Could you think of gaming as a way of developing a well-rounded personality? It aids in the creation of another facet of yourself aside from intellectual conversations, piano, etc.
That's how I've aways viwed my leisure time, as a way of balancing out who I am.
I'm having a little bit of trouble grasping this, mostly because the people I game with are also those who I turn to for serious academic/intellectual conversation. Maybe that's the trick... On the other hand, I know I'm not really into "gamer culture," I just have friends who I game with, which may be the difference.
Well, I think that *is* the trick. There are people I know who are both gamers and intellectual-types whom I respect. Unfortunately, they're few and far between, which makes them hard to find. Also, the ones I get along with tend to be scattered across a wide swath geographically.
Oh yeah, I was going to say, I totally get the "I just ate icecream for dinner" feeling when I spend like four hours playing video games. I try to tell myself that it's no different from spending four hours reading a slightly trashy novel or even watching four episodes of "Buffy," but for some reason I always feel weirdly like I've just completely wasted four hours. Tabletop gaming or roleplaying is different because there's social interaction involved.
In some ways I agree with you, but I also tend to view gaming as one outlet for being creative. It is somwhat of a paradox, but I enjoy acting even though I have a lot of stage fright. What draws me to gaming is the ability to create a unique persona and be able to play him or her in the presence of people I feel comfortable with. This is just my take on it, but I realize people game for different reasons. P.S. There is nothing wrong with ice cream for dinner! (As long as it is in moderation.)
It does serve that purpose, as an outlet for creativity. But there are many other outlets for my creativity that feel much more, well, creative. For example, I can play piano or guitar, or write, or draw -- none of which I do as much as I'd like, because I spend so much time reading or playing games. (More the latter than the former, what with WoW and all.)
And I totally hear you on the stage fright. I had it really bad until I taught, and it's still there, just much diminished from what it used to be.
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That's how I've aways viwed my leisure time, as a way of balancing out who I am.
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Part of that may be some underlying fear of having a six hundred pound man with bad BO telling me about his favorite character for an hour. Eep.
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And I totally hear you on the stage fright. I had it really bad until I taught, and it's still there, just much diminished from what it used to be.
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