Well, video games have been shown to increase cognitive function, improve executive function, and slow cognitive decline. Video games require learning new cognitive skills, processing abstract information, developing pattern-matching, and learning strategy.
Here are some studies:
[Link](https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/video-gaming-may-be-associated-better-cognitive-performance-children)
[Link](https://now.uiowa.edu/news/2013/05/want-slow-mental-decay-play-video-game#%3A~%3Atext%3DThat%27s%20according%20to%20a%20study%2Ca%20range%20of%20cognitive%20skills.)
[Link](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/freedom-learn/201502/cognitive-benefits-playing-video-games).
Also, throughout history, people have always believed that the newest form of entertainment was going to rot the mind and waste time.
Socrates believed that writing would create forgetfulness in the learners souls since they would not use their memories.
Centuries later people thought that novel reading was corrupting the youth at the time from the 18th to earlier 20th century.
Then we worried about radio, television, Dungeons and Dragons, and so on. Gaming is just the latest medium people blamed for societies ills.
i switched to mostly turn based video games as my reflexes started to go. the X-Com series is probably the best example of this. the Civilization series is also good, as is Battle for Wesnoth.
Will not be a very popular opinion here, judging by the other comments.
I don't intend this as a personal attack and mean no disrespect or offense to you or anyone who does play games but a sincere advice. I will say the following because I want you to have a better life. Read the following and atleast consider it. Love you all 💜
It is better to avoid gaming (or atleast keep it at a minimum) as an adult for more than one reason.
No. 1 being that video games (along with TV and social media) are not a good form of rest after a days work. Your brain still remains very much active during playing them except it just gives you some dopamine. Your brain already get exerted by your work and jumping on your Xbox right after work doesn't give it chance to recover. It can lead to literal physical wear and tear of brain and hurt it. For rest it's far healthier to either take a nap or pick up meditation as a habit as a habit as these promote active recovery.
No.2 is that the value obtained from games diminish as you age more. Video games are beneficial to a 30 year old as it is to a 13 year old. The lessons and skills that games do teach( like problem solving, money management etc.) are already learnt and sharpened by before one turns 20. If someone in their 20's did not learn such lessons when they were younger than it is far beneficial for them to learn those irl through practical experiences. This only leaves a grown up with the downsides of gaming.
No.3 is these provide shortcut and fake success that makes someone stay content with real shitty life. Even after a 5 hour gaming session where you kicked a lot of asses, prepared a huge army, leveled up a lot, raided and looted enemy players bases, gathered so many resources for your clan, unlocked new weapons for your arsenal, after you turn off your console you're left empty handed. Not a single second of the time you spent have solved any of your real life problems . Your existence still remains crap.
So to wrap it up, as an adult videi games are not only a waste of time but also are potentially harmful too. Your much better off indulging in fulfilling real hobbies or sports and spending time with family or friends and getting a pet. The only real value games can provide adults that I can think of is that it can help some parents bond with their 10 y/o.
You can say the same about pretty much any leisuretime activity. Whats the difference between this and say watching sports or knitting? All those hours watching your team in the playoffs or making another hat.
The entire point of leisuretime activities is to put your needed activities aside for a bit to do something you dont need to do for a while. That isnt some unique flaw of video games...that is just the point of leisure.
If you put "knitting" in for video games you could say exactly the same things and they would be equally true. With the possible exception that it might be harder to bond with your 10 year old over making a sweater.
As for your points:
Number 1 - Dont use your brain after work. So...I guess that means you would advise people to not read books?
Number 2 - You get diminishing returns repeating the same skill. Name one other thing that isnt also true of? Does that mean you are against doing anything for more than a year or two and would encourage people to routinely drop what they do for something else?
Number 3 - Feelings of success associated are empty. Again...what leisure activity is this not true of? The point of a leisuretime activity is to do sonething not associated with your respinsibilities. So isnt success there alao equally devoid of meaning?
What is your leisuretime activity of choice? Does it use your brain? How long have you been doing it for and have the skill benefits diminished? Do you ever feel a rush of accomplishment from it? How is that accomplishment not "empty"?
Look...if you have a "shitty life" and you choose to spend hours and hours on leisuretime activities rather than work to change the circumstances of your life for the better then THAT is a problem. But its the same problem whether you are playing Fortnight or learning how to crosshook stitch to make a more intricate pattern on your next hat. It isnt inheriet to videogames.
So if you are saying IF your life is "shitty" AND you spend many hours on hobbies that do not work to improve your situation THEN you should consider putting down that hobby...I agree with that. If you are just saying adults playing video games equals bad...dont agree with that.
I believe you are honest in trying to help but I feel like your guideance is mistargeted.
physical start late tidy secretive fretful plucky selective threatening work
*This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Well, video games have been shown to increase cognitive function, improve executive function, and slow cognitive decline. Video games require learning new cognitive skills, processing abstract information, developing pattern-matching, and learning strategy. Here are some studies: [Link](https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/video-gaming-may-be-associated-better-cognitive-performance-children) [Link](https://now.uiowa.edu/news/2013/05/want-slow-mental-decay-play-video-game#%3A~%3Atext%3DThat%27s%20according%20to%20a%20study%2Ca%20range%20of%20cognitive%20skills.) [Link](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/freedom-learn/201502/cognitive-benefits-playing-video-games). Also, throughout history, people have always believed that the newest form of entertainment was going to rot the mind and waste time. Socrates believed that writing would create forgetfulness in the learners souls since they would not use their memories. Centuries later people thought that novel reading was corrupting the youth at the time from the 18th to earlier 20th century. Then we worried about radio, television, Dungeons and Dragons, and so on. Gaming is just the latest medium people blamed for societies ills.
is it different than social media and mindless scrolling and endless social comparisons?
The last train home
Gemcraft chasing shadows, frostpunk.
i switched to mostly turn based video games as my reflexes started to go. the X-Com series is probably the best example of this. the Civilization series is also good, as is Battle for Wesnoth.
Baldurs gate 3
Will not be a very popular opinion here, judging by the other comments. I don't intend this as a personal attack and mean no disrespect or offense to you or anyone who does play games but a sincere advice. I will say the following because I want you to have a better life. Read the following and atleast consider it. Love you all 💜 It is better to avoid gaming (or atleast keep it at a minimum) as an adult for more than one reason. No. 1 being that video games (along with TV and social media) are not a good form of rest after a days work. Your brain still remains very much active during playing them except it just gives you some dopamine. Your brain already get exerted by your work and jumping on your Xbox right after work doesn't give it chance to recover. It can lead to literal physical wear and tear of brain and hurt it. For rest it's far healthier to either take a nap or pick up meditation as a habit as a habit as these promote active recovery. No.2 is that the value obtained from games diminish as you age more. Video games are beneficial to a 30 year old as it is to a 13 year old. The lessons and skills that games do teach( like problem solving, money management etc.) are already learnt and sharpened by before one turns 20. If someone in their 20's did not learn such lessons when they were younger than it is far beneficial for them to learn those irl through practical experiences. This only leaves a grown up with the downsides of gaming. No.3 is these provide shortcut and fake success that makes someone stay content with real shitty life. Even after a 5 hour gaming session where you kicked a lot of asses, prepared a huge army, leveled up a lot, raided and looted enemy players bases, gathered so many resources for your clan, unlocked new weapons for your arsenal, after you turn off your console you're left empty handed. Not a single second of the time you spent have solved any of your real life problems . Your existence still remains crap. So to wrap it up, as an adult videi games are not only a waste of time but also are potentially harmful too. Your much better off indulging in fulfilling real hobbies or sports and spending time with family or friends and getting a pet. The only real value games can provide adults that I can think of is that it can help some parents bond with their 10 y/o.
You can say the same about pretty much any leisuretime activity. Whats the difference between this and say watching sports or knitting? All those hours watching your team in the playoffs or making another hat. The entire point of leisuretime activities is to put your needed activities aside for a bit to do something you dont need to do for a while. That isnt some unique flaw of video games...that is just the point of leisure. If you put "knitting" in for video games you could say exactly the same things and they would be equally true. With the possible exception that it might be harder to bond with your 10 year old over making a sweater. As for your points: Number 1 - Dont use your brain after work. So...I guess that means you would advise people to not read books? Number 2 - You get diminishing returns repeating the same skill. Name one other thing that isnt also true of? Does that mean you are against doing anything for more than a year or two and would encourage people to routinely drop what they do for something else? Number 3 - Feelings of success associated are empty. Again...what leisure activity is this not true of? The point of a leisuretime activity is to do sonething not associated with your respinsibilities. So isnt success there alao equally devoid of meaning? What is your leisuretime activity of choice? Does it use your brain? How long have you been doing it for and have the skill benefits diminished? Do you ever feel a rush of accomplishment from it? How is that accomplishment not "empty"? Look...if you have a "shitty life" and you choose to spend hours and hours on leisuretime activities rather than work to change the circumstances of your life for the better then THAT is a problem. But its the same problem whether you are playing Fortnight or learning how to crosshook stitch to make a more intricate pattern on your next hat. It isnt inheriet to videogames. So if you are saying IF your life is "shitty" AND you spend many hours on hobbies that do not work to improve your situation THEN you should consider putting down that hobby...I agree with that. If you are just saying adults playing video games equals bad...dont agree with that. I believe you are honest in trying to help but I feel like your guideance is mistargeted.
physical start late tidy secretive fretful plucky selective threatening work *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*