I didn’t even SEE my first video game until I was an adult. Because I’m that old. So while adults have traditionally not played video games, it’s because those games weren’t available, not because they are unsuitable for adults.
I’ll be 54 next week, and I STILL play video games. Some are aimed at kids, but others are firmly aimed at adults. I’m glad to be living in a time and place where I have the resources and the opportunities to play these games. In earlier times, if I’d had the leisure time and money, I’d probably have played bridge every afternoon. And possibly every morning.
Wow, I had no idea we had so many “gamers” here. It’s just my opinion that’s it’s a childish activity. Apparently plenty of people disagree. But for me, I am turned off by someone over the age of 25 or so spending lots of time with video games. Same thing with “fantasy sports leagues.” Oh and for the record, I am not an old fogey. I am in my 30s.
Let’s just say that upper management would dictate what you wore to work, how long you wore your hair, whether or not you had a visible tattoos and/or piercings, maybe even whether or not you had facial hair, and you would put up with this because the benefits were worth it. Now, not so much.
Edited to add: This also used to extend to what you did in your “off time”. Strange hobbies or out-of-the-norm activities could reflect badly on you when it came to promotions and raises.
This is a sign that society has come to a comfortable place though, no? I mean, if adults have the luxury of doing childish things, that means more important things (security, food, etc.) are taken care of. Self actualization!
Ok. I don’t know if video games are self actualization, I’m just sayin’. . .
I wear printed T-shirts and jeans to work, while some of my coworkers choose to dress up more nicely. If my boss asked me to stick to button-up shirts and slacks, my position and pay are enough that I probably would. But he’s laid back enough not to require a general dress code, and 99% of my department’s job isn’t customer-facing anyway. If I did have to meet regularly with customers, I would certainly want to dress more formally. But it’s not necessary, so I choose to dress comfortably rather than smartly. Certainly doesn’t mean I’m incapable of it.
Heh, most of the people I know who are interested in fantasy sports are middle aged or older. A.k.a. my dad and his friends and brothers.
I think this is kind of the same issue as people complaining that the average intelligence level of Americans has gone down - basically, no, it’s gone up, but now people who are dumber or what you think of as more childish than you are where you can see them. We have less class stratification than we did in the 50s when schools were segregated, small town people were lucky if they ever saw Cleveland, etc., and so you actually have to interact with people who come from really different backgrounds and this includes not having had a lot of education or being taught the etiquette you’re familiar with.
I’m guessing your level of familiarity with video games is pretty low, as in you still think of them as things you put a quarter in, or stupid games like “Angry Birds” on an iPhone.
Many games are quite well written and produced; to the point of being on par with good cinema. I’d challenge you to put the Fallout games, the Mass Effect games or the Dead Space games up against many movies, and see which ones are better written.
The really great things about those games is that they’re not a passive experience- they’re like movies that you get to direct to a greater or lesser extent. That’s why they’re so appealing to adults, not because there’s some childish problem solving.
I think there’s also something to what Czarcasm is saying; when employers start treating employees as disposable and fungible, people shouldn’t be surprised when the employees start thinking about the employers the same way. I’m routinely surprised at the level of professionalism and dedication my employer expects, despite several rounds of layoffs, and the reduction or elimination of most perks we once had. Why should I go the extra mile or be particularly loyal and work beyond the agreed upon amount, if they’ll lay me off, eliminate raises or reduce the nice things about the job to save a dime?
It may be a childish attitude, but it’s also a rational one.
The fact that you are so defensive about my criticism is interesting. But regardless of any stats that you provide, I consider it a childish activity and have an immediate negative reaction towards an adult who spends a lot of time playing video games rather than doing things like reading, socializing with friends/family, cooking, etc.
Regarding the source for your stats, I am not sure how objective the “Entertainment Software Association” is.
Well, when an opinion is based on a faulty premise, it’s usually worthwhile to at least make an effort to point out how it’s faulty. But, hey, it’s not like we’ll ever have a reason to meet face to face, and if we do video games likely won’t be a topic of conversation (I try to stick to topics I know everyone involved has an interest in), so it doesn’t really matter.
My father spends twelve hours a day (that is an absolutely straight up honest estimate, not an exaggeration at all) seven days a week watching TV. My mother complains bout it. She only spends four hours a day, 7 days a week, watching TV.
