I've clocked an absurdly high amount of hours into MMOs from WoW to Final Fantasy XI. After recently switching to a much more expensive hobby (supersport track days), I'm feeling the need to slap my face for wasting so much time on a hobby that amounts to having nothing to show for in the real world.

Anyone else ever feel the same way?

Originally posted by Lienhart

I've clocked an absurdly high amount of hours into MMOs from WoW to Final Fantasy XI. After recently switching to a much more expensive hobby (supersport track days), I'm feeling the need to slap my face for wasting so much time on a hobby that amounts to having nothing to show for in the real world.

Anyone else ever feel the same way?

I don't understand why kids do it....but as someone that's older it's a nice hobby you can do and be around the house.

I did all my motorcycle/ski and snowboard racing as a younger person. They all hurt too much now :)

They're a waste of time but so is everything else. As long as you're having fun it's all good...but.... if you do all your old person hobbies as a kid you'll wish you did more kid hobbies when you get old. So yes....games are a waste of your youth.

As mutch a waiste of time as watching tv,  reading books (non education books/tv) or making post about waisted past time on forums. If you feel unsatisfied be a Hero  and act.

Originally posted by DamonVile

Originally posted by Lienhart

I've clocked an absurdly high amount of hours into MMOs from WoW to Final Fantasy XI. After recently switching to a much more expensive hobby (supersport track days), I'm feeling the need to slap my face for wasting so much time on a hobby that amounts to having nothing to show for in the real world.

Anyone else ever feel the same way?

I don't understand why kids do it....but as someone that's older it's a nice hobby you can do and be around the house.

I did all my motorcycle/ski and snowboard racing as a younger person. They all hurt too much now :)

They're a waste of time but so is everything else. As long as you're having fun it's all good...but.... if you do all your old person hobbies as a kid you'll wish you did more kid hobbies when you get old. So yes....games are a waste of your youth.

Really? I can't imagine how riding or track racing could EVER become old or something I'd give up. But then again, everyone that's older has who used to ride told me they sold their bikes once the kids came in: I guess the solution is to avoid kids lol

Originally posted by vindir
I suppose the same slap in the face coudl be applied for anyone who spends countless hours of  T.V, movies, facebook, etc. At least with gaming (or mmo's in this case) I can gain problem sovling, learn and apply basic monetary lessons, hand-to-eye coordination, develop social skills, time managment, team work skills and probebly some other somewhat (if not useful) cerebral skills that can be applied to real world scenarios.

No....just no.....

Get out a little bit more and you'll understand what I mean. You have some valid points but to throw Facebook, development of social skills, time management and team work skills into there...just hell no (and I'd argue against hte monetary lessons but I can see how that would work).

Originally posted by Lienhart

Originally posted by vindir
I suppose the same slap in the face coudl be applied for anyone who spends countless hours of  T.V, movies, facebook, etc. At least with gaming (or mmo's in this case) I can gain problem sovling, learn and apply basic monetary lessons, hand-to-eye coordination, develop social skills, time managment, team work skills and probebly some other somewhat (if not useful) cerebral skills that can be applied to real world scenarios.

No....just no.....

Get out a little bit more and you'll understand what I mean. You have some valid points but to throw Facebook, development of social skills, time management and team work skills into there...just hell no (and I'd argue against hte monetary lessons but I can see how that would work).

Get out a little more....obviously you know me.

I snowboard twice a week (full days and backcoutnry) play in rec hockey and basketball. I coach travel soccer and mountaneer in the summer. Hunt and fish and camp. I get out lots.

And regarding the scoial learning, time managment and team work, yes kids/youth  can learn these skills in gaming. Hell there are some adults who need to learn these skills in games I've been in.

And facebook is crap.

edit: I suppose I never did answer your original question; no I do not feel liek ti has been a huge waste of time. Lots of good memories and friendships made. And I suppose thoese friendships which have been made in game and have now extended beyond the game to the real world are worth it. So in a sense there has been real life value gained from mmo gaming.

All hobbies are potentially a huge waste of time, depending on who you ask.

Originally posted by Lienhart

Originally posted by vindir
I suppose the same slap in the face coudl be applied for anyone who spends countless hours of  T.V, movies, facebook, etc. At least with gaming (or mmo's in this case) I can gain problem sovling, learn and apply basic monetary lessons, hand-to-eye coordination, develop social skills, time managment, team work skills and probebly some other somewhat (if not useful) cerebral skills that can be applied to real world scenarios.

No....just no.....

Get out a little bit more and you'll understand what I mean. You have some valid points but to throw Facebook, development of social skills, time management and team work skills into there...just hell no (and I'd argue against hte monetary lessons but I can see how that would work).

Originally posted by Eluldor

Originally posted by Lienhart

Originally posted by vindir
I suppose the same slap in the face coudl be applied for anyone who spends countless hours of  T.V, movies, facebook, etc. At least with gaming (or mmo's in this case) I can gain problem sovling, learn and apply basic monetary lessons, hand-to-eye coordination, develop social skills, time managment, team work skills and probebly some other somewhat (if not useful) cerebral skills that can be applied to real world scenarios.

No....just no.....

Get out a little bit more and you'll understand what I mean. You have some valid points but to throw Facebook, development of social skills, time management and team work skills into there...just hell no (and I'd argue against hte monetary lessons but I can see how that would work).

 

No to this. Voice chat and teamwork skills have all sorts or relevance in gaming and "outside". Why else would military run testing of capabilities this way, one of few examples. Social skills and time management can play a role as well. Telling people to go outside is a pretty lame.

...when's the last time you met somebody that was cool to chill with on a video game? My experiences have ALL been negative, leading to a separation between my social life and MMO habits.

Not really.

There's other things that are a much bigger waste of time I think, like going to bars getting drunk, watching television, gambling, bowling, watching horse races, watching sports. You name it.

At least when I play MMO I am increasing my typing speed and thinking of strategies and learning my English.

Originally posted by achesoma
Time enjoyed is not time wasted. 

Yep.  If someone is insecure about the status or direction o their life they should address that with themselves rather than blaming a hobby that likely only served as a distraction from the real problem(s) in their lives.

I'm looking to play MMO's much much more than I have in years with the launch of a game I am really excited about (FFXIV:ARR).  I am content with what I have "to show for" myself, a video game can't take that from me only I can by neglecting my personal or professional life.

Video games don't ruin lives, people ruin lives.  If it isn't video gaming maybe you are spending all your time and money in another hobby that is equally as unproductive I don't know something like super sport track days.

Of course they are.  That's the point.

Now, should you spend all your free time consuming entertainment?  Absolutely not.  But it is only human to take breaks every now and then to have some fun.  After all, this is the only life we get.

I'll tell you what is a huge waste of time:

School!

/runs /jest

Originally posted by Lienhart

I've clocked an absurdly high amount of hours into MMOs from WoW to Final Fantasy XI. After recently switching to a much more expensive hobby (supersport track days), I'm feeling the need to slap my face for wasting so much time on a hobby that amounts to having nothing to show for in the real world.

Anyone else ever feel the same way?

And exactly what are you getting out of your track days besides tire and brake bills?  Enjoyment.  You're not "Getting" anything except maybe a trophy, thats the only tangible difference, otherwise, its enjoyment, and possibly respect from your group of enthusiasts.

Unless you have a hobby that makes you more physically fit, increases your scholastic knowledge, or creates things, i.e. building boats or carving wood or ships in a bottle, than all you get out of any leisure activity is enjoyment.  So, moot point is moot.

I consider something to be hobby as an activity as to which I can gain enjoyment out of, which happens to gaming, and to be specific MMO gaming.

It's about how you manage your time, if you have a full time job and spend all night MMO gaming and waking up in the morning coming to work half asleep all the time, then you'll find yourself wasting your time with MMO's as it will be effecting your real life job performance, which of course funds your MMO gaming hobby.

I just fired someone recently for sleeping on the job and constantly coming into work half alseep all the time, he was stupid enough to tell someone he had been spending all night and early morning playing Call of Duty. If you manage your life and still play MMO's then I would probably call it using your time effectively rather then wasting it.