My family and I don't seem to see eye to eye on a lot of things. I will spare you the dramatic details and try to get straight to the point. There's a large number of people in my family that have addictions to alcohol. I pointed this out to my grandmother at one point, and she said she was sad to watch them take the bottle every night. Recently an argument broke out between us and she attacked me with video games being in comparison to an unhealthy lifestyle. She believes I play excessively. My question to everyone is this: At one point do you believe video games become a problem?
To me, I think it's situational. My thoughts is kind of like fatness. I don't think it hurts for people to have a large body type, or be round, but if there's something in their life that's causing them to be obese, then there's a problem. So with video games, I assume it's the same. You're playing too much if it's taking over priorities in your life the wrong way.
I had to sit and ponder this notion for a long time. Because sometimes I honestly think I have an unhealthy obsession with games. I've been going through some rough times the past few years, a lot of real bad spots. Again I'll spare you the details. But games were there for me to fall on. It was my stress relief and painkiller (heh, Painkiller). I believe a lot of the time play for the same reasons some poeple pick up the bottle or maybe even take illegal substances. I personally fail at drinking, I tried smoking once and hated it, I never got in on the drug thing. My escape has always been gaming.
I'd like to believe it's a passion and a hobby as well. I don't get the pleasure and relief of playing games just from shooting people or getting achievements. I really just like to immerse myself in any game I can get my hands on. When I have a bad day, I like to soak myself in shadows as Garrett and shoot arrows at walls near guards to see them have drunken conversations with themselves about whether they heard someone or not. Does this make me a substance abuser?
Just to note I'm not trying to attack people who drink or do drugs, it's just not what I do personally. I'm not one to slam people for things they do unless it is a threat to me.