Games, BAD or NOT? 1 video to end the debate...

[@cLaunMH]

The reason is identity, as you said in the end. Nobody identifies as a Porn-Watcher or Social-Media-User. Most Gamers identify as Gamers. So if you criticise Gaming, people feel like you are attacking them directly. If you criticise porn or social media it is very easy to agree with you for people because you are attacking a thing as opposed to their very own persona.

[@dxxm____]

This

[@caesar7786]

Wait, but you have gaming videos on your channel? Well, for me, not because of that, but because many of the criticism are wrong & just a misconception about vid games

[@cLaunMH]

@@caesar7786 What does that have to do with anything? I like gaming and in fact, I still play VALORANT, yes. I also watch Robs videos and I like them, no harm no foul.

[@caesar7786]

@@cLaunMH i thought he would ruin your life..because i'd rather stay away from this channel and seek advices from others that are open-minded.

[@gimpy-]

Surprisingly I know people who identify as a porn watcher

[@aletaris]

I have experienced life without video games. I'm playing Elden ring and feeling good. It doesn't matter whether you play or not, it's just an activity.

[@AnaPaula-kt1oi]

I think the most difficult part is not even quitting for months or years, but to not (at some point) feel nostalgic about it and want to play it again just because of the memories. I'm the type of person that gets attached to people and things very quickly. When I remember something good, I always want to do it again, what can I do about it?? 😩

[@editsdharma108]

Same here bro literally us

[@apophisca2163]

Because video game is ART.. Music, visual, emotion and interaction mixed together.. ITS A WONDERFUL PIECE OF *ART* (it's hard to quit ART bruh) Micro transaction that fuks your money , grinding system that fuks your time and progression system that fuks your rewards dopamine stuff ruined This WONDERFUL medium

[@wolfmations]

I agree that's why I believe you can still play gamestgat ate single player and provide genuine joy without being addicted and still productive, ONLY PLAY AFTER YOU HAVE HIT YOUR GOALS FOR YOUR DAY AND YOU STILL HAVE TIME But I still think a 6 month dopamine detox to build your foundation is required before this

[@edgelord6210]

Hentai is also 'art'. You could also consider types of drugs 'art', because art is the sharing of an experience at it's core. Anything can be Art, and Art in itself is not inherently postive.

[@jonovodss]

I think what APOP is trying to say which, I do agree with to a extent is that it’s a positive art. For example Hentai= busty women that make you feel terrible as you are alone Single player quest driven game= getting to experience a world and life beyond your own to achieve a goal Massive multiplayer games, are heavily dopamine driven. But a single player game with a good story? That’s a positive art.

[@apophisca2163]

@@jonovodss nice example lol.... jokes aside. your also right brother.

[@apophisca2163]

@@edgelord6210 Yeh that's true... but what is it shall we all do then.... abandon ART (the first form of expression) BEHIND US?

[@premiumbackgroundmusic]

I haven't played video games in about 3 years (I may play 30 mins of something like once every 2 months) but I don't feel that different tbh. I wonder where do you draw the line on entertainment? Is watching movies or tv shows for 1-2 hrs a day also bad for your brain? Or reading novels? Because I easily get lost in those just the same as in video games. I like playing chess now, which is far more engaging for my brain the video games ever where. Or listening to music. I really get a good hit of feelgoods when listening to music. Is that also bad?

[@TheCakedad]

I agree with this 100%, I gave up games for a while and felt no different, it's very possible to achieve goals and have a fulfilling life, whilst also enjoying a hobby like gaming or movies or TV, I play games every night now, but I still feel as happy as ever because I still have a balance with everything else.

[@ttgttg351]

I completely cut out videogames 2 months ago, thank so much to your video. Now I can see my life goes to the next level ✨

[@dxxm____]

Amazing video bro, 2 months without games and I recovered the motivation for doing music :)

[@dr_dave512]

Ahhh the clasic "my life changed after xyz" , "my life is next level after xyz" I have heard that for countless people on the internet.

[@draiqys5138]

If I understood this correctly, the point you made was that Video Games are bad because they numb your dopamin system, because of easy access to gratification (you can progress a lot easier through a video game and/or it makes more fun than in real life). I am curious whether or not there is a real neuroscientific difference between video games and other hobbies. Does it behave any different with sports like Soccer, Football, Basketball, Tennis, or even just going to the gym? I get that you can make the point, that sports will have a more positive impact on your physique than video games, but If I look at it from a psychological POV I don't really understand what the huge difference would be between video games. What about People who play Video Games or Sports on a professional level for a living? Would it be harmful for them to get invested in these type of activities? And what about other kinds of activities? Could me getting immersed in books or art make me feel less motivated, just because I allow myself to indulge in them? What should we even do, if we treat everything that is not directly linked to our life as harmful, because it could have a negative impact on us if we overdo it? Where do we draw the line? Should we just shut ourselves from these type of things, and is that even a life that is enjoyable living for everyone? Sure, there certainly is a case where these things are truely harmful, but everyone treats it differently. For some people activities like these are a way to socialize, and that is a need most people develop naturally. For others, it might be a way to deal/cope with certain experiences. Obviously it does NOT solve the problem, but it allows people to temporarily get a hold of themselves. I'm not saying that it is the best method to deal with these kind of experiences, but not everyone has access to an environment where they can resolve these kind of problems safely/regularly. Just chugging in the negativeness and trying to stand above it all also does not sound healthy to me in the long run. Overall I like most points you made in this video, but it just feels SO disconnected from so many other things/factors you did not even touch upon. My experiences with video games are certainly a mixed bag, I would lie if I said that it never had any negative impacts on my life, but it also helped me a lot to grow as a person in the past few years. I got to meet a lot of people who I can now consider mutuals or even friends, and due to my motivation to progress in that kind of environment I had to really dig deep into my personality and reflect upon myself to grow. Could I have experienced these things without video games? Sure, I could have, but I would never go back and choose to go a different route. I was able to learn from the mistakes I made, and thus improved as a person, just like you can do with everything else in life. It just is not as black and white as you make it out to be I feel like.

[@bew5230]

True maybe video games are not to blame for the shitty life maybe your relationships suck or you have been traumatized or your health or mental health suck maybe video games is one of the art form and you shouldn't just avoid activity that you love and fix the root of the problem instead I agree with you man.

[@CarecaRusso]

@@bew5230 cope harder,Jeffrey.

[@businessisboomin7252]

@@CarecaRusso POV you're a blind follower

[@lukeharrop4620]

Gaming has never really been an addiction for me,I can take it or leave it

[@swapnildas9422]

same

[@jeremyneiderhoff]

"I'm... I'm... I'm... not addicted, I just need to do it every single day or I'll get withdrawals and depression"

[@ItsSupercat94]

@Qsuol but.... why? if he's not dependent on it it isn't going to make a big difference is it?

[@joeylonglegs4309]

@Qsuol Provide a reason why he should leave it.

[@jylobo1112]

@@joeylonglegs4309 The fucking video

[@miguelbat27]

I want to ask a question out of genuine desire to find understanding over this dilemma of mine. I am 20 years old. I am a intrisicly motivated, creative person, always have been and it will always be a part of who I am, and because of that I am very connected to the world around me as I need to be in order to make the drawings and pieces that I do, and one of my biggest sources of inspiration is experiencing artwork made by others, and a form of artwork that I really enjoy is video games. Something about bringing fantasy into a believable experience that you can interact with always fascinated me since I was young, and it quickly became a passion of mine that I would make my very own and share it with everyone, to give them that same feeling I've always had. However I am currently doing my best to give my first steps in improving myself more physically and mentally, and a channels like yours help me in guiding me forward, but I can't help but notice an almost complete aversion to entertainment made by people with the very same aspirations that I have. Am I not part of the target audience you're trying to get to? am I just contributing to this problem?.. I really want to follow many of the advice you and many others are giving, but I can't help but feel that I have to let go of things that are very dear to me and give me happiness in order to grow as a person which just feels counter intuitive. Of course I don't expect a clear answer on how to solve this dilemma of mine, just some closure to know if just thinking too much about it or if this just isn't meant for me.

[@jamesmccloud7535]

There's no one answer that fits all. We are all different at the end of the day with unique situations. Rob won't be able to give you an answer you can't already answer better yourself, since you know yourself best. Take what he says seriously, and meditate on it for a while, do the same for your circumstances and see how they can connect. Then make the most informed and sensible decision you can.

[@peloi111]

What if it's the opposite way around? I left video games when I moved to Europe for university and since I constantly changed dorms, I didn't bother to buy a tv or video games. Sure, I experienced the world, travelled all over Europe, met interesting people and had plenty of girlfriends. I wouldn't have achieved that if I would have stayed home and played games tbh, but now that I'm in my mid 30s , it has been 15 years since I played and I fin myself on completely different situation. After a long relationship ended, I decided I wanted to restore my playstation 2 and relive my games- I have been playing a few hours everyday since then. To me it's like a combination of reading a book and watching a movie because some of these games are an art form. Before, I always felt lonely and thought I needed a girlfriend, WASTING my time & money with so many women and jumping on relationships that didn't even bring me happiness. Going out on weekends, getting drunk with people I didn't even like! Today I stay at home or visit my parents on the weekends where I play my games instead of getting drunk, don't feel the need to get into a relationship out of loneliness, it even helps with avoiding Prn as it keeps my mind busy and I even have enough time to go to the gym! I see it as a blessing, but maybe it's this way because I find myself in a different situation like I said In the beginning. Greetings!

[@mohamadsenpai9030]

just one little advice, try not to look at the notes while talking, instead memorize one sentence and say it then read the notes and cut that part while editing the video. great content man!

[@arch_dornan6066]

I haven't played a solo video game in months. I only really play video games so I can hang out with friends and family (especially my cousin) who have moved far away as a sort of bonding activity. I can't afford to visit them, so for me, it's a great way to do something fun and facilitate conversation.

[@andrewgordon9112]

Heres my thoughts (3 months late im sorry just discovered the video) But it all depends on who you are. When i saw Hamzas opinion on nerd culture like the mcu and video games. I saw it as his form of self hate, like he used to be a nerd himself. But then i watched this video. And realized it’s different for everyone. For me, i would rather socialize than video games, but would still play them. I just wouldnt let them affect my sleep schedule. My problem is pornography which ive been battling since i was 14 (im 17 as of last month). Pornography affected my grades and romance life, not video games. So I believe there is a good balance

[@alfredoistic]

📌 LIFE itself is the best video game you can have 👍🏼 PLAY THAT GAME!

[@Gabeweav]

I agree with this, I've been video game free for 5 months. I used to try doing video games and self improvement and even if I wasn't less motivated I still wasted a few hours every day playing them which stopped me from working efficiently

[@abdullahmufti]

I agree with this. But about quitting social media, does that mean quitting youtube aswell?

[@tuffcookie456]

@@arian3003 you outgrow a youtube addiction

[@CarecaRusso]

Yes YT counts too we have to levae it

[@TheGreenRa]

I mean, that's great that your life is better without video games. And it's great that many other people feel that way too. However, I've lived a voluntary life without video games (and yes, without other stimuli) for a few years, and coming back to video games hasn't decreased the amount of happiness I can attain now. I didn't feel a significant difference except I was just living life without playing video games. It wasn't that life changing or remarkable, it was just life. Video games are life. Let me rephrase: video games are apart of the grand experience called life. Starting a business, having a child, playing a board game, knitting, sex, working out, yada yada yada.....it's all a wonderful and unique experience. Look, I appreciate many parts of your message. I think the biggest positive take away from this is that life should be a balance. Video games can often become too much of a focus in life and need to be toned down. But when you're chalking up your video's conclusion to: video games could make you happy, but they'll never make you TRULY happy.....that's just silly. Yes, if you're only playing video games, that could lead to dissatisfaction and limit future experiences. But entirely cutting them out won't necessarily make a huge difference for everyone either. Maybe it works for you and that's great. However, not everyone needs the same fix.

[@Luka-el9nt]

I want to quit video games but i love history and i want to conquer the world in games because i cant in video games

[@CarecaRusso]

Bc youre an Jeffrey

[@gimpy-]

I play video games to talk with my friends strictly because there is no other way to talk other than party sometimes we are just in the party talking and not playing anything, but sometimes We do play video games so it’s just not dry or us just talking.(these are not friends I met online either, I’ve known them irl for several years) I also workout, meditate and etc. I know video games are bad and I don’t even find them fun or interesting anymore but then I can’t talk to my friends. I can also talk to them through FaceTime but we prefer to talk in a ps4 party and my phones battery is bugged so it dies really fast lol. I’m not exactly sure what to do because they are the only two people I ever talk too. I’m open to here opinions and I hope you see this Rob to give feedback!

[@CarecaRusso]

Just quit the games, Jeffrey.

[@gimpy-]

@@CarecaRusso then I can’t talk to my friends… can I get decent feedback? This doesn’t help, no offense

[@oess855]

@@gimpy- bruh you can talk to your friends without playing video games💀

[@oess855]

Also if you only hang out with your gaming buddy's when you're gaming then they're likely not your friends

[@gimpy-]

@@oess855 did you read the whole thing?

[@storydevice]

I don’t play video games that take several hours to pass anymore. Only short sessions. It’s because the longer they go, the more challenging they get, so I get stuck working on how to get past an obstacle instead of solving something in the real world. Something I realized about video games is that the subject is only interesting to other serious gamers. Keep that in mind if you’re dating or networking. It’s not a hobby that comes off as interesting, inspiring, or impressive to other non-gaming adults. There are other skills you can wholly or partially replace it with.

[@bekakhutchua3527]

If you say that video games is good for example for coordination why wouldn't you do sports or sth like that for coordination?! if you say that this is good for communicate with other people why wouldn't you communicate with people in real life face-to-face?!if you say that this is good for storytelling why wouldn't you read book for that?! Why would you level up in game when you can level up in real life?!..so I think that if you make real life a game and level up in it, your life will be insane💪🏻❤☯️🔥

[@xdntreborn3269]

i think the main point is that, as video game developer, i realised that video games mix a lot of different aspects of our culture, for example: music cinematic cutscenes just like in movies storytelling similiar to one in book or even better animations just like in animated shows and even a lot more, including art too that's one of the few reasons why some artists, composers, writers go into video games, because they give so much freedom for their work

[@CarecaRusso]

@@xdntreborn3269 bs

[@JeffRogers99]

Bad unless you live in the city than it’s probably keeping you out of trouble/alive

[@jakerobinson2140]

I find that it actually helps me find the gym and reading more motivating. It helps reduce burnout from the two. I get super burned out if I don’t play them and I’m fine if I do play them. I only play on the weekend and on deload weeks. I really wish I could quit and get the feeling you get. I’ve tried many times and it just doesn’t happen. I have given it a try and video games help with burnout. I STRONGLY disagree. Focusing strictly on self improvement for 3 months will burn you out.

[@milojdiaz]

I used to play quite a lot of games back in the day, nowadays that I've started working on my life I just can't seem to enjoy games much, last one I played was Elden Ring for about 100 hours day in and day out kind of just searching for the thrill I used to feel, the game is cool but I wasn't really having fun, it just isn't the same anymore, I think when you realize the game of life is the one you ought to be playing you drift from videogames... sigh... Demonizing them though doesn't feel right seen as they're massive artpieces filled with stories and hard work from the many people involved, there has to be a balance where you can appreciate them alongside life whilist living it to the fullest as well, probably has to do with intentionality, most like the way we consume content, I'd say it's about being mindful

[@Leon.Stanic]

So, uh... after downloading AoE2 again after 2 weeks of a dopamine fast and thinking I'm going to play at most 2 games per day, I've probably spent 100 hours playing in the last 2 weeks. The first 3 days, I've played over 30 games. I guess it's just not compatible with my life. Really sucks, but I simply cannot play this game and live an enjoyable life at the same time. I'll uninstall it again... tommorrow :)

[@branlynmorales8951]

Tomorrow lmao

[@Leon.Stanic]

@@branlynmorales8951 I just need to play a bit more!

[@ClicheXeveryXday]

How about with anything in life, moderation?

[@editsfor8113]

Rob I get it alr, I would love to quit, but what else I can do if im new to fitnes and I cant workout for like 2 hours half the day I got nothing to do my goal is to losse weight I go outside Walk 10k steps a day, But there is still like 6 hours or more free time, any suggestions what to do U must replace the habbit but with what I dont know.

[@tuffcookie456]

Study, spend time with family, go out an socialise

[@exnihilonihilfit6316]

killing time = killing your life = killing yourself 😁

[@justbacksway9964]

what about chess!?

[@sergeantworteltjes4510]

You give some great points! But i still can not decide if i agree with you. Yeah games are not good for you, that is something i can not disagree with you about. But (you probably are not surprised that there is a but) there is also nuance. A ton of things are bad for you in the same way that games are bad for you. Like movies and series when you watch them alone. I think in self improvement a lot of things are important to not do. But i also think that you should enjoy things in life that do not always need a goal. Imagine you wake up and you had a bad dream, alright that sucks it is not the end of the world. You go to work and there is a traffic jam and becuase of that you are 20 minutes late. Work sucks etc etc, i think you can understand my point. You have a really shitty day and you want to relax. Well porn isnt great becuase, its porn. Social media is most of the time just an awfull place to be. Then what is exact the problem that i boot up my playstation for an hour (yeah i know, the infamous *i only play one hour a day*) and i can forget about the traffic jam and play a game. And what is the big differents between watching and movie? I do not try to say that i do not agree with you but i still cannot understand that life will change so much if i just stop touching my controller.

[@CarecaRusso]

Cope.

[@oess855]

Cope.

[@visual7119]

I play video games so much .... and idk about Hamza or you say, but i play a FPS games today (valorant), 2-3 matches and all lose(2 hours) , and i feel like lose my time .... i am a big fan for video games BTW , but idk , for my first time i didn't feel angry , i was disgusted for video games. I was like : wtf i am doing here ? Why i invest time in this sh*@%$

[@CarecaRusso]

Just quit.

[@CarecaRusso]

Now.

[@topg4792]

What about music ?

[@tuffcookie456]

No prob, unless you are doing a 1 day dopamine detox

[@CP-uw4ts]

Here me out, Swedish Matthew mcconaughey.

[@GymForLifeHD]

not bad i see that my brains work other way i find soliution to real life problems funny thing is that i did not had english in school i lerned english from game i skiped school to play game i did not finished school not ben student sounds bad but 4 years ago i quit day job i created work space for some ppl i have multiple bussnes now fixing home for my next bussnes and all of this because of games ? because i know for sure not because of school

[@MatthewGuts]

This is funny, Thanks Rob.

[@esqueremilio664]

Videogames have been something that I've been with since my childhood. However, when I went to highschool I missed a lot of things because I was always waiting for school to end in order to play videogames all night, which also messed up my sleep schedule. When I went to college I failed both semesters because of how I spent my time by prioritizing videogames first. After my laptop broke, I began to do new things and when I got a new one I realized that videogames have become boring and I am completely uninterested on them. Now I have taken new habits and I am on my way to real estate school 💪.

[@relevantgames178]

But Rob, I work as a game developer haha. No, I totally understand the logic behind this and playing less video games, ironically, has made me a better developer. Groetjes, Ramadan

[@jkn111111]

You say “the amount of joy I got out of life” as if games aren’t a part of life. Did you not feel joy playing a video game? Then I would say you for a lot of joy out of life no? Why are you treating things like social media and games as if they aren’t a part of life’s choices.

[@ricardobracho9567]

In my case I decided that videogames are way TOO HARD for me to regulate, when I start, I just can't find a balance that really feels good; I always end up having insatiable cravings. But that's just me, I wouldn't say that everyone should quit if they enjoy it, you gotta enjoy life at some point

[@jamesmccloud7535]

I can relate to this. Haven't played videogames for 6 months. Then I got the desire to play a little bit of skyrim just for 1 hour a few days ago. Then the next day I felt a huge craving to play again, but I didn't cause I had other things to do. And then today I felt again another craving come up to play Skyrim. I never felt this desire to play for months, now after just playing ONCE, I feel tempted to play everyday. I've never completed the game but I've always wanted to as a kid. I plan to play 1-2 hours only for 2 days a week, and only after finishing everything that takes priority. Crazy though how I can see myself getting addicted again after just one session.

[@BonytoBeastly]

I'm someone who loves and defends videogames. And I've taken several years away from them, several times. I was unhealthfully obsessed with MMOs during high school, a habit I couldn't keep up during university, so I quit videogames for around 7 years. But after graduating and starting up a business, I found I had some time for them again. After having a kid, and during busy periods at work, I've given up gaming for months or even 2-3 years at a time. Sometimes I'll give them up because I want to spend more time reading or writing, or whatever else I'm interested in at the moment. But I always enjoy coming back to gaming. Especially the high-quality video games with clearly defined endings. Games like Dark Souls, Banner Saga, XCom 2. They aren't endless endeavours. You play them, enjoy them, win, and are then free to move on to other things. When I bring my business to the next level (part of which means getting better at making KZbin content) I'm looking forward to playing Elden Ring. I'm happily married, a dad, I run a business, I work out, I eat well. I'm not a paragon of success-I'm not a billionaire or anything-but life is good, and video games are a part of that.

[@robmulder]

You say "I always enjoy coming back to gaming". Does that mean that you have periods in your life where you don't play any games at all, alternated by periods where you do play games?

[@BonytoBeastly]

​ @Rob Mulder Yeah. If I understood it right, you were saying that people who take long periods away from gaming tend to realise that video games are destructive. But I don't think that's necessarily true. I haven't played any games this year yet, but I'm looking forward to getting obsessed with Elden Ring for a few weeks. I think video games can be a great art form, a great way to decompres, or a great way to hang out with friends online. (I just need to watch out for games like MMOs, where the minute-to-minute grind is boring, but the whole point is to "accomplish" something, such as gaining levels or getting new gear. It's virtual work, rather than a highly enjoyable experience with a defined ending. Better to grind away at real-life projects and get real rewards.)

[@robmulder]

​@@BonytoBeastly Well I don't think they are destructive, I just think people who don't play any video games at all tend to find that they feel even better then when they do play games. When you do play games, you can be fine, but when you don't play games, you feel even more motivated and get more enjoyment out of life. This is what I noticed myself and it's a pattern I noticed in other people. I don't think there is anything necessarily wrong with playing a game once every so often, I think it mainly becomes a problem if the game is a standard in your life, where you do it every evening or every weekend. That's where it really seems to start to hijack the dopamine system, even if it's not an MMO. But the lifestyle you describe seems very reasonable to me. I mean.., you haven't played a game this entire year yet? To me, it doesn't sound like games are a standard in your life at all. It sounds more like you 'normally' live a lifestyle without games, and you occasionally allow yourself to have a 'break' where you play a video games for a couple of days or weeks. That is actually almost exactly what I do. Not too long ago I played Phasmophobia for a couple of days with my friends.

[@BonytoBeastly]

​@@robmulder Okay, yeah, gotcha. That makes sense. And to your point: if I'm trying to accomplish something big in life, I usually need to take a break from video games to properly focus on it.

[@randomguy6221]

My problem is that even if I were to fully quit videogames, what would I do? I don't know what I wanna accomplish in life. I do a lot of the good habits already. I work out, eat healthy, meditate etc but there's only a limited amount of time you can go to the gym. It's not like those hours I spend every day on videogames can be spent in the gym. What do you do if you don't know what you wanna work as or achieve?

[@Vitali_Osandor]

First, find out your general purpose in life. Which is developing yourself from ALL points of view (morally/spiritually, intelectually, emotionally and physically) AND offering yourself to the world (through your positive influence on others, helping others, doing something for their happiness, for the environment, and so on). This is the purpose of life. Then, find out what your specific occupation and passions are. What are the things that you like, you are good at AND are also useful for yourself and for the others. And focus your time and activities on these things, beside the general purpose in your life, which has to incorporate these things. Improving and developing yourself IN GENERAL and influencing others for the better is the main thing in life, then your job and passions come second (at least in what regards accomplishment). A relationship with a significant other is immensely important, as well, but I believe we have to learn to be happy and accomplished even without it, if we need to. There's no guarantee, after all, that we'll find someone suitable or that the person we find will like us back. Hope these helped.

[@randomguy6221]

@@Vitali_Osandor The purpose of life is different for every person lol. You can't just say that developing yourself in all ways is the purpose of life. There legit isn't a specific purpose of life

[@Vitali_Osandor]

@@randomguy6221 Not only continuously developing yourself, but having a positive impact on the others. Both these things together constitute the purpose of life - that is, the best purpose in life someone can have, in my view. Of course, I answered your question based on my view and belief. You are free to accept it or not. I personally arrived to these conclusions long time ago and it became clear to me again and again that this is the one true purpose in life one can have and which encompasses pretty much everything else. Choosing a narrower purpose and/or one which has a clear finality is bound to leave you unhappy and unaccomplished. Besting yourself and "offering" yourself - both of these - are, in my strong belief, the one best purpose in life one can have. Sure, there always are some other narrower purposes and dreams, but this is the general and always valid purpose of life. I just wanted to present to you my view in order to help you. That's why I bothered to answer your comment.

[@changthao4875]

Video games give u quests. If u dont know what quests to achieve in real life. Look at your bank account

[@U.Sheehan]

you could journal,read books,become more religious and watch podcasts like ones of dr andrew huberman which is useful for life...people can do so many things without video games but don't realise it

[@agatsuka208]

You should quit PMO, but not video games, music, tv shows, films. You are a human, not a robot.

[@CarecaRusso]

Cope harder, Jeffrey.

[@agatsuka208]

@@CarecaRusso It's called enjoying some humanly things, freak

[@oess855]

@@agatsuka208 cope

[@zaxnat3484]

@@agatsuka208 Cope

[@Marta1Buck]

I'll say this, many video games nowadays built to make people feel FOMO like social media. Studies have shown in favor of video games in moderation, that's the key. There will be people with addict personality that will overdo it, that's for sure. Some video games, however built as a replacement for movie or film, and people play those for the story. So in short, people make dinner with knife but some people also use knife to harm themselves or other.

[@robmulder]

"Studies have shown in favor of video games in moderation". I would really like to see those studies.

[@wanterofjustice3878]

Sorry, this is coming to you at 02:00 in the morning so this won’t be as comprehensive as I’d like but here goes. So, we quit porn,social media, and video games how them are we to live? Go out and enjoy the fresh air? Well, what if you live in an urban area with a high crime rate like Chicago or LA. Build models?…that gets boring after the 10th or 20th time doing it. Read a book? All my reading requirements from reading the dialogue of an RPG or game with notes on lore. Also, games are a more engaging means of using math. Watch TV like the history channel or discovery? Hmm, you haven’t heard how woke these so called educational channels have become. Be a monk and worship one of many sky deities? Been an atheist for a long time and will continue that until tangle evidence presents itself and isn’t just something that happens to me. Still waiting 15 years after leaving religion(Christianity to be exact). Go, socialize and get yourself a partner? I’m an introvert and it’s exhausting mentally and emotionally for me to be face to face with people more than 1-2 hours at a time. Partner? I’m an financially unattractive, working class man with below average looks. I’m heterosexual and a dark skinned black American biological male. The dynamics of women that look like me (racially) is so bleak I don’t want to go through the hassle or toxicity to find one. While on the other hand more than half of non-black women are either fearful of me, look down upon me or don’t want to get out of their own comfort zone to get to know me as a individual..So basically, no hope there. My point is that everyone’s life isn’t the same. There are no equals in life and if we choose to alternate ways to enjoy that life then who are you or anyone to tell us otherwise. Because I guarantee that you won’t sacrifice anything to help. All you and others are are full of BS talking points. Talk is cheap.

[@gotinogaden]

Great comment. A lot of these youtubers talk that-one-thing. If we only we can change that one thing about you, then your life will become amazing, and what do you know, it's always the low-hanging fruit. Videogames, or introversion, or not wanting to date, etc. When in reality, there's probably a myriad of reasons why people re-tract and go back to videogames again and again, and many of those reasons fall out of the scope of videos such as this one.

[@leommemer8278]

Thank you for sharing your experience your channel is pretty good and i thank you for making me think about a life without games.

[@Zend404]

To sum up + some of my thoughts: Video games like social media or something else in its only manifestation is not gonna destroy your hapinnes, but always will be a disadvantage on the way to it. The fact that so many people defend video games so agressively shows that they are somewhat dependent from them and they're not ready to give them up from their lives, which is not a good sign. Like why are you ready to go to your hapinnes with disadvantages? From the other side, most people who start self-improvment are somewhat broke and their only source of happiness are videogames, also they might only have friends there, but having friend is crusual. So many people are not ready to give them up because of this background. But, the thing is. If you find friends IRL, constantly parallel to the increase in self-development will reduce the amount of time in video games - after some time, when you will start to get results and become happier with your self-improvement you won't want to play videogames yourself. After this moment you won't find quiting videogames like some painful thing, u will do it naturally and be happy about it. That doesn't mean, that you will be forever have to not to play videogames, you will allow yourself but you won't be dependent from them so you wont' want it yourself :)

[@chn683]

this is what I experienced. nice opinion and summary👍😄

[@Kevin-sf9zr]

I do think videogames can destroy your happiness. I remember back in the day games used to be amazing but nowadays I rarely feel that great playing a game. I know the game is good but still it does not satisfy me anymore. So games are not that fun but you still play them to hopefully find a game that is amazing, which rarely happens. Meanwhile, real life is a bitch as well, you do have a job but not one you really love, even though you had dreams when you were younger. And that's why you return to videogames because in that game you can be whatever you want to be.

[@caesar7786]

But you literally have gaming videos on your channel. Btw, i think you're kinda wrong, at least imo..video games, when you know how to manage & balance things in their own life, video games would not be a bad thing at all, and can even give you numerous positive benefits, while at the same time being fun & enjoyable. Not because we are fully dependent on it, but yes, games have always been a part of our life, or simply because the youtubers who criticize video games are often wrong & the criticism is just a misconception about them..you just need to know & learn how to manage & balance things in their own life if you can. Btw, wdym give them up for their lives? I mean, video games can literally be a part of our life, and countless people do play video games regularly and yet, they still live a happy, healthy, and even a successful life, so idk wdym by it's not a good sign. Everything has its own pros and cons/advantages and disadvantages, including video games.. sure, when playing too much/if you don't do other things other than that, they can be a disadvantage, but when balanced, video games can be an advantage & give you numerous positive effects & health benefits. Well, no, maybe we do have other things that make us happy as well, but gaming might be one of the best things that can make us happy, and it's not a bad thing at all, it's normal, as long as we know how to keep things balanced & don't get addicted..i mean, like i said before, countless people play games regularly and they still live a happy and healthy life. So if they can & know how to balance things in their own life, they don't need to give them up at all..they just need to keep things balanced, while still having gaming as being a part of their life, playing games, while still doing fitness & exercises, going outside, working, etc.

[@caesar7786]

@@Kevin-sf9zr when balanced, they actually can make you happy, but imo, it's not the games' fault, it's the people whose happiness get "destroyed" by them.. literally countless people play games and they are happy when playing them..and they still live a happy & healthy life. But i disagree with "games aren't fun anymore", there are still a lot of great new games in 2022..yes, some became bad, but NOT ALL.

[@Zend404]

@@caesar7786 bro... chill 😂 That's the agressiveness in game defending I was talking about. You're trying to prove me wrong so hard, lol, no one tries to block your access to videogames, but it's a fact that games are dopamine traps, so it will be a disadvantage while you have no discipline and will be trying to self-improve. Some people in theory could balance their life and be happy with it, but most people can't, especially, If you are so obsessed with them that you're trying so hard to prove me wrong and get the allowing to play so hard. As I said, if you will successfully self-improve and reduce the amount of time in videogames everyday - games will become boring itself, so you will easily quit. About this KZbin account, I don't think you will believe that it's not mine, but it is (long story) 😂 And please, don't answer with 30+ pages proof of your opinion. I appreciate you are not just taking someone's other point but trying to prove yours, but I don't have so much effort to change your mind, so I said what I thought and experienced. If you want to play videogames so hard - your choice, but we have warned you about what we think about it. If you will be happy anyways, fine. That's the only point of self-improvement channels. To help you getting happy with minimum traps that can take you to the other way like videogames.

[@Vitali_Osandor]

You would be more convincing if this was actually hard science. But when I look for hard science I don't ever find that the effects you describe are unavoidable. It sounds more like an addiction problem (regardless of how much or how little you play - addiction is not necessarily dependent on the time played), which not everyone develops... Also, what about simpler games like Tetris or other similar puzzle games, or 2D 1vs1 fighting games, etc.? When you say "gaming" you say a lot. Some video games are extremely similar to real-life games, except they are played on a screen and not on paper or on a table. Are you against games in general? Games in general include sports as well, as most sports are nothing else than games. I am honestly looking for answers about video games and am trying to find out if video games are really inherently bad, but I didn't find any material against them so far to be convincing enough.

[@TenInfi]

Yeah, people won't agree with you on games, because games are a complete medium. You can watch movie inside a game, you can read a book inside a game and you can... play a game inside a game (it's called minigames). So demonising such a broad medium as a whole makes you seem ignorant. Besides, what about the healthy form of escapism (yes, escapism can be beneficial and recent studies compare playing video games to meditation even) and what about quality entertainment, which you need in your life no matter how much of a hustle-focused you are? OFC, popular online games are made in a way to abuse our dopamine systems and that's why they're so popular. Quitting them is a mandatory, like quitting porn and social media. But comparing such games to other, more ambitious and story-driven works is kinda nuts.

[@robmulder]

I suggest you (re)watch the video and actually listen to what I have to say.

[@TenInfi]

@@robmulder it's a typical response for any criticism in this type of channels: "you didn't watch the video", "you didn't understand it", "you're opposing the thesis just for the sake of opposing". Well, no. If you want a meaningful conversation, make it, don't impute anything to the person you're talking with.

[@robmulder]

@@TenInfi Yes, except, you actually DID miss the point, or at least, you are misrepresenting my words. For example, you say that I am "demonizing" games. If you genuinely think I am demonizing games, then you really haven't listened to what I said at all. Maybe the reason you "typically" get a response like this, is because you actually have trouble listening to people? Did you ever consider that perspective?

[@TenInfi]

@@robmulder If you want to know, I mostly don't comment on videos like this. I've gotten that impression from reading comments that don't agree with the theses reproduced on self-improvement channels for men, and even some that are directly opposed to it. Some of them are deleted pretty quickly, so it seems like everyone agrees with everyone else. If that's the goal and we need to make this space safe, then I understand. But I didn't get that impression before. Don't get me wrong, because I'm glad you wrote back to my comment, but I don't think it's necessary to make further assumptions (especially of a deprecating nature to the interlocutor) about my life when I haven't given you enough information to make such claims. In the same way, I could conclude that you are clearly not speaking intelligibly enough. Just why? What would that bring to the conversation? Back on topic: I agree that the statement that you "demonize" games may be an exaggeration, and I apologize for projecting common perceptions about games onto you. That word was too strong for what I meant, which is: games are too complex a medium and we need to refer to research about them to make definitive conclusions. And not just any research, but research from sources dedicated to games, of which there is still very little. The other topics you're comparing them to aren't as nuanced in terms of our dopaminergic system and the benefits of quitting them, so there will always be a large portion of people who will disagree with you, even if they aren't gamers themselves.

[@Stolid]

I'm not a "gamer" myself, but a friend of mine did bring up a quite valid question. They said "But is this the same if the video game is a career? As in striving to be an eSports player?" And now, this is a new way of looking at the thing, that I never have considered. They compared it to something like playing Chess or Go professionally, and it made me think. What do you think of this, Rob? Because, I personally, was unable to answer the person, since I've never really been into videogames. Much appreciated :) Have a good day :)

[@CarecaRusso]

Pure cope. You ant not going to be at esports so stop lying to yourself.

[@xerx_is_bored]

@@CarecaRusso im not a gamer myself nor am i into them but i do have seen people build a career out of them streaming, playing at local tournaments ,if jts for a cause like building another stream of cashflow for them so so let the man grind bro, stop pulling their leg

[@Stolid]

@@CarecaRusso Oh, I'm not someone who plays stuff often enough to even think about this. It was a close friend of mine, and to be fair, he already is studying at one of the top universities of our country, and has played semi professionally. It was interesting to see a different perspective, and that is why I shared it : )

[@mrwhitesam6917]

It’s weird to give up video games for ever and ever. It’s like not seeing your favorite franchise movie at all that you loved when you where young, it’s like not having any tastes for anything that is not productive. Do we really have to go in life and take out everything that we loved. It’s like being a fan of Star Wars and then deciding that it doesn’t serve you anything so you take it out and you don’t talk about the new movie this year with your friends because you prohibit it for ever. I hope the Star Wars example is good to be understandable. Like the next chapters of deltarune are going to release but no, I won’t play two hours in a game I waited years to come just because it’s doesn’t have something productive, let’s not experience that for the rest of my life. Don’t watch the new Jurassic word movie with your friends because it’s not productive

[@CarecaRusso]

Cope harder mf

[@lifeenjoyer6077]

The reason we eliminate these things is because they are instant gratification activities that can harm not only our productivity but also our mental state and health, it's not just about being productive 24/7 (which is equally as stupid as wasting time 24/7 because you'll burn out very quickly) it's about general well being as well, like Rob said you have to try what life feels like without those things even if they may feel nostalgic to you, you're not really giving up anything, you're creating more free time for things that can have a positive impact on your health and mood.

[@mrwhitesam6917]

@@lifeenjoyer6077 I would give up on the addiction but would not give up having fun with friends that includes video games sometimes. Giving up these entirely seems obsessive to me, sometimes video games can be pieces of art of sharing and inspirations and also to spend fun times with friends. Like I said it’s like not going to the cinema sometimes to see the new movie or going to the arcade to have fun with friends. Why would I take out entirely that If I have spear time. These things will one day disappear from my life and won’t experience them again.

[@halosaft]

​@@lifeenjoyer6077 Video games are actually good for the brain. They increase cognitive function, helps build better memory, problem solving and attention. And that's actually been studied so there's actual merit to those claims. People like you who say that video games are bad for the brain never seem to have any merit or credibility for your claims. And I've looked, there really seem to be nothing of the sort. The closest I've found is that addiction is bad for you (duh), but that's not specific to video games.

[@shariarshuvo]

bro I agree with you completely. I successfully quit videogames 4 months ago. I played 1.5 hours a day then I switched it to weekends, and Stopped it completely. It was a 10 years old addiction that took me 1 year to stop.

[@weirdo3116]

idk. this video feels misleading. I thought I was gonna get a talk about how my life would be better with out video games. but then it turns out that it's just a "low dopamine" lifestyle in general along with having "big goals" and "big ambitions" what ever that means. tbh I was ready to come into this to learn why i should stop playing video games because I'll be honest I'm kinda in that same boat where I think I play way to much and maybe if I stop I'll be able to actually do something/accomplish goals. but they you lost me why you started talking about "low dopamine" lifestyle and needing to have "big goals/ambitions". like what does "big goals/ambitions" even mean in this context? what if I wanna learn how to draw so I can make art for video games? what if I wanna make pixel art for video games because of a game I played when I was younger? are those goals/ambitions not big enough? do they now count since they're related to video games? everything said just felt so nebulous that you might as well said "men are trash". i went into this wanting to believe but left disappointed.

[@royliuhm]

Just stumbled on your channel through this one video, and I admit, I have been an avid gamer over the past 30 years or so, and now that I am on to path to giving up video games I totally agree with what you are saying, that the lust for life is different if you do or do not play video games. The experience is different by a wide margin. I am slowly feeling the lust for life return to me, and I feel as if I have awoken from a very long dream. I don't really like what I see necessarily, but I do not think I want to go back into the slumber that is being a gamer.

[@IanPlug]

quitting video games changed my life i used to a video game addict as a kid that shit sucked my soul

[@Laughhipster]

I actually found that since i quit video games (3-4 weeks so far) and i am more productive and my schoolwork seems easy when it used to be a big burden thanks Rob

[@a-terrible-fate532]

No video games are not bad for you and they are just fine if you can manage to play them in moderation and balance it with the rest of your life. If you cannot do this then they are definitely a problem for you and you should probably quit playing.

[@CarecaRusso]

Cope harder, Jeffrey.

[@oess855]

Cope

[@Vitali_Osandor]

@@CarecaRusso You sound like a bully, leaving the same comment to people disagreeing to the point of the video.

[@matthew.88]

In moderation EVERYTHING is beneficial, you just have to don't become an addict 💪

[@robmulder]

Everything? What about using heroin and molesting children?

[@CarecaRusso]

@@robmulder hes just coping bc cant stop playng

[@analt2379]

@@robmulder False equivalency of the century also I decided to do some research and um the percentage of gamers that are addicts the answer is 10 percent

[@analt2379]

@NindoSBM I didn’t mean to say he’s an addict or not there was a typo in my original reply

[@reebozo3543]

Great video, but its way too repetitive which makes it boring

[@MichaelKeaveneyYouTube]

Thanks, it’s truly inspiring what you’re saying. It leads to another interesting point. We literally can’t imagine this amazing life, so why would the brain be inclined to work towards it? We are unaware of how good it could be. This includes going to the gym or working towards something to truly improve oneself, neither of which I have done yet.

[@Apistevist]

Why has the gym become the pinnacle of meaning with self improvement gurus? Yeah, be healthy, run and eat well.. Why waste 40 hours a month of your life in a gym for aesthetics that'll you'll start losing with age or by stopping. Time better spend learning skills or advancing a career or sports etc. Aesthetics is for shallow people. Be in great shape, run fast miles but turning your life into gym and aesthetics is just narcissistic and shallow in my opinion.

[@matteodavis2221]

Thank you Rob I have decided to quit video games, I have a question if you workout and on your rest day Can I reward myself with a bit of anime ? like 1 or 2 episodes ?

[@rusabhi5726]

Love u rob love from India🇮🇳🇮🇳

[@nickanthropocene6502]

I actually miss video games. I miss porn, social media, junk food, hot showers, and I'm tired of working out. I miss not having any goals or ambitions. I was a black hole, but at least life was simple.

[@scrumpy5406]

Are you for real?

[@nickanthropocene6502]

@@scrumpy5406 Yes. I miss being irresponsible and hedonistic. I miss being comfortable at the bottom of the bucket. Obviously the blunt pain of action is (slightly more) preferable to the long term consequences of inaction, but still.

[@spooky_kitty901]

then take a break. dont overwork yourself too much and dont workout too much

[@nickanthropocene6502]

@@Matie_ If you want to replay your favorite game, friggin replay it. Since I wrote my previous comment I've wised up a little, and you know what? You're under no obligation to be the next Hamza, or the next David Goggins. A real man knows what he actually wants, does what he actually wants, and does what he must so that doing what he wants continues to be an option. I enjoy learning new things and reading, so that's what I do in my free time. But if next year I feel like playing a bunch of video games and watching a bunch of movies, you bet your ass I'm gonna do that. You do you. YOU DO NOT DO HAMZA.

[@ВоваРабецкий]

A legenda di Virginee.Uno snowquen hè u mo idolu. Hè a persona chì aspiru à esseg, hè a mo luce di ghjornu

[@SuperHperTube]

I play online chess every night as a hobby. I have not played any other game besides online chess for months. Would you still argue that I would be happier without it? And If you make an exception for Chess then why would it be different for many other video games you could play.

[@bew5230]

He mean the video games that are "High stimulus" like call of duty for example. It's too high dopamine hit so its "numb" your system.

[@bew5230]

Chess is ok.

[@SuperHperTube]

@@bew5230 So all strategy videogames are okay? And what about storytelling games? This anti video game narrative sounds inconsistent to me. I bet I get more dopamine release from playing chess then from a shooter. This is why I play chess so much.

[@bew5230]

@@SuperHperTube Yeah I see your point ... This topic is kinda nuance though at this point I honestly doesn't have a solid answer.

[@bew5230]

Something like sex or winning a sport give you a huge boost in dopamine too and self-improvement youtubers said its good because you got real life benefit but the point that you bring there made me think something like video game actually give you benefits in some way as well maybe it is the mental health or other factor that we miss so we becomes addict Idk.

[@tryxonia2712]

(I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS AT THE END OF THE TEXT, IF SOMEONE WANTS TO ANSWER I'D BE HAPPY) Your point about not sticking to your identity struck with me. Jordan Peterson, who has influenced my life a lot pointed something similar to me. It's that you'll have to burn of everything about you because most of you really is deadwood. You'll have to burn it of to grow. It feels extremely hard to think about a life completely without videogames because it's been such a big part of my life and many times it's what has kept me going. (in my younger days) I think people get so defensive for this reason. Many have probably played videogames all they life and then someone telling them they might have to stop makes them angry. It's like telling someone who smokes cigarrettes to stop smoking, they won't be happy about what you are telling them but deep inside they know it's not good for them. I might try this out though. MIGHT. I'm thinking, this probably is the same for every type of unnatural dopamine... I enjoy watching anime, series and movies now and then too. Would i have to be without them aswell? How about board games? Where do you draw the line? If anyone has any answers for my questions i'd appreciate it.

[@arthurcriscuolo9885]

I'm just some guy who's trying to better himself so I don't have really thought out and advanced answers on this but I'll try to help. Firstly I'd say that doing any activity excessively is bad, it doesn't matter if it is porn or sports. But i feel like vídeo games generate way more pleasure and dopamine than a lot of other activities because they combine a lot of things: an escape from reality, competitiveness, simple goals and objectives, seeing yourself improve and become stronger, easy way to make friends, instant gratification. And add the fact that there are millions of video games out there and that all of them can be infinitely updated to have new items, stories etc. Watching anime and series, playing chess, going to the gym, playing an instrument may all produce dopamine and gratification but not in the same level and ease as vídeo games (if not done excessively)

[@tryxonia2712]

@@arthurcriscuolo9885 Thank you! A really interesting take on it. The sense of getting somewhere is what the games basically trick us and i can really see that... That's one of the reasons i played so much when i was younger because i really didn't like my own life. I'm glad that's changed. I've just finished my first year at university and i've come a huge way from where i was before. I trained very routinely before i got sick and gave it up for a bit. (Both because of stress, lazyness and school) I want to get up that habit again and be the best version of myself you know? Also i barely even play videogames and for some months i didn't play AT ALL. I might have watched some series or anime but that's about it. All the time i do something, playing a game for a bit, watch an anime it feels so much better for some reason? I just don't want it to be my only motivation to move forward, i want my goals to be what gets me forward. I hope you achieve whatever you want to achieve in life, thanks for the reply brother

[@arthurcriscuolo9885]

@@tryxonia2712 I'm glad you have been able to enjoy your life more and work towards real life goals, that is a joy I somewhat share nowadays aswell. It is crucial to work towards dreams or goals in life, but it can't be the only thing you do. You should have hobbies, things to do in your free time that could serve as a way to improve yourself or not. Video games could be one of those activities but be aware that most of them are designed to be really addictive; are sure to bombard your brain with dopamine and pleasure; and they might consume a part of your motivation. I personally feel like a video game addict since 2009 when I got my Nintendo ds and have never really gotten more than a week without playing. At the same time I have been struggling a lot with motivation towards my goals, and my desire to play games the entire day have been way stronger (even though doing so makes me anxious, depressed). So I feel like vídeo games are a really big problem for me, I feel like a slave to them. I wish to one day balance out my dopamine system and experience life as it should be. However that's my perspective and you should think about what you desire, your history, your lifestyle, and so on. From what you've told me video games and series are not that much of a problem for you, maybe that motivation you're trying to get is hidden behind another problem. But idk, that's something you have to figure out. All and all I wish you all the best, we are all gonna make it. Let us work towards a better life :)

[@tryxonia2712]

@@arthurcriscuolo9885 I’m happy you are making progress aswell. I forgot to mention i actually play mobile games quite a bit… For some reason i didn’t count it as a ”game”. I uninstalled Clash Royale today and i’m going to stay out of it for a while now. The problem for me is if games stay at the back of my mind even though i play them ”just a bit” i would say. I got summer vacation soon, maybe i’ll cut every video game out for a month and focus on things i want to develop instead. I can relate to the video game addicition really, it’s hard for me to think of being completely without videogames. I used to think i’d play them for the rest of my life because i saw them and still see them as part of my identity. Hope you are doing well

[@tryxonia2712]

@@arthurcriscuolo9885 And yes, let’s totally make the best out of life!

[@aliharfoush8639]

Im greatful for my low specs laptop because i can't play video games with it. Does nicotine numb my Dopamin system

[@Entyipo]

Yeah it does

[@jimnian4031]

Along with that it also affects your pre-frontal cortex, the part of the brain that is responsible for decision making, this is also one of the reasons why cigarettes are so difficult to quit or at least get yourself to try and quit.

[@aliharfoush8639]

@@jimnian4031 i will try thx bro

[@odysseasandroutsos1821]

Right, I used to be addicted to the RDR games, would play up to 8 hours a day. I would obsess over making everything look extremely realistic. I haven't played any videogames since last August and boy is Rob right. Guys, in a nutshell, all you gotta do is live like men in the 60's or the 70's. You gotta live YOUR life and not Arthur Morgan's life. I only started playing RDR2 again a week ago, and that's because my younger sister asked me to. Now I'm playing for about a couple of hours with my sister whenever she asks me to do so. I kind of see it as my fatherhood practice (she's 9 and I'm 17). But never play alone. Never waste your valuablle time living the life of an imaginary character. Instead of doing something adventurus as John Marston in a virtual world, do it in real life. I actually did that exact thing with some friends of mine last month. We went on a huge hill and the only way to climb up was to grab plants and use them to levitate yourself upwards. It felt fucking amazing. Thank you, Rob

[@recarms_VII]

I'm bored of video games, the more time goes on the less I want to play and when I try to play I quit short time after. The only moment I somewhat enjoy them is when I play with friends during specific moments but slowly I'm switching to new activites to do with my "internet" friends. I guess It's about time I completly stop playing them. My problem is most of my activities are related to internet, even very important ones, such as school and friendships (I live abroad). I discovered self improvement sometime ago and now I'm begining to work out regularly (preferably outside when I can) or follow whatever advice I find usefull, but I'm also constating that I'm also slowly getting "addicted" to youtube, the less I play games the more I watch youtube overtime, I got to work on that by fillling up the gaps not playing video games opened in my daily life.

[@Nate_M_PCMR]

Personally it's been months since i didn't play video games and i didn't feel better or worse, guess i was not addicted to 'em

[@alesja8540]

I think this is very similar to sugar addiction. The more you eat it the more you want it. Blood sugar level increases. Same as dopamine level. You can't imagine a life without it. You don't want to give it up because you think then your life will be boring or you'll miss something out that is fun. But actually your health and life quality would be better without it. But you won't realize it until you've tried it.

[@tylercafe1260]

Unfortunately this is a social media. So let's down why it sucks to be on social media. It doesn't magically drain you of your brains chemicals but it's what you see. You see people telling you things that are factually wrong or at worst directly targeting you over your opinion. Which is why it's best to leave opinions for real conversations and not the internet. Someone needs to hear this video but at the same time this video could go against everything they believe. Just some food for thought.

[@Bogone-rk8wj]

I apparently have a specific way of handling a situation in video games. There are times I could game for several hours to the point of not gaming for like a week, a month, or even several months. The purpose here is that I can maintain that level of motivation with and without video games. Hell, I even tried a year without gaming. Apparently, there are people who have a tough time doing that, and the key here is to focus on other things in life; don't think about that because it'll hold you back. Once you achieve that goal or activity, you could take a break here and there, such as playing video games. It's all about focusing and not letting anything distract you. That's why I enjoy video games because it's one of the activities that balances me. Of course, in moderation, just like all other activities.

[@Un3thical]

I quit playing video games when my son was 2 months old and he’s almost a year old now and I have noticed I’ve become a better husband and a better father after quitting But recently I have thought to myself would it be okay to maybe play a video every once in a while when I genuinely have the time to like not for 1 hour a day or even ever weekend, Like I wonder if I could handle just playing video games ver seldom and only when I actually truly have time for it like not saying I’m gonna play them everyday for an hour or not the weekend ever week literally only on occasions where I genuinely have time, Do to think that’s possible to achieve? I just don’t want my addiction to video games to come back again 🎮 I enjoy them but I only want to enjoy them when the time is appropriate and not everyday just because I have time after work, but I really don’t have time after work because I have things to do I mean days where there is literally nothing to do and I don’t have plans and I say we’ll maybe I’ll play for an hour and then find a productive activity to do

[@CP-uw4ts]

I do think for the world to properly work there has to be a larger group of people willing to work the jobs that don’t go anywhere in life(and that’s fine as long as their needs are secure at the end of the day), and for them video games are fine, just my opinion of course.

[@dessinpenceel1576]

The act of playing video games makes you want to play more, it changes your mindset. For example: At one point I didn't feel the need to play the games, and just once I did play. That one time I couldn't play for 30 minutes. The next time, the same thing happened. But the third time, I played an hour(most likely more). And then it happened again. And that when the mindset changed back to how it was before I started selfimprovement: 'Yea I can read or start journalling, but I could be playing the games, so why not?' I still play games, even though I know it's bad, and sometimes I decide not to, and do something that is (in my opinion) productive. It's like a chart with a line that goes up and down. But as time progresses, the downtime feels worse, even though it's probably less worse than the last downtime. And you need to keep that in mind that, even if you are in a slump in the middle of your self improvement, look back at the last slump and see what's the difference, and what kade you fall back in those bad habits. That is in itself self-improvement.

[@viljami8995]

I wasted my teenage years to video games and other deadly vices. Develop other hobbies like reading books or maybe even board-gaming, hex and counter wargaming. Find things that interest you and embrace them.

[@Bob-pi3dd]

I think the reason people react so strongly to criticism of video games is because guys often grew up on them. They’re a part of their childhood myths. I want to make a video on this soon.

[@caesar7786]

Wdym childhood myths? And also, because the "criticism" of them is often wrong, or just a misconception about games

[@Bob-pi3dd]

@@caesar7786 Childhood myths are the fond memories we have of childhood. I have many good memories of playing videogames for example.

[@caesar7786]

@@Bob-pi3dd ok. Video games vary differently between age ratings though, so

[@lisandrosantana4241]

Can't deny this truth even though I have never tried this I feel it to be true.

[@juansepulveda2019]

Bro u changing my life 4 real

[@User4-4-5]

Since I spent some money on my PC and games, I cannot completely quit but I can play video games less often because I actually find them fun!

[@User4-4-5]

@@Onur_G I don't want bro, plus a lot of people play video games and go to e-sports championships and have a great dopamine system, I'll just quit social media, do more physical exercise, quit ⬛🟧 and still play video games oh and also I want to say that most of the time I play older video games because back then, the video games were made to have fun 20-30 minutes and then come back later to them, older games are not addictive at all! And I cannot just abandon a really huge hobby of myself, yes I agree, too much video games are bad for you but if you play a bit older games and not several hours, your dopamine system will be good!

[@leonwestbrook2540]

thank you

[@sargisshirinyan207]

I play a stressful game, it stresses more than gives pleasure. Does it still kill my dopamine?

[@CarecaRusso]

Yes

[@tomlimer9734]

And what if your life goal is to be a game developer?

[@changthao4875]

Game developer spend all day debugging their product. Mindlessly going zombie mode in a game and yelling at the screen isnt it.

[@rise7056]

video games are a waste of time because they are useless so whats the point of playing anyway?

[@user-qz9lc1lt2y]

it is fun

[@rise7056]

@@user-qz9lc1lt2y why does it matter if its fun or not?

[@halosaft]

​@@rise7056 Because that's the reason to play? Because you'd get enjoyment out of it. Why do I play piano and learn new songs? Because it's fun. Why do I crochet and learn new patterns? Because it's fun. Why do I read books? Because it's fun. Why do I play video games? Because it's fun.

[@Sammyz_Official]

Hello everybody, I'm considering to stop playing so much video games. However there are 2 problems 1. I don't know if I should only limit the amount if video games I play or quit them entirely . 2. All my friends play a lot of video games so if I do quit they will probably not want to be friends with me anymore. Please tell me your thoughts on this

[@agamaz5650]

1. limit 2. delete if only common interests in gaming

[@changthao4875]

It's call growing up. From the look of it you're young so u gonna feel bad if u leave the social circle. But i promise u. If u leave the bubble and become a better version of yourself. Better ppl will come along

[@twin_peaks]

Is chess considered as a video game?)

[@tekkertruth1256]

Yeah it is, ffs do you have any common sense!

[@kreizi3735]

Depends normal chess is really good, but if its a video game, then it is

[@Sam-su9zv]

Yeah , but its good for brain.

[@kreizi3735]

@@Sam-su9zv if its in real life, not behind those screens

[@twin_peaks]

@@kreizi3735 what's the difference tho, I mean you either play it in person with someone else or you play it behind the screen. The basic ideas are the same, the moves, the openings you play. Why may playing chess online be bad for you?

[@gungnir3926]

If you train a lot you can "afford" to drink a couple of beers throughout the day, every day. But that is still a net negative for you. If that in no way impeeds on your goals, then your goals are at less than optimal standard, relative to your own potential.

[@dxxm____]

What about scary video games like dead space? I think if you are feeling fear you are not stimulating dopamine, in fact its not that bad, you supress dopamine with fear to after that feeling great.

[@robmulder]

haha

[@svenheuseveldt7188]

Lol I actually watched horror movies this weekend to face my fears, and I loved it, every single second of it. Never had that with horror movies lmao

[@dxxm____]

@@svenheuseveldt7188 I think it can be the same with a videogame, but "haha" is not a very intelligent answer

[@sirDavospeYT]

Wear a cap or a hat in the videos, it will raise your views.

[@oess855]

Is this a joke?

[@sirDavospeYT]

@@oess855 No, I genuinely mean it.

[@oess855]

@@sirDavospeYT Why?😭💀

[@alastairpearce8278]

Make a video on music

[@tuffcookie456]

I think its fine on a long term dopamine detox, but if you only do it once a week (which isnt that useful) then you shouldnt, go full hardcore

[@TirnanHealy]

Where do you stand with music?

[@svenheuseveldt7188]

Don't overstimulate yourself with it. I used to listen to it all the time. In the gym, while cycling or going anywhere, whilst working, in the shower, whilst making food. All the damn time. Last week I limited it to only listening to it while im at home and i have nothing else to do. It was interesting, not that bad the first days. And at the end of the week I liked it a lot more. I used music to numb my mind, now i can focus on what i was avoiding and i feel a lot more intregrated into my environment. My tip, limit it to only listening to it sometimes. Rule some situations out and others in. I only do it while im working, not in the gym or when im going somewhere for example.

[@svenheuseveldt7188]

But no music at all was pretty hard core and pretty boring. But now i know that and i can appreciate it so much more

[@exnihilonihilfit6316]

It's called "rationalizing".

[@exnihilonihilfit6316]

aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/rationalization.html

[@MetalHeadbanger7]

I think I am on my way to quitting videogames. When I was younger I would play them everyday for at least an hour to pretty much all day. Now, I would mostly play them on the weekends for a grand total of 3 hours at most. Maybe it's because I'm getting older (34) and I got more responsibilities to focus on. Maybe it's because my interests are shifting to other things as it often does when we all get older. Maybe it's because the games that are being made these days don't interest me like the ones from the yesteryears. Or maybe it could just simply be that I'm going through a burnout period. Right now I'm just trying to 'level up' my life, so if it means I gotta leave a big part of my childhood behind to move forward, then let it be so.

[@arthurcriscuolo9885]

Thank you, Rob. I have had a really hard time trying to quit vídeo games for the past few months and now I've decided to be extreme and remove the GPU from my pc so I can't play anything. Still battling out the other dopamine numbing activities, but I want to feel the ambition, the joy and satisfaction that you and Hanza talk about. I don't wanna be a slave to these things anymore and I want to enjoy life

[@lachlanB323]

I unplugged my PC and gave the cable to my Mum to hide it. I then started using my phone for watching a lot of entertainment but then I stopped that by removing everything entertainment related. I also unsubscribed from every KZbinr that I thought would provide nothing that I could learn from so nothing gaming or movie or anime related

[@halosaft]

​@@lachlanB323But you're still on social media... You're on KZbin, watching stuff like this video, which is dopamine inducing. You're even engaging and commenting.

[@lachlanB323]

@@halosaft I meant actual social media. Sure KZbin could be used as social media but it isn't actually. Depends on what content you watch and how much.

[@halosaft]

@@lachlanB323 In the way you are using it, it is 100% social media. You are watching videos and commenting and talking to people about it. How is that different from talking to people on instagram or twitter about a video or subject?

[@lachlanB323]

@@halosaft Well Twitter is a entirely different thing depending on how you use it. And Instagram can also be simply used as a text messaging app if desired. So it really depends on how you use the app. And talking and responding to comments doesn't count in my opinion. Of course you can consider it as social media but I don't.

[@Gautam-ps8iy]

Games are bad

[@fuzbeatboxern5714]

Nah

[@mrwhitesam6917]

Not all

[@oess855]

@@fuzbeatboxern5714 cope

[@oess855]

@@mrwhitesam6917 cope

[@mrwhitesam6917]

@@oess855 😳😳😳

[@gungnir3926]

Games/sports are simulations. If they specifically train a thing you actively use in your primary function the tribe/society then they are productive to an exstend. Especially if that function is dangerous and should be avoided unless needed. Like fighting, flying, operation, etc. But if the game is a simulation of a nonexisting, in your personal life/role or in general, it can hardly be viewed as anything but wasteful. Because it simply teaches you to be better at situations/skills that has nothing to do with your reality or your social group.

[@mrwhitesam6917]

Playing with friends

[@CarecaRusso]

Cope

[@gungnir3926]

@@mrwhitesam6917 of course it is much better. but far less so if those are not real life friends. this trains a relevant aspect/game in most peoples lifes: social cohesion and effective communication.

[@mrwhitesam6917]

@@gungnir3926 true but not my case

[@oess855]

Cope.

[@Wtftnt097]

Video games give you feeling of achievement I mean you play war games instead of being in war and you feel accomplished and then all that work and effort and you are a loser in real life.