Originally posted by Distopia

Originally posted by Lienhart

No, it isn't. Go get a supersport (don't start on one please you will die). Get some full gear, count how many stares you get at every red light and how many random "NICE BIKE" comments you get at the same lights.

Now, go try to do the same with MMOs.

P.S. Supersport != dirt bike.

Better yet join a band...

Used to sing a lot and do competitions. Got sick of the metro "boy" image.

Originally posted by DSWBeef

Originally posted by Eir_S
What I have learned in this thread - Video games don't build any problem solving or interpersonal skills, supersports are not dirt bikes, and Lienhart's opinions are more valid than yours.

How? Because I believe mmos are worth more of my time then some supersport bike? OMG I must be wrong because you dont like my opinion. Im just gonna write Lienhart off as a troll. He obviously came to a site called MMORPG.COM to troll mmo players.

It's ok, he seems to employ strawman fallacies with some regularity, even though he probably has no idea what that means.  You stated that MMOs are more important to you and your friends/family than bikes, that it's your opinion.

He states that it isn't an opinion, because the majority likes money and material possessions.

the crowd looks puzzled by this stupid conclusion.

He may not be a troll but he's obnoxious and not at all bright.

[mod edit]

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'm disabled now, so, there's isn't a hell of a lot else to do for me.  But, even before my disability, I still came home from work and played these games.  I enjoyed them, and spending time with my wife (now ex) was like hanging out with a pile of dirt.

Nowadays, I think most MMO's are cookie-cutter-mass-appeal garbage, so I don't spend much time with them.  They just can't hold my interest, because no skill is required anymore, as compared to the old games that started it all.  New games are robotic and linear.  Like I'm following a script, instead of exploring, doing whatever I want, etc.  Man, I miss dungeons (not scripted linear instances).  Running instances over and over again, doing the same exact thing you did the last time (and every time), is mindless to me.  I compare that to dungeons in EQ, and it's night and day.

Honestly, I would MUCH rather get a few guys and hit the bars, because, even at my age, I still *love* doing that.  Getting a good buzz on, having fun, watching a live band, and of course the best part, hanging with women.  I meet different women and party with them each time I go.. the big BUT here being, no one my age goes out anymore, and I'm also getting too old for it... meaning, I don't feel comfortable there with morons 1/2 my age, even though I don't look my age.

I have the same problem with doing stuff outside in the summer.. simply no one do to do anything with.  I get bored doing stuff alone, nor is it any fun.  So, back to gaming.  Now I get to game with my kids too, so that's fun for me, and I get to spend time with them too.  Winter sports lost appeal with me many years ago.  I figured out that to ski/board, the long drive + the intense cold + the expense > any enjoyment I got from it.  In other words, it's just not worth it for me - oh yeah, and that there's still no one to go with.

Young people who read this.. what ends up happening as you age, is you and your friends all get married, have kids, and stop doing anything together any more.  Getting your buddies to do anything without their family (or even with them) is almost impossible.  It's such a pain to sync up, or people don't really care to try.

I don't regret dumping hours into MMO's because I enjoyed my time with them.

What kills me is the people who spend hundreds of dollars on virtual items and they long since stopped playing that game.  So, they really pissed their money away.  Some people who played EQ1 spend 4 figures easily (I know some).  I'd rather have a high end gaming rig, boss entertainment center, move up to the next model of car I want, etc.

Anyway....

[mod edit]

Yes Im going on 20. But im not your sterotypical 19 year old who thinks the world owes hime something. I know im gonna have to work hard and long to get going in life in my chosen career field. If I use my free time to game instead of partying as I enjoy games more then thats up to me.

Unless you work doing your dream job, then we cant complain...

Replacing what we love doing (playing MMOs/games) to do what we dont like doing just to make a living, to keep on doing what we dont like, is not a good way of life.

The way I see it, we should work hard to have a stable and prosper life and then try the best we can to do the things we love doing whilst keeping our bills paid.

Not everyone is tailored to be a pro gamer or something like that, but we can and do enjoy gaming. :)

Originally posted by Eladi

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.

 

I forgot to mention this in my other post.

Games are interactive.  I'll take any kind of interactivity over something non-interactive.

I simply do not watch TV anymore, except for SNL (DVR), and I watched Fringe on DVD recently.  You just sit there.  No interaction.  That bores the hell out of me.  But, that's me.  I'm not dissing TV (in general) or the pleasure anyone else gets from it.

What I do think is trash that rots your brain to a pulp, is "reality" TV.  That stuff is pure hateful, judgemental garbage that teaches moronic competitve behavior that basically amounts to no real "reward", and no real winners, for *most* of them.  It also teaches you how to be mean, and treat others like shit, and that life is purely about winning and losing, and mindless competition.

But, I digress ;)

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?

Have you enjoyed when you played? If yes then I do not understand your question.

Only problem, as with any hobby or "hobby" (like drugs, alcohol, ...) is if it is harmful for health or is at least acceptable.

I had my times when i was truly addicted to gaming ... but I do not regret anything and with difference to real drugs ... it is rarely in any way similar.

Originally posted by Aerowyn
if you are expecting to get some return from gaming other than the enjoyment of those hours i'd either go pro gamer or stick with another hobby :)

Or profit off of regional restrictions like any entrepreneur would. People will often pay more than quadruple the price for something if they can't get access to it themselves. Such as playing on the Master Race(most up to date) version of a localized game that often times will fall behind in updates.

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).

What?  Working with a team to solve some goal, is not team building?  It might be on the lighter side of it, but it STILL is team building.  Time management is TRUE too.  If you can decide to play for X amount of time and succeed, you ARE learning to manage your time.

Facebook is a complete time-sink and waste of time.  Reading countless trivial "status updates" makes me say, who the **** cares that you just got home, went to the mall today, etc.  If you're posting pics of the hurricane you just got caught in, then that's interesting, and non-trivial.

What kills me, as I digress like I always do, is when teens, and 20-somethings go somewhere together, and then ALL ignore each other, burying their faces into their phones texting the same mindless, trivial crap, to people that aren't there.

Hell, I've seen this at amusement parks.  TALK TO THE PEOPLE YOU ARE WITH!!!  ENJOY THEIR COMPANY.  Not to mention how rude it is to hang out with someone and then pretend like they aren't even there.

MMOs are a fairly cheap form of escapist entertainment. The good ones provide an interesting form of mental stimulation and hopefully relieve stress that builds up IRL. Its like reading fiction and playing chess at the same time.

When compared to the amount of TV the average person watches it is not that crazy.

Time sink, yes.

Waste of time, no.

Define waste.

If i have fun, no matter what the entertainment is, is that a "waste" of time?

Certainly it is non-productive, though.

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?

If you enjoy something, it's not a waste of time. Life it self is basically a waste of time if you dont enjoy the present. We all die, and after we do, we will be forgotten in few years, and it does not matter what you "accomplished" in life since you're still dead. Even if you did something big, you're just a name in the history books and no one really cares nor does it matter. So yeah, whatever you do in the present, if you enjoy it then it's not a waste of time.

Nope.  Been playing for 22 years now and I still get enjoyment out of them.  It's like any hobby, you don't really get anything out of them, other than the fun of doing said hobby.  It's a cheap hobby as well.  My cheapest. I'm also a car guy, and I've spent alot of money on cars, but you almost never see any of that money again.  I've "wasted" more time and a ton more money on cars hehe.

Edit: Also like trains, models (those models too lol), and anything radio controlled.  Spent alot more than 22 years of gaming on all them too.  MMOs are an inexpensive hobby.

I agree 100%.

I get most of my enjoyment from Wrath of Heros...only game I have been sticking with.