming. Time limits, active alternatives, complex logic games that force the mind to work and solve rather than zone out—are all viable options. I’m choosing to get to know a little more about the games, rather than passing a blanket judgment on all games. When we have kids it won’t be as simple as ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to games, it will be more about picking which ones are acceptable.
Melissa blogs about technology and society, frequently contributing to the Blog Content Guild and takes advantage of money saving Dell coupons to stay up to date with tech trends and software.
Question of the Day: Ladies, does it bother you when your man plays video games? Why or why not? Do you play? Do you (or would you) allow your kids to play video games? How do you decide which, if any, are appropriate? Fellas, what say you? Would you give up your video games if asked? How important is it for your significant other to accept your gaming habits?
Please show today’s guest blogger some love in the comments and make sure you check out Melissa’s blog at http://www.blogcontentguild.com.
As a man and an avid gamer for almost 20 years, the only time I’m giving up gaming is if I made the decision myself. Any woman who was seriously dating me would know better than to ask me to give up gaming. It’s not going to happen.
My s/o doesn’t have to like the fact that I play video games, she doesn’t even have to really accept it. She can complain all she wants, I just don’t want to hear it. If a woman ever tried to give me an ultimatum between her and video games, she’s going to be single.
I really don’t understand what the problem is. It’s a hobby. Unless the hobby ill affects the relationship, I don’t really see why you’d ask someone to give something up that makes them happy. Seems selfish and a bit ridiculous.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
If a woman ever tried to give me an ultimatum between her and video games, she’s going to be single.
I yell-laughed so loud at that.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
As a female gamer, I have no problem with my man playing video games. I probably play more than he does. *shrug* I know how he feels when he gets a new game and wants to play it all night – because I’ve done the same. The only way I’d see a problem is if we never did anything else. I wouldn’t ask my significant other to give up something he enjoys just because I don’t really like it. I’ll usually make an effort to try and get into it as well, or I just use the time apart to do something that I enjoy [i.e. reading a book, shopping, etc]. But that’s just me. As much as I want to spend QT with my significant other, there are times where I want to be able to do my own thing.
I would allow my children to play video games as well. Games have ratings, and I would buy games that are age appropriate.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
It used to bother me but not now. My hubs told me that it’s how he relaxes and unwinds. And somehow it clears his head. I found myself supporting his habit because of this. I bought his PS2 (long time ago), PSP (long time ago too) and his PS3 and I’ve bought most of his games too. If it helps him relax, I love it. I understand why some women hate it though. I don’t want you looking forward to playing your game more than you look forward to seeing me. Plus, if you have other responsibilities, you need to take care of those first. My hubs is considerate in this area. He waits til the kids are in bed and a lot of times until I’m in bed or otherwise busy. When he does rarely play it during the day, I can get kind of miffed if I wanted to watch something (on antenna lol) but I have to miss it so he can play on “the big TV.”
I play a little bit but not enough to consider myself a “gamer.”
I do allow my son to play video games. I decide what’s appropriate by the level of family involvement it takes. A lot of the games he plays are sports related and one is music related. I won’t tolerate shooting games although he has a Phineas and Ferb game in which he shoots jello monsters and robots with make believe weapons. That’s where I draw the line. He actually got a Wii for Christmas a few years ago. When the weather is bad, this is what we do. I do not accept him just sitting there doing this all day though. Play with toys or draw or something too.
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
Can you believe I just now figured out how to subscribe to your blog by email? Ugh. All this time, it was right there!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I dunno. I’ve had it both ways. My first bf ever was into video games, mainly Madden. My father isn’t a gamer and no one in my immediate family is either (we never got past that original Nintendo). My sister and I used to play them at summer camp on a friend’s system, but it was like group games, like fighting each other in Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, etc. My point is that I had no real frame of reference for grown people in my life spending time playing video games.
Anyway, my first bf was into it and it bothered me because we lived in different towns with limited time to see each other. As you can imagine, it bothered me to no end if he spent any portion of our LIMITED time together to play video games he could play ANY time. I didn’t let it ruin our relationship, but I did pout a bit. Plus, I was a later bloomer, it was my first bf, and I wanted more attention than he was willing to give.
My current bf also plays video games. I don’t mind because he loves spending time with me (which we do plenty of), so when we’re apart, he can do what he wants. I’m really busy these days, I’ve had a bf so I’m not starved for his attention, and I enjoy the necessary alone time as much as he does. When we hang at his place, I often play too (Mortal Kombat, mainly because it makes me nostalgic and we both love the movie).
I think it’s a matter of respect. I’m down with the games as long as I’m not competing with them for your attention (and I need a lot less of that these days). :)
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I’m not a gamer but I like to watch and I love to play.
As a female, I am genuinely confused as to why females have an issue with their man playing video games.
He is not out running the street. He is at home…chilllin. Enjoying what should be his free time.
Are you so starved for attention that he has to be focused on you in every second of his free time?
Is your life so focused on him that you cannot find a way to entertain yourself?
I actually want my man to be happy so if video games do that, why be so unhappy about something that makes him happy?
I just don’t get it and maybe it’s not for me to understand. Either way, ish like this makes me hate being a female.
Like or Dislike:
3 
0
An avid gamer for 25 years or so and everytime I hear something like this it laugh AT the person complaining. It’s a hobby. If it is not taking away from your relationship what do you really have to complain about?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I ve realised that younger I was a fanatic of mortal kombat I still love it only when I m with my youngers brothers. Let s keep it real. If you re single it s a good wast of time and some poeple need to realise it. I prefer to wait for the weekend for it. Well every can play… in bed.;)
Like or Dislike:
0 
0