Making a bold prediction here: in 30-40 years’ time, one of those will be replaced with something to the effect of “Waste less time on the internet”
I’ve noticed this with videogames, and tbh I’m kinda surprised more people haven’t connected it to there yet. Videogames can be a hobby, but if it’s all someone does at home for mental stimulation, I don’t forecast it’s living to the fullest. When going through a new experience, it can be memorable, yet the grind-heavy nature of most modern games doesn’t produce much for memorable moments, and often is forgotten in a month’s time save for the knowledge of how much time was spent on that.
Social media is rather similar, in that it mirrors the addictive nature of locking your attention and supplying unmemorable mental stimulation, at the cost of substantial time.
In my completely nonbiased and objective opinion that’s factual in every way: This is not healthy. I dont feel anyone will look back and say, “I wish I spent more time getting upvotes,” or “I wish I got that cool skin in the game I dont play anymore.”
I know I’m absorbed in the internet during most of my waking hours, but my real life is a hellish, traumatizing wasteland. (The experience of being trans in a car-dependant desolated city in an advanced state of capitalist alienation + severe trauma that I cannot realistically get the mental healthcare for or support here to deal with.)
I remember very little of my life. It’s like waking up from surgeries for short periods of time and experiencing little melancholic vignettes before going back under for unknown amounts of time. Laughing at stupid comments online in places like this is one of my only sources of joy.
Facing reality isn’t the solution to my situation, yet. I need sedation, and maybe then I can recover from my injuries enough to survive going through that process.
Absolutely agree, great to see it written out so well. Took me a long time to come to this realization and part of it was playing even more assuming that the feeling was coming from not being able to spend the time on them I wanted.
Extra devious as the research for engagement and dopamine hooks only keeps improving, most games are just gambling games or choose your own adventure. I’ve found my quality of life skyrocketing switching to books and puzzles/puzzle games.
Tldr Play Tametsi, experience the joy of gaming again.
Making a bold prediction here: in 30-40 years’ time, one of those will be replaced with something to the effect of “Waste less time on the internet”
I’ve noticed this with videogames, and tbh I’m kinda surprised more people haven’t connected it to there yet. Videogames can be a hobby, but if it’s all someone does at home for mental stimulation, I don’t forecast it’s living to the fullest. When going through a new experience, it can be memorable, yet the grind-heavy nature of most modern games doesn’t produce much for memorable moments, and often is forgotten in a month’s time save for the knowledge of how much time was spent on that.
Social media is rather similar, in that it mirrors the addictive nature of locking your attention and supplying unmemorable mental stimulation, at the cost of substantial time.
In my completely nonbiased and objective opinion that’s factual in every way: This is not healthy. I dont feel anyone will look back and say, “I wish I spent more time getting upvotes,” or “I wish I got that cool skin in the game I dont play anymore.”
I know I’m absorbed in the internet during most of my waking hours, but my real life is a hellish, traumatizing wasteland. (The experience of being trans in a car-dependant desolated city in an advanced state of capitalist alienation + severe trauma that I cannot realistically get the mental healthcare for or support here to deal with.)
I remember very little of my life. It’s like waking up from surgeries for short periods of time and experiencing little melancholic vignettes before going back under for unknown amounts of time. Laughing at stupid comments online in places like this is one of my only sources of joy.
Facing reality isn’t the solution to my situation, yet. I need sedation, and maybe then I can recover from my injuries enough to survive going through that process.
I always say it depends on the videogame. Strategy games can even be stimulating as it makes you think more.
Yeah. I play a lot less videogames than I used to.
Absolutely agree, great to see it written out so well. Took me a long time to come to this realization and part of it was playing even more assuming that the feeling was coming from not being able to spend the time on them I wanted.
Extra devious as the research for engagement and dopamine hooks only keeps improving, most games are just gambling games or choose your own adventure. I’ve found my quality of life skyrocketing switching to books and puzzles/puzzle games.
Tldr Play Tametsi, experience the joy of gaming again.