It’s nights like tonight when I realize the true reason that I play video games. They are a fun,and interesting way to pass the time,yes…but really,I’m just doing my own thing to escape the cold realities that pass. We all find one way or another to clear our heads and briefly forget our troubles. Some people read,other folks exercise,some people watch TV,but all of us have something. These things take us into a different world,where none of our life matters. It’s just you and the charaters in the book,or you and the people on the screen. It’s not about your troubles,it’s about their troubles. Their story. All of the drama that takes place in your life is replaced by a funny comedian,or the merciless slaughter of thousands of demons.
Regardless,it takes us out of our present reality,and in a much more healthy way then drugs do. Many people attempt to achive that kind of escape through drugs,or alcohol,or even sex. Is playing games really all that bad? I think not. With books or movies or computer games,our trivial problems and drama are replaced with a character’s thoughts,feelings,problems and dangers;and the characters we become have the means to survive through these times.
In the case of games,we have to control the character’s actions to achive some sort of game-set goal,or a goal we set for ourselves. And when I achieve that goal,I am satisfied with what I’ve done in that game,especially if I complete a goal I set for myself. Who doesn’t want to feel some sense of accomplishment? Even if it’s in a game that has no bearing on real actual life,these feelings of accomplishment are genuine,because it’s something that I made important to myself. By accomplishing something,I feel more empowered and have more confidence that I can do things in my life and accomplish them. I think it’s safe to say that gaming may have had more positive effects on my life then even I realise,much less anyone else.
Anyway,this is the end of my spiel about video game escapeism. If anyone else ever reads this,I wouldn’t mind hearing about how you escape from this world,and how you benefit from it (other then not going crazy,that’s a given).
